Someone Will Remember Us | Diana Barry & Anne Shirley

Chapter Three | The Truth

"Diana!"
Diana stood up, waving back at Anne. Anne was running towards her, and finally reaching Diana she had to bend down to catch her breath.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, I was talking to Jerry and lost track of time."
"As one does." Diana agreed, unable to resist a smile. "Don't worry about it Anne."
Anne frowned. Replacing her hands from her knees to her midriff, she looked at the ground where the tree that marked their meeting spot peacefully stood.
"Were you, sitting?" Anne asked Diana, suspicious as she saw the dirty ground.
"Daydreaming, in fact." Diana corrected. "I was looking at the clouds. How can you not, on a day like this?"
Anne was taken aback.
"Look!" Diana said, as she pointed at a cloud. "That one looks like a bird."
But Anne didn't look at the clouds, she had noticed Diana's dress. Her dress was blue like the sky, but lacked the white puffy clouds that decorated the sky above them. Instead, the dress's sky had smudged brown clouds of dirt.
"Your dress!" Anne exclaimed with a gasp.
"Oh, a little dirt never hurt a soul, has it?" Diana answered unbothered, looking at her ruined dress with a small smile.
Anne's chin dropped a little, and she stood quiet for a moment. Then she broke inte a smile, and replied;
"I believe it hasn't. A little childish playfulness only enriched the soul, and what is more playful and childlike than rolling around in the dirt?"
Diana giggled and agreed.
"Shall we?" She said, raising her arm in an invitation. Anne crooked it with hers and chuckled:
"We shall."

The rest of the way to school the girls skipped their way forwards, laughing and singing. Anne had been surprised by Diana's sudden jolly mood, but she decided not to question it. It was rather infectious and she did see no reason to ask why she was so happy - instead she joined in and encouraged it. Diana was glad. If Anne had asked her why she was so happy all of a sudden, she wouldn't know what to say. The reason was simply Anne, but she didn't dare to tell her that of course.
For the past few days, Diana had let herself bit for bit love Anne. The meeting with Aunt Josephine had encouraged her, for a moment there she had felt okay and she held onto that feeling like it was her newborn baby. Sometimes she'd admit it to herself and other times, when in doubt, she simply told herself that it wasn't odd to love a good friend.
This had put Diana in a good mood. She noticed that she was being more imaginative and childish than before - the sides Anne always encouraged.

At the school, Gilbert blythe stood by the door, resting his back against the school's facade. When he saw Anne and Diana skipping their way forwards he flew up and quickly held up the door for the girls. Diana went inside and thanked him with a smile. Anne walked behind her.
"It was kind of you to ask me to come to Sebastian's wedding."
Anne had come to a sudden halt, turning to face Gilbert.
"I had a good time."
Gilbert's face shone up in a wide grin.
"Bash wanted you there. And me too, of course." He quickly added, his cheeks turning slightly pink. Anne put on a sly smile.
"We have a test in biology this Thursday," she began. "Think you can handle that, doctor?"
Gilbert smiled.
"I think I can. But to be on the safe side maybe you can help me, you know, be my teacher?" Gilbert added boldly with a twinkle in his eyes.
Diana didn't know why they called the other "doctor" and "teacher", nevertheless she had never understood their weird rivalry. She expected Anne to tell Gilbert off, but instead Anne surprised Diana.
"Maybe I can." Anne said with a smile and left Gilbert at the door.
Gilbert's chin dropped slightly, before he too left the door with a satisfied smile. Anne didn't say a word to Diana.
Diana simply shook her head. But when she saw Anne trying to hide a little smirk, it hit her.
Just because Diana was like she was didn't mean Anne was.
Diana felt her heart sink like a stone in her chest. Of course. How could she have been so stupid? Gilbert liked Anne, everyone knew that. And Diana had always been certain that Anne liked him back but just didn't want to admit it. She even used to tease Anne about liking Gilbert! She had forgotten all about that. Anne did love Diana, she had said so herself. But she had meant as a friend. Had Diana really tried to fool herself otherwise? Anne would never, ever love Diana as Diana loved Anne.
"Come on Diana, class is about to start!" Anne's voice sounded distant.
"Coming." She replied with a weak voice.
Diana could have sworn that she had heard something - felt something - break in her chest.

It was difficult to focus on Ms Stacy's lesson. Diana couldn't stop punishing herself by thinking about how stupid she'd been, fooling herself that she and Anne could build a future together. Perhaps, without even admitting it to herself, she had imagined the two of them running away. Somewhere hidden from the rest of the world, where Diana would not have to worry about what everyone else thought or did. She could simply love Anne in peace, for she knew Anne wouldn't mind. She hadn't minded Aunt Josephine and Gretrude.
But the thought that Anne wasn't like her had never crossed Diana's mind. Maybe seeing Anne so certainly accepting about the whole Aunt Josephine and Gertrude thing had led Djana to believe that Anne was not totally unfamiliar with those feelings. How stupid it seemed now. Of course Anne was like everyone else.
Diana suddenly felt like her secret burned on her skin, so everyone could see it. She wouldn't be too surprised if "I LOVE ANNE" appeared in big, burning red letters on her forehead for everyone to read. Unconsciously, her hand flew up to cover her forehead. Diana's thoughts felt loud, like they were screaming, like it wasn't impossible for someone to hear what she was thinking. She looked down on her knees.

"Diana, are you not feeling well?"
Ms Stacy put a hand on Diana's shoulder, taking her back to reality. Diana jumped, and looked around. Ms Stacy had apparently put the students to work while Diana had been lost in thoughts. Diana's breathing was quick.
"Oh, uhm..." She could feel everyone's eyes on her, and she was starting to sweat. "In fact, I'm not feeling to well Ms Stacy." Diana coughed, hoping it would convince Ms Stacy.
Ms Stacy looked concerned but understanding.
"You don't look too well, either. I'll send you home with a note, and you get some rest, okay?"
"Okay." Diana clumsily gathered her books and half finished notes.
Ms Stacy turned to the class.
"Could someone be so kind and go by Diana's house this afternoon to give her some things from school?"
"I can!" Anne volunteered.
"Great, thank you Anne." Ms Stacy turned to Diana again. "Anne will bring you books and notes, don't worry about missing out. Just get some rest, and hopefully I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled at Diana, and Diana attempted a weak smile in response before she hurried off. She avoided eye contact, especially with Anne.

"Diana darling, Anne is at the door with some school work."
Mrs. Barry appeared in the door to Diana's room. Diana felt a little bad for going home from school, but it wasn't a complete lie she told - she wasn't feeling well. She didn't feel very sick either, she just felt... pain.
"Tell her thanks from me."
Mrs. Barry sighed.
"I know you're not feeling well dear, but where are your manners? Can't you go and tell her yourself? It's good to get up from your bed now and then, even if you're sick."
Diana felt herself tearing up. She could not take her mothers talk about manners right now, and she especially couldn't face Anne. Anne would know, she was too clever. She would see through her, and Diana knew she'd be disgusted. And she would start to take distance and avoid her. Diana didn't want that.
"Tell her thanks from me, please." Diana repeated.
She could sense her mother rolling her eyes at her, but she didn't care. Mrs. Barry turned around and Diana heard the sound of her steps decrease. She rolled around in bed, burying her head in her fluffy white pillow before falling asleep.