Avonlea High

Chapter 14

Anne
I woke up knowing my plan for the day. We were going to the beach. I smiled going to my mirror. Today was destined to be a good one. I braided my hair in one long braid down my back. I pulled on the uniform tucking my swimsuit and clothes in a different bag. I sent a list of names to Gilbert. Three people were coming with us. Billy, Diana, & Charlie. Diana by Gilbert's request. He begged me to let her come. I agreed as she offered to drive. One less thing I had to worry about.
I walked to school an hour early. I didn't want to be home. I didn't hear Marilla nor Matthew up so I just left. I wandered away from school. I found myself going to the story club hideout. I was surprised to see a curly haired wboy leaned against a tree with his nose in a hook.
"Get lost in deep thought?" I asked, catching his attention.
He flicked just eyes from his book. Bending the corner of a page and closed his book. It was Emily Bronte. A classic, respectable.
"Was. I decided to bury myself in my book," he smiled.
"Emily Bronte. Good choice."
"It was my dad's favorite book. He used to read it to me as a kid," Gilbert smiled at the book remembering the memories.
I stayed silent. There was nothing more to say. I rubbed my hands together trying to keep them warm. It was obnoxiously cold this early. He looked up to me.
"Thank you," he claimed.
"For what?"
"Getting the guys together for me last night. I didn't realize that I really needed that."
"Oh. Of course. Marilla is taking Delphine back to your place this afternoon. Giving Bash some time to catch up on some sleep."
"You guys are incredible. We will have the make you guys dinner sometime."
"It's our pleasure," I looked down at my phone. "So, should we head to school?"
"And then to the beach," he agreed.
I nodded as we began to walk the path back to school. We were still really early. But some early birds were here already. We lingered at our lockers for a bit. Diagonal from each other. Each other's name in our minds. I could just feel it.
The crew came a bit early to talk about going to the beach. I didn't seem to mind Diana's presence as much as I thought I would. I thought the hatred would overcome me. But it seems to have just gone and disappeared somewhere. Charlie and Billy decided they would take all our bags to Diana's car. In which Diana sort of made it obvious that Charlie was her mystery boyfriend.
It was just the three of us now. Gilbert beside me, Diana straight across from me. The tension built quite quickly after the other two boys left. I would have started a conversation but the first period bell saved my life. Diana stood and left quickly.
"Was that weird?" I asked Gilbert as we walked to class.
"With Diana? A little, not really."
"I have photography, what do you got?"
"Creative writing."
"Really? I didn't peg you for a writer?"
"Figured since I wasn't in the story club, I needed to work on my creative writing."
I laughed. "Story club was discontinued after it was torn down like four months after it started."
"You still got four months of additional practice. We have to make it fair and square before we compete with each other," he shrugged. "I'll see you at lunch Red."
I smiled. We were back to nicknames. Something was getting more normal. Back to how it was. And that's how I wanted it.

Normal

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Gilbert
It is hard to forgive, and to look at those eyes, and feel those wasted hands,' he answered. 'Kiss me again; and don't let me see your eyes! I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer—but yours! How can I?
I was startled as I finished the passage by Emily Bronte. Looking up to see Anne. I folded the page on the passage and closed the book. Walking to school in an almost comfortable silence. There were still words that needed to be said between us. We just weren't ready to say them yet.
We went to our own classes and didn't see each other until lunch. The whole group of us convened at Anne's locker. Everyone was excited to go. Diana pulled out her keys and we walked to her car. Charlie sat in the front seat as Billy and I smashed Anne in the middle backseat.
"Why do I have to be in the middle," she nagged giggling.
"You're smaller?" Billy said.
She shook her head buckling. Or at least trying to.
"Move your literal ass Blythe so I can buckle!" she teased.
"Since when was I demoted to my last name?" I gasped sliding over to reveal her buckle.
"Since your ass covered my belt buckle," she shot back sarcastically. "Literally."
We all laughed as Diana started the car. Charlie took over the aux. I'd never seen Charlie have aux. let alone Diana letting someone else take aux. She was very protective over the music she drove to. Usually. To my surprise Charlie had the same music Diana did. He shuffled Oh Wonder. A band I'd come accustomed to thanks to Diana and Anne.
Anne begged me to roll my window down. I did so happily. The breeze rushing through the confines of the car. Anne was leaning in towards me like she was reaching for the breeze. Her eyes were shut with a subtle smile rising on her pink lips.
The breeze slowed as Diana said we'd arrived. Anne opened her eyes realizing she was leaning on me. She adjusted herself back and pushed the now loose strands of hair behind her ear. She adjusted herself to look at the open beach ahead. A contagious smile igniting on all of us. This was probably the best decision we had made. Diana parked and turned the car off.
"So what's the plan?" she asked like we had an itinerary.
"Just being here. But first, send important messages to parents and whatever then give me your phones," Anne said.
"What?! No," Billy scoffed.
"I'm not destroying them. We're just not going to use them."
"What about photos?" Diana whined.
"That's what the camera is for," she said lifting it off her chest.
They all were glued to their phones sending messages everywhere. I had already told Bash last night. He didn't love it but he understood we needed this. Anne didn't send any messages either. I assumed she probably confided in Marilla or Matthew already. She just shut hers off all the way. I decided I'd do the same. I handed Anne my phone. She took it gingerly and with care. She placed it over hers and set them together in a bag. Charlie was next. Diana and Billy held onto them as long as they could.
Anne put the bag of our phones in the trunk as we got our beach bags. We all got ready for the ocean and met outside the public bathrooms. The beach was empty. There wasn't anyone around.
"I still don't get it," Diana grumbled.
"It's simple Di. Live in the moment!" Anne took off running towards the sea.
Billy scoffed. Diana still had a confused look on her face. I started taking a few steps ahead.
"Come on!" I said then breaking into a jog.
Billy and Charlie joined me. It quickly turned into a race. Anne dropped her things ahead of us and spun around with her feet on the sand. Charlie set his stuff down then running back to Diana guiltily. Billy began setting the large beach blanket out. Setting our things on it carefully. Lining shoes up against the towel. Nice and organized.
I looked to Anne who was now standing at the water's edge. A long skirt billowed in the wind. Her sweater falling off her shoulder. As her red braid fell vertically down her spine.
"Go," Billy shoves me forward.
"Ow!" I laughed.
"Go you idiot," he said again. "Get out of my sight."
I smiled. "Thanks Bil."
He nodded, turning to see Charlie and Diana. I looked back seeing Anne opening her arms up as if to touch the wind with her fingertips. I walked to her side. She was humming something. I listened for a bit before recognizing it. It was her favorite song. I would recognize it anywhere.
"Wagon Wheel," I said
Anne was startled by my words. She nodded with a smile. She looked back to the ocean. I did the same. It felt like some invisible weight was lifted off my mind and body. No phone to keep checking, no people to be pleasing.I felt.....free. Each breath was like a new beginning. Something I really needed. We all needed it. We barely survived this first month of Junior year. I wanted a redo. I would change so many things. But we can't go back in time yet.
A splash of water sounded before I felt it soak my clothes. My eyes shot open seeing Anne running away laughing.
"You're so going to pay for that!" I yelled chasing after her.
She ran fast but I was faster. Extending my arms out as she glanced back to see how close I was. Heading into her hips she began to stumble to a stop with me right behind her. Our laughter echoed across the whole beach. And I realized it.
Anne was the light again. The light she lost, she got it back.