#cole mckenzie roasts gilbert for 1000 words

[seawolvesanddragons]

AWAE 25 Days of Christmas  Day 22 “Go on, love birds”

Gilbert was a bundle of nervous energy as he sat in Ms. Josephine Barry’s parlor, a cup of tea growing cold in front of him. 

It had been Anne’s idea that they meet at “Aunt Jo’s” house. Gilbert had finally managed the double miracle of having enough train fare for a trip to Charlottetown as well as having caught up on his work to be able to take the trip, and he and Anne had been ecstatic to see each other for the first time in months, if only for a few hours. Since Anne’s landlady only allowed suitors on Sunday afternoons, when Gilbert would be halfway back to U of T, Anne had suggested a bit of subterfuge in their meeting. Aunt Jo’s was an adequate secondary location, since Gilbert had been there before and Aunt Jo herself was apparently a kindred spirit. 

Privately, Gilbert had thought it would give them the added bonus of avoiding the prying eyes of the other Avonlea girls. He liked Diana and the other girls well enough, but he hadn’t traveled hours on a train to listen to them giggle and tease him and Anne. 

He had completely forgotten Cole McKenzie. Who was now seated across from him in the parlor, grinning at him like the cat who caught the canary and the cream. 

“So, you’re here to visit Anne?” Cole asked, just a mite smug. “Last I saw you two, you could hardly stand to be in the same room.” 

“We uh - settled our differences,” Gilbert said, stumbling over his words. He was only now realizing he had no idea who from Avonlea knew about his and Anne’s courtship. Diana knew, of course, and her father, and Bash. It hadn’t occurred to him that they would now have to tell people. 

“And are such good chums now that you decided to spend a whole day and more on a train ride?” Cole raised a brow. “Must have been some settlement.” 

Gilbert nearly choked on his own breath, coughing wildly at Cole’s accidental innuendo. 

“I, well-” Gilbert stammered, his ears very red as he tried not to think about just how he and Anne had “settled” their communication fiasco. 

“Oh Cole, stop teasing the poor boy,” Josephine Barry chided, sweeping into the parlor. “You know perfectly well Mr. Blythe here is courting our Anne; she told us about it weeks ago.” 

“She did?” It was silly, the elation he felt at those simple words. Gilbert’s heart felt like it was dancing a jig. 

“Technically, Diana told me,” Cole corrected primly. “Anne mostly sat there, face as red as her hair as she tried to remember how to speak,” Cole gave Gilbert a wicked grin. “I heard you caused quite the scandalous scene in front of the boarding house.” 

“I - there was pretty good context for it at the time,” Gilbert said weakly. 

“Oh, I am not faulting you for it at all,” Cole said happily. “I’ve been waiting for this development for ages. I told Anne years ago that you had a crush on her.” 

“You did?” 

Cole nodded. “Back when we all went to Charlottetown for the light bulbs. Right after you two were done your strange flirting as we left the train. She didn’t believe me, of course, even though it was very obvious. You looked at her as if she hung the moon,” Cole snorted.

“Oh,” Gilbert felt sheepish. He had thought he had done a good job keeping his feelings in check until last summer. Apparently, if Bash and Gilbert were to be believed, he had not. 

“That was some time ago,” Ms. Josephine said, raising a brow at Gilbert. 

“Aunt Jo, I don’t think you would have stood for it,” Cole said, clearly relishing in sharing this tale. “Those two were dancing around each other for ages; it was a wonder Gilbert got any work done in school, he was too busy staring at Anne.” 

“I wasn’t that bad!” Gilbert tried to defend himself. 

“I sat behind you and Charlie, Gilbert,” Cole reminded him. “You were that bad.”

Cole might have a point there. 

“Anyways, I’ve had far too many letters from Diana describing your latest escapades once I was gone,” Cole shook his head. “I’ve yet to get the full story of just what happened after the exams out of Anne, though. I’m glad you got it sorted out, Diana seemed ready to knock both of your heads together in her letter right before the fair.” 

“She would have done it, too,” Gilbert shook his head. His opinion of Diana had changed drastically in the last few months. “Your niece can be very terrifying when she wants to be,” he told Ms. Barry. 

“I know,” Ms Barry said proudly. “She’s come a long way.” She then swept out of the parlor, calling for Rollings, her departure as grand as her entrance.  

Gilbert could see exactly why Anne admired this woman so much. 

“So,” Cole’s grin dissipated the moment the older woman left, and he sat forward in his chair, a serious expression on his face. Gilbert felt himself sit up straighter automatically. “You’re courting Anne.” 

“I am,” Gilbert said, a little uncertain of where this was going. Cole had always been a very reserved, kind boy, and for the last thirty minutes there had been nothing but cheeky remarks and grins. Now though, Gilbert was remembering that Cole also had attacked Billy Andrews out of the blue once, in a state of fury incarnate. There had been rumors that Anne had been involved over that too, somehow. 

“Anne is a very dear friend to me,” Cole said sternly. “She was there for me at a time that no one else would be, and she is the reason that I had the strength and courage to be here now. I care for her a great deal, Gilbert. I would like to see her have the same sort of happiness she has helped me find.” 

“I know the two of you had a rough ride to get where you are,” Cole continued. “And though I am quite glad that you managed to meet in the middle at last, I don’t want to hear about any more miscommunication fiascos. Figure it out together, Blythe, because should I ever get any wind that you are treating Anne poorly, or giving her any cause to be unhappy, you’re going to need a doctor yourself. Is that clear?” 

“Understood,” Gilbert said hastily. “Truly, Cole, all I want is for Anne to be happy. I am well aware of how fortunate I am to have her in my life, and how foolishly, stupidly close I came to losing her forever.” 

“Excellent,” Cole clapped, all smiles and cheer again as if he hadn’t just been threatening Gilbert’s life. Ms Barry returned and Cole carried on reminiscing about their Avonlea school days as if nothing had happened. 

All of Anne’s friends were terrifying, Gilbert decided.

At long last, the bell rang, signaling Anne’s arrival. Gilbert sprang to his feet without thinking, his heart racing.

“That look,” he heard Cole tell Jo gleefully. “Every single time she read aloud or beat him in a spelling competition or even just walked through the door, we all had to put up with that look.” 

Cole and Bash were never, ever, allowed to meet, Gilbert thought. Then Anne walked in and all other thoughts vanished. 

“Gilbert,” Anne said softly. 

“Hello Anne,” Gilbert could hardly believe she was finally in front of him. 

“Go on, love birds,” Cole called. “I know you’ve been pining Anne, at least give him a hug now.” 

“Cole!” Anne cried furiously. 

“Come on, Cole, I don’t think we’re needed here anymore,” Ms. Barry said firmly, leading him from the room and leaving Anne and Gilbert alone at last.

“Sorry I was late,” Anne apologized. “At least Cole was able to keep you company. What did you talk about?” 

Gilbert considered telling her all about it. 

Then he considered it again. 

“Oh, just the weather.”