Amazing Grace // Gilbert Blythe

Chapter 3

The next day sun rose as normal as Grace struggled to pull on her dress while simultaneously reading the book that laid open on her bed, a thrilling tale of two brother who were princes and were competing to take their father's throne. The whole journey to school she couldn't take her nose out the book for she was at the climax and walking while reading had become second nature to her. Only as she walked up the school lane she had hit the very pivotal moment when the court would decide the new king and the other prince was to find out his wife had been cheating in him with his brother when she ran straight into somebody. 

Grace's head shot up, startled by the interruption. The figure was none other then Gilbert Blythe. 

"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going! This book is ever so fascinating and it was right at the most interesting point. I couldn't see you coming, not even hear you I was ever so invested!" Grace rambled at an amused looking Gilbert. 

"It's alright I wasn't watching where I was going either," he smiled kindly. "I'm Gilbert by the way."

 Grace paused for a moment. She couldn't help but think he really did have quite a nice chin and an ever so splendid nose as well. 

"Oh, I'm Grace." The memory of Josie Pye banning any contact with Gilbert for risk of ostracization and bid him a quick excuse of school starting soon before rushing off. 

This time she knew where she was to be sat and so took her seat early in order to continue reading while also having an excuse to avoid any eye contact with Gilbert Blythe after their rather embarrassing encounter. The girls trailed in slowly one by one and greeted her, taking their seats about her and discussing the towns local gossip. 

Morning classes came and went soon it was time for lunch. Grace joined the circle of girls but couldn't help but notice that a boy was sat by himself in the cloak room sketching on a notepad. At first she pondered whether he may have wanted to be alone and that she might just bother him by going over there before eventually deciding that she ought to give him a choice. Without giving any notice to the girls and ignoring their questions Grace made her way over to the boy until she stood in front of him. 

"Urm hello, I'm Grace and I was wondering if I might sit next to you?" She couldn't help but feel slightly nervous in case he harshly turned her away and left her to wallow in self pity. But he didn't instead he looked slightly shocked before adorning a kind, shy smile. 

"Yeah of course. I'm Cole." He said smiling and looked back down to continue scribbling away. 

"I was wandering what you might be doing so thoroughly on that notepad but I suppose you're drawing." Grace said trying very hard not let her curiosity take over and have a peek when he most likely wouldn't care for an intrusion. "Do you draw often?"

"Yeah it's about the only thing I'm good at." He answered not taking his eyes off his sketches.

"I reckon you're going to be an artist then." Grace said happily chewing away on her apple slice. 

"My family are all farmers and we own land, I think I'll have to be a farmer. Besides there isn't much money to be made off art." 

"I doubt that's true. I read a book once where the main character was an artist who travelled to Paris and joined an art school. They would draw the Eiffel tower and all the beautiful scenery and because they were so good it was hung up in galleries that bought it." Grace said her eyes were clouded in the look she got when she dreamed of far off places. 

"That sounds amazing but I don't think I'll ever get to Paris." Cole said looking up and meeting Grace's eyes with a slight bit of hope. 

The school bell rung and interrupted their conversation, Grace thanked him for the conversation and went back to join her seat with the curious eye of Gilbert Blythe following her. He couldn't help but notice when she went to sit by the boy who always sat alone and see that instead of making fun of him befriended him, she really was quite peculiar. 

The afternoon lessons passed and when they all finally broke free of the school's confines the girls all crowded around Grace firing off questions. 

"Do you like him?" Asked Ruby. 

"Why would you sit with the weirdo, no one ever talks to him." Josie sneered. 

"Was he nice?" Dianna questioned. 

"He was lovely and no I don't like him Ruby. One doesn't have to like a boy to talk to him you know. Besides he seemed awful lonely and turned out to be rather nice." Grace said, slightly uncomfortable that there was so much attention on her and also that a simple kind act seemed so out of the ordinary to them. 

"He does seem quite handsome in a sad way though, doesn't he?" Ruby giggled, "Is he your Beau?" She gasped. 

"Oh Ruby you think of nothing but Beaux," said Anne,"It did seem awfully romantic though. The sad but handsome boy who always sits alone is approached by the new girl who takes pity on him." 

"Don't be ridiculous Anne, it wasn't romantic at all. Now I must get home father will be expecting me." That was a lie for her father wouldn't likely be home till after dark and she was sent to read in her room by Nanny Rose, but never the less she needed an excuse to exit the situation. When she'd reached the end of the road she had thought she had finally found her peace only for it to be interrupted by somebody else. 

"Grace, would you like to walk home together? I think you moved into the house a field from mine." Was what Gilbert said when she turned to face him. 

"Oh I er," Grace couldn't help but notice that they were completely out of sight of the girls by now. She also realised that Gilbert would make a rather fine companion seeing as he was quite smart and quick to reply. "Okay then. I don't see why not."