kindred spirits || anne and gilbert

chapter one .

anne pulls on the white sundress as quickly as possible, followed by a nice pair of white shoes, before rushing down the steps of her home. she notices marilla already made a cake for the special occasion and smiles. she wonders in to the dining room and spots marilla cleaning the table.

"where is matthew?" she asks her mother figure. "i want to wish him a grand birthday before my expedition to school begins."

"oh, he's sleeping in today," marilla explains blandly. "you can go in and wake him up, but don't be too loud or excited, you'll confuse the poor, tired man." she gives anne a warning look.

"i won't be anything but calm- and happy." she quickly hugs marilla before racing back upstairs to matthew's bedroom door, which she pushes open. there in his bed lays matthew cuthbert, snoring away. she looks at the man, and younger brother of marilla, who adopted her with nothing but love and admiration.

she decides that it's best to let him sleep and settles on a light kiss of the forehead. she whispers, "happy birthday, matthew. don't overwork yourself today."

~•~

gilbert, too, dressed up today. he is dressed in a white oxford, a black sweater pulled over it, with tan chinos and brown dress shoes. the only reason he dressed up is in memory of his mother's death, and to celebrate her life.

he sits in front of his window, waiting for anne. nearly everyday he does this for the chance to speak to her. she lives about a block from gilbert's house, and since they live so close to the school, she walks every morning.

bash walks in to the living room and laughs at the sight. "you are head over heels for that girl," he laughs. "just go to school, blythe."

"i'm just waiting, to talk to a friend," blythe argues calmly. bash rolls his eyes.

"'a friend' my ass. the way you two look at each other is no way-"

gilbert looks back out the window and noticed a redheaded girl walking. he jumps to his feet. "she's here! bye, sebastian!"

gilbert rushes out his house. anne looks up, making eye contact with him, but quickly looks away and quickens her pace as she holds her head high. "anne!" gilbert exclaims, jogging up to her pace. once beside her, he slows down and looks at her appearance, and can't help but smile.

anne notices the smile, his pretty hazel eyes, that damn dimple in his cheek. she feels her cheeks heating up, but looks away once again. "gilbert blythe, what on heavens earth do you want?"

his smile widens. "i-i just wanted to say hello," he says quickly, his cheeks turning red as well. "i thought that we could walk to school together."

"if ruby or josie pye saw, they-"

"then we won't let them," he cuts her off. "before they see us i'll stop to let you in first, and then i'll come in shortly after."

anne looks at the boy, frowning in confusion. she's close to saying no, and running off to school so he can't catch up. but something about him, about him right now, maybe his appearance, makes her groan instead and reply with, "fine." gilbert nearly swoons.

anne finally slows down so the two of them can walk at a normal pace. gilbert looks her up and down. "why are you so dressed up today?" he asks.

"it's matthew's birthday," she says simply. she then adds, "he bought me this, and it's lovely, but i never wear it in fear josie or billy andrews would ruin it. but i thought that he would be happy to see me in it."

gilbert licks his lips in hesitation. he then blurts out, "you look beautiful." he notices the blush creeping on to anne's face and bites back a smile. "i like the little flower detailing on it."