Broken (Gilbert Blythe)

chapter 13

Nova made her way to Green Gables. She wanted to make sure her friend was okay, something happened but no one wanted to speak about it.

She finally made it to the Cuthbert's residence. Nova knocked on the door and waited for an answer. The door opened to reveal Marilla Cuthbert, Nova looked at her with a polite smile. "Hi Ms. Cuthbert. I know it may not be the best timing, but is Anne here?"

Marilla gave her a small smile and nodded, "Come on in, it is freezing outside." She waved the young girl in. Nova was welcomed with warm air brushing against her cheeks as soon as she stepped inside. "Let me go get Anne." She goes to the end of the stairs and yells for the red-head. "Anne! Someone is here to see you!"

Marilla looks back over to Nova, "Would you like some tea?" She says, walking over to the fire. Nova responded hesitantly, "Um...Yes please." Footsteps make their way down the stairs. Nova looks over to them to see Anne. 

"Hey, Nova." She smiles and walks over to her. "How was Gilbert?" Nova smiles and nods, "He's okay. I saw his father, he didn't look so good." The girl said with a heavy heart. Marilla heard Nova, her heart breaking in the process. "I know." Anne said back, placing her hand on Nova's arm. "Um...That's not why I came. I was wanting to make sure you were okay. Earlier, you looked really sad."

Anne looked down sadly. "Well, Diana and I can't be friends anymore. I made a terrible mistake with the raspberry cordial. It was wine. It's more than possible that her mother won't ever forgive me." She said with such sadness in her voice. 

Nova gave her a look of pity, "Oh Anne, don't say that. It was a simple mistake. Just give her some time to think it through." Anne nods her head, looking down. After a moment, Anne speaks, "Would you like to sit?" Nova smiles and nods her head. "I would love to."

After Nova made her visit to Green Gables, she finally made her way home. Her dress being soaked at the bottom because of the white snow. When she got home and changed clothes, Nova was walking down the hallway and bumped into someone. She looked up and seen her brother.

 Billy scoffed at her, "Watch where you're going, bitch." Nova looked up with slight shock on her face. "What'd you say?" She said, wanting to make sure she heard him right. Billy took a step closer to Nova, he speaks slowly. "I said 'Watch where you're going, bitch.'" Nova felt anger rising inside her. She scoffs, "How dare you? Would you speak to mother that way? Prissy? Jane?" Nova spoke with sternness in her voice.

Billy clenches his jaw, Nova pokes her pointer finger into his chest. "You have no right to treat me or anyone else like they are lower than you are. Everybody is equal. Get over yourself, Billy. You're such an asshole." Nova didn't normally swear, but her anger got the best of her. She tried to walk past her brother but he grabbed her arm and turned her around. It happened so quick, all Nova noticed was a sting on her cheek. Nova looked up to her brother and saw hand in the air. 

Tears threatened to fall out of the blonde's eyes. Nova stood there for a moment in shock. She went to her room and collapsed onto her bed, quietly sobbing, holding her cheek. She didn't care if Jane saw her crying. Nova thought to herself, 'So this is what I get for standing up for myself? Wow.'

-The Next Day-

Life became a whole lot harder for Gilbert Blythe. His father passed away, he felt as if he didn't have anyone else. He slowly walked behind the carriage that held his father's coffin. Nova was walking with her family a few paces back, with her journal in hand. All she wanted to do was run up to the boy she was slowly falling in love with and hug him, holding on for dear life. But she didn't want to bother Gilbert in this devastating time in his life.

Gilbert held his emotions inside, didn't want to cry in front of everyone. Even though he thought he had no one, he had to stay strong, even if his father was gone. He couldn't help but feel this emptiness inside him, like a huge void that won't ever be filled again. They got to the cemetery outside Gilbert's house. Nova looked over and saw Gilbert, he looked so heart broken. She just wanted to go and tell him everything will be okay.

The preacher read some scriptures from the Bible. When he finally finished, everyone went inside Gilbert's home, but Gilbert was stuck in his place. He felt like he couldn't move, his eyes were glued to his father's coffin. Nova just stood there watching him until she felt someone tap her shoulder, she looked over and saw Prissy, nodding her head to the house.

She walked inside with her family, occasionally looking back at the boy. The Andrews family walked inside, Nova felt her heart feel heavy as soon as she stepped inside. She had gotten to know John, he was like a wise, older friend to her. 

Without being caught, Nova walked back outside and sat on Gilbert's porch. She saw Gilbert sitting on the bench, beside the little cemetery. Gilbert got up and tried to come inside, but it was like he couldn't bear hearing people asking 'if he's okay', 'Does he need anything?', etc.

He turned back around, walking away with the snow falling all around him. Nova noticed him turn around, she stood up and followed him. "Gil!" Nova ran to him, but he didn't turn around. "Gilbert!" She grabbed his arm, making him stop. He turned to her and looked at her with empty eyes. She looked at him with sadness in her eyes before she hugged him tightly around his neck. "I'm always going to be here, even if you don't want me to be, okay?" She whispered into his ear. He nods and hugs her back, his body shaking from the quiet sobs. Nova kept whispering into his ear, making sure he knows everything will be alright.

"Gilbert!" Footsteps approached them. They pulled away from their hug. Gilbert looked the other way and wiped his tears. Nova looked to see Anne, walking toward them, putting on her coat. He started walking, him and Anne walked ahead of Nova. She wanted to make sure he was okay before she went back inside. Anne spoke up, "It was a lovely service." She finally put her coat on fully. "It seemed fitting somehow. Everything was so white and still."

Which was true, the weather seemed to fit how they felt as well, cold and empty. Nova stayed behind them, just walking along, listening.

"I've always thought the minister prays quite mournfully, so this suited him nicely. Baptisms must be grim." The red-head tried to make the situation lighter. Nova felt herself cringe slightly at her comment. She was nervous if Anne kept going, he might snap. But she thought that too soon.

"Being an orphan has its challenges, but you already have so many advantages, you'll be much better off than I was." Anne kept walking with him. Nova bit her lip lightly, getting more anxious about what she was going to say next.

"And...I didn't know my parents. They died when I was a baby, so I couldn't fend for myself the way that you can. And I don't remember my parents at all, but you'll always be able to remember your father. You know, when you think about it, you're really very lucky."

And there it was. Gilbert stopped in his tracks and turned around. Nova took a small deep breath, nervous of what he was going to say. Gilbert looked upset by what she said. "You think I'm lucky?" He said with a firm tone in his voice, giving her a cold look.

Nova stopped and looked at what was happening before her. "Compared to me? Yes." Anne answered, probably knowing she said something wrong. "And why is this about you?" He said with the same tone of voice. Anne hesitated and stumbled on her words, "It's not. I was just trying to-." Gilbert cut her off, "See you." He turns back around and walks away. Nova walks up to be beside Anne, they were both looking at Gilbert. "Just give him some time, okay?" Nova placed a hand on Anne's shoulder.

authors note

thank you guys for reading my story! I can't express this enough that I am so thankful I can write this story in Nova's POV and you guys love it. It means so much to me! make sure to leave a comment and a vote down below!

~mack :b