Come As You Are (An Anne With An E/Sebastian 'Bash' Lacroix Fanfic)

04. School

It was a beautiful day when I woke up. I could faintly hear birds outside my window as I sat up. I stretched, moaning softly. When I had finally woken up, I decided to get ready. The outfit of the day was a long blue skirt and a white blouse. I wasn't much of a skirt person as I didn't like the feel but with societal pressures pushed feminine fashion on me. Throughout my life, I had worn men's clothes around the house - pants, big shirts, and no corset. I hated corsets and rarely wore one. Thankfully I only had one but I must have forgotten it at my house. It was a good thing I could blame it on my blindness.

I left my room to go downstairs. I joined the others for breakfast, sitting down in a huff. Anne started talking about school and everyone there. She talked about her friends and class often. I had become curious about her school since coming to stay. Gilbert never talked about school the way Anne did and it made me want to start going. I had gone to a blind school for most of my childhood and early teenage years though I stopped about two years before Father died.

"Would I be able to go to Anne's school?" I asked suddenly.

"Haven't you already had your schooling?" Marilla asked.

"Yes but I want to see what sighted school is like," I replied. "I've only been to a blind school and I stopped going two years ago when I was fifteen. I never finished."

"We will think about it," Marilla said.

"Oh please?" Anne asked. "It's a grand idea and Aria would love it. She can meet Diane."

"I said we'll talk about it," Marilla said. "She wouldn't be able to see the board or be able to write. Mr. Phillips wouldn't allow it."

"He doesn't have to know," I replied. "I am very good at hiding the fact that I am blind."

"Please Marilla?" Anne begged.

"I gave you an answer, Anne," Marilla answered sternly. "Now eat up quickly. It's almost time to go to school."

Anne got up after she finished I guessed. I finished as I heard her leave the house. I helped Marilla with cleaning up and helped her bake. I kneaded the dough at the table while talking with Marilla.

"What's it like having Gilbert as your brother?" Marilla asked.

"It was alright, I guess," I replied. "He's my twin brother so not only did we have a sibling rivalry but we also had that twin bond."

I heard a spoon being placed on the table. "You're Gilbert's twin? He has a twin?"

I nodded, smiling. "I'm five minutes older. I always tease him about it. He hates it but it's funny."

"What did he think about you going to a blind school?" Marilla asked.

"We were young st the time so it was alright," I replied. "He learned Braille for me so we could write letters to each other. We saw each other over breaks as well and we acted as if no time had passed."

"So you're close?" Marilla asked.

"Very," I answered. "He wasn't sure about leaving but he knew I would be going to a good family. He'll be back though. He always comes back."

"Will he send you letters?"

"Definitely," I replied. "There was rarely a time where I was gone that he hasn't sent me one. You'll be seeing more of an influx of letters coming in for me. I would need paper though if you don't mind. I could ask Gilbert to send me extras."

"I'm sure we could find some paper for you," Marilla said. "That should be enough for the bread. Put it on this pan for me."

I nodded as I heard the pan scrape against the table. I started molding the bread onto it, sprinkling a little flour on top. Marilla helped me put the loaves in the oven and she led me outside to do laundry. When we were done, we went back inside to check on the bread.