Meant To Be (Anne and Gilbert)

8. An Unexpected Turn Of Events

Cole had not said a word to Anne in three days. It was starting to take a huge toll on her. She would attempt to say a couple of words to him before class but would get one-worded replies, and he'd stopped eating lunch with them. It felt wrong to be around Gilbert when Cole was feeling the way he was, so Anne kept her distance from him. She knew Gilbert was hurt and confused, but all Anne could think about was Cole.

Gilbert tried to talk to Anne at every turn, but she pushed him away. How could she enjoy her time with Gilbert after what Cole had said to her? It felt wrong to be happy when Cole wasn't. After a full week of Cole ignoring her, Anne had had enough. It was time to speak with him, kindred spirit to kindred spirit. She stopped him after the day was over, and practically dragged him to their hut. Sitting down across from him, she sighed deeply and began speaking.

"Cole, I'm sick of the way you're acting. I understand if you want to be alone, but I want to be here for you." Anne pleaded with her big eyes.

Cole looked up at her with a troubled expression.

"I understand if you're upset with me, Anne. I'm upset with myself for liking Gilbert." He mumbled.

"Upset with you? I'm not upset with you, Cole. I could never be upset with you for how you're feeling." Anne said earnestly.

He looked up, surprise coating his face.

"Really? You're not mad at me for liking him?"

"No. I'm upset because you've been ignoring me for the past week." Anne said with a small smile.

"I just figured you didn't want to be my friend anymore now that I've told you how I feel." Cole admitted quietly.

"Cole," Anne started sympathetically. "I could never hold this against you. You're one of my closest friends and the fact that you felt comfortable enough to tell me about your feelings means so much to me. I'm honored, truly."

Cole looked up with watery eyes. Anne scooted closer and hugged him tightly. Cole returned the embrace gratefully. They sat there in silence for a long time, comforting each other.

"Are you going to tell Gilbert?" Anne asked after a while.

"No. He's yours. I've known that from the start, just from the way he looks at you." Cole said with a sly smile, making Anne blush.

"So, what are you going to do?" She asked.

"I'm going to move on. I know that Gilbert's heart belongs to you, and I've accepted that. I will find someone else, I know it."

Anne grabbed his hand and squeezed tightly.

"You will." Anne promised.

They smiled at each other.

~

After speaking with each other, Cole and Anne had gone back to normal. Anne had stopped acting odd around Gilbert, and Cole hung out with them once again. Everything was as it should be. Well, except for Gilbert. Anne tried to stop him and apologize after her talk with Cole, but he brushed her off. Now he was the one giving her the cold shoulder. Anne couldn't believe how dumb she'd been as to push him away again.

Things only got worse when Billy Andrews cornered Cole one day after class was over. Cole was just packing up his things and about to leave the schoolhouse when the tall blonde boy stopped him from leaving. Cole looked around and saw that him and Billy were the only ones left.

"Hey there, princess." Billy sneered.

Cole attempted to wriggle out of the corner Billy pinned him into, to no avail. He was trapped.

"What do you want?" Cole asked harshly.

"I wanna see all your pretty drawings, Miss. Since you never seem to be doing anything else." Billy sneered at Cole, trying to snatch the sketchbook from Cole's hand.

Cole immediately tightened his grip, pushing Billy away from him. Billy merely twisted a different angle and got a grip again. Cole grunted in anger and wrapped his other hand around the sketchbook, wrenching it away from the taller boy. It was then that Cole realized how close they were. Billy seemed to realize it, too, for his eyes widened with fear.

Billy let the book go, but didn't step away. The two boys were panting from anger and the wrestle with the book. Billy seemed to process what was going on and quickly turned away from Cole, stomping out of the schoolhouse in a hurry. Cole stood there trying to catch his breath, while also wondering what the hell just happened.

~

"Gilbert! Gilbert!" Anne called after the boy who was practically running away from her.

Anne was luckily a fast runner and caught up to him in no time. She grabbed one of his hands and turned him to face her. His eyes were the first thing she noticed; so much darker and glossier than usual. Then she saw the dark circles under his eyes and the untidiness of his hair. She longed to run her fingers through it to smooth it down.

"What do you want, Anne?" He asked harshly.

For the first time in her life, Anne couldn't think of anything to say. What could she say? She's sorry for not speaking to him for a whole week with no explanation? She realized with a jolt of horror that Gilbert may not forgive her for this awful offense.

"I-I..." She stuttered, trying to form a worthy apology.

"You what?" He didn't sound angry anymore, more weary than anything.

"I am so sorry, Gilbert." She whispered, tears blurring her vision.

His eyes softened slightly when he saw the tears that dripped down her freckled face.

"I can understand if your affections for me have lessened after how wretched I've treated you this past week." She said with a wobbly voice. "But know this; I have always liked you. That is the one constant in my life that I really doubt will ever change. And thinking that I could lose you is the scariest thought I've ever had. So, if you can still stand to look at my face, I would be grateful to you if you'd take me back."

Gilbert looked at Anne in a way she'd never seen before. He dropped his school bag and walked closer to her, cradling her face in his warm hands. Anne sniffled and couldn't bring herself to look at him. How awful he must think she is. She'd been looking down at her hands when she felt his fingers under her chin, tilting her head so their eyes met. It was like a shock going down her spine when she saw those hazel irises.

"Will you forgive me?" She asked in a broken whisper.

He didn't answer her, but his fingers moved to cup her cheek, the other cradling the back of her head as their lips met. Anne was almost sobbing with relief and Gilbert gently shushed her as they broke apart. He held her against him as she continued to cry, rubbing her back in slow motions.

"I forgive you, Anne. I forgive you," He kept whispering in her ear.

Anne had never been so grateful to hear those words in her entire life.