Chivalrous- A shirbert sTorY

-Chapter 6-

It was lunch time and Anne was sat with the other girls outside underneath a large oak tree.

They were sat in a small circle consisting of Anne, Diana, Ruby, Jane, Josie and Tilly. They were sharing baked goods and swapping fruits as they chattered about Avonlea gossip.

Anne was bored. She sat there munching her apple as she dozed off into daydreams which Diana kept having to awake her from.

She glanced over to watch the boys, they were all in a big group playing football- it looked so fun, oh how she wished she could be over there playing football instead of stuck listening to idle chatter with the girls.

"Ughhhh." She sighed as she lay backwards into the soft grass, her red hair scattered amongst the leaves.

All the girls turned to her with their eyebrows raised.

"What's the problem now Shirley?" Josie rolled her eyes at the girl.

Anne sat up. "I'm bored...and I really want to go play that!" She pointed over at the boys who were now tackling each other to the ground over who had the ball.

The girls all gasped in shock.
"Anne you can't play that!" Ruby cried.
"You'll get injured!" Diana placed a hand on Anne's arm.

"Plus," Josie chimed in, "respectable ladies would never take part in such rough amusements like men do." She spat.

"Actually Anne since your a neither respectable nor a lady I see no issue in watching you make a fool of yourself. If you want to play I say go ahead- just not complain when you fall flat on your behind getting it all muddy." She grinned at Anne who sent back a glare.

"Fine I will. Just you wait Josie Pye I'll show you I can play too!" Anne grumbled as she stood up and stomped off towards the game of football.

"Anne! You can't be serious!" Diana ran up to her and pulled her to a stop.

"I am dead serious dear Diana- Josie Pye is as mean as they make them - I'll show her Anne Shirley Cuthbert is not prissy pink princess!" She exclaimed with a firm nod before continuing her walk towards the boys.

Diana sighed but followed in pursuit gesturing for the other girls to come over so they could watch. The five girls sat by a closer tree and watched Anne.

She stomped up and walked straight into the middle of the game with her arms crossed and head held high. The game immediately froze as the boys exchanged confused glances and shouted at the red head.

Billy marched over to her with Gilbert close behind and he gestured for the other boys to come aswell- he was hoping to put on a good show of mocking the freak in front of the others but things didn't quite go to plan.

"What are you doing dog?" He spat, looking in disgust at the girl in front of him.

Gilbert rolled his eyes at Billy and elbowed him. Billy glanced over and they both glared deep into one another's eyes in fury. Gilbert would not let Billy bully Anne, never.

Anne cleared her throat loudly- snapping the boys attention back on her.

"If you wouldn't mind stopping your immature attempt at showing masculinity showdown thing or whatever you are doing, I would like to speak." She raised her eyebrows at both the boys as the crowd behind them chuckled causing their cheeks to flush a little.

"What is it Anne?" Gilbert asked in confusion on why she had interrupted their game- but he was sure it would be a very much interesting reason.

"I would like to play."

The boys opened their mouth in shock.

Anne? A girl? Play football with them?

"No way!" Billy chimed in, "you're just a prissy little girl."

Anne scoffed.

"I'm in fact Billy Andrews, 15 years old which to be frank is old enough since football is played by 6 year olds and I'm not little and prissy nor to I quite enjoy being referred to as being such a thing. So if you wouldn't mind calming down that testosterone and stop acting like a child who has just throw its toys out of the pram. I would like to play this game of football, thank you very much." And with that she snatched the ball out of his hands and barged past the stunned boys and over to the pitch.

Everyone watched as the girl stood quite far away from the goal post- which consisted of two large twigs buried into the ground- she set the ball in place. Walking back a few paces she aimed and ran and kicked the ball.

It flew through the grass and slammed through the goal right in the middle.

She immediately heard clapping and cheers, turning around she faced the boys who were looking amazed and curtsied.

Gilbert ran up to her smiling.
"That was tremendous Anne, you really proved Billy Andrews wrong." He placed both his hands on hers as he gave her a boyish grin.

She felt a flurry of butterflies swarm her stomach as she looked down giggling and flushing.

"Thanks Gilbert, thats very kind of you." She smiled, gazing deep into his eyes.

It felt like they were staring in each other's eyes forever.

Suddenly the bell chimed and they snapped out of the trance.

Anne ran back over to the girls who were starting to walk back to the classroom.

"I saw that." Diana whispered into Anne's ear with a knowing smirk.

"Saw what?" Anne pretended to not know what Diana was referring to.

"You and Gilbert Blythe gazing romantically into each other's eyes for a gazillion years." She giggled.

"Diana Barry, we were doing no such that plus a gazillion years is a ridiculously long time." She laughed nudging her bosom friend who was still grinning.

"Wait..." Anne stopped glancing up at the girls who were walking in the door. "Ruby didn't see...did she?" Anne felt dread course through her- removing her sense of giddiness.

"No, thank the lord." Diana winked before dragging Anne back into the classroom.