𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐆.𝐁.) (𝐁.𝐀.)

Thirty-seven.

"Lavinia," he said, clearing his throat when she didn't immediately turn to face him. "Can I walk you home?"

Lavinia froze for a moment, the air thick between them. She slowly turned, meeting his eyes with a cold, guarded expression. Her heart skipped a beat, but she wasn't ready to forgive him yet—not after their last fight. The memory of it still hurt. She had only been trying to help him find a tutor, but his sharp words had wounded her. He had snapped at her, embarrassed by the suggestion, and since then, there had been a silent distance between them.

She wrapped her coat tighter around her frame. "Why?" she asked, her tone cool and measured.

Gilbert shifted, looking momentarily unsure of himself. He wasn't the same boy who used to pull pigtails and tease. He was older now, more thoughtful, but still, there was that awkwardness between them. He rubbed the back of his neck, a sign of his nervousness.

"I just thought... I mean, after what happened in class, I wanted to make sure you're alright." He glanced down, clearly struggling with the right words. "I know Anne shouldn't have said what she did."

Lavinia lifted her chin, her eyes narrowing. "That's all you're worried about? What Anne said?"

"No, that's not all," Gilbert replied quickly, meeting her gaze more firmly now. "I just—well, I know things haven't been... easy between us."

"Is that how you'd put it?" Lavinia raised an eyebrow, a faint edge to her voice.

Gilbert sighed. "I'm sorry, Lavinia. For the fight. I was out of line, and I didn't mean to hurt you. You were just trying to help, and I acted like a fool."

Lavinia looked away, her heart softening at his apology, but she wasn't ready to let go of her frustration just yet. "You made me feel like I'd done something wrong," she said quietly. "Like I was making things worse for you."

"I know," Gilbert said, his voice low. "I was embarrassed, and I took it out on you. But I didn't mean to push you away. You've always been... different. In a good way."

Lavinia glanced at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, 'different'?"

Gilbert smiled softly, a hint of warmth returning to his face. "You care about people, Lavinia. You're kind, and you don't stand on the sidelines when someone needs help. That's what you were doing for me, and I—well, I didn't appreciate it the way I should have."

Lavinia let his words sink in. Her anger, though still present, was ebbing away. She started walking, and after a beat, Gilbert fell into step beside her. The familiar dirt road that led to her house stretched out ahead of them, but the tension between them made the short distance feel much longer.

"So," Lavinia said after a few moments of silence, her voice quiet but steady, "do you?"

Gilbert frowned, glancing sideways at her. "Do I what?"

"Have a crush on me." Lavinia's tone was serious, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to hear his answer.

Gilbert looked straight ahead, the sunlight through the trees casting shadows across his face. "Do you really want to know?"

Lavinia hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I do."

He stopped walking for a moment, causing Lavinia to pause beside him. The air between them thickened, an unspoken tension hovering just above the surface. Gilbert's expression softened as he turned to face her fully.

"Anne shouldn't have said it like that," he began carefully, "but... she wasn't wrong. I have thought about you, Lavinia. More than I should, probably."

Lavinia's heart fluttered, but she kept her face composed, determined not to show too much. "And Billy?"

Gilbert chuckled, a light sound that eased some of the tension. "Billy... well, I can't speak for him. But I don't think he sees you the way I do."

"And how do you see me?" Lavinia's voice was soft, almost vulnerable.

Gilbert's gaze locked onto hers, earnest and clear. "I see you as someone who's strong, and kind, and—yes, beautiful. But it's more than that. You make people feel like they matter, even when they don't think they do. That's what you did for me, even when I didn't deserve it."

Lavinia felt her cheeks warm, a rare feeling of being truly seen settling over her. She took a breath, the anger and hurt from before loosening its grip on her. But she wasn't ready to let Gilbert off the hook entirely just yet.

"I'm still a little mad at you," she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Gilbert smiled too, his eyes bright with relief. "That's fair. I probably deserve it."

They resumed walking, the tension between them easing with each step. The rest of the walk was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence, not the heavy one that had been there before.

As they neared her house, Gilbert stopped again, looking down at her with a softer expression. "Lavinia, I really am sorry. For everything."

Lavinia nodded, the warmth of his apology settling in her chest. "I know. And... I forgive you."

Gilbert's smile widened, and for a brief moment, Lavinia felt the last of her frustration melt away. Whatever had been between them before, the fight, the confusion, it was still there, but it no longer held the same power over her. She felt lighter, and maybe, just maybe, there was room for something new between them.

"Thank you," Gilbert said quietly, before turning to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Lavinia echoed softly, biting her lip happily as she watched him walk away.