■ Helpless ■ Gilbert Blythe ■

How to decline an invitation

■■■

Victoria managed to sneak out of the house just in time for her meeting. Victoria had changed from her black dress and into a purple one though she scolded herself for not taking a coat.

It took her some time to arrive, as she had to walk by foot but when she finally arrived, she saw Gilbert waiting for her on the porch.

Gilbert's head quickly shot up when he heard her shuffling in the snow and instantly got worried when he noted her lack of coat.

"Why didn't you bring a coat?" Gilbert called out as he took off his jacket and met her half-way. "I forgot, it wasn't my brightest moment," Victoria mumbled and got warmer from the blood in her cheeks as soon as Gilbert draped his jacket over her shoulders.

"Follow me." Victoria followed Gilbert inside the house and quickly gave out a satisfied smile when she felt the warm fire.

"Do your parents know you're here?" Gilbert said after a pregnant pause. Although he knew Victoria had nothing to do with it, he couldn't deny that it was hard to mention her parents. It just didn't seem fair that Victoria had two parents with her, who loved her deeply while he no longer had one.

"No. I climbed out of the window. Though to be fair I think they would have allowed me to come here." Victoria thought out loud as she realized how ridiculous it was to sneak out of the window. "Leave it up to you to add the dramatics," Gilbert said fondly with a weak smile.

"Have you been alone for a long time?" Victoria asked, looking at the table filled with empty plates. "An hour or so. Do you want to sit down?" Gilbert asked and Victoria quickly took his offer.

Things were slightly awkward in the air, as Victoria had no idea how to proceed in situations like these. She turned towards Gilbert and reached out for his hand to link their fingers together. She figured out that maybe a distraction would be good in these times. "What did you want to talk about?" Victoria asked softly, causing Gilbert to look away from their linked hands.

Looking up at her, he saw how prettier she was like the light from the fire illuminated her face. "I-I don't know where to start-"

Gilbert took a deep breath. "Do you remember that time we talked about the future? How you'd like to travel?" Victoria nodded. "Yes, though I have no idea what this has to do with it."

"I want to do that, travel the world. I've got no strings to hold me back and frankly I need time to clear my head. And I want you to join me." Gilbert said at a rapid pace. His confession caused her eyes to open wide and she pointed at herself with her free hand.

"Me?" Victoria gasped out. "It's not like there's anyone here in this house," Gilbert said bitterly. The house was never so silent. "Gilbert, I do appreciate you wanting me to join-" Victoria started. All hope vanished from Gilbert's face. "But you can't. " He pulled his hand free and stood up, walking closer to the fire.

"I knew you would decline. I just thought that there might be a chance, even if it was small, that you might say yes." Gilbert said, refusing to look into her eyes as he pulled his hand away from her grasp.

"I'm so sorry," Victoria apologized. "Don't apologize, Vic. I get it." Gilbert said, his voice turning more bitter with each word. "I don't think you do otherwise you wouldn't be so offended. I can't just drop everything and leave, my parents wouldn't even allow me." Victoria replied trying to keep her voice steady.

"Well, not everyone has parents that hold them back," Gilbert stated in a monotonous tone.

Victoria sighed, she moved closer as she tried to regain the distance between them. "I get that you're hurting, and I'm not judging you, but don't take it out on me. And you're right I shouldn't apologize because I have nothing to be sorry for. You asked me something and although I wanted to say yes, I had to decline. So don't bite my head off because my answer wasn't to your liking."