Meant To Be (Anne and Gilbert)

7. Dinner At The Blythe Residence

Anne didn't end up having dinner at Gilbert's until the following Saturday after her fall. Mainly because Marilla didn't want her out late on a school night. Gilbert had also gone back to normal, though he would act slightly more protective over her whenever Josie so much as spoke a word to Anne.

Her relationship with Ruby went slightly downhill after the game of truth or dare. She'd cried and blamed Anne for being a terrible friend, and that Anne had taken Gilbert from her. Anne replied by telling Ruby that he was never hers in the first place, and Ruby had refused to talk to her after that.

So, it was safe to say that Anne had practically no friends. Diana was still tight by her side to Anne's relief, and Cole sat with the two of them at lunch, along with Gilbert.

The four of them had created a tight-knit group, no one else joining them. They would explore the wilderness together and tell tales of their most dark and embarrassing secrets. Anne had even built up the courage to tell them how she'd first read Jane Eyre in the asylum. The other three were horrified by the awful treatment Anne had endured, but assured her that they didn't see her any differently.

It was Saturday morning, and Anne was going to meet Cole in their secret meeting spot in the woods. It used to be her spot with Ruby and Diana, but they hadn't gone back since Anne's fallout with Ruby. Anne had shown it to Cole the day prior, and he had been fascinated. It excited Anne so much that she told him to meet her there the next morning.

She found him sitting in the little house, drawing in his sketchbook per usual. She grinned and sat down across from him, looking at him with bright eyes. He looked at her and returned her smile, setting down his sketchbook.

"Hello, Anne." He greeted.

"Hello, Cole. It's a beautiful morning, isn't it? Beautiful morning for a beautiful day." She said dreamily, thinking about dinner with Gilbert that coming evening.

"Anne? Are you alright?" Cole asked with an amused grin.

"Oh, I'm grand! I just can't stop thinking about having dinner with Gilbert tonight. How romantic will that be? Sitting in a candlelit dining room, staring at his eyes?" Anne was clearly stuck in her daydreams.

"Oh, you're having dinner with Gilbert tonight?" Cole asked.

"Yes, him and Sebastian. The man he met on the steamship and brought back to Avonlea."

"That sounds... wonderful." Cole said weakly.

Anne snapped out of her dreams, furrowing her eyebrows at him. He looked slightly upset.

"Cole, is something wrong?" She asked.

"Hm? Oh, nothing! I just got a sudden headache, I reckon I should head home." Cole quickly gathered his things.

"So soon? I just got here." Anne was getting suspicious.

"Yes, I'm sorry. How about we meet here again tomorrow?" Cole suggested.

"Alright... feel better." Anne said and watched as he walked out.

What's wrong with him? She wondered to herself.

She hadn't been herself after that. She was wondering why Cole had left so suddenly. Did she do something to offend him? Maybe she shouldn't have told him about Gilbert.

She was still worrying about it when she reached the front door of Gilbert's house. She'd worn her hair down, with half of it braided back and pinned. She just wore one of her nicer dresses and boots. Nothing too fancy, but still presentable.

Gilbert answered the door before she even knocked, a beaming smile lighting up his face. Anne giggled at his ecstatic expression, and followed him inside. He took her coat and led her to the dining room.