Remains To Be Seen

My Fathers Chair

Gilbert
School was easy. Every morning I woke I made breakfast before Anne even awoke. She'd step into the kitchen in disbelief. She'd found her own place at the table. Actually it was the place my father used to sit. But she made the spot lighter ... happier. I don't think I or my father mind too much.
I'd been thinking a lot. How I should talk to Anne about how I have been feeling. I know I should tell her. Something's holding me back. Probably myself. I'm a perfectionist. My father always said I needed to stop worrying about details. He always told me to forget about the status quo. Not to judge a single breathing person by their looks or their past. No matter what they have lived and fought to be here. That was the important one. Everyone's life has meaning and purpose. Father believed in that strongly. I do too.
Today was Anne's last day. We decided to make a welcome home meal for Bash and Mary after school. So I'd still have dinner with not only her but my new family as well. Anne wanted it to be perfect.
She had it all planned out by lunch. Which was weird when she came searching for me. She usually sat with the girls inside. So when she came outside asking Charlie where I was. I only know that because I watched it happen. Him talking to her for much longer than I liked.
My god. What was I doing. I was getting so protective over her. So protective that I went and intervened in her and Charlie's exchange.
"Anne!" I said. "Whatcha talking about?"
"I was actually looking for you," Anne smiled happily.
"Come sit with me," I said gesturing the way with my back to Charlie.
She walked ahead and I sent a glare to Charlie. He raised both his hands and took a few steps back. Catching up to Anne she began to talk about the dinner.
"Sound good to you?"
"Sounds perfect Anne-girl," I smirked.
Her cheeks turned a blush pink and she continued to talk my ear off. I didn't mind. I enjoyed the laughter between some of her words. She let me stick in a joke or 2 before Miss Stacey called us back in for the remainder of school.
After class we walked back together. She was worried about when they would arrive and if dinner would be ready by the time they got there.
"No matter what it will be perfect. I promise."
"I must be annoying you with all my nervous talking," she assumed.
"What's to be nervous about Red?" I teased causing the pink in her cheeks to redden.
She walked with determination. She denied me the satisfaction to watch her blush. She refused to let me see anything other than the smart side of her. Little did she know I've noticed it all.
We got to the house and she pulled her homework out eager to get it done, and she sat in my father's chair. The one I had forever left unoccupied. She filled it. And I didn't feel a pang in my chest like I had when someone else sat there. Almost as if the chair was awaiting Anne's arrival. It welcomed her with open arms. No pun intended.
I slid beside her and pulled out my own work. I occasionally asked her questions I already knew the answer to just to hear her soft words explain it carefully. She'd asked a question here if there usually about geometry. I finished first taking my things to my room. I came back with Anne staring at the last geometry problem. It was a harder one. A challenge question Miss Stacey said was extra credit.
I stepped behind her chair looking over her shoulder. She put her chalk on her slate and pulled it back up. I put my hand by hers and leaned down to her ear. My lips barely brushing her ear.
"Solve within the parentheses first," I said.
Her lips curled in as she wrote down each number slowly. I watched as she solved it fairly quickly. I smiled seeing the answer on her board solved perfectly.
"You got it," I hummed into her ear.
I stood up going into the kitchen. I glanced back to the gorgeous girl pushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she stacked her things. Biting her bottom lip before catching my eyes with a stealing glance of hers.
"Thanks for the help," she said softly taking her things to the guest room.

Anne
The brush of his soft lips against my ear gave me chills. I knew how to solve it after his whisper sang through my ear. His warm breath cascading down my neck as I finished solving it. He told me it was correct and left to the kitchen. I froze for a second realizing the intimacy of our brief moment. I swiped my slate clean and stacked my school books. I caught Gilbert gazing at me. I looked back at my books.
Dianna said I needed to face my feelings. But him being so obnoxiously flirtatious made it so much harder to face them. How was I supposed to tell him when I was flabbergasted by his words. When chills shiver through me as our skin meets even for a brief moment. How do you fight these stupid and petty urges.
I decided to focus on dinner. It was my last dinner at the Blythe residence. I was going back to Green Gables afterward. I would make the most of tonight.
Bash and Mary came home near perfectly on time. Gilbert and I were finishing the last of the cooking as they came in happily. Bash shivered and went quickly to the fire causing Mary a laugh. Mary came to me and gave me a hug. She pulled me away as Gilbert took over for me. Our hands brushing against each other and eyes engaged as I was dragged out of the kitchen to a room.
"Anne," she prompted.
"Yes Mary?" I smiled.
"Have you told him yet?"
"What?"
"The Blythe boy of course. Gilbert, that you feel for him," she grinned.
"What-Mary-How do you-I don't know how!" I fell onto the bed behind me. "I get all nervous and have a loss for words when I'm around him. He invades my dreams all the time day o'er night. And how could he even like an ugly orphan."
"Anne! Don't you dare ever talk about yourself like that again," Mary scolded. "You are beautiful and unique. The only being with red hair in all of Avonlea is a gift. It makes you stand out," Mary hummed. "It's left quite an impression with Gilbert."
"I doubt that," I scoffed.
"You have no idea how much he talks about you miss Anne. Bash told me it's all he talked about on the steamer. Even at dinners before I."
"Bash must have a head injury. No one talks positively of me to their families."
"He talked about you to his own father. He talks to Bash about you. He asks me for advice about you. Anne he is head over heels for you."
I couldn't believe it. There's no way it was true. It couldn't be. I wasn't nearly as beautiful as Ruby. Or half the composed of Dianna. I couldn't bake quite like Jane or dance like Josie. I was nothing beside these beautiful friends I'm grateful to call my own.
"Dinner," I said. "It's been a bit. We should make sure Gilbert doesn't burn anything."
"Bash wouldn't let that happen. But sure thing Annie."
"Anne with and E," I corrected.
"Of course," Mary said leading to the dining.

A/N: THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND VOTING. It makes me so happy that you all are enjoying my take on AWAE since I can't watch the new season until Jan 3rd :( keep voting and #saveannewithanE