"We accept the love we think we deserve."
― Stephen Chbosky
❦
Annabelle pulled down her dress, running her hands over her hair in a poor attempt to smooth the effects of the wind on her curls. Currently, Annabelle stood at the doorstep of Gilbert Blythe whom she had been ordered by her Dear Aunt Mary to come and thank for bringing her home after her fainting spell at the school. So there she stood with a basket in hand, filled to the brim with pastries and apples which she had hand-picked, silently praying he wouldn't open the door. Raising her hand slowly she knocked twice against the oak wincing as she waited for any sound to acknowledge he was home. She would simply wait ten seconds and if he didn't come she would run back home with a clear conscious. "One...two....three...four-"
The sound of the door handle turning made Annabelle cringe as the doom set in that it was too late to run.
Gilbert's face came into view as the door creaked back. First looking down until he looked up to catch eyes with her, The small amounts of snow that had been appearing now and then due to spring slowly arriving covered the tips of his soft curly hair.
"So miss fainting spell has come to thank me I presume" this was the first time Annabelle had even properly spoken to this boy and of course he was already cocky, her embarrassment turned to spite quickly. She scoffed shoving the basket towards him
"From my Auntie, to thank you for helping me" He leans in closer taking the basket in his hands bruised from what she assumed was assisting in running the farm his home was on. His expression shifted slightly as he examined her "Are you ok now?" He questioned with a slight grin. "I am perfectly fine thank you," Anabelle said refusing to make eye contact with him in an act of rebellion against her still confused feelings towards his face.
"Did I do something to offend you?" He asked tilting his head to rest against the door frame,
"No, but I know enough about you to know that I don't need a specific reason to dislike you"
She watched as a little smile spread across his lips, "Okay well-" he pushed the door wider gesturing for her to enter "Do you want some cocoa?" Annabelle looks behind him feeling the snow beginning to cover the ground behind her and how the warmth flooded in from inside melting away the cold. "No thank you I better get going-" Annabelle hesitantly stated, Gilbert rolled his eyes slowly before grabbing her hand and pulling her inside. "Hey!" She exclaimed
"Apologies for the use of force but it's freezing outside and your face is redder than those apples, and I'd rather you not get sick and need MY assistance again" She winced at the word sick, he didn't know. This was a good thing. Annabelle still bit the inside of her mouth from the anxiety of realising that his hand was still grasping her wrist, it was warm and calloused in a comforting way. Gilbert glanced down at his hand quickly releasing hers, before leading her into the kitchen where the sound of a softly crackling fire burned in the background. Annabelle sighed as the warmth from the fire combined with the overall cosiness of the house melted away the piercing chill of Avonlea winters, they somehow were worse even than the cold of London she had grown so used to. "Your House Is wonderful," She said quietly as her eyes danced across the many beautiful old classical details of each wood panel and light blue painted window sills.
"According to my father it was better cared for when my mother was alive, now it is just...old" Annabelle felt as her own heart sunk into the thought of her own mother came to mind.
Gilbert turned to Annabelle carefully two mugs in hand "Miss Keri bought some of this from the market last week its really wonderful" She couldn't help but feel a sense of safety and comfort as he sat down across from her at the table carefully placing down the mugs she looked up to his face and into his eyes, she wanted to continue her avoidance but for some reason, she needed to look at him, "Careful it's hot" she quickly glanced down at the brown swirling ambrosial drink, she couldn't help but wonder what Gilbert had truly been through, losing his mother. Anne and Diana had come to visit in the morning as there was no school, they both brought fruits and snacks to the home, marvelling at how large her Auntie and uncle's house was. "I always wondered who lived here," Anne said and Diana smiled "Your cousin Samuel goes to the boys' school in London when it isn't wintering right?" Annabelle nodded, her cousin was not as a socialite as she had been raised to be but Aunt Mary had always known that with their money he had to have some experience as much as she wanted him away from that lifestyle. Annabelle inquired about the events and about Anne's health as she saw the bandage wrapping Anne's ankle. "It's doing perfectly fine, it was really just a slight sprain and Marilla is being overly cautious, she thinks I'm going to snap in half one day" Diana giggled which Annabelle couldn't help but join in on. Both girls informed her that they all rushed out of the school house with Anne and Annabelle had stayed behind, however, Gilbert questioned where you were and found you in the classroom, Josie theorised he has a crush on you much to Ruby's dismay" Anne scoffed "I thought Ruby was done with her fixation" Diana shook her head "I doubt she ever will be"
She looked at Gilbert's expression "Just because something is old does not mean it is not beautiful, This house probably has millions of stories and so much significance in people's lives. It has been through so much and yet is still standing" Leaning down she let the rich smell of the chocolate overwhelm her senses, even on her visits to Paris the cocoa did not smell this wonderful.
"I don't understand something," Gilbert began, now looking down into his own cocoa his face shifting. "How life can be so beautiful yet so cruel"
Annabelle's mind wandered back and forth on if she could truly ever trust Gilbert enough to tell him her secret, and what had happened for him to think this way, had he too been through so much pain in his life. She felt his gaze locked on her and for once she wanted to look up without fear to let him see her, actually see her, but he shifted and his hand moved to push the mug closer to her.
"It should be Cooled now" a slight flush of the embarrassment of his moment of questioning showed and Annabelle simply nodded in response lifting the drink to her soft lips and letting the taste melt away all her fears.
"You like it?" He asked now grinning, Annabelle nodded frantically opening her eyes to meet his own staring out the window
"Just because I like your cocoa doesn't mean I like or respect you, Gilbert Blythe"
"Not now... But you will eventually, Annabelle Smith"
YOU ARE READING
Save me
Fanfiction"𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚." ❦ Annabelle Smith is dying, she has exactly one year to live. And as her family moves her to the country in Avonlea to live her last year as normal as possible Annabelle is faced w...
