Chivalrous- A shirbert sTorY

-Chapter 3-

Anne stood awkwardly at the front of the classroom. She normally would be thrilled that Miss Stacy chose to spend the afternoon doing a spelling bee, but due to Anne's unlucky morning she wasn't in the best of moods and found it hard to focus.

"Diana spell delicate."

"D-E-L-I-C-K-A-T" Diana stuttered.

"Incorrect."

Anne winced, as her bosom friend walked back to her seat looking glum and embarrassed.

"Billy spell season."

"S-E-E-S-U-N"

Anne tried to hold back a giggle. Seems Billy has chalk for brain, not that that was surprising at all. She knows season can be a tricky word to spell but no one can get it THAT wrong.

Soon the only people standing up at the front were Anne and Gilbert- and no one was surprised.

"Spell eccentric."

"E-C-C-E-N-T-R-I-C" Gilbert spelled confidently as he winked at Anne whom glared back in retaliation.

"Spell thunder."

"T-H-U-N-D-E-R" she spelled, her voice wavering in anxiety- she really wanted to win, but Gilbert was making this hard as he wouldn't stop staring at her.

Anne knew his tactic was to stare so she would be put off and lose the spelling bee. Gilbert Blythe is not as sweet as people think he is. He always has a plan to outwit Anne and destroy her life. She wouldn't let him win- no way.

"Spell lilac"

"L-I-L-A-C" Gilbert spoke with fluency and pace, he grinned at her as she rolled her eyes- why was he so smug all the time? Lilac isn't even a big word- he had no reason to act so smug about spelling such a word.

"Spell engagement"

"E-N-G-A-G-E-M-E-N-T" Anne spoke slowly and firmly without hesitation. She recalled Gilbert had spelt the word wrong in the first spelling bee she ever competed in and she made sure to give Gilbert a triumphant mocking smile. He just chuckled and looked her up and down. She huffed- annoyed that he wasn't fazed at all.

"Spell carrots."

Anne's smile dropped as Miss Stacy told Gilbert of all people to spell that dreaded word.
Anne held her breath as the memory came back to her.

*F L A S H B A C K S*

Anne looked up at the chalkboard in confusion.

30-6 dived by 3 =

She understood that 30-6 was 24
But she was still struggling with long division- she never learnt that in the orphanage and she was certain that she would be able to teach herself once she returns home.

Plop

Anne was disrupted from her thoughts by the plopping of a scrunched up piece of paper against her arm.

She froze. Maybe it was an accident, maybe for once it wasn't someone trying to taunt her.

Anne resumed her work only to be disrupted when yet another thing hit her, this time it was more firm. Chalk. There's no way this is an accident.

Her breath hitched as she came to the conclusion someone was taunting her. She would not give in to this bully and give him the reaction he wanted. Anne assumed it was a boy since the objects were coming from across the other side of the room though she dare not look at from whom.

All of a sudden she felt a presence next to her, her eyes glanced to see Gilbert Blythe. Of course it was him, she wasn't surprised. The boy who wouldn't stop harassing her all morning despite Anne's pleads to leave her be. She couldn't talk to him- not since ruby had dibs.

"Whoops." He murmured as he knelt down by her side and placed a small apple. That darn apple. He tried to give it to her earlier, she would have taken it but she saw Josie, Ruby, Tilly and Diana watching the exchange.

Anna didn't move a muscle. She wouldn't acknowledge Gilbert's presence. She heard whispers around her and tensed up more.

"Hey..." he muttered in a more desperate attempt to get on Anne's nerves but she wouldn't budge. What did he want from her?!

Suddenly she felt a tug at one of her braids.

"Carrots."

That's when she lost it. This horrid boy just made fun of Anne's hair. Anne's hair was the thing that she hated the most about herself- and to have another person tease her about it, especially a boy she has been trying to avoid all day- well that was enough torture to make Anne flip.

She gripped her slate and smacked him hard in the face whilst yelling.
"I'm not talking to you!!"

Then she froze as she watched Gilbert hold his cheek in surprise. She was shocked with herself. She couldn't believe she had just done that- but she didn't regret it.

She looked down to notice- oh no! Her slate was cracked. This is all Gilbert's fault. He's such a mean boy!

Glancing back up she could she Gilbert looking down at her with a smirk on his face.
"You just did." He grinned as he turned back around and retreated to his desk.

*F L A S H B A C K   E N D S*

She glanced at Gilbert who's smile had grown ten times larger. He glanced at Anne his eyes twinkling in mischief.

"A-N-N-E" he said smugly as the whole class erupted in laughter.

Anne's face went beet red and she felt her heart racing. She was furious but also embarrassed. How dare he! HOW DARE HE!

She looked back at him her eyes filling up drastically with tears. She saw a crack in his smug expression as concern and regret washed over his face.

"Anne I-" he begun as Miss Stacy tried to calm down the loud giggling students.

But Anne didn't let him finish. She was already running out of the classroom sobbing.