i don't know how it happened but it happened. both anne and i were made part of a family. shirley-cuthberts. we both had struggled enough to finally get to where we are now. a safe place with people who truly care about us. before all that we were the only ones who had each other. although despite our differences we were somewhat of each other's best friends.
i woke up with a thrill immediately changing into a new dress, for the first day of school. too caught up in my own excitement i run down stairs to see everyone already there. i overslept. "good morning y/n thought you'd never wake up." matthew says as i take a seat next to the redhead downing down my breakfast. "good morning to you too matthew." i hear marilla talk to anne not acknowledging my presence. "anne shirley-cuthbert i suggest you find a worthier overriding concern." she goes on as i sit there confused looking to anne for answers. "and my freckles. i hate my freckles. and i can't help but think the children would like me better if i was pretty."
"fiddlesticks. you're a vain one and no mistakes." m
"if a rose wasn't beautiful, nobody would want to stop and smell it. and, besides, how can i be vain if i'm ugly."
"oh, enough of your foolishness. you'll do just fine at school if you stop your yammering and fortify yourself. besides you have y/n." she adds
"of course you have me anne. i will always be there for you, you know that and if anyone and i mean anyone hurts you i will-" knowing what i'm about to say matthew stops me. "you two better get going if you don't want to be late." i smile at him and pick up the dishes marilla is quick to stop me. "try not to result to violence. it is your first day." i comply and walk out the door waving a goodbye to them.
i link my arm with anne's as she skips her way through the dark forest. casually picking up flowers on the way. reciting what to say and all that. "anne what do you think will happen at school?" i ask nerves bubbling up inside me. i look at anne and see her sat on the ground decorating her 'plain hat.' "we will make some friends and school will be fun." she says all giddy and my nerves calm down. school will be fine. there's nothing to worry about. but i am behind. you're smart y/n, like you said nothing to worry about.
i feel a tug on my arm as anne pulls me away striding to the schoolhouse. she stands there staring at all the students. watching carefully. "anne! y/n!" diana yells grabbing our attention. i smile at her finally happy to see another familiar face among the crowd of students. i think i'll like it here. "hello diana." we say in unison, as the girl approaches us.
"my, what have you done to your hat?" at this i laugh at her expression, utterly confused. "well, i wanted to make a first good impression, and it was so plain." she explains. "you're making an impression all right." diana says again, "i'm glad you found your way. i expect we should be able to walk together soon." the girl says staring back and forth at us. "we can't?" i ask although it will be just fine with only anne.
"i'm sure it won't be long until my parents accept you, now that your cuthberts and all. welcome to the first day of school. come in i'll show you everything you need to know." i follow after diana leading us to the back of the classroom. "leave your hat and sweater here. there are two empty seats waiting to be filled, you two can sit there." we walk in the middle of the aisle going back to where we were before. "go on and set your things down." there sure are a lot of kids. "i'll be right back." i say excusing myself from the two bumping into a few people on my way out. walking out into the fresh air i take a breath. everything is fine. i repeat those words over and over again.
once i remain calm i walk back in to see a group of girls along with diana and anne. i stride over to them and see some boys approach them just as i do. "oh shut up." i say calling out the boy for his stupid actions. he keeps on barking at us. "you're ridiculous."
