𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 | 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭

(More than) Friends

Anne's POV

I froze in my spot. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. At all.

Facing my fear of judgement, I turned around slowly, silently wishing that the voice came from someone who sounded eerily similar to Gilbert.

But of course, we can't have nice things.

"Hi..." I trailed off, avoiding his eyes.

"Hi." He smiled softly at me. I smiled back and felt butterflies erupt in my stomach. I haven't felt this way in a while, and boy, have I missed it.

"Do you have anything you'd like to say?" There was a pause. The confession happened so fast and I failed to realize that Gil was right behind me as it was happening. I might have to go chase down my three lovely friends later if things go downhill.

"Oh, I have a lot to say--" He got cut off abruptly by a loud ringing noise echoing throughout the school.

Right. First day of senior year. I got so caught up in my feelings that I lost track of time and...well, everything, to be quite honest.

"But clearly now's not the time, nor the place to do so. Come to our favorite spot later after school?" There was a certain look on his face as he said this.

Longing. Could it be possible that he was longing to be able to talk to me about romantic feelings again? I know I could be wrong, but right now, I'd like to think of it that way.

"Of course." And with that, we went our separate ways. I got dragged by the girls and he ran to catch up to the boys, since we didn't have our first period together.

I can hardly wait for what he has to say.

• • •

"I. Told. You." Ruby teased for the...I don't even know how many times she's done this today. She's been doing it since we sat next to each other in the classroom on our first period, and it was really starting to annoy me.

"And? Would you like a medal?" I snapped back, finally letting my annoyance show. She, however, found this hilarious.

"Or you could get me a date with Moody. You're way closer to him than I am." My mood suddenly turned more cheery as the topic of romance finally wasn't targeted at me, and at her instead.

"I think I can make that happen, actually." Her eyes widened, seemingly not thinking that I was capable of setting her up to a date with her crush. It was true that I was closer to Moody. I once defended him from his bully, Billy Andrews, and I've been giving him advice on how to defend himself ever since, which he appreciated a lot, so in return, he became Gilbert's wingman.

That's besides the point...Ruby is now panicking in her seat.

"No! I was joking, Anne! Don't take things so seriously." I raised my eyebrows and shook my head.

"When I say I'll get something done, I mean it. You two are going to look so cute together!" I gushed, mimicking the way she teases me as payback. She huffed in response, pretending not to like the idea of going on a date with Moody Spurgeon himself.

• • •

Gilbert's POV

"That's cute, you're finally not being dense for once." Moody said, in response to me explaining my situation with Anne. He and Charlie bombarded me with questions after seeing Anne run out of my jeep, and even more so after they overheard her pouring her heart out about me.

The looks on their faces after I told them tells me that they're not much surprised it happened. To this, I looked at them both curiously.

"Dense? I'm not dense." Charlie rolled his eyes and laughed a little. His response got me thinking.