OSTRACIZE | GILBERT BLYTHE

8

"Ellis. Please will you return to school?" Gilbert questioned, as they left her Pops' room.

"I most certainly will not, now leave me be." She said adamantly.

"Why?"

"You weren't there Gilbert. You didn't see them all laughing at me. You didn't hear the seriousness in her voice. Everyone hates me because I'm stupid." Ellis let out a defeated sigh.

"I don't hate you." Gilbert stepped forward. He wanted to grab her hand, or pull her in for a hug, to comfort her but he thought it would be too forward. "And you're not stupi-"

"I am stupid and you, you were not there." Ellis repeated.

"I'm sorry-"

"It wa-"

"Ellis. It was my fault. I'm sorry. I should have been there for you. You needed me." Gilbert couldn't help but feel guilty. "I should have been there." He paused. "I took a good beating for it though." He joked.

"What? What do you mean?" Ellis questioned, stepping forward, turning his head so that she could see the bruise forming on his eye. "What happened Gil-Gilbert."

"Anne happened." He chuckled. "Billy told me what happened, like I said earlier. So I confronted her about it. She couldn't talk to me for some-"

"It's because Ruby fancies you." Ellis states blatantly.

"Oh." His eyes widened in surprise.

"Carry on." She demanded.

"I called her carrots." Ellis let out a small giggle. "And she hit me with the chalk board."

"I'll ki-kill her." Ellis gritted her teeth.

"No, Ellis. You won't." Gilbert places his hand on her shoulder making her look at him.

"Fine. Maybe I won't. But I can." She raised her finger and poked his chest with a grin.

"What happened to Carter's eye?" Gilbert asked, changing the subject.

Ellis froze. She couldn't say her Pops, Gilbert idolises him.

"Farming accident." She lied. "He's stupid." She anxiously laughed.

"Okay." Gilbert nodded slowly,

he didn't believe her but there's got to be a reason that he didn't want to tell her, so he wasn't going to push.

"I want to help." Gilbert announced. "With your school work. Even if you don't attend, I would like to help you."

Ellis smiled gratefully,

"You would?"

"I would."

"Okay."

"Okay." Gilbert repeated in complete disbelief, staring at the girl. She was truly beautiful. She had this long chocolatey brown hair that flowed like silk and her eyes reminded him of pools of honey.

His heart often fluttered just at the sight of her not that he'd ever admit it, there was just something about her cutely upturned nose and pursed lips.

To say she drove him insane was an understatement.

"Do you want to start now?" He asked eagerly sitting forward in excitement. The complete fact that she had agreed made him so ready to start instantly that he almost shocked her.

"Umm." Ellis looked around the kitchen for an excuse but couldn't think of one. "Sure."

"Great." Gilbert sat at the table and patted the seat next to him for Ellis to sit.

"Did you just pat for me to sit down?" She questioned angrily.

"No. No I didn't." He panicked.

"Good." She responded and sat next to him.

"Let's start with your alphabet." Ellis sighed.

Here we go again. Carter had tried the alphabet too and. it. didn't. work.

"Write your alphabet."

Ellis took the chalk from Gilbert's hand and began to write.

A, D, C, B, E, F, G, H, J, I, K, L, M, N, O, Q, P, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

"You got your B and D, J and I, and P and Q mixed up." Gilbert explained pointing to the letters. "This is how it should look."

A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

"Oh."

"So let's try and do something that will help you remember the order." Gilbert thought for a minute.

"A is for apple." Gilbert said grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl.

"B is for book." He grabbed her reader and placed it next to the apple.

"C is for cap." Gilbert look at the cap hung up on the peg. He stood up and grabbed the cap, which is then placed next to the book.

"D is for dog tag." Gilbert took his fathers dog tag necklace from around his neck.

Ellis wasn't even bothering looking at the objects, she was just focusing on how happy Gilbert was.

"Understand?" Gilbert questioned.

Ellis nodded, she really was trying her hardest.

"Good." He paused. "I'm proud of you. But I best be off now, I wouldn't want Father to worry."

"Okay." Ellis stood up from here seat and smiled. "Goodbye Gilbert Blythe."

"Goodbye Ellis Bennett."

~

Carter sat in his rocking chair on the porch.

"And we meet again good sir." Carter stood you from his spot, in a formal yet joking way.

"So we do." Gilbert smiled at the older boy who seemed to be happy constantly.

"I need you to do something for me." Carter said putting his arms behind his back.

"Anything." Gilbert nodded.

"I'm going to convince Ellis to go back to school. Will you be there tomorrow?"

"Yes, I should be." Gilbert nodded.

"Can you promise me that you will keep her safe. That you will help her?"

Carter was very protective over his baby sister, although he was positive she could look after her self, she just didn't.

"I can." Carter raised his brow and waited for Gilbert to say that he promised. "I promise."

Carter smiled with triumph.

"I'll see you around Mr Blythe."