AHEAD BY A CENTURY - ANNE WITH AN E

18. When in between two places

The following day was Anne's much anticipated 16th birthday celebration and she had been gifted by dearest Matthew, a new gown.
"Oh Matthew, I love it so." Anne clutched it to her young, fulfilled heart.
"Well, I'm glad ya like it." Matthew smiled, "it means the world to see ya smile, Anne."
——————
At precisely 2:01 pm Diana Barry came knocking, she had arrived early to Anne's party to be of help - fashionably.
She assisted Anne into her ravishing new gown, it was a delightful teal colour which enhanced her bold shade of eye colour.
Diana gathered the upper half of Anne's pre-raphaelite hair into a braid, threaded with a teal, silk ribbon to accent her dress nicely.
Anne placed her toes into delicate, dainty white stockings and matte white slippers.
"Anne, you look darling." Diana could hardly breathe at how remarkably stunning her bosom friend was.
"Why thank you Diana. I'd usually disagree but for once, I feel I truly am beautiful today." Anne smiled, dimples emerging from her lightly freckled, pale, rosy cheeks.
"You could get any young man you want." Diana spoke, complimentarily. "Well, of course you could anyway. Even without your under appreciated beauty, you always stood out in the crowd."
Anne smiled at Diana yet again, "I don't want just any young man." Anne's racing thoughts drifted to Gilbert Blythe. The only young man she wanted. And had.
——————
As time moved on, and guests arrived, with beautifully wrapped, ribboned gifts upon them, Anne felt that if her life could stop at any time and freeze for eternity, she'd want it to be then.
"Here, Anne. I think this is such a you kind of present." Ruby Gillis gleefully handed Anne a pink, shiny, wrapped box.
Anne removed the rather resilient paper to reveal a book; titled 'Anne'
"I wrote a book. You had always encouraged my writing in our story club and I thought this would bring you joy."
Anne hugged Ruby closely.
"Oh dear ruby, I love it ever so much. I shall read it when I feel down and think of you."
——————
After gifts had been gifted and greetings had been greeted, a collection of music was being broadcasted across green gables through the gramophone.
Anne sat at the table which sat her gifts, with Diana, elegantly dressed in periwinkle, Ruby in a soft sunset cloud pink and Tilly in a deep, pine tree green. Gilbert Blythe approached them, which caused Ruby's face to match her dress.
"I wish we could dance together." He whispered to Anne's freckled ear.
"Why not?" Anne gently gripped his upper arm and stood up.
As far as everybody knew they were simply just similar people who spent their time apart.
"You know why, Anne. You're the one who wanted to be a secret." Anne was disheartened by what wasn't to be. But just as she was to sit down again Matthew emerged and held out his muscular hand,
"Anne. May I um. Have this.. dance?" He stuttered nervous of the judgement of the children around them.
"You may." Anne replied, gripping ahold of his large hand and swaying close to her fatherly figure.
In the midst of the music, the party and the happiness what Anne was about to face came as the biggest of shocks.
Matthews hand fell out of Anne's loving clutches as he collapsed to the ground.
"Matthew." Marilla shouted over the party sounds. She ran to her much loved younger brother with pain and sorrow.
He seemed to have lost his mind, muttering random words under his breath, trembling rapidly like a madman.
As Anne went to run to him she couldn't move, something or someone was holding her back with such a firm hold.
"MATTHEW!!" Anne screamed, tears falling from her eyes and hanging on to her chin for dear life.
Anne discovered Gilbert holding her with such force yet gentleness.
"Anne." He whispered, "Anne. Stay back. He isn't in his right mind."
Anne sobbed. Marilla had ran out to find help. Everybody had evacuated green gables in fear of making Matthews state worsen.
Gilbert now buried Anne into his chest, he clutched her tight in his arms, even as an aspiring doctor, Gilbert couldn't diagnose Matthew.
"He'll be right as rain won't he?!!" Anne said in such panic, and such fright.
"I don't want to lie to you and so I say this, I really have no idea but I'm here for you." He placed his forefinger and middle finger under Anne's tear-stained chin and tilted her head up to face his.
"You know I'm here." He kissed her forehead.

————
A/N
This may have been rushed as it's super late but two chapters in an hour??? Woah. Such in capability here folks. Gn.