scope for the imagination //awae//

six

"I didn't wanna believe my feelings for you, I didn't wanna believe that I could lose you, if I told you just how I felt."

Gilbert was reading Jane Eyre in the faded yellow chair Anne loved, desperately hoping that it might provide him with some answers as to why she was avoiding him. He figured it was because he interrupted her reading time and embarrassed her in the cafe, but he hadn't had the chance to apologize yet since she kept avoiding him.

He sighed, checking the clock to see how much time he had left.

With nothing else better to do, he decided to just get back to work to take him mind off of things.

Sure enough, Bash called out for him not a minute later. He made his way over to the backdoor to find Bash struggling to haul a large recliner chair up the steps.

"Blythe! Come on man don't just stand there, help me!" Bash huffed.

"Woah woah woah Bash, what were you thinking trying to get this up the stairs yourself?" Gilbert immediately ran over, barely catching the chair as it almost hurtled down the steps.

"I was thinking it'd be a nice surprise for you! Be appreciative dude," he grunted out.

"For me? What are you talking about?" Gilbert yelled up to the struggling man, out of breath as well.

"I thought it'd be a nice and easy gift! I could set it up in that corner that Anne always likes to sit in so you could sit with her—" he gasped, "And I was trying to make it a surprise because you shouldn't be working during your break!"

"If I was wasn't working then you'd be under this thing," Gilbert muttered.

"The least you could say is thanks, Blythe," Bash rolled his eyes playfully.

Gilbert's eyes immediately softened.

"Right, sorry man. I really do appreciate that you're trying to help, but I doubt it will work. Anne isn't exactly talking to me right now," he admitted.

"I'm sure it won't last long Blythe, she can't stay away from the library forever," Bash joked as he placed the worn, dark blue recliner next to the faded yellow one.

"Now, if you don't mind, I need to get back to figuring out how to make it up to Anne," he pointedly looked at Bash, motioning for him to go away.

"All right, I get it Blythe!" Bash saluted as he strolled in the opposite direction.

Gilbert huffed and sat down in the new chair, picking up Jane Eyre again.

The bell jingled above the door, signaling that someone had entered the library. Along with the whoosh of the door came a gust of freezing wind, making Gilbert's head snap to the door, slightly irritated that someone would carelessly fling open the door.

However, his eyes were met with the exact same redhead he couldn't keep off his mind. He watched her frantically glance around until her eyes found his, and she walked towards him.

"Gilbert," she exclaimed, slightly out of breath.

"Anne," his eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing here?"

"I um—I came to see you," she admitted.

"Is anything wrong? Are Marilla and Matthew okay?" he stood up, concern consuming his features.

"No! No, everything is fine!" Anne stopped him.

"Listen Anne—" Gilbert started.

"Just hold on a second, Gil!" Anne half whispered, half yelled.

He wanted to comment on the nickname she called him, but refrained, interested in what she had to say.

"I'm so sorry, Gilbert," she spoke sincerely.

His eyebrows shot up as she continued, "I've been horrible to you this past week. I'm sorry I didn't tell you why, and I'm sorry that I ran out on you in the cafe. But the other girls kept teasing me, saying that you like me which I know is not true and I couldn't take it. So I avoided you, which I now realize must've been terribly confusing to you. So I rushed over here to apologize and maybe call another truce?"

Her eyes shown hopefully as she waited for his answer with baited breath.

Gilbert didn't know what to say. He wanted so badly to contradict her, and say that it was true that her liked her, but he feared it might scare her off. So he sighed, and gave in, because he'd rather have Anne around as friend than not at all.

"Truce," he smiled "Again."