Close Proximity -Anne With An E-

Chapter 5| the talk about Ruby.

Anne steps into the house, her face red from the cold and her gloved hands numb. "Mary? Bash?" Anne calls out when she doesn't see them in the kitchen. Nobody answers.

She sets the basket of eggs on the dining table. The front door opens, revealing Gilbert. "Gilbert, have you seen Mary? Or Bash?"

"They went into town to fetch some groceries." Gilbert says, taking off his coat. "They won't be back for two or three days, because of the snow."

Anne's cheeks dust pink. Just the two of them, alone, for two or three days. Gilbert laughs a little, "What? Do you really not like me so much, that you can't spend two days with just me?"

Anne scoffs, "I never said I don't like you."

"Oh, really?" Gilbert asks stepping close to her, their faces inches apart, "So I guess that slate was just a cryptic 'I love you'."

Anne laughs, bending her head down so it's resting on his chest. Gilbert's heartbeat spikes at her touch, seeming to choke his breathing a bit.

Lifting her head back up, so she can look him in the eyes, she says, "I did tell you I wasn't supposed to talk to you, before the whole, ah, slate incident."

Instead of laughing, Gilbert asks, "Yeah, why was that?"

Anne looks at him, confused, "What do you mean?"

"Why couldn't you talk to me?" He asks, hurt painted in his eyes.

"Um," she pauses, realizing she can't tell him that Ruby likes him, "Why does it matter? I'm talking to you now."

Gilbert huffs a breath in disappointment, but smiles and tentatively reaches for her hand. "Which, I am glad." and he brings her knuckles to his lips, not breaking their eye contact.

Anne's heart stutters, once again, at his lips on her skin. The two unconsciously lean closer to the other, before Anne breaks away quickly and asks, "So, do you like Ruby?"

Gilbert stands there for a second, confused, "What? Ruby?" Where did that come from? He wonders.

Anne grabs the basket of eggs and walks over to the icebox, "Yes, Ruby Gillis. Do you like her?"

Gilbert leans against the back of a chair, folding his arms and following Anne's movements with his eyes, "Like her, how?"

Anne gives him a look, seemingly asking if he is dumb, "You know, do you think she's cute? Do you think she's sweet? Do you want to court her?"

Gilbert coughs, "I mean, yes, and yes, but not really, no."

Anne lifts her head to look at him, leaning against the counter and mimicking his stance, "Why not?"

Gilbert shrugs, "Why don't you want to go courting with Jerry?" He asks. His anxiety spikes when he mentions Jerry's name, worried that maybe, Anne would want to go courting with Jerry.

Anne sighs, "Well that's different, Jerry is like my brother."

Gilbert smiles with relief, "And what if Ruby is like a little sister to me?" He steps closer to her.

Anne looks down, sad for her friend, but for some reason, relieved. She didn't think she could bear to hear Gilbert say he did like Ruby.

When she looks back at Gilbert, his eyes are still on her. Feeling suddenly uncomfortable with their prolonged eye contact, she averts her eyes to his hair.

She traces his black curls with her eyes, finding herself wondering how soft his hair is, how it would feel between her fingers.

Anne groans and rests her head on Gilbert's shoulder, angry at her own thoughts. Gilbert secures her in an embrace, without hesitation.