wondrous • gilbert blythe

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As Adelaide walked through the forest, she wondered what her third day of a new school would bring. She wondered how Mr. Phillips would react to her coming back. She hoped that Anne would be there, since she was her only friend.

She turned a corner to see the one and only Gilbert Blythe walking up ahead. A devious plan formed in her head, and she was quick to run ahead through the trees, towards him.

"Boo!" Adelaide screamed as she came up behind him. He jumped and turned around to look at her.

"What was that for?" He asked her while clutching his heart. She giggled and walked along side him.

"That was payback for scaring me yesterday." Adelaide said to him. He rolled his eyes.

"Really? You are still not over that?" He questioned, and she shook her head.

"You will come to learn that I can hold a grudge for a very long time, Blythe." She said and laughed again.

"I thought we weren't supposed to talk." Gilbert replies suddenly.

"Oh that's just at school, where the devil reincarnated, also known as Josie Pye, can't see us." Adelaide says to him and puts her hair behind her ear.

"So, we can talk other places? Are you hinting that you want to see me somewhere other than school, Adelaide?" Gilbert looked at her out of the corner of his eye and grinned. She felt butterflies when he said her name.

"Careful, it might seem as if you like me, Gilbert." Adelaide ignored the blush on her cheeks, telling herself it was because of the harsh wind.

"What? Like you? Impossible!" He over-exaggerated. They both laughed, but stopped short when they saw the school.

"You go ahead. I'll wait here a couple of minutes to throw them off." She said to him and he nodded. Gilbert walked towards the school, but not before throwing the platinum-haired girl one last glance.

•••

To Adelaide's surprise, Mr. Phillips had ignored her the entire day, as if she didn't exist. She didn't mind it at all, since that meant she didn't have to answer any questions in front of the class.

Josie had scooted as far away from Adelaide as possible when she had first sat down, not that Adelaide was complaining. She didn't want to be near her, either.

Diana had smiled at her, so maybe she did have one friend, unless she counted Gilbert. Gilbert and Adelaide were not quite 'friends', but Adelaide found it nice to have someone to talk with, even if it was outside of school.

Adelaide sighs in relief when Mr. Phillips releases them. Children file out of the schoolhouse, urging to go home. She takes her books off of the desk and walks out the door after everyone.

Sending Diana a quick nod and smile, Adelaide goes off into the woods, preparing herself for the long, cold walk home.

As she came closer to the split, one way town, and one to the countryside, where she lived, Adelaide heard someone talking. She focused on the sound, figuring out that it came from a small wooden hut. It was collapsed, as if it were extremely old and worn.

Adelaide approached it, and peeked inside. In it sat Anne, reading a story to a pinecone.

"Anne! What in the world?" Adelaide shrieked, startled by the girl sitting inside. Anne jumped up, shocked.

"A-Adelaide, what are you doing here?" She stuttered out.

"Walking home from school. What are you doing?" Adelaide replied.

"Marilla is forcing me to go to school, but I don't want to go back, so I came here, and I'm teaching myself. You should probably tell on me, because I know I should not be vexing her like this, but you saw how everyone hated me. I just-" Anne ranted, per usual. Adelaide put her hands on Anne's shoulders to stop her.

"It's alright, I'm sure she can't be mad at you. I'll go talk to her and figure it out." Adelaide said, and Anne nodded solemnly. Adelaide hugged her goodbye before heading off to Green Gables.

She knew that it was right to tell Marilla, but she wondered why she hadn't thought of doing it herself before. Going to school was a waste, but her mother would probably find out if she skipped.

Arriving at Green Gables, Adelaide knocked on the door and smiled brightly when Marilla opened it.

"Hello, I am Adelaide, a friend of Anne's."

"A friend?" Marilla questioned, raising her brow. Adelaide nodded, wondering if she was doing the right thing. She was Anne's only true friend, other than Diana, and she was betraying her.

"Did you need something, dear?" Marilla asked, and Anne's sad face at school popped into Adelaide's mind.

"Um- I just, I just came to..." Adelaide started, and sweeper her eyes around Green Gables, looking for an excuse.

"I came to talk to him!" Adelaide exclaimed, pointing towards a boy who was feeding the horses.

"You are here for Jerry?"

"Yes, uh, Jerry. We know each other, it is a long story, but thanks! I will go talk to him now." Adelaide smiled awkwardly and gave a small wave to Marilla, and ran off to the farmhand, Jerry.

"Hey." Adelaide looked wide eyed at him, and then back to Marilla who was watching them. Adelaide put her arms around him and gave him a hug, but took the chance to whisper in his ear.

"Act like you know me, please." She whispered and released the hug. He nodded and stared at her with a questioning look.

"Okay, thanks for answering my question, Jerry. I'll see you later! Tell your family I miss them!" Adelaide shouted, making sure that Marilla could hear, and ran off towards her home. Adelaide just hoped that she had made the right assumption that he had a big family.

Jerry stared as she went. She was quite the odd girl.

"Jerry, how did you know her?" Marilla asked him as he came up towards the house.

"Oh, um, she.. used to be my neighbor, a long time ago. My family and hers were friends!" He stumbled over the words, quickly making up a lie. Marilla nodded, accepting his answer. She returned inside, wondering why she had never met Adelaide before.

Adelaide ran all the way home, only stopping when she saw Anne heading back to Green Gables with her head hung low.

"I didn't tell her. It was not my choice, so you keep doing whatever you think is best, Anne." Adelaide said to her. Both girls smiled, and ran home their separate ways.