Different

Something about her

Gilbert chucked his coat onto the bench with a sigh. He hasn't even been in school as long as most of the children here and he's already had enough. The same two doors, the same four walls, the same 46 faces. Until today. A young girl will walk through those doors. A girl none of them have met before. A girl that will change everyone's lives, for the better.

'Good morning students' Mr Phillips dictated in a monotone voice.
'Prepare your books and slat-'
he was interrupted by the sound of the old wooden doors swinging open at the other end of the classroom. It was Anne, with her tangled, fire red hair and flowers and twigs intertwined here and there. Breathing heavily, cheeks and nose bright red from the cold, but with a smile from ear to ear plastered on her face.
'sorry i'm late' Anne chuckled, as she tried to catch her breath. She unwrapped her scarf and pulled off her coat. Her eyes scanned the room for an empty seat. She noticed immediately the classroom was divided. Boys on the right, girls on the left. She glanced at the girls. Anne's bright, welcoming smile quickly disappeared as she acknowledged the beauty of all the girls. Their beautiful hair, raven black, chocolate brown, honey blonde, all glistening locks reflecting the golden sunlight beaming through the large windows. She ran her fingers down her braids and held the tips of her copper hair and looked down at it despairingly. She sighed looking back at the girls.

Mr Phillips straightened his back and cleared his throat.
'Care to introduce yourself?' he sneered
'Oh- I'm Anne. Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, oh and please be sure to spell it with an 'e'' She smiled
'You're late.'
'i'm so sorry i lost track of time, i had the most wonderful journey to school. Ahh the beauty of nature is truly unspeakable don't you agree?'
''Enough! The audacity you have is unbelievable young child!'
Anne's breath shook, her body stiffened at the sharpness of Mr Philips voice.
'Take a seat, don't stand there wasting my time'

Anne looked around once more, just to see what the other children think of her, but by now most heads were turned back to the front of her classroom. The boys had lost interest, who would like a girl like Anne? Small, skinny, red haired girls don't get much romance, no matter how desperately their hearts desire it. However one boy still had his attention on Anne. His eyes were fixed on her milky pale, freckled skin and her ocean blue eyes.
It was Gilbert. His jaw had fallen open, ever so slightly, and his eyebrows slightly lowered. He has never seen a girl quite like Anne.

Anne couldn't help but glare into his eyes, so inviting and almost addictive. A delicate smile grew on Gilbert's face. Anne saw how he smiled with his eyes. She couldn't help but smile at how genuine they were. She quickly turned before she gave him too much satisfaction, she could never let him know how she was feeling and anne knew that her thoughts and feelings could never stay secret, her facial expressions were a huge giveaway. She smoothed down her knotty hair, lifted her chin and walked a few rows down, feeling Gilbert's stare as she made her way towards her seat. She slid into her place and sat calmly on her bench. She arranged her books neatly on the desk.

She sat up, as if with pride, with her back straight and her braids tucked to the left, to make sure Gilbert doesn't look at them too much, or he might just end up hating them the way Anne does.

Gilbert sat in his seat leaning on his desk with both arms, smirking and staring at anne. There was something about her, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. However he knew that soon enough, he would find out what is pulling him in so much, he also knew, that once he does, it will only pull him in more.