Are We Really Just Friends? a Shirbert short story

Prologue

    The raven-haired boy with wavy hair and dark eyes carefully sewed a suture into a practice cloth, as instructed by Dr. Mastersen. As he sewed, he murmured quietly to himself.

"Not too tight, right above the fracture line, and not too lose" he recited to himself making a clean stitch.

"Good work, Gilbert" Dr. Mastersen said examining the cloth with a nod of approval.

Gilbert thanked his mentor, and practiced a few more times, but the third suture he slipped, pricking his finger with the sewing needle.

"Agh. I'm sorry sir" he said, apologizing while he went to clean the small prick on his fingertip with a damp clean rag and some antiseptic. His mind had slipped from the suture to Anne's recent formality towards him.  He wasn't sure what was worse, Anne being cold towards him or Anne treating him as if he was a distant acquaintance. The competitive spark between them had died down as of recently.

~

"Oh Anne, I truly feel he was being serious. And I know no one can tell you how to feel, but maybe give it some time and reflect. Do you honestly only see Gilbert Blythe, as a friend?" DIana asked carefully sitting on the side of Anne's bed while Anne lay on her side a pillow over her head as she grumbled incoherently.

"Of course, Diana. Everything has to be shifted as it was in this world and that includes Gilbert seeing me as nothing more than a competitive equal in class, and of course as a strictly platonic friend" she said firmly removing the pillow from her face and blowing at her auburn bangs.

Diana sighed and pat the girl's shoulder, standing from the bed.

"I have to get going now, but come visit me if you need anything" she said before leaving the room.

Anne rolled over onto her stomach face planting on her bed and grumbled some more.

"Why is everyone trying to tell me how I feel?!" she cried out, exasperated.

Things would be just fine between her and Gilbert.

They had to be.