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___ Marigold Abbot pulled her coat closer to her body as she walked up to the Blythe's house. Her mind spinning from her argument with Anne, hating how it started spiteful and ended hurtful. She knew Anne said what she said unknowingly, but the fact that she used the sensitive subject against her hurt Mary in a way she didn't know she could feel. The blonde reached the front door of her best friend's house and gently knocked on the door. She heard footsteps rush to the door, followed by the door swinging open, followed by Gilbert's happy, but obviously anxious, face.
"Marigold, h-hi. I'm so happy you could come," He greeted as he moved out of the way so she can walk in.
"Thank you having me," She replied as she hung up her coat on the rack, "Is your father in his room?"
"Yes, go on ahead and bring the tea in." Marigold followed his request and headed to the older Blythe's room. She knocked on the door and pushed it open a crack to look in. When she didn't hear a response, she looked in to see the man sleeping soundly in his bed. She smiled at him and quietly closing the door, deciding to give the man peace. The blonde turned around only to come run right into Gilbert's chest. His hand instinctively went to her waist in order to stabilize her while trying to balance the tray of tea in the other.
"S-Sorry," She stuttered, "Your father fell asleep and I didn't want to wake him."
"I figured as much. He hasn't been sleeping well the past few nights."
"I can leave if you want? Leave him to rest and come back another time?"
"No! No, that's not needed. We can just have tea by ourselves? If that's okay? I'm not trying to pressure you in staying if that's how it's coming out. Like, you can leave if you want to-"
"Gilbert, breathe," The girl giggled, placing her hand on top of his that's on her waist, "I'm fine with staying. We had tea by ourselves before, so why are you getting so worked up over this?"
Gilbert's eyes widened in a panicked expression before he spoke, "B-Because... because I-I don't want to force you into anything you're uncomfortable with."
Marigold looked at him with confusion, unsure why he was now concerned about this matter. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into his room. She took the tray of tea out away from him and set it on the desk near her.
"Tell me what's going on," She commanded, looking at her friend with a pointed look. He visibly hesitated before he talked again.
"After what happened with Billy, I didn't want to you go through anything like that again. I hated seeing you hurting from his harassment and I didn't want to make you feel like that by something I said or did." To his surprise, Gilbert was pulled into a hug by the girl.
"Gilbert, you could never caused the pain that Billy did. I don't think you have a bad bone in your body that could ever hurt me. And if you did do something absurd, you know I would call you on it."
"I just never want to hurt you."
"Right now, I think you're the only one who couldn't hurt me." Gilbert pulled back from the hug with a look of bewilderment.
"What do you mean?"
"Me and Anne... got into an unpleasant dispute."
"What happened?"
"Well, you know she's not your biggest fan, so she was rather upset that I decide to have tea with you and your father instead of having tea with her and Diana. We got into an argument and she... used the rumor against me." Gilbert warpped his arms around the girl. Her face nuzzled into his chest as she sighed at the comfort before she broke away and started to pace the room. Gilbert was puzzled until he saw her face. She was angry. Angry at Billy, Joise, the rumor, and even Anne.
"Why don't we just do it?" She asked aloud.
"I'm sorry?" Gilbert questioned, unsure what she meant by it.
"Do 'it', Gilbert. Sex, intercourse, 'make love', whatever you want to call it. Let's just do it and give them something to talk about."
"What?! Mary, calm down I think-"
"No! Everyone in this town already thinks I'm a harlot, why not just make it true? Because no one is going to treat me like a person so why not embrace it? They want a whore so let me be it."
"Marigold, stop it," Gilbert exclaimed as he grabbed her shoulders. He was able to get a clear look at her and the sight was heartbreaking. Tears build up in her eyes from frustration and saddens. She was truly broken and in a moment, she collasped in his arms, sobbing.
"I-I just can't deal with this anymore," She cried in his chest, "You don't what it's like."
"I don't. I really don't. But I want you to help me understand what it is you're going through. You don't have to go through this alone."
"It doesn't stop, Gilly. The comments, the stares, everything. It keeps going no matter how hard I try."
"I'll get it to stop."
"How?"
"I'll find a way."
___
Marigold walked into house and was immediality greeted with yelling from Eliza Barry.
"As you can see, this is a disgraceful scene."
"This is the last time my Diana will ever set foot in your house."
"What?" Mary questioned aloud.
"Please, Mrs. Barry, I didn't mean to set Diana drunk!" Anne defended.
"Even bigger what?"
"You are not a fit little girl for Diana to associate with. Marigold, I was just looking for a reason to cut ties between you two for the longest time because of your filthy repuation."
"But it wasn't on purpose!"
"Moreover, the girls are not to sit near each other at school. They are not to fraternize in any manner at any time."
"I don't disagree that the girls should be punished for all that has transpired. Might I suggest a duration of two weeks?" Marilla offered.
"I must preserve my Diana from the contaminations of further intimacy with such childern My judgment is final! Come along, Diana."
"Please, Mrs. Barry, please!" Anne and Mary pleaded as they held onto their friend.
