Home to Avonlea

29. liar

Diana desperately wanted to know Anne's plan but Anne needed to rush home else Marilla would worry. Anne had already been gone too long, so she promised to fill Diana in the following day. Anne watched Diana walk up the steps to the manor and felt a small weight lift off of her shoulders. Surely Diana would be safe there, with so many people around.

Anne said goodbye to her friend and watched her approach the front door. Diana looked back when she reached the steps and gave her friend a reassuring smile. Anne knew there wasn't much to smile about, not with the danger around every corner and the terrible things they'd been through but it was good to know that Diana was not backing down in the threat of an attack.

When Anne was riding home her mind turned again to Gilbert. She wondered if Detective Ellwyn was paying more mind to Gil than he did to Anne. It was highly likely, people tended to like Gilbert more than they liked Anne. Anne felt that the whole world was currently working against her and there was more use Gilbert trying to get through to the Detective than her. Despite this, there was no use wallowing in self-pity. Anne had a plan.

Anne had ridden the cart all the way to the White Way of Delight, not far from Green Gables when she heard somebody calling her name. It was Marilla. Anne turned and saw her guardian riding their second horse, James up the road behind her.

"Anne! Where have you been?" She scolded. Marilla rode up beside Anne and stared at the girl with a disgruntled expression.

"I've been to Detective Ellwyn's office. I finished my interview then I visited my friends." Anne said.

"Why weren't you at school today? I assumed you'd go to the interview before school." Marilla frowned. "I have just been to the school to speak with Mr Kaine about the troubling matter of your schooling. You weren't there and hadn't attended today."

Anne swallowed hard. Marilla had found out that Anne no longer went to school. Anne had concealed this from her for so long, she had almost forgotten to keep up the facade. She hadn't spoken about school in a long time, she used to make stories up about things that were happening at school to keep up the act but she had been so distracted lately she didn't think of it.

"Now, I know you've had some time off for your injury to heal but if you're well enough to ride all around Avonlea seeing friends then you're quite well enough to attend school." Marilla said curtly.

"I'm sorry I didn't go today, I didn't feel up to it. I was overcome by the most excruciating headaches--" Anne began.

"Don't talk to me about headaches." Marilla snapped. "Mr Kaine told me you haven't been to school in over a year. This means you've been lying to me and to Mathew, you've even roped Diana into your lies. I'm very ashamed of you, Anne."

Anne flushed dark red and her heart dropped. She felt ashamed, too. She was so cross with herself. Marilla meant a lot to her, as did her opinion of her. When Marilla was cross with Anne she felt that her world had ended and she'd never feel loved again.

"I'm desperately sorry, Marilla." Anne felt a lump in her throat.

Marilla looked down at the redhead, shame and confusion still running hot through her veins. She was upset that Anne had lied and corrupted Diana and that she had to hear about it from the detested Detective Ellwyn and the new highly-unlikeable teacher Mr Kaine. But Marilla was most upset that Anne felt that she had to conceal this from Marilla.

"There had to be a reason for this. I cannot believe you lied this well and this long for no reason." Marilla said briskly. "Tell me why you lied."

Anne's lip was wobbling. "Oh Marilla, it was really nothing bad. I swear - the good kind, not the bad kind. I only lied so you wouldn't worry. I couldn't go to school and better myself all the while Mathew was struggling every day and you were taking on extra work and all for the sake of keeping a roof over my undeserving head."