Chapter Text
Gilbert Blythe was not one for eavesdropping. His peers might have found some amusement in the tidbits of gossip one could find out by listening in on other people's conversations, and perhaps even he had before his father had gotten sick and his world had gone sideways. Now, however, he had found himself and his family the subject of too much gossip and speculation to ever enjoy it the same way he had in childhood.
So it is very, very important to note, that Gilbert Blythe was not eavesdropping. Not in the slightest. It was hardly his fault that Anne Shirley-Cuthbert was having such a loud conversation with her farm hand in full view in public.
Although, to be fair, it wasn't a loud conversation. It wasn't even a very public one. But it was hardly Gilbert's fault that they happened to have their conversation one aisle over from where he was doing his own shopping at the counter, completely minding his own business. And it really wasn't Gilbert's fault that they hadn't noticed him. He had noticed them practically the moment they had walked into the store. He had even raised his hand in a small wave. It was hardly his fault they were too busy talking to each other to notice him. The store really wasn't very big, and if either of them looked even slightly to the left, they couldn't have missed him.
Anne and Jerry, however, seemed entirely too caught up in their discussion to notice much of anything, and while Gilbert was a little disappointed, he really did have things to do, and he had every intention of saying hello later. Perhaps when Anne didn't look quite so annoyed.
“...Marilla said not to be too long…”
“...I could have done it…”
“...but the last time…”
“...last time, you were the one…”
The argument filtered in and out of Gilbert's consciousness as he smiled at the clerk gathering up his purchases. Just as Gilbert was about to take his groceries and leave, and maybe loiter outside the store for a bit in the hopes of catching Anne at a more favorable moment, his brain snagged on a word that made him pause.
“... can't believe… on my birthday of all days.”
It was Anne's birthday today? It seemed like the sort of thing Gilbert ought to know, though if he really thought about it, he wouldn't have any business knowing it. Despite his very best efforts, he and Anne weren't close. Not like she was with many of their other classmates.
Almost against his will, Gilbert strained his ears to listen to the rest of their conversation.
“Oh!” Jerry said, patting his coat, argument seemingly forgotten all at once. “I nearly forgot.”
Anne narrowed her eyes, glancing the boy over suspiciously. “What?”
“Your birthday. I have something for you.” He saw Jerry grin proudly as he handed Anne something small and flat, looking on eagerly as she looked it over. Her own grin nearly overtook her face.
“You remembered the E!” She exclaimed, sounding both pleased and touched.
Jerry glanced down, embarrassed. “Mr. Cuthbert reminded me. Said it was very important.”
Anne giggled, her smile never diminishing. “Bless Matthew.” She said with such feeling, Gilbert wondered if the words were actually a small prayer. Biting her lip, she looked down at her gift, eyes retracing it as though she wanted to commit the whole thing to memory. Then, quite out of nowhere, she leaned forward on her toes and pecked his cheek. Gilbert, through absolutely no fault of his own, nearly dropped his groceries. “Thank you, Jerry. I've never gotten so many cards from one person before, it's really rather thrilling to say that I am now the type of person another person would think to give a card to. And on more than one occasion! It is truly a pleasure beyond any imaginable thing to have such thoughtful friends.”
Jerry, clearly used to Anne’s grandiose verboseness, only looked slightly bemused. “You are welcome?” It was more of a question, but there was an unmistakable fondness in his voice. He smiled, mischief making his eyes crinkle. “You know, you kissed me the last time as well.”
Anne flushed slightly. “Don't let it go to your head, Jerry. I was merely expressing my gratitude for your thoughtful gift. I don't exactly plan on making it a habit.”
Gilbert thought it best to take his leave after that, but he couldn’t stop himself from loitering outside the store.
After about fifteen minutes, during which he nearly convinced himself to just leave altogether a grand total of ten times, Anne and Jerry emerged, arms as laden as his with groceries.
“Gilbert!” Anne cried, sounding almost pleased to see him. He had been waiting outside a store in the cold, his arms going numb from holding his bags for so long, and suddenly, all of that felt entirely worth it. “Hello!”
“Hello, Anne,” he said, a silly grin on his lip before he was even consciously aware of smiling. “How are you?”
“Uh, great! I’m great.” She replied, sounding almost startled by the question. Her eyes darted around until they landed on her very unamused companion. “You remember Jerry. Jerry Baynard. He works at Green Gables?”
“Yes, hello.” Gilbert said, as kindly as he could, unsure of what exactly to say to the boy. The last time they had met hadn’t been under great circumstances. “You’re, uh, quite a bit taller than the last time we met.”
It became abundantly clear that while this was the correct thing to say to Jerry, whose face lit up with an almost wicked glee, it was certainly not a good topic to bring up with Anne.
“Don’t say that.” Anne groaned, dramatic as ever. “He won’t stop lording it over me. Just because he can reach the top shelves now and I can’t.”
“It’s not my fault you were built so tiny.” Jerry said, smugly, shifting what appeared to be a sack of grain in his arms.
“A year ago you didn’t even come up to my nose, and you want to tell me I was built tiny?” Anne asked in outrage. “I take serious umbrage with your frankly unfeeling and tactless insults, Jerry Baynard, and I really do not know why I put up with you.”
Jerry, completely unruffled by Anne’s outburst, merely furrowed his brows. “Umbrage?”
Anne deflated immediately. “Umbrage. It means to take offense or be angry or annoyed.” She cast a significant glance his way. “It’s spelled U-M-B-R-A-G-E. I can write it down for you went we get home, if you like.”
Jerry nodded, mouthing the spelling to himself and looking very thoughtful.
Anne smiled again at Gilbert. “Jerry doesn’t have time to go to school, unfortunately, so I’ve offered to teach him how to read.” Her smile was suddenly aimed at Jerry, and it softened into something very happy and proud. “But he has come ever so far on his own. He’s even written cards for me. Isn’t that something?”
Gilbert smiled at Jerry. “Yes, that’s wonderful. Congratulations.” He said, meaning every word.
Jerry grinned proudly. “I still have a long way to go, but it is very nice to be able to read all the signs in town.”
“I’m hoping he’ll graduate to books soon enough.” Anne enthused. “I have ever so many book recommendations for him.”
The farm hand looked legitimately afraid at that suggestion, and Gilbert was hard pressed to stop himself from laughing at his expression. “Well,” he said, struggling to regain his composure. “If you like, I think my father saved all of my old grammar books from school. They’re all written in, but if you think they might be helpful, I could stop by and give them to you?” Jerry nodded carefully, thanking him for the kind offer, but Gilbert looked hopefully to Anne. “Would that be alright?” He asked.
Anne blinked in surprise, her cheeks tinting a lovely pink. “Ah, yes.” She nodded jerkily. “Yes, I think that would be fine. Right, Jerry?” She looked to Jerry, as though he had not already answered.
Jerry merely looked resigned to their antics and nodded again. “Thank you.”
“Anything to help a friend of Anne’s.” Gilbert said.
“Oh Jerry’s not a friend.” Anne cut in, though the quirk of her lips seemed to absolve her words of any sting. “He’s more of a nuisance.”
“How am I the nuisance when you’re the one who never stops talking?”
“I can’t listen to this anymore.” Anne said sanctimoniously, nose in the air. “I’m going to put this in the cart.”
“It was nice seeing you, Anne.” Gilbert cut in before she could walk away. “Have a happy birthday.”
“Oh! How did you know?” She asked in surprised pleasure.
“I heard a rumor.” He said, smiling crookedly.
“Well, thank you.” She said happily. “See you in school.” She aimed one last smile at him, and walked away, leaving Gilbert with a familiar feeling of vertigo he was beginning to associate with Anne herself.
“See you around.” Jerry said, following after Anne.
“Yeah, uh, I’ll bring those books over when I get the chance.” Gilbert agreed. Then, and he couldn’t have explained why he did it if he tried, he stepped a bit closer to the boy. “And, um, you and Anne…” he began in a quieter tone, proving to himself once and for all that he really hadn’t outgrown childish gossip. “The two of you aren’t-” he broke off, unsure of how to finish, and Jerry only looked confused. “I mean to say, i saw her kiss you and, I guess I wondered…”
Thankfully, he didn’t have to finish his query. Jerry’s face lit with understanding, and then crumpled as though he had swallowed a lemon. And then he laughed. Shaking his head, Jerry shifted the bag in his arm so he could slap Gilbert on the back. “Good one.” He laughed again, and left to catch up with Anne at their cart, leaving Gilbert feeling embarrassed, relieved, and oddly offended on Anne’s behalf.
“Yeah,” Gilbert mused to himself as he watched them pack up and ride away. “Real good.”