Chivalrous- A shirbert sTorY

-Chapter 2-

As the bell signalling lunch pierced through the school house, Anne sighed.

She had been on edge all morning, due to the tingling sensation of eyes boring into the side of her head. Pulling herself off of the school benches she peered around. All the students were busy grabbing their lunch items.

I wonder who was looking at me...

Her eyes landed on a boy, his chubby cheeks and soft grin made Anne feel like he portrayed more of a brotherly appearance or maybe an innocent puppy dog look rather than a beau.

It could have been Moody staring at me...

Anne pondered as she assessed the boy who was chatting to his friends as they slowly packed up their books. She shook her head in dismissal.

I doubt it

Next her eyes were drawn to a tall stick thin boy, his large chestnut curls bobbled around his head as his eyes glimmered with laughter.

It could have been Charlie....

Ruby had told Anne before that Charlie used to always glance at her during the spelling bees and he always wanted to to chat to her, she hadn't payed much attention to him before but maybe she should....

Finally her eyes rested on the last boy left in the classroom.

His hazel eyes gleamed as his boyish grin and dimples increased with his laughter, his eyes crinkled as he chuckled along with his friends jokes, his dark curls shifted lightly from side to side as he straightened his books and nudged his friends in a playful mannerism. He was enough of a heartthrob that one look from him could cause a girl to faint or swoon. Just imagine what would happen if he smiled at a girl, heavens forbid.

No way. Gilbert could never be the one looking at me. He's far too invested in Ruby and Josie. He would NEVER like me.

She shook her head lightly in dismay as she tore her eyes away from the boys who were settling down on the classroom benches with their lunches.

It was unusual for the Moody, Charlie and Gilbert to eat lunch indoors- they normally ate outside with the other boys but now that's changed...

Anne grabbed her lunch and cautiously crossed the classroom towards the girls private area, as she walked she could feel the eyes watching her. She quickened her pace and dove beneath the material that sheltered the girls secret lunch area.

"Seriously Anne, can you slow down your pace instead of charging in like some lost elephant without a pack." Josie rolled her eyes as a bright flush flew across Anne's cheeks.

"You nearly crushed Diana's jam tarts!!" Josie shrieked as she gestured to a group of delicious strawberry tarts that were neatly scattered across the picnic blanket- most of them were less then a couple of centimetres away from Anne's dirty, worn black boots.

Anne's eyes widened in realisation.
"I'm so sorry guys, I didn't mean to bustle in so obnoxiously- it won't happen again." Anne apologised profusely.

Josie huffed as she and the other girls packed away their stuff and took down the blanket.

"Let's eat outside so theirs more space. We don't want another obnoxious elephant destroying our peaceful lunch." Josie nudged the girls past as they all skipped out of the school room.

Once they had all waltzed off Josie turned to Anne, her eyes narrowing in disgust.

"I suggest you and your dirty boots don't join us for lunch today, maybe clean yourself up, find some manners and then join us tomorrow- if I allow it." Josie spat as she turned and left the school room.

Anne stood in shock, her hands clutching tightly to her lunch basket. A tear rolled slowly down Anne's freckled cheek as she sighed before sitting down at her table and burying her head in her hands.

Suddenly she felt a light tap on her arm, she glanced up with her glassy eyes too see a pair of concerned hazel ones staring down at her. She quickly wiped the droplets away as a stone cold look replaced the one of despair.

"Are you okay Anne?" His brows furrowed in concern, his hand still laying gently on her arm.

"Yes, I'm fine." Anne sniffed softly.

"You don't look fine..." Gilbert murmured, his glinting eyes taking in every detail of her gorgeous face.

"And who are you to tell me when I look and don't look fine, Gilbert Blythe." The look of stone snapped back on her face. Her voice wavered but stayed as cold as the Avonlea winters.

"I was just-." Gilbert began but Anne cut him off by standing up and fleeing from the classroom.

Gilbert sighed as he rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. Clenching his jaw he turned back towards Moody and Charlie who had just witnessed the previous events. He just shrugged his shoulders before they all continued their conversation.