cruel summer

nine

do you think that we could move closer, baby, i want you.

august had now approached, and anne found herself wondering what it would be like when all of the friends went back to college. particularly, what it would be like when she was separated from gilbert again. would it be easier this time, now that they were friends? or would it be harder being away from him after building up a friendship again?

diana barry lay on her back on anne's bed, staring up at the ceiling. anne shirley lay beside her, but instead her eyes were focused on the blue summer sky she had a clear view of outside of her window.

"anne, you should talk to him." said diana suddenly. anne turned her head to face her friend, raising her eyebrows.

"what are you talking about?" asked anne. she knew exactly what diana was talking about, but chose to ignore it in hopes of pushing away the oncoming conversation. but, anne knew diana well enough to know that no matter what, the conversation would be had.

"oh don't act so oblivious. it's obvious you're thinking about him. him as in gilbert. you're scared about leaving again, aren't you?" diana said, laughing a little at anne's wide eyes. how does she know me that well?! anne thought to herself.

"i'm not thinking about him." anne denied, leading diana to raise her eyebrows. "okay, maybe i am a little bit." diana now wore her knowing smile, which caused anne to sigh. "okay fine. i can't stop thinking about him. are you happy now?"

"ecstatic." said diana with a grin. "but seriously, you need to talk about it with him. find out where you stand with him. you know?"

anne nodded her head, about to respond when there was a knock at the door. diana and anne both exchanged glances, wondering who it could be, before shrugging at the exact same moment.

"come in." anne said, just loud enough for the person behind the door to hear. the door opened, and much to their surprise, in walked gilbert blythe.

"good afternoon ladies." he said, sitting on the end of anne's bed. anne shot up from where she was lying, diana propping herself up on her elbows.

"afternoon gilbert." said diana, trying her best not to giggle.

gilbert looked straight at anne, who was trying to think of a million different excuses as to how she would get out of this situation. it's not that she didn't want to spend time with gilbert, it's just that it had been so long since he had been in her room and she felt the feelings bubbling back up and she needed to leave.

"uh, sorry. i have to go...uh...feed my fish." anne said, immediately regretting the words that had just came out of her mouth. gilbert and diana both wore the same confused expression. until gilbert laughed a little.

"oh, you have a fish?" he asked her, raising his eyebrows. anne was now standing, about to make her way to the door.

"no...i...i don't." and with that, she ran out of her room. why are you so stupid?! she yelled at herself in her head.

"that was....strange." gilbert said to diana, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed.

"yeah, uh, i'll go find her." said diana, jumping up and leaving gilbert on his own in anne's bedroom.