₁.₀ SUPERCUT; gilbert blythe ✔

007.

Yes, Marianne thought school to be a noisy and tiring place without ever being to one. But now... well, now she has a proof.

Walking through the door after much more excited Anne, she is instantly welcomed by chatter and shouting. There are children running and playing, obviously thrilled to be back together after summer (even though they've seen each other multiple times during it, living in such a small community after all). While Anne makes a few steps forward as if she was somehow enchanted with the place, Marianne frowns, fighting a sudden urge to look back at the door.

It's pure chaos and she doesn't like it at all.

"Anne!"

Marianne rises her eyes to see Diana coming their way. Her name isn't called as well, but she doesn't really mind. After all, Diana is more of Anne's friend than hers. It wouldn't be wise of Marianne to hold this against her.

"Hello, Diana!"

"It's nice to see you again."

"And you, Marianne," smiles Diana. She seems all sweetness and kindness, proving everything that Marianne had heard about her to be right. "My, what have you done to your hat?"

Oh, she should have told Anne to settle on less flowers.

"Well, I wanted to make a good first impression, and it was so plain."

Diana chuckles and Marianne cannot help felling gratitude. She's happy Anne has such a person at her side, it's good.

"You're making an impression all right. I'm glad you found your way. I expect we should be able to walk together soon."

"We can't?"

"I'm sure it won't be long until my parents accept you, now that you're a Cuthbert," replies Diana. "They already think quite highly of Marianne."

It's sad how children need permission to just walk in each other's company. Marianne isn't much happy about anyone joining them on their way to school - or anywhere else, probably - but she's sure Anne would like that very much. She will cope somehow.

"Welcome to the first day of school. Come on. I'll show you two everything you need to know."

The two girls follow Diana, listening to all her instructions.

"Leave your hats and sweaters here. I assume you would like to seat together..."

"Oh, no," interrupts Marianne, shaking her head gently. "If you want to seat with Diana, Anne, feel free to do so. You mustn't feel obliged to limit yourself because of me."

Anne sends her a bright smile, one Marianne cannot return. For God's sake, why would she say such a thing? She doesn't know anyone else in this building!

"Well, then. Ruby won't mind. I think Jane and Ruby may sit together, now that Prissy's studying for Queen's Academy entrance exams, and needs to sit with the older students..."

"Who?"

"...but maybe you could sit with Tillie, Marianne," finishes Diana as they go back to the classroom. "Go on and set your things down."

"Hello there." They turn around to see two boys standing there. "I'm Moody," one of them says.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

The boy rolls his eyes playfully. "Moody Spurgeon," he repeats his name, obviously used to it being mistaken with... something else.

"I'm Anne and this is Marianne."

"I'm Charlie."

"Charlie Sloane," corrects Diana.

"Happy to meet you."

"Don't talk to the boys," warns Diana before rising her voice. "They're ridiculous."

Charlie and Moody smile in amusement. Marianne supposes all the said words, even harsh, are considered in a playful manner. "Nice to see you to, Diana."

As the two boys walk away, the dark haired girl turns round, whispering, "All except Gilbert Blythe and Edward Belware. They're both dreamy, but Edward is at Queen's now and Gilbert won't be here today."

Edward Belware - her older brother - dreamy? Marianne is so surprised at the new discovery she almost doesn't notice a few girls appearing at their side until Diana starts to introduce them.

"This is Jane Andrews and Josie Pye, and Ruby Gillis, and Tillie Boulter," she says, pointing to each of them. "Everyone, these are Anne and Marianne."

The girls say words of welcome and Marianne is just about to say 'hello' herself, but in that same moment Anne decides to present them with what she came up with on her way to school.

"It is a scrumptious pleasure to make your acquaintances, and I shall do my utmost to prove myself worthy of your friendship."

In fact, they all look a little perplexed as she finishes her little speech. Marianne is almost sure she does too, as this is even more than she thought Anne capable of.

Apparently, she should learn not to put Anne in any limits and she should do it quick.

Fortunately, Diana doesn't allow for the silence to last too long. "Uh... Anne loves to read, and she knows ever so many big words."

"Does she use them all in every sentence?" asks one of the girls - Josie, was it? - and Marianne is taken aback by her rudeness.

Tillie quickly jumps in, eager to change the subject. "I like to read, too."

Ruby smiles, before turning to the girl, frowning. "No, you don't."

"No, I don't."

Hearing Tillie correct herself, Marianne sends her a small smile. Saying the first thing that comes into mind when the situation requires is not something she's unfamiliar with; maybe sitting with someone other than Anne won't be that awful after all.

Tillie's words seem to encourage the rest of the girls to speak. The conversation, though still a little awkward, seems to be going well except Josie's rude questions. Marianne's always thought of herself as of a person who's not to form a judgement on someone on their first meeting, but that girl is just something else.

"If you're an orphan, I suppose," says Josie now, refering to Anne's dress - the same one Marilla spent hours working on. "I wouldn't be caught dead in it."

Marianne opens her mouth before she gives herself a chance to think. "I'm an orphan, too." My, today's anxiety seems to have a really unexpected influence on her. "Sorry to be so direct, but it appears to be a trait you tend to put into consideration before making an acquaintance. I felt obliged to warn you about myself before any mistake could occur..."

Josie send her an unpleasant glare as some boys approach them. "Ruff-ruff! Ruff! Ruff!"

Isn't it the same boy who made a dog reference on the picnic?

"You're ridiculous."

"Hey, look!" shouts the boy, pretending to sound surprised. "It's a talking dog," he sniggers; the comment meeting with delight of his companions.

"Well, I was surprised, too," mumbles Marianne under her breath. "You must be some kind of a miracle."

No one, thank God, seems to have heard her words. Marianne has no idea where do all of them come from. Perhaps she doesn't even want to.

Still, it's no consolation - it's going to be a very long day. And, if this is what school in Avonlea looks like, it's going to be very long few years indeed.

🌼

author's note

I feel like this chapter is kinda boring. Even though it has less words than the others, it still came out pretty long. And, since I'm (more than) a little oversensitive about all the chapters being about the same length, I decided to cut this one in two.

It's going to be a double update, so hopefully at least this aspect will be considered as a plus.

de-lia