Chapter Text
“Diana, I don’t think Gilbert finds me attractive.”
Anne huffs onto her bed, holding a pillow close to her chest.
Anne was perplexed her prince charming has come to see her at school, this winter, many of times. For which she was so grateful. Her days were more warm and positively romantical with his letters. His letters made her feel like well, a woman. He always expressed his undying love for her in each one. Selfishly she loved when he would comment on her beauty. For the first time Anne could look in the mirror and appreciate who she was. Her hubristic attitude was rubbing off on everything she did.
She was undoubtedly looking more and more like her birth mother Bertha Shirley everyday, and for that, she was ever so thankful. She was starting to see her red hair for the blessing that it was. Gilbert would always comment on her beauty in his letters. Her personal favorite comment he has made was when he told her it looked like she grew within nature itself. Anne could not think of a more romantic compliment if she tried. Gilbert was a poetic soul filled with rolls of beautiful Sonnets. He always signed his letters with forever yours.
Anne sighed
She expected someone who would want to be forever hers, and someone who saw her as a mystical being would want to kiss her senseless every time he saw her. He kissed Anne so well, before he left four months ago for Toronto. Maybe it was because it was the last time he would see her for awhile. Gilbert tried to visit Anne once or twice a month, depending on his med school schedule.
You could tell he was always happy to see her. He would smile hugging her sweetly. lately, he’s been calling her Anne-girl. Anne didn’t know where it came from, but welcomed the name. Lately when Anne would kiss him he would engage until she would make it passionate. Then for some unexplained reason, he would stop. The last time he stopped and kissed her forehead instead.
Diana made her way to sit beside Anne on her bed.
“Why the quaver dear Anne, Gilbert definitely admires you to the utmost.”
“Yes, I have no doubt that Gilbert finds me admirable..” Anne huffed in embarrassment
“Oh Anne, you do astonish me, why are sulking?”
“My dearest Diana, I do not wish to be onerous, but I fear I’m not woman enough for him..”
“What on earth are you talking about,you’re turning seventeen in a short few months”
“Every time Gilbert comes to see me he doesn’t let me kiss him!”
“Anne that’s obtuse I’ve seen you and Gilbert kiss numerous of times.”
“Not like that Diana, I mean really kiss him..with passion and romance and all the beautiful things one wields when in love!!” Anne falls back on the bed sighing.
Diana looks down at Anne with amused eyes.
“Really, what does he do that brings on this notion?”
“Well, every time I kiss him, he gets all timid and pulls away.” Anne sits up abruptly, grabbing Diana's hands
“Oh Diana, what if my true love finds me appalling!”
“Anne that’s-“
“What if I'm frowzy, slovenly..what if…”
Anne got up from the bed and stared out into the garden from her window
“What if Gilbert doesn’t love me anymore..Diana I simply cannot bare it!”
“Anne, I promise you Gilbert has always loved you..he has loved you ever since you first came to Avonlea.”
Anne smiled turning from the window hugging her best and true kindred spirit. They pull apart still holding hands
“I think you will find, that Gilbert is just stressed from his studies..”
“What if I just make myself more appealing to him?” Anne say intrigued
“In what way do you mean, Anne?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I will tell you as soon as I figure it out!”
Diana rolls her eyes “Oh..I'm ever so sure you will. Anne don’t bog your mind with such ludicrous thoughts”
Diana and Anne hugged once more..
Anne knew she needed to figure out how to attract Gilbert before It is was to late.......
Later after Diana is engaged in her night walk with Fred, Anne walks up the stairs into a familiar hallways that hosts many of her old school friends, including Josie Pye. Anne taps lightly on the door.
“You may enter!” she hears a voice, which is undoubtedly Josie’s voice
“Where Ruby?” Anne asks making sure the little princess of gossip was nowhere to be seen
“Umm she went out?” Josie made an un-amused face.
Anne and Josie had a rough friendship, where most recently Anne wrote an article about her and almost destroying Josie's reputation…Although, she did join her and Gilbert in their strike for human rights. Gilbert, Anne sighed..she knew what she had to do and the person who could help her was sitting in front of her with a sour but oh so beautiful face.
Anne starts playing with her hands , walking back and forth while Josie sits at her desk perplexed.
“Can I help-“
“Teach me how to be appealing!”
“Excuse me?” Josie closes her book giving all her attention to Anne
“Boys, hem Men..um..they find you physically attractive, they are always asking to take long walks” Anne puts air quotes on long walks. Josie rolls her eyes
“Anne, stop pacing!” Anne continued to pace back and forth
“Umm, I was wondering if you could bestow some of that knowledge to a fellow..urm.. women..hem”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious!” She finally stops pacing.
Josie puts her hands up in defense
“Anne, calm down, you’re being hysterical, beside I thought you were seriously courting Gilbert Blythe!”
“Oh I am, or at least I think I am!..” Josie continued to stare at Anne as if she had two head.
“We have been courting for nyon four months months now!!” Anne raises fingers on her hand to emphasizing the four.
“not that I’m counting or anything..” Anne shrugged nonchalantly
“Also, we have been in correspondence for the same amount of time..That's where he expresses his undying love!!..” Josie tries to cut in, but Anne keeps scurrying about her words
“BUT THEN..He never want’s to kiss me..”
Josie tries to cut in again “Anne..”
“Well he kisses me but not with pass-i-emotion..” Josie gave up and just sat there waiting for her to finish
“What if he’s falling out of love with me?..” Josie sighed, finally groaned getting her word in
“Oh for goodness sake Anne, don’t be absurd that man is obsessed with you. He has been since the stupid slate incident!” That stopped Anne in her tracks
“You..you remember that?” Josie sighed
“Of course, literally everyone in class was so nieave to it but looking back now he’s always been in love with you!!”
“Anyway"... Josie got up and pointed at Anne
“Why would you want Gilbert to be all the slimy imbeciles that follow me! If you could have a real true love, who fawns over you when you literally look like you came from another planet!"
she stops abruptly looking Anne up and down “No offense…”
Anne ignored the last thing she said pondering over everything else.
“Anne, what is Gilbert to you..why are you courting him!?” Josie exaggerates hand gestures to get Anne to come out with her answer
“well..I guess..he’s me best friend..and I'm courting him because.. I love him” Anne sighs sitting on Josie's bed. Josie sits beside her.
“Well, I'm not one to merge myself in other peoples business, but If you think of him that way , don’t you think you could ask him why he’s being so distant?” Josie says bluntly
“I guess I could..” Anne sighs in realization
“Gilbert is first and foremost my best friend!”
Josie exaggerates slow nods
“Ding ding ding, we have a winner laddies and gentlemen...now please get out I'm trying to study.."
Anne gets up to walk out the door before pausing turning back to hug her Kindred Spirit Josie Pye!
“Thank you, for everything..” she hugs her quickly
Josie rolls her eyes but smiles
“Don’t mention it..Anne- Girl” Josie laughs menacingly
“How did you?”
Josie shrugged “Ruby opened your last letter before giving it to you..”
“Hmm I’ll be mad at her for that later ..” Anne smiles