Shirbert in the Modern Era

Chapter Seventeen: Real Romance

Jane was not having the best of days, but then again, she thought, when was she?

Ruby had come up to her during fourth period with a grin that threatened to split her pretty face clean in half. Jerry, Ruby had explained,  had asked her out on a date!

Jane, who had been planning to have significantly awkward and painful conversations about romantic feelings with both Ruby and Jerry that day, was dumbstruck.

She managed to muster up a smile and join her friend in celebration, but her teeth were grinding almost painfully.

The rest of the day was a blur.

She walked home, dejected and anxious.
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Anne waited by Gilbert's locker, similarly anxious to get a smoothie with the boy in question.

All day Anne had been hoping that Gilbert would have a spontaneous bout of amnesia and forget that she had called their plan a date. Truth be told, Anne wanted to forget it herself. She didn't even know why she said it, and all day it had made her feel silly.

She spotted Gilbert walking towards her, his face face breaking into a goofy grin. When, she thought, did everything he do make her heart go all fluttery?

"Smoothie time!" Gilbert cringed internally as the words left his mouth. Smoothie time? Was he a cartoon character?

Anne seemed blessedly unaffected by his words, and the two set off for Jambajuice.

Anne, as she explained to Gilbert on their walk over, disliked the way the garish building disrupted the feel of their quiet town, but was hard pressed to find a better smoothie in Avonlea.

"So what's your usual order?" Gilbert asked.

"Strawberry banana".

Gilbert's eyebrows shot up.

"What!" Anne said incredulously, "do you have to take issue with everything I do?"

"No, no, no issue, I just wouldn't have expected you to get a drink that's so..."

"So?"

"Normal!" Gilbert cringed again as the word came out.

Anne looked down. "Am I really so abnormal?"

Gilbert ran a hand through his hair, silently hyping himself for what he wanted to say to this impossible question.

"No, well yes, but in the best way. I don't think I've ever met anyone else like you."

Anne glances over at him. "Well that's reassuring."

"I'm serious! You're the smartest person I know, and you-"

"I what?"

"Everyone loves being around you. It's, it's incredible."

Now it was Anne's eyebrows that rose.

"What?" Said Gilbert.

"Me? Everyone wants to be around you, Gilbert! You're so enigmatic, and smart and sweet, not to mention-"

Anne stopped herself mid thought when she saw Gilbert grinning widely.