PHILEO | Shirbert

Thirteen ~ Yours

Back at the party...

"Are you finished? Can I talk now?" he nodded "Well, where do I begin?" she paused for a moment "I do want to kiss you, Gilbert Blythe. Not only that, I've been wanting to kiss you for a long time. So, if you were worried that I didn't want to kiss you... Let me make this very clear so we avoid any new misunderstanding. I want to kiss you, Gil" his eyes widened and he froze there, not knowing what to do. Her hand moved up from his shoulder to the back of his neck, playing the curls of his hair, sending chills down his spine. His hand went up to her face and caressed her rosy cheek with his thumb so softly like she was a doll made of porcelain. He started to lean in, closing his eyes- "not here though" Gilbert's eyes shot open "Not in a room full of people, full of gossipers, I want my first kiss to be perfect, I want it to be only you and me" she stated.

Gilbert nodded in agreement; taking both of her beautiful, delicate hands and kissed them, showing her all the love he felt for her in just one simple kiss. He spun her around and then pulled her close again "You look very beautiful" he said.

After a few more dances, "Would you like to go outside for a while?" he looked around "I don't think anyone would notice. And to be clear, I'm not taking you outside to kiss you; if it happens, I won't be mad, but that's not the reason I want to go outside"

"And what's the reason?" she teased.

"No reason at all, I just want to walk and talk with you for a bit" he responded truthfully

"Ok, that sounds nice," she said, "and I do think someone will notice us leaving, by the way. Diana, Cole, and Ruby at least" he chuckled. He extended his arm for her to grab, and they walked arm-in-arm outside, through the beautiful gardens of the Barry's.

"You look very beautiful" Gilbert said "You are very beautiful"

Anne giggled, "You said that already"

"And I'm going to keep saying it until you believe me" he smiled "You are so beautiful, Ms. Shirley-Cuthbert"

"You too are very handsome yourself, Dr. Blythe" she smiled.

"Oh, I know" he teased "Wait until you see how this handsome face is going to beat you at the queens entrance exam"

"Oh, you wish" she smirked "Your handsome face is going to be shocked when you see my name on top of yours on the list"

"Well, let's wait and see, my pretty carrots" he squeezed her hand.

My pretty carrots

"Gil, am I yours?" she asked after a few seconds of silence. Gilbert's pulse quickened.

"Only if you want to" he smiled.

"I want to" she admitted with a wide grin plastered on her face. After a few seconds, "Are you mine?"

"Well, I don't really like to be owned exactly, I believe we are independent beings and-" he was teasing but Anne was not quite catching it so he laughed "I'm kidding, carrots" he smirked "I am yours utterly and completely, yours. I'm yours for as long as you want me"

"Wow," she gasped "Calm down, Dr. Blythe. It's not like I want you around all the time, you're kind of annoying sometimes" she teased.

He gasped and put a hand on his chest, trying to act hurt, "Says you!" They laughed.

"We should go back inside; if I was right, and Ruby, Diana, and Cole noticed we're gone, they'll be wondering where we are" she said.

Once inside, Anne and Gilbert were greeted with the eyes of every single one of their classmates, staring at them. She noticed right away but he was too distracted admiring her beauty. Anne looked at him and mouthed 'everyone is looking at us'. Gilbert looked to see that indeed everyone was looking at them, some with warm smiles on their faces, others with disgust and others were just simply confused. He felt her tense up, so he squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm yours, no matter what any of them have to say about it" he whispered in her ear.

Anne looked back at the group of people and smiled. It was a "Gilbert Blythe is mine, I'm his' and there's nothing you stupid people can say or do to change that' look. They walked past the sea of eyes and approached Ruby and Diana, who were in a corner smirking widely at their friends.

"FINALLY!" Diana went to hug her friend and ended up hugging Gilbert as well because he was standing right next to Anne "It's been exhausting watching you two like each other and not doing anything about it!" she exclaimed.

Ruby smiled at them, she was standing next to them with her arms crossed. Gilbert got closer to her and hugged her. Cole, who left for a moment, was coming back and Gilbert pulled them in the hug too.

"MY SAVIORS" Gilbert said waving his hands after pulling back, and Ruby giggled. Gilbert saw the confused expression in both Anne's and Diana's faces "Ruby, stopped by my house a week ago and told me that I had to stop being such a ninny and that I had to tell Anne how I feel" he explained.

"Well, that's not exactly what I said, but it's a kind of good summary" she laughed.

"Thank you, Ruby," Gilbert said, "and Cole, basically had to tell me the same thing but he didn't go to my house"

"I found him outside, jealous of me" Cole laughed, "He thought we were together, Anne" she laughed even louder, Diana and Ruby joined them. Gilbert frowned, crossing his arms. "Anyway, I rebuilt the confidence Ruby built apparently... I just can't believe two people had to talk to you and state the obvious" he rolled his eyes.

"Thank god this is finally over," Diana said "I've tried convincing her for years to tell him what she feels"

"Years?" Gilbert looked at Anne with a cheeky smile.

"She's exaggerating it," Anne said, seeing her friend mouth 'I'm not' from the corner of her eye. "Hey! Stop that!" Anne laughed.

The rest of the night went by smoothly, everyone was having fun, dancing. Miss Stacy gave little speech, pretty similar to the one she did in the class. She encouraged the kids to follow their dreams and to live "Life is too short to live with fear, do what you want to do, take chances. If something doesn't go the way you wanted to, try again, and again, until you get it right. Finally, don't let anyone step on you and crush you, life is rough -it really is- but I know all of you can walk through it; life is also great, so again, my dear children, live, live, live, so you don't have any regrets at the end of the road. Oh! And remember, dreamers change the world" Miss Stacy said.

The next morning Anne wakes up next to Diana, she felt like she was waking up from the most beautiful dream.