PHILEO | Shirbert

Four ~ Show's Over

A few hours passed, it was time for lunch –this should be fun-.

"I would die if someone paired me with that ugly orphan" Billy Andrews said going out of the classroom.

"That's enough Billy!" he turned around quickly to see who dared to talk to him like that, it was Gilbert. Billy wasn't exactly afraid of Gilbert – he was actually, Billy wouldn't admit that though-. Gilbert was a bit taller than him and more muscular.

"What's the problem, Blythe?" Billy said, trying to sound confident "Your little girlfriend will get sad?"

"Leave her alone" Gilbert stepped closer to him with his fists closed, "I said it once, and I'll say it as many times needed" he put his index finger in Billy's chest "If you ever hassle Anne again, you'll regret it"

"Why do you care so much?" Billy said "She's just a pathetic orphan"

"You asked for this" Gilbert grabbed Billy by the collar of his shirt and dragged him outside, tossing him on the ground.

"You can't be seriously defending her, Blythe," he said standing up "What has gotten into you?" he said, pushing Gilbert.

Gilbert did not take this well, and punched Billy on his jaw, knocking him on the ground. Before Gilbert could get on top of him, Moody and Charlie grabbed him, containing him, and both Pauls went to help Billy.

"I'm warning you, Billy! One more time" he tried to loosen his friends' grip from him "One more fucking time and I won't have mercy" Gilbert threatens him.

The girls got out of the classroom because they heard the fight. Anne was standing next to Diana holding her hand tight.

Josie cleared her throat, making the boys snap out of their argument. Gilbert turned his head to see Anne, she seemed scared. 'You've done it again, Blythe. She's scared of you now. First, the "I would kiss you" thing. Second, the writing, I didn't do that though but she was clearly upset by that. And now, this. She must think I'm crazy for punching Billy' Gilbert thought.

'He defended me' Anne thought 'He probably was just being nice, He's a kindred spirit. I should thank him for defending me'

"Anne-" Gilbert started getting closer to her so he could explain. Then, he heard giggles and quickly turned to the source, and it was not anyone than Josie and Billy. He gave them a threatening look and-

"Stop-" Anne said grabbing his arm "It's ok. I don't mind" she whispered.

"You should mind" he whispered back. Gilbert started breathing in and out to calm himself.

"Show's over people," Diana said and everyone left. The girls went inside and the boys went to their usual place outside the schoolhouse "I'll leave too" she said smirking at the couple -of friends- there. If looks could kill, Diana would be dead.

After a few seconds of silence...

"I'm sor-"

"Than-"

Both said at the said time and laughed at their synchrony.

"You first" Anne said.

"I'm sorry for hitting Billy-" Gilbert started saying "Well, I'm not sorry for him, only for you"

"Why are you sorry? I thought it was really nice of you to defend me, thank you for doing that, but please don't do it again. I don't want you to get hurt" Anne said "I'm sorry your name was written next to mine on the blackboard. That must've been awfully embarrassing for you"

"What are you talking about?" he sounded confused.

"The blackboard? Anne and Gilbert written inside of a big heart?" she explained.

"Yeah, I know. I saw" Gilbert said, "I just meant, why would you believe I would be embarrassed?"

"Becau-"

"It was a rhetorical question," he said "Anne, you're amazing. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You have to stop saying those things about yourself too. Yesterday when you were talking about you in that way I just- I just wanted to"

"You wanted... what?"

"Nothing" Gilbert sighed "I have something else to tell you- I-" he was trying to think of a way to tell her this "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I said yesterday- That thing about kissing you" Gilbert said 'NO NO THAT CAME OUT WRONG. FIX THIS. FIX IT, BLYTHE' he thought "I meant-"

"No! It's ok, I understand" She interrupted him "I totally understand, you don't have to apologize. It's ok, I completely understand"

"NO, Anne. I meant to say-"

"It's fine, Gilbert!" Anne interrupted him again "I should go back inside, have a nice day" she quickly ran back inside to Diana, who was sitting alone, not wanting to be with Josie and her minions.

'Great, now you've really done it" Gilbert thought.

-

A/N:

(EDIT: November 2020)

As some of you mentioned (here and on ao3) Gilbert's use of the word fuck was not completely accurate I did some research (when I wrote this and I just checked again to be sure) and found this.

fuck (n.)

1670s, "an act of sexual intercourse," from fuck (v.). From 1874 in coarse slang sense "a woman (considered in sexual terms);" from 1929 as something one doesn't give when one doesn't care. Flying fuck originally meant "sex had on horseback" and is first attested c. 1800 in broadside ballad "New Feats of Horsemanship."

So, not completely accurate because people the meaning it's used for in the story until the 1920s but it's not too bad...

xoxo GingerSpirits.