x.

"Woah...this place looks amazing Josephine!" Eleanor squealed as she entered the home.

The living area/sunroom of the home was fully decorated now. Flowers, vines, and other types o plants were wrapping themselves around the columns and ceiling in the old home.

Eleanor didn't know what to look at first, her and Anne were staring at the ceiling with gaped mouths as they watched small petals start to slowly float down from the spring breeze entering through the open windows and doors.

"It does look amazing doesn't it?" Josephine sighed as her eyes began to water.

"Aunt Josephine? Are you alright?" Diana asked as she grasped onto her Aunt and led her to a seatie in the corner.

"Fine, fine...don't you worry about me Diana. I'm just going to be a little emotional today, this was supposed to be Gertrude day." Josephine sighed as she pulled out a small handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.

"I'm sure Gertrude is watching from Heaven, Josephine. She's probably thrilled out of her mind at how beautiful the place looks." Cole exclaimed as he patted Josephine's shoulder.

"I'm sure she is." Josephine smiled and patted all of the kids shoulders.

"Guest will be arriving shortly, Mrs Josephine." Alfred's voice startled the group as they all slightly jumped.

"Thank you Alfred." Josephine nodded before grabbing Cole's hand and helping herself up.

She patted her dress down and wiped off her sleeves before securing tucking the little handkerchief into her pocket.

Eleanor caught a glimpse of a golden "G" imprinted on the white lace, a smile etched to her lips.

"Oh! And Mrs Parks, you have a letter from a Mr. Blythe waiting for you in the common room." Alfred whispered.

Before anyone could react, Eleanor was already racing towards the front room and dived at the envelope that was sitting at the table. The familiar smell of wood and home made her smile slightly.

Eleanor glanced up to see Diana, Anne, and Cole all staring at her with large and goofy grins plastered on their lips.

"Can I help you all?" Eleanor asked as she carefully pulled the letter closer to her chest.

"Oh! Not at all, we're just waiting to see if Gilbert is going to pop out of that letter and propose to you right here by the way you raced in here." Anne giggled as Diana and Cole both laughed.

"Oh shove off!" Eleanor grumbled and started up the stairs and towards her guest room.

"Oh come on Eleanor! You know we were only joking!" Cole chuckled.

"And that's why I don't expect any of you to be in the same room as me as I read my letter, who know's what kind of joke you'll pull then!" Eleanor huffed as she shut her door right in their faces.

The sound of the three giggling made their way down the hallway and stairs, Eleanor let out a shake breath before carefully opening the letter.

----

To my dearest Eleanor,

It sounds like days are boring at Diana's Aunt's house, but hopefully the party will satisfy your boredom. If not, you know you could always come home and stay with me and Bash.

Oh! I forgot to tell you about that, Bash is staying with me and he's going to help me on the farm since I need some help on it. I know you've offered to help with the animals and things, but I couldn't imagine seeing your face if you got dirt on your fancy dress.

----

"Rude." Eleanor huffed out but continued to read.

----

Maybe you could bring Bash some of your famous lemon and blueberry scones? I'm sure he would love them. He sure loves lots of spice and your cooking holds lots of them.

But enough about Bash,

I miss you.

Even though you've only been gone for a few days, it feels like you've been gone for a century. Every moment I spend away from you feels like my happiness is draining, you truly do complete me Eleanor Parks.

But hopefully you'll be home soon, so I can stop wallowing in self pity and actually get some school work finished. Mr Phillips is on my case about the other day when he caught us "smooching" as he calls it.

----

Eleanor let out a giggle as she imagined Mr Phillips scolding Gilbert for the two "smooching" during a school day.

----

I'll see you soon my dear, and I'll make sure to give you one of my greatest "smooches" when you arrive.

Yours truly,

Gilbert Blythe

----

Eleanor let out a soft sigh as she allowed her back to rest against the bed as she flopped backwards. She held the letter close to her chest as the words circled her brain, she still had yet to meet the infamous "Bash" as Gilbert calls him. But she couldn't wait too.

Her mind went back to the day that Gilbert came back from sea, his chat with Anne.

Her heart twanged softly as she remembered how Anne always wore the bracelet that Gilbert gave her. She knew that it was most likely friendly chat but it still nipped at her, she had to know if Anne had feeling for Gilbert.

"Anne? Would you mind coming here for a moment?" Eleanor yelled into the hallway.

The sound of Anne's thick and chunky boots were heard as she clamored up the stairs and into Eleanor's room before flopping onto the bed.

"Want me to check for any misspelling's in one of your letters to Gilbert?" Anne chuckled as she picked up the letter from Gilbert and her eyes scanned the letter before Eleanor gently plucked it from her hands.

"Do you have a crush on Gilbert." Eleanor blurted out before slapping her hands over her mouth.

"What?" Anne coughed out.

"Do you have a crush on Gilbert Blythe?" she asked again.

Anne stared at her with wide eyes for a few moments before blinking and picking at the hem of her dress. She merely shrugged.

"A shrug? What's that? A maybe?" Eleanor asked.

"I don't know." Anne answered.

Eleanor stared at one of her best friends, when asked a simple question she received a shrug of a response back.

This was Gilbert Blythe they were speaking about.

Eleanor's boyfriend.

"So I'll take that as a maybe." Eleanor scoffed out.

"I don't know if I do, and if I do it's not like I would act on it! He's your boyfriend Elle-" Anne started but Elenor shook her head.

"No it's fine." Eleanor scoffed out before grabbing her letter from Gilbert and shoving it in her trunk and throwing her clothes in there.

"What are you doing?" Diana asked as she and Cole appeared in the doorway.

Anne glanced at the two with guilty eyes as Eleanor angrily packed up her clothes.

"I'm leaving after the party." Eleanor snapped out.

"What? Why?" Cole asked.

"I want to be home." was all Eleanor said.

Diana helped Anne off the bed as the two began whispering about something, Cole flopped down on the bed with a creak as Eleanor slammed her trunk shut.

"Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Anne?" Cole asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Eleanor sighed as she flopped onto the bed beside Cole.

Diana and Anne had already walked out of the room, leaving Eleanor and Cole alone in the quiet. The only sound was Eleanor's heavy breathing as she just packed as quick as she could.

"Anne has a crush on my boyfriend." she finally cried out.

Cole coughed a few times before gasping, his usual dramatic self was back.

"What do you mean Anne has a crush on your boyfriend?" he asked.

"Exactly what it sounds like! I asked if she had a crush on Gilbert and she shrugged! She shrugged Cole!"

"That doesn't mean she has a crush on Gilbert-"

"Oh yes it does, I can tell when Anne is lying and she defiantly was lying when she said she didn't have a crush on him! Can you believe her?"

"Is it really that big of a deal?"

Eleanor stopped mid sentence and turned to look at Cole, his eyes instantly grew twice its size.

"Of course it's a big damn deal! That's my boyfriend! Wouldn't you be upset if someone had a crush on your boyfriend?" Eleanor huffed out as she picked up her trunk and heaved it on the bed.

"B-Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend! I like girls-"

"Oh save it Cole, I know you better than that." Eleanor huffed as she rested her head in her hands.

"Your not going to tell anyone are you?" Cole asked.

"Of course I'm not Cole, cause unlike some people, I have the decency to keep secrets that might hurt others!" Eleanor said a little bit louder, hoping Anne would head.

"Would you please stop yelling? Anne already feels bad enough as is." Diana huffed as she walked into the room, a sniffling Anne behind her.

"Look Anne, I'm mad but I'm not going to hurt you so stop hiding behind Diana." Elenor hissed out.

Anne creeped up from behind Diana as she played with the hem of her dress, her eyes red and puffy.

"I-I'm sorry I like your boyfriend...I wasn't going to act on it I swear!" Anne wailed as she threw herself at Eleanor.

"Anne! Pull yourself together woman!" Eleanor sighed as she carefully helped Anne stand normally.

Anne let out a few more cries before sniffling.

"I'm...I'm not mad." Eleanor sighed.

"Your not?" all three said in unison.

"No...I don't really have a right to be mad I suppose. You can't control who you like, and I shouldn't be getting mad at you for liking a handsome guy. Just promise me you won't try to do anything with him, please?" Eleanor asked.

"Of course not! I would never do that to you Eleanor!" Anne stated as she quickly pulled Eleanor in for a hug.

"Okay thank you Anne, that's enough hugging." Eleanor coughed out.

"So are you going to go home tonight then?" Diana asked.

"I really should, but I don't think I will." Eleanor smiled as the group of friends all cheered.

"Let's get out party on!" Anne cheered.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Eleanor walked downstairs to the sound of people chatting and laughing, the sound of alcohol glass cups clinking together made her smile. Soft piano music was flowing from the living area as Diana hummed along to it, obviously knowing the song.

"Doesn't she just play beautifully?" Diana sighed dreamily as she stared at the pianist.

"She really is quite good." Eleanor nodded as she swayed to the music.

"Why don't we go get a drink? I'm parched." Cole groaned.

The girls giggled and nodded as they all headed towards the drink table, which was covered in all sorts of alcohol and juices as they were mixed and made to beautiful blues and purples.

"I wonder if Josephine would mind if we just had a bit of alcohol mixed in with our juice." Diana giggled.

"I would mind actually, all of you drink juice. Except you Eleanor, you may have a little mixer if you please." Josephine stated as she patted all of their heads.

"Auntie! Why her?" Diana groaned as she passed around three glasses of grape juice.

"You do all remember that I'm almost two years older than you, right?" Eleanor laughed and picked up a sparkly white drink and took a sip.

Her throat instantly burned as the liquid soothed down her throat, it burnt but was delight in taste.

"A year and seven month's is not "almost two years" you know." Anne huffed and sipped her juice.

"You all run along now, I do not wish to be up late tonight sending letters to your parents that you're all knocked out drunk." Josephine chuckled as she shoo'd the kids away.

The group laughed before going off in separate ways, Diana and Anne went to go stare at the pianist while Cole seemed to be in his own little world.

Eleanor was busy swaying to the music and sipping her seltzer to realize where she was going, making her bump directly into someone.

"Oh my! I'm so sorry miss, are you hurt?" the voice of a young man asked as he held his hand out towards her.

Eleanor groaned and rubbed the small of her back where she had fell back, making the glass shatter and a piece found its way to the palm of her hand. Slicing it open as blood dripped down.

"Oh no." the man gasped out as he quickly pulled Eleanor up, all while she was too busy staring at her bloody hand.

When she finally snapped out of her trance, she shook her head slightly and grabbed onto her bloody hand. Her eyes met with the boy who pulled her up, a rather handsome fellow with black hair that pulled back into a beautiful bun. His eyes seemed to be staring daggers into her hand, his beautiful green eyes were full of worry as he gently grabbed Eleanor's hand.

"Let me help you with this, I know where Miss Josephine keeps her first aid kit." the boy stated before pulling Eleanor along the corridor and into the kitchen.

The entire time, Eleanor had yet to say a word.

They had finally reached the kitchen and the boy helped Eleanor onto the counter, she was quick to make her dress lay flat on her legs so she looked appropriate in the midst of a male.

"Might I have a look at it?" he asked as he carefully reached his hand out.

Eleanor gave him weary eyes before placing the back of her hand against his up faced one. The boy pulled her hand open and gently poured some bourbon on it, Eleanor hissed in pain as she pulled her hand away.

"I-I know...I'm sorry it hurts. But my father always told me that Bourbon will release the glands of something and the glass should just slip right out." he explained.

Eleanor felt a sharp object in her hand, she carefully opened her hand and out dropped a small piece of glass. It clanged against the floor, the boy stooped over and carefully picked it up with a handkerchief before tossing the whole thing into the trash.

"Let me wrap that up for you."

She nodded and allowed him to wipe it with a clean wet handkerchief and wrap it in white silky cloth before tying a small knot in it and stripping the excess away. Eleanor scrunched her hand around the bandage and winced slightly at the pain.

"It'll hurt for a while, but you should be back to normal in a few days. Just make sure to change the bandage." he stated before cleaning up all the supplies and carefully tucking it back underneath the sink.

Eleanor nodded and stared at the white cloth.

"You don't talk much do you? I'm Leo, Leo Osborn." he smiled.

"Your an Osborn?" Eleanor asked.

"Yes, do you know my family?" he wondered aloud.

"I knew your sister, she was in school with me in New York." she nodded.

"Ah right...Winnie always had a way of making trouble in that old school." Leo chuckled.

"She always had a knack for making fun with the teacher, always knew how to push her buttons just right." Eleanor giggled.

"Well don't I get to know your name? I mean...I did just save your life and all." Leo smirked.

"Oh please, you merrily wrapped my hand in cloth and poured alcohol on it." she scoffed.

"But if you must know, its Eleanor Parks." she exclaimed.

"Your a Parks? Well well...I remember my father telling me about how much money you all have. Quite a lot, is it not?" Leo asked as he leaned against the counter.

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes. I suppose we do have a good lot of money, but again...none of your business." Eleanor scoffed.

"Don't act so high and mighty princess, I to come from a wealthy family."

"Yes Leo, I know all about your family and what they did to achieve that money."

"What does that mean?" he scoffed.

"Eleanor! We were looking all over for you! Alfred said he seen you exit the room with a boy, and your hand was bleeding-" Anne started to ramble but stopped as her eyes fell onto Leo.

She instantly blushed and moved more behind Diana, making Diana roll her eyes.

"Are you alright? What happened to your hand?" Diana asked.

"I wasn't watching where I was going and bumped into this boy, he helped me wrap it. But I'm fine now, all good here." Eleanor stated before hopping off the counter and brushing her dress off.

"Leo Osborn." Diana said with a slight cock of an eyebrow.

"Diana." he nodded with a slight smirk.

"Sexual tension." Anne whispered, making Eleanor snort.

"Well we best be off then, see you whenever Osborn." Diana hissed before dragging Anne out of the room.

Eleanor glanced back at Leo, who had his arms crossed as he was smirking at her.

"Thank you for your help, Leo." she stated before turning around.

"Anytime Eleanor, anytime."

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