Chapter Text
Tuesday’s and Thursday’s were officially her favourite days of the week. How couldn’t they be? She would spend a whole alone hour with Gilbert, oh how was she forever grateful for Ms. Stacy to pair them up. It pestered her that she was not exceeding in Biology and that alone could cost her opportunity to go to college, but at least she had her future husband to assist her. Oh she would do anything to become Ms. Ruby Blythe, and as Gilbert was a man who fancied clever women, that is what she ought to be, but he was also a man, he had to think he was in charge and their situation couldn’t be more fitting: she was in distress and he was her white knight.
That Tuesday afternoon, after class was dismissed, Miss Stacy conceived all those who were to stay for tutoring a twenty minute break so they could feel more at ease and so she could attend to those students who needed her help. To Ruby surprise the school grounds were filled with her classmates, usually they would all flee as soon as Ms. Stacy finished the lesson, but today it looked like a party was happening, everybody was engaging with one another, laughing and playing games. She, however, had more important matters to attend to. She sat by the creek where it was quieter and she could calm herself down and think how to be a perfect version of herself. She really was a fool, she had been so excited with the idea of spending time with Gilbert that she did not realize she actually had never done such thing. They had never had an alone conversation, he was always surrounded by the boys or she was with the girls and even after class he was always accompanying Anne and Diana home, which she thought was odd as his house was not in the same way as their. Maybe this time he would walk her home, which makes so much more sense as she has to pass near his house to get to her own.
As she was conniving her behaviour she thought it would be best if she would already engage in conversation with him, as to loose up things and be more casual. So she turned to locate Gilbert, which was easy enough, he was with his back turned to her leaning on the corner wall of the school house, oh isn’t’ he so charming, she thought to herself. She kept looking at him, trailing his every move, following him as he rushed after... Anne!? Oh, of course Anne was there, why they were always together, however, was a mystery. Ruby couldn’t understand as to why they were always talking, as for her it was the most peculiar thing, most of the time they did not seem to enjoy each other, they were always bickering and arguing and competing, that was indeed a complicate friendship. Which was why it took her by surprise to hear them both burst into laughter, that was even more peculiar, and she wasn’t the only one to think it was a strange behavior as she saw many heads turning as to pin down the joyful sounds.
But well, they were both happy, this seemed the perfect opportunity to put her plan in motion, and as she turned back to gather her things feeling prepared to make her move, she was interrupted by a tall figure who bumped hard into her, hard enough to make her lose balance. The air around her stood still, as a faint scream left her throat she closed her eyes and waited for her undoubtedly fall into the creek... but it never came.
Instead she was brought back to her feet with a strong pull and two unfamiliar firm hands around her waist. She snapped her eyes open in shock to see who had saved her from such embarrassment. Her eyes met his worried one and his stare was intense, she was dazzled by them for a minute. But she quickly came to her senses and proceed to push him away ‘Charlie, let go off me!’ she demanded as he hadn’t loosen his grip yet.
She looked around to see if anyone had witnessed this dreadful moment, but no one was looking, thank god, she thought to herself. She focused her gaze at Gilbert and found him still talking with Anne, she was glad he did not see her in such manner, so not impeccable as she was trying to be.
“So, no thanks? I did just save you.” She returned her attention to Charlie, he had a frisky smile in his lips and was playing with his dark curls as he approached her. ‘The nerve.’ As she was getting herself together, patting her beautiful pink dress, she rushly replied him “If it wasn’t for you acting in a quiet brute manner, I wouldn’t have been in such position to begin with. Therefore, you were just mending the damage you, alone, created.” She finished her sentence in such poise, pointing her nose up and sticking her ground.
“If you had paid any attention or wasn’t so clumsy you could see I was standing right here.” He replied her in a hurt way. “I’m not clumsy!” she shot back “I was just in a hurry to-” she stopped herself before saying anything foolish “-go back to class.” She cleared her throat and tried to find Gilbert but he was nowhere in sight ‘Great. Charlie had such ability to ruin things over.’ She started walking, leaving him behind, but he was persistent ‘Had he no scruples?” she thought as he continued speaking. “Oh, so you are staying in class.” She just huffed at his statement, did he really think she would let him surpass her? but instead of making a fuss of it she simply asked “Why do you care?” They were walking side by side now. “Well, you know, just thinking if you are in need of a tutor.” ‘The audacity!’ the notion of that struck to her as ludicrous. Was he mental? He really thought she would let him tutor her. She did not need his help. As they were in front of the school house, some of their friends began watching them. “No, thank you.” She responded, maintaining her self-composure. “Gilbert is already helping me. And may I remind you that I’m doing better in class than you, Mr. Doctor.” As she proudly turned and started climbing the stairs, she left Charlie standing still, looking at his feet and brushing his neck. ‘That would teach him to keep his boundaries.’
However as she put her things away in the hangers he began bothering her again. “Well, Ruby. That’s quite true. You really are brilliant, then perhaps, you could tutor me, instead?” She turned to face him, she would say he was looking at her quite shyly, as if he was nervous. But she cared little about that. Was Charlie Sloane, her rival, indeed admitting that she was better than him? She was in shock and a little confused. Except she could not let him know that, but she would accept victory, stranger as it seemed. “I suppose I could. Mayb-” she started saying, but a very familiar voice called her attention, Gilbert’s. He and Anne were reading a poem, guess it was another competition as to whom could do it better. Ruby refocused her attention to Charlie and continued to speak, but in a more rushed way “But I’m very busy right now, I’m afraid I can’t help you. Excuse me.” She said, before calling Gilbert and waving at him. “Gilbert! Hi, can we begin, please?” She started going in their direction “Mother asked me not to be tardy today. Anne, dear friend, excuse us. And sorry I can’t make to the story club today.”
She turned her back to them, headed to a further table and making herself comfortable while waiting for Gilbert. She couldn’t have better timing, as soon as Gilbert sat beside her Ms. Stacy was already calling the rest of the students to begin tutoring. She would be in the classroom to assist, however, the practice was for them to tutor their classmates as it would be more beneficial for their learning as a co-construct method. As the other students were choosing their pairs according to their needs, Ruby pulled out her copybook where she had written ‘Gil’s Lessons’. ‘Oh, how excited she was. This was going to be perfect.’ She looked over to Gilbert, but he was distracted watching all the motion. “So, biology…” she said trying to call his attention “Hm, yeah” he replied clearing his throat and clenching his jaw. “So, let’s see” he continued opening his book, with a distracted look in his eyes and that’s when he saw her copybook, he gave a small smile “I’d hardly call this a lesson, Ruby.” “Well, it is for me. I need all the assistance available.” “Alright then, glad to be of use.” Oh, when she’d be done with him, he would be glad to be so much more than her helper. “uhm, Gilbert, do you need help with anything? I know you are brilliant, but I can help you as well. Ms. Stacy did say this would be a beneficial partnership and both sides should offer support. Just like a marriage, don’t you think?” But he was not paying attention to her anymore. “Gilbert!” She called, “Hm, yeah, sorry, was there a question?” He replied inattentively. “What on Earth had he so absent-minded?” “I asked if you needed help studying anything. I’m quite good in anything else besides Biology, you know.” He smiled at her “Oh, yeah, of course. Of course you are. Actually, I wouldn’t mind a little pick me up in History. Haven’t been focusing much on it.” She couldn’t stop smiling, he indeed wanted her to help him, ‘What a dream.’ “Alright, it’s arranged then. Back to studying.” They both nodded.
But before she could start reading her previous notes, Gilbert spoke again “Ruby, why is Charlie paired with Anne?” She looked up, trying to locate the both of them, they did seem cozy together. ‘Were they friends? Then she realized Charlie’s shoulder rubbing on Anne’s. Were they more than friends?’ She had a confused look and a weird feeling in her stomach. “How inconvenient” With a hard tone she replied “I wouldn’t know, Gilbert.” She was becoming frustrated, of course spending time with him was great, but she needed to study. He did not take the hint and proceeded to speak “Oh, it’s just that I saw you two talking before...” ‘Wait. Was he watching her? Or was it just that misfortune moment that she had Charlie standing right next to her and she had called him? Never mind. He paid attention to her. Maybe he was jealous of Charlie.’ “... I thought maybe he said something to you.” She harshly responded “No. He did not say anything to me, whatsoever.” Silence fell upon them for some seconds until he broke it “Charlie is a good student, why does he need Anne’s help? ‘Oh my God! Wouldn’t he drop the subject?’ “Gilbert, I’m a good student and I need your help. Can we please beggin and stop talking about Charlie!” For Heaven's sakes! This is not how she wanted to spend her time with Gilbert. Why did he care for who Charlie or Anne studied with? She was right in front of him, didn’t he care for that?