kindred spirits || anne and gilbert

chapter six .

it's the night of the dance, and the girls all feel beautiful. anne's standing in front of her mirror, ruby at her side, as she looks at her reflection. "anne, you look like a dream come true," diana gasps. "and ruby, you're like a princess in that dress."

they both smile at her. they all feel, and look, their best. earlier, marilla styled the girls hairs in the most beautiful way, except for anne, who took cole's suggestion to wear it down and natural.

"charlie just texted me," diana announces. "they're on their way."

anne sighs and looks at the heels she's wearing. "i'm not sure i'll be able to walk in these, much less stand!" they all giggle.

"get used to it," ruby says. "on my sixteenth birthday, we're throwing an extravagant party. it's going to be beautiful. you will not be allowed in if you're wearing anything but a dress and heels." anne smiles warmly. she wishes she could throw a huge, exciting party for her birthday, but the cuthbert's don't have enough money to waste. although, as long as anne gets to spend the day with the people she loves, she'll be happy on her birthday.

marilla shouts from downstairs, "girls, the boys are here!"

ruby and diana smile at each other and squeal. anne forces a giggle. "charlie is going to faint!" ruby exclaims to diana, before looking at anne and quickly adding, "they all are."

diana extends both arms. "join me, girls, as i make my date faint." she winks at ruby and laughs.

the three girls lock arms, giggling, and exit the room. they carefully descend from the stairway.

the boys are conversing with the cuthbert's, and jerry, as the girls walk down the stairs. the first one to notice them is cole. he smiles and whispers, "that's my girl." gilbert looks up, and his breath hitches in his throat.

'anne looks absolutely stunning.'

he did everything anne told him to. took ruby out on dates, spent time alone with her, they had even kissed a few days prior to this moment. but none of it has made him feel the way anne makes him feel. so, without guilt, he stares up at anne. speechless, he just smiles.

"diana!" charlie exclaims, smiling. "you look... you're... wow!" he, too, is speechless. diana smiles, while jerry rolls his eyes. anne pinches his arm. he glares at the freckled girl.

ruby smiles up at gilbert. "hey," she says quietly.

"hello." he clears his throat before adding, "you look really good, ruby." she smiles.

cole lazily wraps an arm around anne and pulls her close. "come on, moody is waiting in the car."

charlie explains to the girls and the cuthberts, "he was afraid of ruining the moment. he insisted on staying in the vehicle."

as the three couples leave green gables, marilla and matthew cuthbert wave goodbye from the porch. cole sits in the driver seat, since it's his mother's car- he can't drive his own vehicle because there aren't enough seats. moody is in the passenger seat, and everyone else piled in the back. anne makes sure to sit as far away from gilbert as possible.

the drive to charlottetown feels like an eternity to anne, since she knows he was staring at her and even discreetly poking her head. but once they're parked in front of josephine's, she can't help but smile. "people are already here," she states the obvious. "cole, can you walk me in?"

"of course, madame," he grins. gilbert can't help but roll his eyes, which diana notices. she frowns.

cole opens the door for her and extends her hand, which she accepts. he helps her step out of the car, and waits for the other couples and moody to get out as well. he locks arms with anne and enters the house.