One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Title: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Rating: G
Notes: Done for the "Psychotic" prompt at 50scenes.
Anne sat deep within the haunted woods dreaming the dreams of only a young girl. Though at 15, she was no longer a young girl.
“Hello, Anne.” She jumped in her seat, bringing her back to reality.
“Mind if I sit down?” She squinted up at Gilbert.
“No, go ahead.” She scooted over on the stump to make room for him.
“I have a question for you. You know the dance that is being held for us going off to college? I was wondering if you would allow me to escort you there.”
“Alright, Gilbert.” Gilbert smiled.
“I’ll pick you up around seven?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to get back to the farm. Have a wonderful day, Anne.”
“You too Gilbert.”
“Diana, I need the perfect dress.”
“Why, are you trying to show off to Gilbert?” Diana’s eyes twinkled with the knowledge that Anne had yet to find out.
“No. . .I just want to look good. After all, this dance is partially in my honour.”
“Alright. Well, then why don’t we go down to Lawson’s and pick out the perfect material?”
Soon the day of the dance arrived.
“Anne, Gilbert’s here!”
“Coming!” One last look showed everything to be in its place. She slowly descended the stairs. Gilbert did his best not to stare, but in that pale green dress with its short puffed sleeves and smooth flowing skirt, she looked beautiful.
“I’ll see you after the dance Marilla,” Anne said as she kissed the woman good bye.
“Have her home at a decent time, Gilbert.”
“I will.”
“Gilbert!”
“Hello Josie.”
“Oh Anne, how you do look like a watermelon--what with you red hair and green dress. Though, you might look prettier if your hair were actually red and not orange. No, I don’t think anything could make you look pretty. Though you did try with that green hair, didn’t you?”
“Oh Josie, not all of us are lucky enough to look as elegant as you. It would be absolutely horrid if anything were to happen to that dress.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to my dress. Though something terrible has happened to you dress; nothing should be punished as to have you wear it.” Josie was pulled away by Moody.
“Anne Shirley, what do you have in mind?”
“Nothing Gilbert.”
“Would you like to dance?”
“Yes.” As they began to dance, Anne found herself feeling a bit vindictive towards Gilbert. She could not have explained it if she had been asked, but something had gone off in her on how Gilbert had not defended her against Josie.
“Anne, why do you let Josie get to you so?” And that comment: as if he was saying that Josie was free to say what she pleased, but Anne should just keep her mouth shut.
“Oh, well, I’m sorry it’s my entire fault. I keep forgetting she’s so perfect. Well you know what Gilbert Blythe, you can go dance with her--though you may have trouble prying her away from Moody. I didn’t force you to come here with me. I didn’t force you to save me at the lake. I didn’t force you to ever become my friend. I didn't force you to give me the school. I wish you hadn’t saved me, I wish you hadn't given me the school, and I wish we hadn’t become friends. I wish I hadn’t come here because you are the most insufferable boy in the whole world and I cannot wait until I am rid of you forever!” Gilbert stared as Anne ran away from him. What had he said? He only meant that Anne was prettier and smarter than Josie, so why did she seem to care so much what Josie thought?
“Anne!” he called, running after him. “Anne!” His long strides soon caught up with her.
“Gilbert Blythe, you are completely incorrigible! Why can’t you just leave me alone? Don’t you get it? I hate you!” she screamed into his face, not worrying about the scene she was making. His heart stopped a moment as her words and tears tore his heart apart. He could hear the whispers of people who had stepped outside to escape the heat of the hall. He turned towards them, vengeance in his eyes.
“What are you looking at?” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “Get back in! All of you!” Left alone, he sat down on the ground and allowed himself a few bitter tears of helplessness.
Rating: G
Notes: Done for the "Psychotic" prompt at 50scenes.
Anne sat deep within the haunted woods dreaming the dreams of only a young girl. Though at 15, she was no longer a young girl.
“Hello, Anne.” She jumped in her seat, bringing her back to reality.
“Mind if I sit down?” She squinted up at Gilbert.
“No, go ahead.” She scooted over on the stump to make room for him.
“I have a question for you. You know the dance that is being held for us going off to college? I was wondering if you would allow me to escort you there.”
“Alright, Gilbert.” Gilbert smiled.
“I’ll pick you up around seven?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to get back to the farm. Have a wonderful day, Anne.”
“You too Gilbert.”
“Diana, I need the perfect dress.”
“Why, are you trying to show off to Gilbert?” Diana’s eyes twinkled with the knowledge that Anne had yet to find out.
“No. . .I just want to look good. After all, this dance is partially in my honour.”
“Alright. Well, then why don’t we go down to Lawson’s and pick out the perfect material?”
Soon the day of the dance arrived.
“Anne, Gilbert’s here!”
“Coming!” One last look showed everything to be in its place. She slowly descended the stairs. Gilbert did his best not to stare, but in that pale green dress with its short puffed sleeves and smooth flowing skirt, she looked beautiful.
“I’ll see you after the dance Marilla,” Anne said as she kissed the woman good bye.
“Have her home at a decent time, Gilbert.”
“I will.”
“Gilbert!”
“Hello Josie.”
“Oh Anne, how you do look like a watermelon--what with you red hair and green dress. Though, you might look prettier if your hair were actually red and not orange. No, I don’t think anything could make you look pretty. Though you did try with that green hair, didn’t you?”
“Oh Josie, not all of us are lucky enough to look as elegant as you. It would be absolutely horrid if anything were to happen to that dress.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to my dress. Though something terrible has happened to you dress; nothing should be punished as to have you wear it.” Josie was pulled away by Moody.
“Anne Shirley, what do you have in mind?”
“Nothing Gilbert.”
“Would you like to dance?”
“Yes.” As they began to dance, Anne found herself feeling a bit vindictive towards Gilbert. She could not have explained it if she had been asked, but something had gone off in her on how Gilbert had not defended her against Josie.
“Anne, why do you let Josie get to you so?” And that comment: as if he was saying that Josie was free to say what she pleased, but Anne should just keep her mouth shut.
“Oh, well, I’m sorry it’s my entire fault. I keep forgetting she’s so perfect. Well you know what Gilbert Blythe, you can go dance with her--though you may have trouble prying her away from Moody. I didn’t force you to come here with me. I didn’t force you to save me at the lake. I didn’t force you to ever become my friend. I didn't force you to give me the school. I wish you hadn’t saved me, I wish you hadn't given me the school, and I wish we hadn’t become friends. I wish I hadn’t come here because you are the most insufferable boy in the whole world and I cannot wait until I am rid of you forever!” Gilbert stared as Anne ran away from him. What had he said? He only meant that Anne was prettier and smarter than Josie, so why did she seem to care so much what Josie thought?
“Anne!” he called, running after him. “Anne!” His long strides soon caught up with her.
“Gilbert Blythe, you are completely incorrigible! Why can’t you just leave me alone? Don’t you get it? I hate you!” she screamed into his face, not worrying about the scene she was making. His heart stopped a moment as her words and tears tore his heart apart. He could hear the whispers of people who had stepped outside to escape the heat of the hall. He turned towards them, vengeance in his eyes.
“What are you looking at?” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “Get back in! All of you!” Left alone, he sat down on the ground and allowed himself a few bitter tears of helplessness.