Lavender - {G.B}

vingt et un

Fred packed Angelica a lunch for her first day back at school. She had her notebook and pencil in her other hand. Alice hugged Angelica and walked out the door with Fred who was walking her to the school that day. Like a father, he wanted to be sure she arrived safely though Alice didn't need it.

"Have a good day, Alice," Fred smiled, hugging her. "I'll be here to walk you back home."

"I'm not a child, Fred," Alice told him. "I don't need to be courted."

"Allie?" She turned my head and looked at Gilbert who walked out of the front door.

"There," Alice said, turning back to Fred. "I'll be protected by Gilbert on the way home."

"Hello," Gilbert greeted, shaking his hand. "I'm Gilbert Blythe. I'm assuming you're married to Angelica Johnson?" Fred nodded. "Congratulations."

"This is the one you talked about, isn't it?" Gilbert smirked, looking down at Alice who was blushing madly.

"Would you look at the time," Alice chuckled nervously. "School's gonna start soon enough. We should go. Mr. Phillips will certainly give us hell." Alice pushed Gilbert toward the school. She waved back to Fred and opened the front door.

"You know we have a new teacher, right?" Gilbert informed her. "And Prissy and Mr. Phillips didn't get married," he explained when Alice looked at Prissy Andrews, confused.

Alice was hesitant when she found Prissy at the desk where she usually sat by herself. She looked at Gilbert who was in his own seat. Gilbert gave her that look to just sit down there since everywhere else was taken. She heaved a sigh and sat down next to Prissy behind Jane.

"Fox! What fox?!" Anne asked the two gentlemen that just arrived.

"The one with the dark tail that's been stealing chickens," Moody responded.

"Well, there's no fox here so how's about you put the gun away," Gilbert told them, mainly looking at Billy. "I'd like to live to meet the new teacher."

Just then, a woman in a maroon coat and hat opened the door, a ball rolling on the ground to Billy's feet. "Ha. I just laid the world at your feet, didn't I?" She smiled widely. "Goodmorning everyone!"

"Goodmorning," the class replied. Alice could only hear Anne's voice above everyone else's.

Billy picked up the globe at his feet and placed it in the bag for the new teacher. "Here you go, little lady."

"My name is Ms. Stacy." She looked at the gun on his shoulder in disapproval. "Please take that gun. outside. The classroom is no place for a weapon." She looked around the classroom, though there was nothing much to look at. It was the windows she admired because she could see outside at the green trees. "What a pretty room! So many windows. I love to see green!" She set her things down on the floor and pulled her scarf off. "Alright, let's get to know each other. Please stand up."

Anne shot up, being the first to stand. Alice slowly got out of her seat, unsure of what was happening. "Now, please move all the desks to the side and take a seat on the floor." Alice furrowed her eyebrows. Never has Mr. Phillips allowed them to sit down other than their seats in the class. Alice liked her with every passing minute that she spoke of something new and rebellious that women wouldn't do since it's not lady-like. "We're going to form a circle and make introductions."

Alice carried the desk with Prissy, moving it to the corner of the classroom to make space for us to sit. The students gathered around by Ms. Stacy making a circle. Alice sat down in between Charlie and her boyfriend.

"You shall introduce yourself and you'll say two words that represent you, using the first letters of your given name and surname," Ms. Stacy gave out. "I'll start." She stood up. "Muriel Stacy. Mischievous. Scholastic."

"Let's start with Ruby Gillis."

Ruby stood up and folded her hands together. "Romantic...Girl? Ruby Gillis." Gilbert nudged Alice playfully once he noticed Alice rolling her eyes at Ruby, who still had a slight crush on Gilbert. She couldn't drop her feeling for him since she only had eyes for him.

"Gilbert Blythe."

"Oh, um..." Gilbert stood up, dropping his playful act to be more serious. "Global and bookish."

"Alice Crawford." Ms. Stacy ignored the comments from Anne who sat beside her.

Alice stood up, thinking of what to say. "Academic...Courteous."

"She used to live with a rather difficult family -" Alice stared down at Anne who shared that information to Ms. Stacy. She had no right to tell Ms. Stacy. Alice was happy with her life now, she didn't need the past to be brought up.

"Perhaps you'd like to share your comment with the class?"

"Oh, well, it's no secret that Alice had a hard time with her other second, abusive father," Anne explained. Everyone sat in silence, feeling uncomfortable in the subject. Especially Alice who slowly sat back down and found her hand intertwined with Gilbert's. "And then her mother died and her house burned down. I'll be happy to fill you in on everyone in Avonlea, because I was once an outsider, too, and I know how hard -"

"No need to provide me with gossip," Ms. Stacy cut her off. "I don't condone it." It was reassuring to Alice that Ms. Stacy didn't care about their pasts, but the present and what was happening at the moment.

"Oh, but nothing I said is a secret," Anne replied.

"If. someone needs me to know something, they'll tell me," she told her with a smile. "Why don't you take your turn? What's your name?"

"Anne...Anne Shirley-Cuthbert. Anne. Uh..." It seemed like Anne couldn't think of anything to say like her mind was blank and all the words and knowledge she had was erased.

"I'm sure you'll think of some later. Why don't you see me after class? Moody Spurgeon?" Alice wasn't going to lie, she thought Anne deserved that embarrassment for the first time. She didn't laugh, giggle, or say anything, but listened to Moody then Charlie.

Before the class ended, Ms. Stacy pulled Alice aside into a room. Ms. Stacy closed the door after Alice walked in. "Alice, is it?" She nodded in approval. "I'm very sorry for what happened earlier. Anne should have never said such things which is why I have planned an assignment for her to finish. If you ever need to talk, I'm right here."

"Thanks, Ms. Stacy," Alice smiled and they walked out and she dismissed the class.

As everyone filed out, Alice pulled on her coat and placed her books and pencil inside her lunch basket which was empty except for a jar and a piece of cloth.

"My husband accelerated his studies and got early entrance into college," Ms. Stacy explained.

"Husband?!" Anne questioned.

"I'm widowed, actually."

"Oh, how tragical," Anne replied, almost too happy, that Ms. Stacy gave her a disapproving look.

"Anyway, with hard work, it's possible you could finish school early and be pre-med next year."

"I'll do whatever it takes!" Gilbert replied determined.

"Alice!" Ms. Stacy called. Alice slowly strolled over to them. "What are you thinking about for a vocation?"

"Well, I haven't really gotten in depth. It's been a crazy year so I haven't thought about it for a while, but I always loved to write," Alice answered.

"Let's meet before class in the mornings and get you both started," Ms. Stacy suggested happily.

"I don't need tutoring as much as Gilbert does," Alice told her. "I really don't need it."

"I'll help you become a creative writer. I find myself loving to write things here and there," Ms. Stacy replied. "And you can be my assistant and help Gilbert with his studies. You two seem very bright at this age."

Alice chuckled sheepishly. "Thanks. We'll see you then."