The Fate Along The Way

04

That same phrase was stuck in the back of Anne Shirley Cuthbert's scalp for the rest of the morning.

"Didn't I make it clear the last time bud, the next time you hassle Anne you'll regret it"

"Is something the matter Anne" Marilla's sweet voice cut off Anne's thoughts as Marilla set a burnt piece of toast following by a glass of orange juice onto the dining table in front of Anne for breakfast.

"Oh nothing's the matter Marilla, it's just...school work" Anne lied again. She thought Marilla had enough to deal with than to listen to her foolish thoughts that rampage in her mind.

"Has Gilbert been escorting you girls to school safely?" Marilla questioned looking up from her newspaper to see Anne let out a big sigh.

"Out of all people you had to ask Gilbert to walk with me and Diana" Anne said dramatically waving her hands around

"Well Gilbert is a nice young man and I thought maybe you could use some company" Marilla responded to the stubborn redhead

"Why would I need company when I have Diana" Anne turned her head slightly confused

"Well isn't it awful lonesome walking to meet Diana all by yourself?" Marilla picked up Anne's now finished plate of breakfast walking to the sink

"Actually quite the opposite I have the beautiful flowers and birds who keep me company on the way" Anne thought of all the different fields of blossoming flowers all lined up just for her

"Well Gilbert's still walking with you and Diana to school and back" Marilla replied as she was starting to do errands around the quaint little kitchen. "But—"

"And that's final" Marilla gave Anne a stern look which only made her daughter grumble in her chair.

"You better go along now, knowing Gilbert he's probably already waiting outside the door" Marilla began to lightly chuckle as she swept the kitchen floor

"Alright Marilla, I love you" Anne walked beside the door to grab her cerulean blue backpack

"I love you too, now go along now" Marilla kissed the teen on her cheek softly as her lips formed into a warm smile and with that Anne was out the door face to face with the one and only Gilbert Blythe.

"Hello Gilbert" Anne stayed on her porch looking at the raven-haired boy

"Hey Anne" Gilbert looked into her calm ocean eyes studying them but Anne soon broke off the gaze meeting him on the pathway. After a few minutes of silence, Anne couldn't hold it in much longer

"What did you mean when you told Billy in the cafeteria that "Didn't you make it clear the last time"  and that "if he bothered me again he'd regret it" Anne said all of a sudden which made Gilbert stop walking to make Anne turn to him

"Gilbert...?" Anne tilted her head waiting for a response

"I may have..uh.... beaten Billy up for all the stuff he's been doing to... you" Gilbert was playing with his feet

Blood started to rush to Anne's cheeks making her look down trying to hide her face "...Oh that was very kind of you Gilbert but I could've handled it myself" they both knew that was a lie as much as Anne hated to admit it she was terrified of Billy and what he could do

"I know but I wanted to, all that stuff he was saying about you It just made me so... angry," Gilbert said clenching his jaw

"Well... thank you Gilbert" A smile started to creep on Anne's lips which made Gilbert's stomach do backflips

"Let's go Diana's been waiting long enough" Anne started to quicken up the pace

"Alright wait up Shirley" Gilbert called out with a smile

"Shirley-Cuthbert" Anne gave him a soft glare trying to fight back her smile

"So does this mean we're friends?" Gilbert looked at the redhead his eyes begging her

Anne looked up to the sky pretending that she was thinking long and hard which made Gilbert even more impatient "I guess so, friends" Anne stuck out her hand for Gilbert to shake and he took it willingly loving the feeling of her hands on his even if it was only for a second he would live in that moment where he got to grace the beautiful palm of Anne Shirley-Cuthbert.

A/N sorry this is a short chapter, high school is a pain in the ass :/ sorry for the wait ❤️