AHEAD BY A CENTURY - ANNE WITH AN E

10. Ruby, take my hand

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Anne was distraught by Gilbert's condition, it was temporary and rather minor, but Anne was enraged by Billy Andrews, how dare he act so animal-like as to hurt him, intentionally.
That morning, Anne was reluctant to attending school, facing Billy "the Bully" Andrews, Josie Pye (the devil in human form) and most of the class, for they would interrogate her about Gilbert's well-being, even Ruby would show desperate concern, to Anne's annoyance. At least, Diana would support her during the tedious, uncompetitive day.
Anne was forbade to check upon Gilbert in the guest room in the morning in case he was still resting. Anne, instead, rested her head on the closed door, wanting Gilbert to feel comforted by her. "I'm right here, Gil." Anne muttered under her breath, stroking her hand across the door vertically.
Anne met Diana part way to school and was dreadfully silent,
"Anne? Are you feeling alright?" Diana felt Anne's head with the back of her hand,
"I'm not ill, Diana!" Anne sighed, "Marilla has forbidden me to see Gilbert of the morning as he may still be sleeping. But I worry so, and she's aware of that." Anne mumbled some indistinguishable words about Marilla's selfishness, Anne didn't mean them, but at that moment, that was how she felt.
"He'll be fine Anne." Diana smiled. Diana had the kind of smile that could light a million candles without fire. But in this case, Diana's smile seemed to illuminate the sun as it crept through the gaps of the tree branches.
As Anne and Diana stepped into the school building, Ruby charged at them, nervously.
"How's gilbert? I heard he's staying with you." Ruby said, worried yet furious that she wasn't the one to attend to Gilbert's wants and needs.
"He's fine. Just a few scratches and bruises." Anne smiled, He's fine. So why am I worried. She thoughts.
"I thought, maybe, he was going to be in school today." It was then seen by Anne that Ruby was wearing her hair different, her blonde locks curlier than usual, and perhaps, just perhaps, she had bought a new bow for her hair, of a baby pink, as she felt her hot pink bows had seemed immature and girlish. But as ruby had recently joined in on the womanly flowering time club, she felt "extremely mature" as Josie would put it. And she was optimistic that Gilbert would notice her newfound maturity.

"Ruby would you like to come to dinner tonight? Gilbert will be there." Diana acknowledged Anne's kindness with a smile and a nod of acceptance.
"Oh yes, please! Thank you Anne!!" Ruby cheered. Josie Pye gave ruby a glance of disapproval, ashamed of her seemingly immature friends enthusiasm.
"Hello Ruby, Diana! Anne." She smiled falsely. "What's the excitement about?" Josie was always intruding other people's conversations, Diana and ruby stared at Anne, awaiting her reply.
"Ruby's coming to dinner at green gables." Diana blurted out.
"Oh I see." Josie scowled, she wanted to be invited just for the satisfaction of declining. Josie flipped her blonde waves over her shoulder and stormed back over to Billy, Jane and Prissy Andrews.
Diana and Ruby giggled at Josie's embarrassing scene. The day was unsurprisingly lengthy however, very few inquired about Gilbert, it seemed it was not public knowledge that Gilbert was bed bound at green gables.
The bell was rang by two boys, dismissing the students from class for home. Anne, Diana and Ruby set off together, as Diana walked with Anne most days.
"Diana can come to dinner another day, seeing as two guests, plus Gilbert, seems too much for Marilla and Matthew to handle." The three giggled the whole way to the parting in the woods where Diana and Anne usually separated, this time ruby joining Anne.
Anne dawdled slightly, admiring the daisies, daffodils and lavender, inhaling the floral scents. Ruby was desperate to arrive to see Gilbert, however, she became apprehensive, "is my hair sticking up?" She fussed, "don't worry ruby, you look perfect.. as always" Anne's voice trailed off.
Ruby pulled her bow to make it appear pristine, and walked behind Anne as they entered green gables,
"Ruby has come to dinner, Marilla!" Anne called throughout the house,
"Lucky for you, I made extra." Marilla stirred a wooden spoon in the slightly rusted saucepan.
"Ruby would like to visit Gilbert. Is he open to visitors?" Ruby grew self conscious, was my hair really neat? Are my pink clothes still too childish?
Anne gave ruby a look, assuring her that her troubles were in her head, although ruby hadn't spoken aloud her thoughts, Anne knew just too much how she felt.
"Yes. He should be, but knock first." Marilla shooed then off upstairs, resuming dinner.
Anne's knuckles banged on the door as politely as possible,
"Gilbert?" Anne called.
"Come in." Gilbert was delighted to hear Anne's voice, awaiting her pulchritudinous auburn braids, her ocean-like eyes, her luminous smile.
She opened the door, and ushered ruby into the room, following behind.
"Ann- Ruby?!" Gilbert was confused, but then assumed ruby had been invited.
"Hello Gilbert. How are you feeling." Ruby lingered by the door, frightened.
"I've been better, Ruby. But thanks for asking." His gaze drifted to Anne, who's eyes averted to ruby.
"How's school?" Gilbert asked.
"Good." Ruby's answers were rather limited, consisting of yes, no, I don't know, good, okay. "It's boring without you there." Anne stated, realising that Ruby's conversational skills weren't cheering him up at all.
Gilbert beamed, Ruby smiled back, thinking that he was smiling at her. A slight grin appeared on Anne's face as she realised Ruby was obliviously smiling cheerily at Gilbert, when he was looking at her. Poor Ruby.
"Dinner!" Marilla called from the kitchen. Gilbert swung his bruised legs over the bedside, to get up for dinner.
"Gilbert you mustn't move." Ruby warned, "you're to stay in bed." Anne said to him.
"I've heard the best thing for injured legs is to walk on them." He said, gradually standing up.
"Oh Gilbert, you're so clever." Ruby applauded at his bravery.
Anne rolled her eyes, all he was doing was standing up and ruby felt he deserved an award.
Anne and Ruby arrived downstairs, Gilbert stumbling behind them.
"For gods sake, Anne. Poor Gilbert is hobbling behind you." Marilla offered gilbert her arm and led him to the table. "Don't scold Anne, ms Cuthbert, I insisted on being independent." He lied.
Dinner conversation was bashful, awkward and mute.
"Wherever has Matthew gotten to." Marilla left the dining table to find her brother,
Gilbert glanced at Anne who was whispering to ruby,
"You know, it's incredibly, rude to whisper." Gilbert said jokingly. Ruby was startled, wondering if Gilbert didn't like her now. "he's joking, ruby." Anne glared at him, pretending to be furious.
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"Thank you for dinner." Ruby said to Marilla as she reached the door, just as the sun was setting.
"Allow me to walk you." Anne said eyeing Marilla for approval.
"Allow me to?" Gilbert knew he was pushing his luck but asked anyway.
"No you should be in bed." Marilla said, frowning.
"Farewell, Ruby!" Gilbert waved at her which caused her heart to flutter.
"Goodbye, Gilbert." Ruby pronouncing the 'T' in Gilbert enthusiastically.
~~~✿
Anne's shoes dragged across the stone paths on the way to the Gillis's residence.
"I think Gilbert was observant of your new, mature self. Ruby." Anne lied, giving ruby hope and confidence. "And the pink, I think it gives you a form of individuality, what makes you, you." Anne crouched down and collected a pink carnation that grew, singularly in the field, "here" Anne gave it to ruby, "it compliments you, pink."
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A/N
I may post 2 chapters tonight so expect more. I have become intrigued by ruby today and enjoyed writing about her.