Avonlea High

Chapter 10

Marilla
Where in the world did Anne go off to in such a hurry. She just had got home. The girl looked down to her phone and grabbed Matthew's car keys running out the door. I tried to call her but she refused to pick up the phone for hours. I was worried. I knew she would be okay, she was a smart girl. My phone buzzed suddenly shaking me from my worried thoughts.

I'm so sorry for declining your calls Marilla. I need to stay at Gilbert's tonight. I'll explain when I get home. I love you guys -Anne

I smiled. She was safe. Thank goodness she was with that Blythe boy. I knew she was even safer with him than somewhere on her own. Anne was lucky we Cuthberts have known the Blythe's for a long time. We've been neighbors for generations. I actually grew up with Gilbert's father, John.
The Blythe boys were known for their kind and loving hearts. I just happened to sacrifice my own for John's sake. He wanted me to travel the world with him. But I stayed behind to take care of Matthew and mother at the time. I regret it a little now, but not since Anne has been accustomed to John's son.

Okay. I'm glad you are safe with Gilbert. Give him my best. I'll see you soon. We love you too -Marilla

I smiled nodding with the message I composed. Anne liked the message. I left it at that. Matthew worried where Anne was. I told him of her whereabouts. He smiled slyly.
         "She's gotten quite fond of the boy, hasn't she."
         "Don't patronize her," I chuckled trying to deny it.
         "If I remember you had a liking towards his father. I guess the universe works in mysterious ways," he teased me escaping to his room.
I shook my head beginning on a petite dinner for the two of us. He came back to the smell of warm food. Having a quiet table as we ate and then went to our beds. I read a bit as I worried still about Anne. Oh how when we first adopted her I thought we'd just send her back. I never could've imagined her to mean so much to the both of us.
Anne didn't come home for two days. But she managed to get to school okay. We didn't get an attendance call so we assumed she got there. Diana did drop by to pick things up for her. We didn't question it and let the girl in to get whatever Anne needed. She had to have a very good reason to send Diana to get her clothes and things.
         "Is she alright?" I asked as Diana was leaving.
The brunette stoped turning with the clothes clutched in her arms.
         "From what I know she is. There's no need to worry about her. She's come to school everyday and been in every class."
         "I know. Thank you Diana, for all you do for Anne. She couldn't have picked a better friend."
         "All the same to her. You've raised an amazing daughter."
With that claim she left. I felt a flutter in my chest. Anne, she was my daughter. Daughter. That was a dream I never imagined. One I thought was out of grasp the minute I denied John Blythe of his idea of courting. But Anne, she was our daughter.
Anne can home late the night after Diana got her clothes. She looked like she had finally gotten a weight off her shoulders. Like the last few days had been exhausting. I was stitching up one of Matthews jackets when she came in.
        "You're home," I hummed.
        "That I am. You're up late?"
        "Couldn't sleep that's all. So what happened?"
        "You can't be mad. And you must understand how dire the situation was," she plead.
         "I'm not mad Anne. I was just worried. And you'd said you would tell me," I tied off the stitching brushing Matthews coat down.
She sat down on the floor pulling out her braids letting waves cascade down her shoulders. I grabbed a soft brush and sat down coaxing Anne to sit in front of me.
I began to run the brush through her hair. I don't think she realized how special the color was. Seeing the bright hair of our daughters knowing it belonged to her and only her was the best feeling in the world. Knowing your child is unique and stands out rom the rest of the others on purpose was a beautiful tragedy. Because she would only dream of being like everyone else when she is perfect. She took a few deep breaths as she store at the flames of the fireplace.
         "When Gilbert lost his dad, he partied a lot. Drinking and smoking, the worst influences. When I came here to Avonlea, he stopped drinking and everything because of me. He was in love with me. And I broke his heart a few days ago. I was the cause of him falling off the wagon again," she was holding in sobs. "And I love him, at least I think I do. Love is just such a small word for how I feel about Gilbert."
         "So why were you there then? At Gilbert's?"
          "Diana told me to go. Well to come over there, she was there when he started. And I showed up and it was the worst argument Marilla. It was devastating. He wanted to die and it was my fault!" She had pulled away from the brush and was turned violently towards me. "So I stayed, I promised I would. And I stayed with him the whole time as he somewhat recovered. Moreso went though all his emotions. Oh Marilla it was just heartbreaking."
         "So that's why Bash stayed here I presume. To keep Delphine away from that."
        "Both of them. Bash doesn't know this side of Gilbert. Hell I didn't even know."
        "Anne Shirley Cuthbert!" I shrieked.
        "I'm sorry Marilla. I just-I-it's so hard."
        "What is?"
        "It just-I-I don't even know."
I pulled the crying girl into my arms. I sank down to the floor with her. She was so desprately in love with this boy, she was so afraid to lose him. That feeling, the fear that riddles your bones when you deeply care for another person doesn't come often.
         "Anne you love him. I may be loveless but I know love when I see it. It's scary and it's new and you've never felt this before but it's good. It's better than good. It's all anyone looks for in life. You're lucky to have found it so early."
        "But this darkness in him-"
        "It only came out when you left. Anne you are the light, and I think Matthew would agree when I say we would be in a similar darkness as he if you ever left us."
Anne smiled at that. But she couldn't be fully happy. Something was still pulling at her heart. Tanking on the strings of her love filled chest.
        "Ruby is in love with him-"
        "Dear, Ruby has no such feelings. Not as significant as the ones you feel. You should speak to her. She will understand."
Anne was unsure. She had the look on her face. The one where she isn't convinced. She probably had the same look when Gilbert plead his love to her. Anne was a smart girl, but sometimes she could be as clueless as ever. Exceedingly oblivious. I believe in her, that she could comprehend how she felt. I trust that she will figure out what to do.

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Gilbert
I can't tell you why she stayed. She had every reason to leave. I even told her to. And yet, she refused to leave. She cooked, cleaned, and kept me hydrated. She didn't force conversation. She didn't get angry with me. She was caring and kind. Just like she always has been. She finally joined me on the couch. It was dark outside already. She had just finished tossing another log into my fireplace. I held a book in my hands reading it slowly. Taking in the words of Emily Bronte.
I felt Anne shift beside me. And before I could even register it her head was in my lap. I closed the book without marking the page. I've read the book so many times it seemed pointless. I would just read it again. I set the book on the side table looking down to the tired girl below me.
          "You scared me today," she said softly looking at the flickering flames.
         "I'm sorry."
         "I'm sorry too."
We were quiet for a bit. I began to stoke her hair. It was too beautiful not to. And then she spoke again.
         "I messaged with Ruby. She's known about us and she's okay," she shifted and looked up to me. "With us."
          "Are you?" I asked.
          "I've been afraid of how I feel long enough for the both of us. Marilla once told me that you can't be sure of a lot of things in this life, but you can be sure of to love you feel for other people in every way possible."
          "I don't know what that means?"
          "Oh gosh, how do I explain this... Like-The future, or whether you get an A on a test, there is no absolute confirmation that what you desire will be true. But love, whether familial, for your friends, or for more, you can be sure of it."
         "Wise words," I hummed looking up to the fire away from the deep ocean water of her eyes.
         "Gilbert I'm trying to say I love you. I do, and I want this."
         "It's been a really crazy 24 hours-"
         "Are you really going to pull an Anne on me?"
        "Pull an Anne?"
        "Deny the fact that you have feelings for me."
        "Wait does that make you me in this situation?"
        "Gilbert!" She squealed laughing.
I leaned down silencing her laughter. I pulled my lips away and I sucked in the air.
        "I probably taste like whiskey and smoke," I was mentally beating myself up.
         "It's okay," she smiled weakly. "I kinda like it."
        "In that case-"
We kissed again. I looked up at my watch away from her. Her hand still rested on my neck. Her head was still in my lap.
          "It's late. I should try to sleep this off."
          "Okay. We'll sleep right here."
She nuzzled against my chest. I chuckled adjusting to a better position. Anne's arms were tightly fastened around my waist. I had one arm I've ever shoulders
To make sure she didn't slide off. And I'd never slept better.
I wonder if this is what it's like. This peacefulness. If that's what life is supposed to be. A peaceful home. A quiet night's rest. The person you love and trust most in your hands. This was what the future was supposed to be like. Calm, real. The goods outweigh the bads. Just like today has.

A/N: so I know this is a really close post together. But I just had an idea for a new story that I'm gonna write. Sooooooooo I might be a bit focused on that. So here's a part two. Also that ending of the last chapter 😬😬😬😬😬 yikes. Also wholesomeness in here we needed. Comment with ideas or comments of what you wanna see :DD I'll post again soon my Kindred Spirits 💕