Another Year In Avonlea

Best Decision of My Life

     Lunch finally came. Right away, Anne headed to her friends creating the fort and sat down with her stuff. "Okay, name one thing! I can't wrap my head around it all!"

     "You're always competing with each other," Josie said.

     "We are rivals!"

     "You didn't want to give Gilbert's letter to Ruby," Diana said.

     "I explained that one to you."

     "But was that really the reason?"

     "Yes!"

     "Oh Anne, you should see the way you look at each other," Ruby laughed, slightly tearing up.

     "We look at each other normally."

     All the girls shook their heads at Anne's comment. Everyone saw they didn't look at each other the way they looked at others.

     "Where's your milk Anne?" Tillie asked.

     "Oh, I forgot it!" Anne stood up and made her way out the door. She stopped in the coat room when she saw Gilbert. Anne opened her mouth, like she was going to speak to him, but just stood there.

     Gilbert looked up at her, his face changing into confusion that she just stood there. Quickly, Anne closed her mouth and went out the door. "Anne," Gilbert said, following her outside.

     Inside, all the girls crowded the windows, watching.

     "Yes?"

     "Did you want to say something?"

     "No," she said nonchalantly.

     "You looked like you did," he laughed.

     Anne picked up her milk. "I felt like I should say something but I couldn't think of anything so I went on my way."

     "Well," Gilbert stepped a little closer to Anne, "is there anything you want to say now?"

     "Why did you follow me?"

     "Uh, because you, well you looked like you wanted to talk but then kept walking. I was curious."

     "No need to be curious any longer, right?"

     "Yeah?"

     "What would you have to be curious about?"

     "I couldn't help but- never mind."

     "No, go on."

     "I have to read more books," Gilbert said, turning and walking back to the school house. Inside, all the girls rushed back to their spots.

     "No Gilbert," Anne said as he opened the door, "you actually did want to say something."

     "Ladies first."

     "Thank you."

     "Yeah," he said, walking in himself. "Uh, well I'll be reading." He sat down and started reading his book again.

     Anne stood there in front of him for a few moments, thinking. "What ever happened to that orchard of apples?"

     Gilbert looked up to Anne again. "It's still there. I just haven't been there in a while."

     "You could get more money from the orchards, I don't see why you didn't harvest."

     "I guess I didn't think about that. Some bad memories, you know."