Home to Avonlea

14. friends

Gilbert finally began to nod off a little while after Mr Tilderly had taken Diana home. He had been resisting sleep with the thought of that creep Joe getting to Anne, but he hadn't slept in so long that it was forcing him under.

Just as his eyes closed, the door he was leaning against opened and he stumbled, turning. It was Anne. She looked tired and upset and he instantly noticed how red her eyes were. She'd been crying.

"What are you doing up?" He asked.

"I needed water - why are you still here?" She frowned. "I thought you were leaving."

Gilbert sighed with irritation. "I was. But then this creep showed up and I thought he might - I thought you'd be -"

"What creep?" Anne looked pale.

"Some guy - I recognise him from somewhere but he's new to town. He said he's your friend."

"Where is he now?" Anne asked.

Gilbert noticed how tense Anne seemed all of a sudden. "He's waiting outside until Mr Tilderly gets back."

"Show me."

They went to the bedroom window and Gilbert pulled the curtains. To his surprise, Joe was standing in the yard staring up at the window expectantly. Like he knew this was the window Anne was in. Something about him made Gilbert's skin crawl. He knew him from somewhere. But where? Why couldn't he remember?

"He's still here." Anne gasped under her breath.

"What did you say?" Gilbert demanded.

"I - nothing." Anne said hurriedly, and pulled the curtains with trembling fingers. "I didn't say anything."

"You know him?" Gilbert asked.

"Yes -- I do. We met not long ago."

"Did he do this to you?" Gil gestured to her wound.

"No. We were attacked." Anne said quickly, remembering what Joseph told her to say.

"You can tell me the truth." Gilbert was annoyed that she was lying to him, he knew that Joe was no saint.

"I am! He's my friend." Anne lied.

"So you wouldn't mind if I went downstairs and let him in then--?" Gilbert crossed the room abruptly and opened the door to leave.

Anne rushed to grab his arm and stop him. "No!" She cried. Gilbert stopped. "I mean... not right now. I don't feel well enough."

Gilbert looked intently into Anne's eyes, determined to get answers. "He's not your friend, Anne." He said. "He wants to hurt you. Tell me the truth."

Anne bit her lip, desperate to confide in somebody all the threats laden upon her by that awful boy outside. But she couldn't - Joseph would know. He'd kill Marilla, Mathew... he'd kill all of her friends too.

"Where is Diana?" Anne changed the subject.

"Mr Tilderly took her home. When he gets back he's doing the same for you." Gilbert said.

He knew Anne's game, but she clearly was too afraid to confess the truth. He decided to leave it for now. She was clearly shaken and afraid of Joe for some reason, so his suspicions were all but confirmed.

"They'll be so worried for me." Anne murmured forlornly, sitting down on her bed. She felt faint from the straining of moving with her state.

"I'm sure they will. They care a lot about you." Gil said.

They stayed in silence for a while, thinking. Anne wondered how they'd got into this scenario. If only she'd taken a moment to think before rushing off into the night with a stranger. She was too impulsive.

"Are you crying?" Gilbert's brow creased in concern.

"No." Anne wiped at her eyes quickly.

He slowly walked over and sat beside her. He looked at her face, his soft brown eyes searching. She was so fierce usually, proud and brave and always smart. But up close she had a vulnerability to her. He often forgot that she was an orphan, that she'd come from an awful children's orphanage and had never known a home or love before Green Gables. She was so tough, she hid her past well. He didn't understand how she'd never been appreciated in the orphanage.

She was so wonderful to him. She had such a beauty that shone from inside out. He gazed at her face and all the details he was never allowed close enough to see. Her freckles, her eyelashes, the curls of her auburn hair escaping her tangled plaits, the cuts on her pale skin.

"It'll be alright." Gilbert whispered gently, wishing the sadness to leave her pretty eyes.

She looked at him. "Why are you helping me? I've never been kind to you - I've made it clear we were never good friends."

Gilbert paused.

Because you are so precious to me, Anne. I care so much about you and I don't when know why.

"Because I want -- I want to be friends." He muttered, looking away bashfully.

Anne gazed at the handsome, smart boy who had haunted her thoughts ever since he'd left those years ago. He had been under her skin ever since they'd met in those woods on her first day. She hadn't noticed him creeping into her heart but here he was, ready to defend her against that awful boy who threatened to take away everything she loved. She could trust him. He helped Diana save her.

"Friends." Anne held out her hand.

Gilbert smiled his soft, small, pleased smile and shook her hand.

A/N this chapter was so short but I really wanted to update and you guys deserve some shirbert fluff after all the drama in this story haha! Thank you for all the support. Don't forget to check out home to avonlea on Archive of Our Own - I've posted it on there too :) love you all