AHEAD BY A CENTURY - ANNE WITH AN E

12. Staring at the ceiling in the dark

The earth beneath them was dark and sloppy due to the torrential rain, the dismal sky a bituminous colour. The once forceful downpour had now descended into a slight drizzle.
"It's rather compelling, isn't it." Anne's sodden hair, which the rain had transformed it into a dark copper shade, resembled a glossy penny.
"I beg your pardon?" Gilbert's own hair had collected the rain within the curls,
"The rain, it's rather compelling, don't you agree?" She restated, glancing at Gilbert. Gilbert tilted his head vertically to feel the cool rain against his numb from the cold skin.
"It is. Compelling.." Gilbert continued to greet the rainfall with his face, "as are you." Gilbert spoke this with complete certainty, refusing to meet Anne's shocked glare. 
"What?" Anne was practically drowning in the rain and she knew it was prudent to find shelter, but for now, that lacked importance.
"I said, you are compelling." Gilbert emphasised the 'pell' in compelling, his eyes averting from the rain.
Anne's eyes spoke for her, the azure shade of blue told Gilbert's deep brown something, something that Anne and Gilbert didn't even know.
"Now, let's get you home so I can go home." Gilbert took Anne's hand, bracing for her argument and protest; however, she accepted his glacial hand and grinned,
"This is.... nice." Anne seemed to be at a loss for words, there were thousands of worlds in existence and Anne couldn't find a single one in her brain besides nice.
"I must have done something wrong then." Gilbert calmly chuckled, "nice? Since when have you ever used such a simple word as nice?" Gilbert squeezed her snow-white, fragile hand and he smiled as her gaze reached him.

"I often use big words as they emphasise my big thoughts but I feel sometimes, instead of saying something is delightful or...captivating. Simplicity is sometimes more expressive than forming grand, complex sentences." Anne squeezed Gilbert's frozen, shivering hand in return.
The two had no sense of direction as their surroundings were misty and gloomy. The fields around them were soggy, swampy and slimy, the grass high, sharply swiping against Anne's soaked, chilled skirts and Gilbert's tall, trousered legs.
After what seemed like centuries of trudging through the infinite, grassy fields, water droplets slumbering upon the lanky strands of grass, their once immaculate, parched shoes becoming overwhelmed by rainwater, their feet squeaking and sloshing around the water inside.
"Oh my. Anne, Gilbert!" Marilla exclaimed seeing their drenched conditions as they eventually reached green gables after what seemed alike to hours of blindly strolling the soggy fields.
"Gilbert why don't you borrow one of Matthews coats and get yourself off home." Marilla said clutching, protectively a sodden Anne in hopes that she wouldn't end up catching a cold.
"Thank you, Miss cuthbert, mr cuthbert." Gilbert nodded at the two before once again entering green gables, cautious to not drip water as he did,  along with a dazed Matthew.
"Come inside, Anne." Marilla ushered Anne Indoors, sitting her near the Cuthbert's snug log fire.
Anne's eyes became fixated on Gilbert as he fastened up Matthews winter coat, his fingers trembling due to their frozen state, grateful for the warmth it provided to him.
"Goodbye Mr Cuthbert, Goodbye, Miss Cuthbert, Thank you for your hospitality during my stay." Gilbert turned to depart from green gables, "Goodbye, Anne." He said, his voice sounding more meaningful and wistful than his farewells to Matthew and Marilla.
Anne didn't say goodbye but delivered a warm farewell smile in hope that it would suffice.
Gilbert closed the door firmly, a breeze escaping from the cold, rainy outdoors, causing the fire to flicker, the amber glow casting a partial shadow, yet illuminating the centre of Anne's pale face.
Marilla presented Anne with a citrusy scented cup of tea, "that'll help ease that cold that I'm sure you have. Drink up." Marilla patted Anne's damp, blanketed shoulder before retiring to her armchair in the other room Anne remained still, surrounded by layers of blankets and jackets to warm up.
~~~✿
Gilbert Blythe, tip of his nose flushed due to the cold he had gotten, relaxed on top of his blanket on his bed, not quite ready to retire for the night.
Me and Anne kissed tonight, I enjoyed it. Gilbert thought to himself, forming a smile, defining his cheekbones, as his brain began to process,
"ME AND ANNE KISSED TONIGHT!" The realisation crashed into him the same way Anne's slate had crashed into his head the day of their first encounter.
~~~✿
Later that cloudy evening, rain still plummeting from beyond the twinkling stars, Anne lay in bed, covered in so many blankets it had seemed that the blankets were to swallow her up soon enough, Anne had caught a cold.
Me and Gilbert under the billions of stars, our lips embracing each other, how romantical.
"Oh my goodness. Me and Gilbert... kissed!?" Annes head flooded with thoughts such as: who do I tell? Do I tell anyone? What does that make me and Gilbert? Does he like me? Does he love me? Am I allowed to kiss him? Would Marilla approve of my involvement with Gilbert Blythe? How would ruby feel about me and Gilbert?
"Calm down." Anne mumbled, breathing slowly to regain her placid mindset.

Anne and Gilbert's minds thwarted them from prompt slumber.

~~~✿
Gilbert's body was prepared to rest, but his head, on the other hand, contended with it. Thoughts buzzing around his mind like a swarm of enraged bees. His hazel eyes stared at the pitch black ceiling, what was he going to do?

Note from the author:
I really love the song (at the top of the chapter) although it's old I really relate to it in some way and I hope it gave you some feels while reading.