scope for the imagination //awae//

one

"You make it difficult to not overthink, and when I'm with you I turn all shades of pink."

As usual, Anne's eyes filled with wonder as she stepped in to Avonlea Library. While it could've easily been the thousandth time she had set foot in the small but cozy building, she never failed to look around in amazement as if it was the first time she were there.

Her eyes drank in the overcrowded shelves and scanned the space until she landed upon her favorite place, the nook of classics buried way in the back along with the fireplace and old yet impossibly plush recliner chair.

Anne's eyes moved on after lingering there to return yet another stack of books, some read for the hundredth time, some new finds she happened to pick out. She made her way to the front desk, silently hoping not to bump in to the boy she had argued with every encounter they shared since the first time he refused to let her in.

Since then they had bantered and conversed every time she had been to the library, alone or not. Her best friend Diana and her other close friend Cole both insisted he had a crush on her, but she simply dismissed them and told them that they were being ridiculous.

But still, she wondered if they were right. If she wanted them to be right. She quickly banished those thoughts, marched to the front and placed her books down on the counter.

"Hello again, Anne. Here to return more books?" Gilbert asked.

Anne merely looked up at him for a second, irritated that he happened to be working when she came by. Again.

"Or are you just going to stand here and daydream like you did back there?" he chuckled.

This caught her attention and her head snapped up to meet his amused eyes.

"I was not daydreaming about you Gilbert!" she spluttered as her cheeks turned faintly pink

"I never said you were daydreaming about me. Although after that response should I be saying that?" he smirked playfully.

"You are the bane of my existence, Gilbert Blythe," she spoke exasperatedly.

And yet all he could do was widen his grin at that as she continued to glare at him. Soon enough, they both looked away and Gilbert picked up each book Anne returned, making sure that each was marked as checked back in to the library. Whilst doing this, he noticed a book in the pile that sparked his interest.

"Did you enjoy the book?" he gestured towards the book sitting at the top of the stack.

Her eyes danced around his face for a sign of sarcasm or mockery, but only found genuine curiosity.

"It was good," she replied cautiously.

"Just 'good'?" Gilbert raised his eyebrows. "Anne Shirley Cuthbert described a book with one word? Who are you and what have you done with Anne?"

She glanced up yet again into his ever entrancing eyes and instantly felt at ease although her heart was anything but.

"Well... it was lovely," she started.

"Go on," he urged slightly.

"It's just wonderful!" she gushed. "Charlotte Bronte has such a way with words, and Jane Eyre has always been my favorite book. It's just so romantical and—" she stopped herself short.

"What's wrong?" Gilbert's face softened as he looked upon the flustered girl in front of him.

"It's just that I was rambling and I wasn't sure if you wanted to listen to me and um... yeah that's it I guess." her eyes wandered around the room, looking anywhere but the boy in front of her.

"Never be sorry for being passionate about something Anne. It doesn't suit you." he stated softly as he finished returning her books.

As soon as he finished Anne scurried away, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. She plopped down on the worn out yellow chair she always sat at, and hugged her knees to her chest.

There was no way Gilbert Blythe was infatuated with her, she thought to herself.

She was far too homely, with her skinny frame and carrot like red hair. He even called her carrots once, just to annoy her.

Besides, he was just a friend. No matter how much he made her blush and daydream.