I'll Be Happy For The Both Of You

chapter 12: anne's apology

Crashing through the school door, I looked around, trying to find Ruby. It was a bright and sunny, yet brisk, autumnal day. Everything felt fully awake and full of hope, full of passion. Unfortunately, my mood was far from that.

I finally found her on the backyard of the school, right where me and Gilbert once were, when he offered me that apple. Why do I remember that?

Only this time, he was there with Ruby, kneeling down infront of her, as she sat on a piece of wood. It looked as if he was comforting her. For some reason, seeing them like that made my heart speed up, but I quickly shook the feeling away and slowly hid behind a tree near them, trying to hear their conversation.

"I'm sorry, Ruby. I'll never make the mistake of asking Anne again, when she obviously doesn't want me. I'm sorry if I hurt you." Gilbert said soothingly, patting her knee.

"I was your second choice." Ruby sobbed softly, looking to the ground

"But you'll never be again. I'm sorry I was too stupid not to see you. Not to appreciate you." He said to her and my heart skipped a beat.

"Will you give me another chance?" Gilbert stood up from the ground, offering Ruby his hand. She smiled at him and took it, standing up as well. "I'll think about it." She giggled and he did too, and it almost seemed to hurt me too much. I didn't know what to do.

I watched them look at each other now, and as they stopped talking, I figured that was my cue. I ran in their direction, ignoring Gilbert, only looking at my best friend.

"Ruby, may we talk?" I blurted out.

She looked at me, her eyes full of sorrow, but also full of hope. Hope for a second chance with Gilbert, I guessed. I avoided Gilbert's gaze and looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Everything's alright now, Anne," she smiled at me. "But sure."

I took her hand and pushed her to the forest, away from Gilbert's prying eyes. When I figured we were far enough, I turned around and faced her.

"I'm sorry, Ruby."

She jumped to my arms at once, squeezing me tight.

"I know you are." She whispered to my ear. "And I know you just wanted to protect me. That's why you didn't tell me he asked you first."

"You know?" I asked, pretty shocked by Ruby's understanding of my true motives. In the past, she sometimes had trouble with that. Maybe this was a sign of her growing up.

"Yes! I didn't realize it at first, but as I thought about it, it makes sense." She played with the hem of her dress.

"I just thought it was better if you didn't know the truth this time. I know how fragile you can be, and I just didn't want you to..."

"I know, Anne. And it's alright now." She hugged me once again, her small hands holding my waist. Oh, how much I loved this gentle girl. I must do all that I can to never hurt her again.

"Besides, Gilbert apologized, so everything's as it should be now." She looked at me cheerfully, laughing. "We're going together."

"I'm happy for you." I said to her, and for the first time in a long time, I truly meant it. As much as it hurt me, I was happy for her, for them.

And I will try to make it stay that way, because she deserves to be loved by the one she loves.

Even if that person might be someone I'm starting to realize to feel some kind of way about.
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I hope you enjoyed this chapter. We'll see where it goes next. Please comment your thoughts, it always excites me to see them!
See you soon :)

-K