Broken (Gilbert Blythe)

chapter 2

-Next Day-

Nova wakes up with her mother coming into her room, "Nova, Jane, get up, you have to go to school." Nova looks at the ceiling, not ready for what the day will hold. She gets up and puts on her marigold, long sleeve, flowy dress with white stockings to keep her warm. She pulls out the ribbons that make her hair curly overnight and braids it half up, half down. Nova walks downstairs, "Nova, come eat breakfast." Her mother says while Nova is walking down the stairs. 

When she finally got done with breakfast, Nova decided to take the trail through the woods.

That's when she hears a young girls voice. Nova couldn't make out what the girl was saying so she started walking closer, nervous to find out who it is or what it is. "Have you always lived in Avonlea? Oh I agree. I believe it to be the most beautiful place on the Earth. And I've traveled a great deal. It gives one a worldly perspective." Nova finally sees her red-headed friend, Anne, putting flowers on her hat. "Anne?" Nova asks.

Anne jumped at the sound of another voice that wasn't her own, she turns around. "Oh Nova! You gave me a great fright!" She says laughing and taking deep breaths in. "Are you on your way to school as well?" Anne asks Nova. Nova looks down shyly, "Yeah, I am. I didn't know you were coming back or not." Anne smiles, "The Cuthberts decided to adopt me and become my family. Isn't that oh so amazing? I am so grateful and happy. Do you want to walk together to school?" Nova was taken aback by her offer, nobody really ever wanted to walk with her to school or anywhere, for that matter. Not even her sisters, they try to uphold their reputation by going with the popular opinion, not be fond of her because she's quiet and weird, apparently.

Nova smiles, "Of course I do." Anne gets excited, "Okay! Do you want some flowers in your hair? They'll go with your beautiful dress." She holds some pink/purple-ish flowers up to show Nova. Nova looks at them and she smirks, she always loved to stand out. "Sure. I would love that." Anne squeals and puts the flowers in Nova's braids and makes sure they'll stay. "There you go!" Nova smiles widely, "Thank you so much. Shall we go?" Talking about school. "Of course." Anne and Nova start walking. Anne kept talking to herself to make sure she will say the right thing at school to her new friends and exploring, while Nova just took in the beautiful nature that was surrounding her.

"Words cannot express how thrilling it is to make your acquaintance." Nova giggled at Anne's monologue. They made it to the school, Nova's siblings already made it there. Anne and Nova walk in to have eyes set on them right when they walk in. Everyone was giving each other hugs, gossiping and talking among themselves. Nova feels her heart quicken with butterflies in her stomach, anxiety, she knew it all too well. 'It's okay, Nova. Just breathe. You know literally everyone here. There's no reason to -'

"Anne!" Nova snapped out of her thoughts and saw Diana approaching them. "Hello, Diana!" Anne smiles. Diana looks at Anne's hat then looks over at Nova with flowers all in her hair. "My, what have you done with your hat?" Diana says while looking at Anne, then her eyes gaze over to Nova, "And your hair?" Nova looks at Diana with wide eyes, what was she supposed to say? Anne responds first. "Well, I wanted to make a good first impression, and it was so plain. Nova, I ran into her on my way to school and I asked if she wanted some flowers too and so we decided to put them in her hair!" Anne says smiling widely. Diana smiles at them, "You guys are making an impression all right." Nova looks around and sees her sisters and the girls, looking at them and whispering among themselves. She takes a deep breath and walks to her regular seat, right behind Anne and Diana. Nova pulls out her book she was writing in yesterday and starts writing.

'I want someone to not be afraid of my shadows that lurk around me. I know my shadows disappear when the light comes in. -'

Anne and Diana walk to their seats in front of Nova. "Go on and set your things down." Diana says giggling. Nova looks up to see Moody and Charlie walk up to Anne. "Hello there, I'm Moody." Anne frowns, "Oh, I'm sorry." Anne not realizing that's his name. "Moody Spurgeon." Nova stifled a giggle. Anne sighs of small relief, "I'm Anne." She smiles. "I'm Charlie." Diana butts in, "Charlie Sloane." Anne looks over to Charlie and smiles a little, "Happy to meet you." Diana leans over to look at Anne and sees Nova looking at them as well. "Don't talk to the boys. They're ridiculous." She says to both Nova and Anne. Charlie leans onto Moody's shoulder. "Nice to see you, too, Diana." Moody nudges him off his shoulder. Diana and Anne turn toward Nova so she can hear as well, "All except Gilbert Blythe. He's dreamy, but he won't be here today." Diana says with a hint of sadness.