wondrous • gilbert blythe

purple, blue, and black

After Adelaide had made it home, she calmed herself down. Something about Gilbert Blythe made her breathless.

As she gulped down a glass of water, Adelaide pondered on the events that had just occurred. She had flinched away when he touched her.

Why?

Adelaide knew that he wouldn't hurt her. Would he?

She shook her head and put her glass into the sink. She needed to get her head out of the gutter, and fast. School would start again soon and everything would go back to normal.

"Mother, I'm going to the Cuthbert's." Adelaide called out and picked up her scarf off of the bench.

"Your mother isn't home." George said and stepped into the room. Adelaide felt her pulse quicken.

"Now, I'm going to show you what happens when you talk back to adults." George sneered at her.

"I-I'm sorry, I truly didn't-" Adelaide stuttered as she backed into the door.

George grabbed her wrist and pushed her back. She winced as the door handle pressed harshly into her.

"Next time, it won't just be bruises, and Adelaide?" George made her look him in the eyes.

"Yes?" She said in a small voice.

"If you tell anyone, I'll hurt your mother." He told her. Adelaide nodded and ran out the front door as soon as he released the strong grip he had on her. Tears streamed down her face as she sprinted past the Gillis house, earning weird looks.

She couldn't see who was looking at her, and frankly, she didn't care.

Adelaide ducked under trees as she entered the forest. She realized that she was safe, and stopped running. Sitting on a fallen tree, Adelaide tried to catch her breath. She wiped the tears off of her pink cheeks and held her hands together so they would stop shaking.

How had her life come to this? She had an abusive stepfather whom was making it his mission to make Adelaide's life miserable, a mother who acted like she didn't exist, and a boy who didn't seem to think that she was that weird.

Adelaide was lost. Not literally, but her mind was empty. She felt as if life didn't matter, like she didn't matter.

Remembering her initial plan, she decided to continue on to Anne's home. Hanging out with her friends is just what she needed.

•••

Arriving at the Cuthbert residence, Adelaide knocked on the door and then quickly squeezed her palms together again to ensure that no one could see that they were still shaking.

"Oh hello, Adelaide, was it?" Marilla Cuthbert opened the door to greet her. She didn't notice the bruise that was forming on the young girl's wrist.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm here to see Anne and Ruby."

"Alright dear. They are in the barn with Jerry and Matthew." Adelaide nodded and ran off to the big structure. Sliding the door open, she felt her heart pang at the sight of the animals. It brought back many memories of her own and how much she missed them.

"Oh, Adelaide! I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten about us." Anne noticed the girl and ran to hug her.

"Anne, how could I ever forget about you?" Adelaide replied, but winced when Anne accidentally squeezed the newly made bruise on her back. Anne opened her mouth to say something, but realized that everyone else was still there.

"Adelaide and I will be right back." Anne told Ruby, Jerry, and Matthew.

"Alright." Ruby said and grinned when she successfully hit Jerry in the face with a piece of hay. He gasped and threw a handful back.

"Are you alright? I saw how scared you looked today with Gilbert and how you just winced when I hugged you. Is it still going on?" Anne told Adelaide with a sympathetic look.

"It's not my mother, it's George. He is an awful man, and he even threatened to hurt her. What do I do, Anne?" Adelaide cried out. Anne hugged her for a second time, but avoided her lower back area.

"I think it's time we tell someone."

"Anne, maybe I should talk to my mother about it? I don't think she truly meant to hurt me when she slapped me that day, but I am positive that George is out for my blood." Adelaide decided, and Anne agreed.

"Whatever you think is best. Just make sure you do it as soon as you can so you don't continue getting hurt."

Adelaide nodded and the two girls traveled back to the barn and joined in on the hay fight Ruby and Jerry were still having. Matthew even threw a few pieces himself.

When the night finally had to come to an end, Adelaide wished that she could pause in that moment forever. Her cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling so much, and her hair was full of hay. She had never had so much fun, and she wished it would had never ended.

But, she had to make her way back to the dreadful house. She managed to sneak in without awaking anyone, and decided to talk to her mother the next chance she got when George wasn't around.

Adelaide's life was looking up, but how long would that last?

scoot over gilbert, anne and adelaide are the real otp of this book