𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 | gilbert blythe

06. lullaby and goodnight

As the leaves began to color with signs of fall, Anne had yet to return to school, and Penny grew increasingly more afraid each day she didn't reappear.

By the third day, she discovered that Diana Barry had also shared her same fear as the brunette girl approached her.

"Ruby and I are going to bring Anne her belongings after school today, would you like to join us?"

Every muscle in Penny's body wanted to say yes, yes she did but her father had yet to leave for Charlottetown and she couldn't risk being late. Penny hated the defeated look on Diana's face as she turned down her offer.

Returning to her slate, she began practicing her spelling words, keeping her grip even as she slid the chalk in precise movements.

A slight nudge to her elbow threw her off as her chalk moved off course and drew a jarring line across her slate.

Penny's immediate instinct was first to pull her arm tightly into her chest, heaving a breath at the surprise contact.

Her second instinct was to glance upwards at what caused the bump.

A smirking Gilbert Blythe stared down at her.

"Sorry, Penelope," He whispered before moving back to his friends.

Gilbert Blythe was an odd case.

Ever since the day she had given the black haired boy the flower for his bruise, he had become a more fixed point in her everyday life.

He still brought her an apple every day as usual under the cover of the morning emptiness of the school, but now he had made it a point to loiter after classes to wait for the others to leave in order to walk her at least part way home, only going as far as their paths coincided before leaving to attend to his father, knowing Penny was always the last out of the school. Gilbert had assumed it was because she had clarifying questions for Mr. Phillips or because she was engrossed in her work, but more often than not it was Penny grasping at every moment she had free from her father.

When she asked, Gilbert claimed that the two were friends and that he couldn't let his friend walk alone especially now that Anne hadn't returned to walk with her. Penny had assured him that she walked just fine on the way to school in the mornings without him but the boy would just shrug and follow along anyway.

He just feels bad.

The voice in her mind whispered as she picked up the apple off her desk and bit into it, glancing over to Gilbert who was playing a game of catch with the other boys.

Maybe he wants to be my friend...

He's just kind. Kind enough to protect the weak.

You're weak, Penelope.

Penny put her head to her hand as her thoughts waged war in her mind. A never ending cycle of hatred and self-deprecation.

"Your father leaves tonight, yes?" Ruby's youthfully innocent voice chimed in, interrupting Penny's depressive thoughts, "Mother wanted me to check on the dinner invitation. She was complaining that she hadn't really seen you since... before..."

And this was truthful, in the years since her mother had died she had been not allowed to go anywhere other than community events with her father.

"It's alright if you can't make it," Ruby tried to play off casually.

It was like clockwork, they had these same conversations nearly every month when Ruby would bounce into class and ask Penny the exact same question, the exact same request. Penny was always grateful, even if the invitation was one of obligation. As they aged, Ruby had met new friends and found new interests and Penny had closed in on herself becoming more quiet and reserved but Ruby was always sure to invite her childhood friend for dinner. Penny was always grateful, even if the invitation was one of obligation to Ruby's mother.