Dreamers-Shirbert One Shots

Fair and Square

Takes place roughly around the beginning of S3

SCHOOL was one thing that Anne quite enjoyed. Among other things, the rivalry she had with Gilbert was one of her favorites. Because it was nice to compete with someone who was strictly her friend; she told herself endlessly.

It was a few weeks before the beginning of spring and a new batch of snow had come in the night before. As Anne and Diana walked to school through the deep snow, Anne sighed.

"Don't you think that snow is one of the most magical things in the world?" She asked.

Diana smiled at her bosom friend. "It is quite lovely. I suppose it's not as lovely as you might find other things though. Like new flowers in spring or leaves in the fall or Gil-"

Anne quickly cut her off. "Diana! Why in the world would I find Gilbert Blythe lovely?"

"Well, you're good friends and you've been spending a lot of time at his house, haven't you?"

"Because Mary just had a baby and she's teaching me how to cook. Not to spend time with Gilbert."

Diana was about to rebuttal but the bell rang from the front of the schoolhouse just as they were nearing it. The two girls quickly made their way inside the school, and made it to their desks.

Anne turned to her side to see Gilbert, like she did everyday; normally to make some sort of remark about beating him in school. But today, Gilbert's seat was empty.

Anne frowned, and turned back to face Mrs. Stacey as she started the day's lesson.

Later, as Mrs. Stacey dismissed class for the day, she called Anne up to her desk.

"Would you mind taking these books to Gilbert today. He's out sick." She said handing Anne a pile of books.

"Sure. I was going over there anyway. Mary's teaching me how to make soup today."

"Give my regards to them." Mrs. Stacey said ad Anne made her way out of the schoolhouse.

A few moments later, Anne made her way up the stairs of the Blythe-Lacroix residence. She knocked on the door and smiled as Bash answered.

"Hello Anne! You're a little early but I'm sure that Mary can get everything ready for your lesson in no time." He said, moving aside so Anne could come in.

"Oh that's fine, Mrs. Stacey asked if I could bring these books to Gilbert though. He's sick?" Anne said setting her basket down on the kitchen table.

"Yes. He's up in his room pretending he's fine but Mary thinks he'll be sick for another day or to. You can go on up and then take your cooking lessons." Bash said smiling slightly.

He knew, of course, that both teens were in such strong denial for their feelings for each other.

Anne nodded and made her way to the stairs. Out of all the times that she'd been in the Blythe-Lacroix house she'd rarely been upstairs. As she stepped into Gilbert's room she saw him under some blankets on the bed, reading-or at least trying to.

He was blinking very heavily, obviously trying not to fall asleep.

"Hello there," Anne said stepping into the room. "Mrs. Stacey wanted me to take these books to you."

"Thank you. I can assure you that I'll be back in school in no time. But until then I appreciate you bringing my books. If I'm going to beat you in school, it better be fair and square."

Anne lightly rolled her eyes at the mantra the two at been repeating at each other for years.

Anne stood next to Gilbert's bed and handed him the books. Gilbert flipped open to a note Mrs. Stacey had left in the pages for him and blinked a few times as he tried to read it.

Anne furrowed her brows. "When I get sick I find it hard to read. If you want me to, I can read the day's lessons to you."

Gilbert was going to protest, but then realized if she didn't read it to him, he would get no learning done as he could barley read.

Over the course of the next hour or so, Anne taught him the new lesson they had learned in school before going downstairs to have one of her cooking lessons from Mary. After she left his room, Gilbert slowly fell asleep.

He was awoken a few hours later by Bash coming into his room and laughing.

"What?" Gilbert asked as the older man continued to laugh.

"You can't tell me she's just a friend now!" Bash said pointing to Gilbert's slate which had been propped up on his bedside table.

On it, it said:

I'll be back tomorrow to teach you the new lessons. Get better soon!

Love, Anne