Fear |Gilbert Blythe

✎ chapter eleven

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Fear

"Oh Ivy!" My mom screams as I walk in through the front door. I head her footsteps come from the living room. "Diana stopped by and told me what happened? Is Cole okay? She also mentioned that Gilbert was there to help you," All her questions tumble out fast but I look to her knowingly when she brings up Gilbert. "Yes, well actually he walked me home," I explain and she finally walked into the mud room and is shocked when she sees Gilbert taking off his coat. "Oh! Gilbert," she says shocked but quickly covers it by helping him take off his coat. "Ivy invited me in for lunch, but if it's a hassle I can go," He explains with the perfect amount of gentlemeness and I roll my eyes.

"Please, I just finished cooking it not that long ago, besides we have another guest too," She explains with a smile as she leads up towards the kitchen. "Who?" I asked confused as I follow them along. "Me?" A French accent explains and I turn to see Jerry sitting at the table with a bowl of stew. "Jerry came over to find you and I told him what had happened and I invited him to eat as we wait for you to arrive. He was ever so worried for you," my mom said and I watch as Jerry ducks his head embarrassed.

"So how's Cole?" My mom asks as she starts plating up food for Gilbert and I. "He's in a lot of pain but the doctor gave him medication so it should start to help soon," I explain looking between my mom and Jerry. "Yeah, Billy Andrew knocked him down-" I cut in to add, "on purpose!"-"and Cole fell and broke his arm. Ivy and I helped get Cole to the doctors where they fixed him. They told us it will take between a few weeks and a few months for his arm to fully heal. It's his right arm," he adds as my mom nods along hanging in every word that comes from his mouth.

"Gilbert jumped into action and helped Cole right away. He would make a good doctor," I say as a side note and I watch as Gilbert blushes now. "I didn't realize Cole fell too at first. I rushed over because Ivy had fallen but then Cole starts screaming and she instantly got up to help her friend that I realized," Gilbert explains as we walk over tot he table. I sit down next to my mom's place and across from Gilbert. "Are you alright?" Jerry asks and I nod reassuringly. "Oh yeah, don't worry it was just nocked down from standing. Cole fell off the top of a ladder."

"Well I might have a talk with the Andrews," my mom huffs out and I can tell she's angry. "You know it was on purpose?" I nod right away. "He had no business being there with the board and did it just to hurt Cole." My mom huffs out an angry noise. "I'm glad Gilbert was there to help," she says while chewing angrily. It's almost comedic and I shut my mouth to stop from laughing. I look up and see Jerry and Gilbert's watching me curiously. "So Jerry," I cough trying to cover up. "What did you need me for?"

I watch as Gilbert stops chewing to look at Jerry. "Oh, my mom told me to bring you that," he says pointing towards the kitchen counter where a basket sits. "It has French bread and cards from all my siblings for Christmas," he explains and my mother nods. "The bread has some sweet honey on it and smells just divine," my mother drawl out and Jerry's ends a polite smile. "I'm really glad that you're okay and I hope your friend heal quickly," he adds while leaning forward slightly to be closer to me.

"-Yeah, don't worry. I made sure she was safe and okay," Gilbert cuts in and I feel my face flush. Jerry nods politely towards Gilbert but he definitely looks uncomfortable unlike Gilbert who's smiling while eating his stew. "This is really good by the way," my mom smiles very largely to Gilbert having missed the slight shade he threw to Jerry. "Why thank you, I'm sure it's a lot different than what they served in the ship. So how's it been adjusting to farm life again?" She asks to get about her conversation going.

"Slow, these barely been any farm work, mostly cause it's winter but also because I've been so busy. I've been trying to fix the fence around my property and I've had some help from ten friends of mine,Bash and Noel, they've been a big help. I met them in the boat and invited them to work the farm with me,"
he explains and listening to him talk makes me smile. He's so animated and excited to tell his stories that I feel guilty about not writing back and letting him tell me about them. "I would love to meet them," I cut in and Gilbert turns to me slightly surprised. "Uh- I'm sure they would love that," he quickly catches himself. I furrow my brows confused as to why he was so confused about my sudden interest. He knows I'm interested in his life, as a friend of course, right?

"Oh Gilbert, you guys probably will have a pretty empty Christmas?" My mom asks and I wince hoping Gilbert doesn't get offended at all. He laughs, "Yeah, three guys who can't cook very well don't exactly make grand meals." I send my mom a look knowing what she's getting at but she ignores me. "You and your friends should come over for dinner on Christmas. It would make the meal happier for Ivy and I who've had lonely Christmas for the last couple year," I watch as my mothers eyes glaze over slightly but they're gone as soon as she blinks.

"We wouldn't want to impose ourselves or make you make a lot of food, the men I associate myself with, for lack of a better word, eat like pigs," Gilbert says blushing and I feel a smile come to my face. "We would love to have you over as well Jerry but you probably have family matters," I tell the boy so he doesn't feel left out. "But if you're able to you should come over after the holidays to celebrate the new year with us," I say while thinking out loud and look to my mother hoping she'll agree. "That sounds wonderful, we can have lots of people over and have a celebration of sorts!"

Once everyone had finished eating my mom went to do the dishes even though Gilbert and Jerry both offered help she declined, so I was stuck between them in the sitting room. They sat on the couch across from my chair awkwardly. "Oh, Jerry, I never got to thank you for the gift. It took me by surprise when you wrote to me that u almost didn't realize how momentous it was. Then I realized you wrote to me and I was so happy at how good it came out," I compliment the boy trying to get a conversation going. "Oui, all thanks to you though, I was able to write one to the Cuthberts too and they were also very pleased with how far I've come." Jerry explains while Gilbert looks very confused.

"Oh, Anne and I have been teaching Jerry to read and write, more so Anne but I've been assisting," I explain and Gilbert nods politely. "The flower on the card was pretty too, did you draw it?" I ask before remembering what my mom told me about it. I see him blush slightly," Oui, my mom taught me to paint flowers when I was younger, she can make paint out of many things so we always had some on hand growing up," he explains and I nod and try and focus on him even though I can't feel Gilbert staring at me. "Would you mind letting me see the flower drawing?" Gilbert asks and I finally turn to face him. "My mother used to paint too and I'm just curious," he explains when it takes me to long to say something. "Yes, of course," I say while standing and running up the stairs to my room, without thinking I grab my letter box and bring it down stairs.

"It's in here," I explain as I open the box in the table infront of them and pull the flower card out. I show it to the boys but Gilbert's eyes trail downward to the other contents of the box. "Are these?" he asks and picks up a small stack of paper. The u finished letters I try to write him. "No!" I all but yell as I lean over the box to grab them from him. I manage to grab hold but not before I realize I'm practically on top of him. I lean backwards and trip over his leg and fall backwards into Jerry's lap. "Are you okay?" Jerry asks as he helps me up but I can't answer. I know my face is on fire and Gilbert smirking up at  me isn't helping.

"Oh look at the time!" I call while standing rather abruptly away from both boys. "The sun will set soon!" I say way too loudly. "It's only three?" Jerry answers confused. "Yep the sun sets really soon," I continue as I start to walk towards the door and open it. "I don't mean to be rude but you better get home before any sketchy people come. Again," I say thinking back to my encounter with Nate again. "See you again soon!" I call once they awkward grab their coats and walk out. "Stay safe!" I call once more while shutting the door and sitting onto the bench bellow the coat rack. I let out a sigh of relief and touch my cheeks to find them burning and I can only imagine just how red they are.

Sorry this one took so long, I was kinda in a car accident but we're back and good...