Chapter Text
Cole MacKenzie takes a step off his front porch, the yellow sun almost blinding him in the process. He brushes his hand against his blond bangs to move them out of his face. He takes a deep breath, clutching his schoolbooks to his side.
Cole is returning to school after being gone for two months. He had been with Miss Josephine barry for the past two months, but letters from Diana Barry and Anne Shirley-Cuthbert finally convinced him to come back. He plans to only return for a little while, just to be on better terms with Miss Stacy. He is only doing this to make Anne happy.
Cole stands in front of the schoolhouse doors, his hand raised just above the door handle. He takes a deep breath, his eyes zeroing in on the brassiness of the handle.
"Forget how to open a door?" a familiar voice questions. Cole barely has time to turn around before the owner of the voice is next to him.
"I can-" Cole tries to spurt out, but the voice stops him.
"I mean, it's only been two months," Gilbert Blythe grins, pushing the door open for the both of them.
"I can open a door," cole rolls his eyes, pushing past Gilbert and into the first part of the schoolhouse. He stares at gilbert, waiting for him to take his coat off first.
"Really now? Color me surprised," Gilbert continues to grin, a sparkle appearing in his eyes. He quickly slips off his coat and hangs it up without another word leaving his mouth. He removes his cap, carelessly tossing it onto a hat stand. He tilts his head in the direction of Cole and ventures into the classroom part of the building.
Cole stands there, his hands in his coat pockets. He wants more than anything to go back to Charlottetown and never be in Avonlea again.
"Cole!" Anne's voice calls and the redhead sprints over to him, wrapping her arms around him. "I cannot believe you are back! This is truly splendid."
"May I remind you, he hurt Billy?" Josie Pye's shrill voice comes from the distance.
"May I remind you that this is none of your business?" Anne fires back, rolling her eyes. "Don't listen to her, Cole."
"Don't worry, I'm already blocking her out," Cole musters up a smile as he stares down at the redhead.
"Welcome back, Cole," Gilbert says, appearing around the doorframe. He has his hands wrapped around the framing and he's still smiling.
Cole just smiles back at him, his cheeks turning the tiniest bit red.