PHILEO | Shirbert

Fifteen ~ Love And War

"GOOD MORNING, SNOW QUEEN!" Anne said, looking out her window. She went to her mirror, as usual, to see if her looks had changed, and once again, they had not. Anne continued her usual morning routine: getting dressed, braiding her hair, go downstairs, kiss Matthew and Marilla on the cheeks and have breakfast. Today was an important day for her, she was going to take the Queens entrance exams, if she passed these exams, she could go to college and study to become a teacher -she also wanted to be a writer but that would come later-.

"I hope you're ready for today" Marilla asked.

"I am, I'm just- a bit nervous"

"Don't be nervous, everything will be fine. You're as smart as they make 'em" Matthew assured her.

"Thank you, Matthew" Anne smiled.

"You don't have to be nervous, you've been studying for months. You are at the top of your class" Marilla added.

"Actually, Gilbert and I share that spot... at the top of the class" she explained, "he's so smart. Even smarter than me I think, don't tell him I said that" she chuckled. Her parents grinning widely.

*knock knock*

Matthew went to open the door, "Hello, Gilbert". Anne lifted her head from her plate, eyes wide open.

"Good morning, Mr. Cuthbert" Gilbert nodded "I'm here to walk Anne to our exams"

"Uhh, yes, sure. Come in" Matthew moved out of the way, letting space for the boy to come in.

"Good morning, Mrs. Cuthbert. Good morning, Anne" he smiled.

"Good morning, Gilbert" Marilla said.

"Hello" The red-haired girl responded.

"Are you ready to go?" Gilbert asked.

"Yes, let's go" they started heading to the door.

"Wait, Anne! Do you have anything you need?" Marilla asked and she nodded "Well, good luck" Anne hugged them both and gave them kisses on the cheek.

"Thank you, I'll see you after the exams!" she shrieked.

It was not a long walk from Green Gables to the church, where the exams will take place. When they arrived, all their classmates were already there, even Diana.

Anne ran to her friend and hugged her, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to take the exams!"

"WHAT?!" Anne pulled back to see her friend.

"I talked with my parents, It was a long talk, full of screams, sobs, and tears, but in the end they let me. I had Aunt Jo's help" she chuckled.

"I'm so happy" they hugged again.

"Me too" Ruby ran and joined them in the embrace.

"The examiner!" Moody said and everyone -except Gilbert- gasped. The examiner opened the church and entered, letting the kids go in as well.

"Alright, let's not be nervous we got this, right?" Diana said, clearly nervous.

"Right" Gilbert said.

"Right, we got this. I got this" Diana repeated.

"Calm down, girl. You're making me more nervous than what I already am" Ruby said, "Everything is going to be just fine. Let's just... breathe" they all inhaled deeply, held the breath for a moment and then let it out slowly.

"Good luck, I love you all so much" Anne said to Diana, Ruby, and Gilbert.

"And we love you" Ruby responded, glancing at Gilbert who was telling her something with his eyes. Ruby nodded, "Come on, Diana. Let's go find some seats" she grabbed her friend by her arm and both girls walked in the church, not before smirking at the couple -of friends- they were leaving behind.

"Good luck, carrots" Gilbert stepped closer.

"Good luck, Gil" she pulled up her hand for him to shake, he chuckled and grabbed it.

"May I get a good-luck kiss?" he smiled. Anne quietly gasped and looked around to see if anyone was there, Billy was, but he was too busy being stupid to notice; she quickly stood on her tiptoes, grabbed his right cheek and gave him a sweet kiss on the other.

"Not what I was expecting, but not mad at it" he smirked, "Let's go find our seats, my daisy" he said, tucking a wild strand of her behind her ear. Then, grabbing her hand, he walked into the church.

"Fair" he whispered, letting go of her hand.

"And square"

"See you on the other side of the war" Gilbert said, before taking his seat.