₁.₀ SUPERCUT; gilbert blythe ✔

006.

Seeing Anne coming down the stairs - for the second time, actually - Marianne already knows she will fail to place a smile on her face.

Usually, it would have been the other way. Anne's cheerful attitude would spread around, making Marianne feel a little more joyful herself. The redhead girl just posesses this special charm about her, quite extraordinary.

Yet, today any charm wouldn't be enough, because it's the first day of school.

"Well... I expect it's perfectly normal to be nervous on your first day, but I'm sure everything will be fine. I don't have much experience with school, but why wouldn't it be fine? Better than fine. I have no doubt that it will be. None at all."

Despite Anne's words, it's clear to each of them that she is, in fact, nervous; Marianne is too. However, there is a difference between the two of them, and rather a big one. For Anne, the nervousness is connected with excitement and positivity. For Marianne, on the other hand, it's just nervousness. Maybe irritation and a feeling of betrayal too.

"I'm a few years behind... but that's no reason not to be optimistic. The only plane I can go from here, academically speaking, is up. If a person puts their best foot forward, things can go well."

"Slow those feet down, please."

"It will be nice to have a lot of new friends. Although, I expect it will be difficult to find a toehold, since they're probably known each other forever. Going to school is my lifelong dream. What could possibly go wr-" Anne stops when one of the cups crashes onto the floor. "Please let that not be portentous."

"For heaven's sake, Anne, I told you to slow down."

Afraid Matthew might beat her to it Marianne stand up quickly. "I'll fetch a broom," she says, impatient to do something, anything, to distract herself from what is about to come.

"I'm sorry, Marilla."

"You'll do just fine today. Both of you," starts Matthew as Marianne tries to clean the floor from the porcelain debris. "You are as smart as the dickens."

"Oh, I'm not so worried about my brain. I believe it to be in good working order," assures Anne. "And with any luck, as well as Marianne's help, I'll catch up with the rest of the class quite quickly. That's not really my concern. Do you want to know what my big concern is? My overriding concern?"

Marianne, annoyed as she feels today, cannot help but think it's a little pointless of Anne to ask, since she will surely tell them, no matter their responses. Still, if all that talking is a part of Anne's way of coping with stress, she mustn't be rude by commenting on it out loud.

Though Marilla doesn't seem to have similar thoughts on refraining from making a comment. "I'm sure you'll tell us soon enough."

"It's this awful red hair." Anne grabs onto her braids just as they are about to start breakfast. "This horrible hideous horrible red hair! It's the bane of my existence."

"Anne, I've told you already..."

"And my freckles," Anne seems determined to finish; Marianne finds it a little funny that the rest of them is already starting to eat, knowing it's nothing serious. "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 mistake."

"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?"

Marianne decides to try for a second time. "How can you ask such question, when you're not ugly? I'm..."

Apparently, there's no point in trying to make Anne see past the image of herself she's created.