Remains To Be Seen

Why Must You Go Again

Marilla
Gilbert Blythe was visiting Anne as we were. We found him at the train station as we were to head to the Queens Academy. Gilbert and a friend of his walked with us.
        "I am Marilla Cuthbert," I introduced. "This is my brother Matthew."
        "Aaron Marks. I've heard a lot about your lovely Anne. She did a number on this one," he joked elbowing Gilbert.
        "She does that to you. You'll see Mr.Marks," I smiled.
        "I'm glad to have the chance to meet her."
Gilbert spoke to Matthew. Matthew actually held conversation more than mumbles or one word responses. I eavesdropped on their conversation. Gilbert was asking of his appearance. Matthew actually lending a helping eye.
        "Anne loves you boy, it doesn't matter what you look like," Matthew came to the conclusion of. "She's good like that. She ain't judging a book by its cover. She reads the pages, heck she reads the whole book before making a decision."
Gilbert laughed turning a slight red. Aaron did so making fun of the Blythe boy. I smiled knowing Anne would be giggling at the conversation. Gilbert only has ever been nervous around her. Not even around her but before he sees her. The Queens Academy just came into sight. Gilbert's breathing shallowed beside me as his nerves overwhelmed him. Aaron was gushing how beautiful the architecture was. I stopped Gilbert grabbing his arm. Matthew and Aaron continued before us.
        "Why are you so nervous Gilbert Blythe?" I hummed in question.
        "Only with Anne, even the thought of her, make the butterflies go crazy in my chest. And they don't settle until I see her, in the flesh," he said softly wavering his voice.
        "That is how you know you are in love Gilbert, even the thought of the person makes your heart beat heavier and breath quicken. It makes your feelings overwhelm you. I believe that Anne feels just the same as she always has."
Gilbert nodded thanking me for the small pep talk. I walked with Gilbert to Matthew and Aaron. They had stopped noticing Gilbert and I having a moment. Gilbert hung back as Matthew and I led us inside the Academy grounds. We saw Anne on the porch, sitting on the railing reading a book. She was lost in the book for awhile. I glanced back seeing Gilbert smiling at the sight. Anne in her natural habitat. Nose in a book sinking into the story like she was apart of it. I looked to Anne again. She then raised her eyes seeing us.
         "Marilla?! Matthew!? You're here!" Anne squealed with excitement closing her book quickly jumping off the rail running to us.
Matthew was caught in her embrace first. Then myself.
        "I missed you both so much! How is Green Gables? Is it as beautiful as I remember? How is Jerry? Has he grown taller? Is Belle doing alright I'm the barn?" She asked a bunch of questions.
        "Anne-girl calm down," I hushed with a laugh.
She quieted with a large smile. But she quickly piped up again speaking how she and Diana requested a few days at Josephine Berry's home. And how the request was obliged. Diana then came out greeting us happily. Anne still not realizing Gilbert just behind us. But Diana has.
        "Anne, you have another guest," Diana said motioning her head behind us.
Matthew and I looked over our shoulder seeing Gilbert stepping towards the corral of us.
        "Gilbert?" Anne went running towards him.
Jumping into his arms he stumbled back a few steps after catching her. He had a huge smile and he curled his face into her red hair. Diana led us inside. Aaron following suit introducing himself to Diana. Though Anne had already spoken of him. So she knew who he was. He seemed happy to know he was known and accepted in some way.
I hung back on the porch. Anne piping off to Gilbert. Him just nodding with her hands in his. He shook his head with a smile then stealing a sudden kiss. Just in Blythe fashion. Anne was silenced but was overwhelmed with happiness. You could see it in the way she raised on her toes slightly. He then began speaking. Anne hanging onto every word like a book. A smile on her face I don't even think she noticed existed.
         "They're sweet aren't they?" the familiar voice of Diana Berry spoke as she stepped beside me. "They are like the love stories you read about," she said.
         "We all have a love story. Anne just gets her happy ending."
         "Shouldn't we all have a happy ending?"
I looked to the innocent girl. She was only just getting a glimpse of what could be. Anne was lucky. Some of us aren't.
         "My happy ending disappeared alongside Gilbert's father," I said.
         "I heard. But Anne is you're happy ending."
         "That she is. Her happiness is mine and Matthew's."
         "Would you like to help me pack Anne's bag. I presume she will be stuck in conversation with Gilbert for a long while."
         "I'd love to," I smiled.
Diana guides me to Anne's room. It was exactly how I would imagine it to be. Stacks of dozens of books along the walls and at the end of her bed. Dried flowers beside her mother's book. We had found it before she began her studies at the academy. A book she treasured. Diana and I put together clothing and put it in the luggage under her bed. Matthew had come upstairs conveniently to grab the luggage's. Diana was just finishing her packing. Matthew graciously taking hers downstairs as well.
Making it back to the porch Anne was sitting on the rail with Gilbert standing by her. She was going off about a dream she had with large hand motions. Aaron came out behind us.
       "Have you lost your breath yet Anne?" Diana teased interrupting the two of them.
Anne laughed and said no. She then saw Aaron. Her eyes lit up. She hopped down between Gilbert's arms. Grabbing his wrist she dragged him quickly to Aaron who was surprised at her speed.
         "You must be Aaron Marks," she smiled extending her hand. "I am Anne, be sure to spell it with the E. It is surely wonderful to meet you."
         "I've heard lots about you Anne," Aaron shook her hand.
         "We packed the bags for Josephines. We just need to notify the Headmistress of our leave," Diana spoke properly. "Anne shall we?"
         "Yes. I'll be right back."
Anne grabbed Diana's hand and they went running into the house. Their feet shuffled to a stop as they got to the front door. Anne slowing suddenly and very abruptly.
        "No running," she whispered harshly like she just remembered.
        "Right. I keep forgetting."
The two best friends laughed disappearing around the maze of the Academy.
        "She's different," Aaron said.
        "The best kind," Gilbert said not realizing he was saying it aloud.
      "That she is. When do you head back Gilbert?" I asked.
       "We head back in four days," Aaron answered.
       "That's quite a short time don't you think?" Matthew chimed in.
       "Sadly it is," Gilbert said.
      "Does Anne know yet?" I wondered.
      "We will speak about it at Josephine's," he nodded.
I nodded. She wasn't going to be very happy. Though she knows better. The girls came back with the Headmistress behind them. They were different. Posture and facially. Like they were trying to be extra perfect for the Headmistress. The Headmistress finally met Gilbert. And I think she realized why Anne was so reluctant about the parlors meaning. The Headmistress smiling at Gilbert's conversation he held. Anne holding in a proud grin. And like that we were off. Anne taking her luggage before Gilbert could. Diana allowing Aaron to take hers gingerly. Matthew and I watched them head off to Josephine Berry's excitedly.
       "She's grown up too darn fast," Matthew proclaimed.
       "They all have."