iii.

It had been three months since Eleanor had moved into the small town of Avonlea, and she was loving every second of it. She had made a good group of friends who stayed by her side whenever she was upset, they all loved her truly. But the one who had a special eye on her, was Gilbert Blythe.

Gilbert Blythe's POV

I couldn't help but stare at Eleanor as she wrote, she was seated just in the row before me on the girls side. The way her red hair fell gently over her shoulder and eyes, the way she bit her lip when she was focusing, or the way she would giggle when Anne told her something. When she first arrived, I noticed her beauty right off the bat. She was gorgeous, the prettiest girl to set foot in Avonlea in years I'd say. But when I finally met her, I could feel my heartbeat racing as she spoke to me. Her voice was soft like molasses on a sunny summers eves, and her beauty was beyond compare.

I often spent nights wondering what it'd be like to hold her hand, or even kiss her cheek. I was never the romantic type, even when Ruby tried to confess to me. But she wasn't my type, nothing against her of course...it's just she's nothing like Eleanor. Ruby was short with blonde hair, and she tended to cry a lot more than the other girls. While Eleanor was refine and very headstrong, something I look for in a relationship.

But today was special, today was her sixteenth birthday, I still can't believe she's a whole year older than me! It was a chilly December day, the fourteenth to be exact. And I was waiting on our "secret" trail to walk to school. Me and Eleanor usually walk to school together, Alvin sometimes joins but Eleanor just shoos him off. He's a real nice fellow, and he's a great friend. I still don't know how to tell him that I fancy his younger sister, I'm sure he wouldn't mind through.

My ears perk up as I hear her laugh echoing through the snow ridden woods. I glance up to see her walking with Alvin, he was dramatically waving his arms around as she had her hand covering her mouth to stop herself from laughing. My cheeks flush red when we meet eyes, her face lights up as she moves towards me. I can't help but notice her beautiful winter dress, she had told me that her father sent her a winter dress for her birthday. It was a light brown dress that complicated her curves, white fur sat beautifully on the arm cuffs and neckline, and a small matching belt tied around her waist. Her hands were shoved in a small white thing, I hadn't a clue what it was. She had it resting on her stomach as she walked, I suppose it's to keep a woman's hand warm. I had to admit, it looked quite warm.

"Hello Gilbert, fancy seeing you here." Eleanor smiled as she walked over to me.

"Well hello Madam Parks, it's a pleasure making you're acquaintance." I bowed, I smiled when I heard her laughing.

"Get a room." Alvin grumbled as he shoved a belt of books at me, I guessed it was Eleanor's since she couldn't very well carry it with the white thing holding her hands.

"Do you like my new dress? Father sent it to me for my birthday." she stated and spun in a circle, her dress moving elegantly with her.

"I think it's looks beautiful on you." I answered truthfully

Eleanor's cheeks flushed a tint of rose, as did mine as we stared at each other. Alvin cleared his throat and pointed infant of them, we took that as a "Let's get a move on" and started for the school house.

"I wonder if Mr Phillips will be in a sour mood today." Eleanor thought aloud.

"Most likely, when is he not?" Alvin grumbled.

"Ain't that the truth." I sighed, Mr Phillips had been jumping down our throat all year. It didn't help that he couldn't peel his eyes away from Prissy or Eleanor.

I could hear soft humming as our feet crunched in the snow, my eyes drifted towards Eleanor. Only to see she had taken off the white thing and was now dragging her gloved fingers across a tree limb. A soft curtain of snow sprinkled from where she was touching the tree, her eyes were glued to the sky as she walked, a soft tune escaping her lips.

"What song are you singing?" I asked as I helped her over a large log.

(There will be some "modern" music in this story because I don't know what kind they had back then. Sorry for the inconvenience!)

"It's a lovely song that I heard on the radio, it's called "It's Been a Long, Long Time" by Harry James. Oh his music is absolutely breath taking Gilbert, you must come over and hear it one day." Eleanor stated as she spun around.

"It sounds delightful from what I can hear of your humming." I smile as she blushes slightly.

"Oh look, there's the school house! Thank the lord." Alvin grumbled as he ran over to his friends.

Eleanor waved to Anne and Diana, she flipped around to face me. The cold December wind whipped her red curls slightly as her head cocked to the side, she gave me a small smile.

"I'll see you later?" she asked.

"O-Of course, are we still up for going to Charlottetown this weekend?" I stumbled over my words, what an idiot!

"As long as my mother doesn't change her mind, then yes."

"Good, I can't wait for you to see the city."

"I can't wait Gilbert, I'm sure it'll be beautiful."

"Like you." the words slipped from my mouth before I knew what was happening.

Eleanor's cheeks flushed red as she sheepishly smiled, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she met my eyes. And before I knew what was happening, she had leaned forward and pressed her lips to my cheek. As she pulled away, the heat from her lips left a mark on my cheek. My hand grazed the spot slightly, a dorky smile wiping across my lips.

"See you Gilbert." and with that, she had ran over to Anne and Diana.

I stood outside for another minute more, just trying to catch my breath. She just kissed me! She really kissed me! Well...my cheek...but still! It was still a kiss.

"Finally snagged her mate?" Moody chuckled as he walked over and clapped his hand on my back.

"I'm getting there Moody."

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Eleanor Park's POV

I was almost immediately dragged into the school house by Anne and Diana, a sniffling Ruby was sat in the corner.

"You just kissed Gilbert Blythe! How do you feel?" Diana squealed as she nearly jumped up and down.

"Calm down Diana! It was just a kiss on the cheek, a friendly action." I lied, I still had butterflies ruffling in my stomach.

"But you still kissed him! How did it feel?" Anne asked.

"It felt...good? My stomach feels like it's about to explode, though I don't know why! It's just a friendly gesture, nothing more." I shrugged and began to remove my coat.

Gilbert through my winter coat was my birthday dress, what a silly boy he is. My real dress was an elegant baby blue dress that wrapped beautifully around my neck, and of course it had puffy sleeves! I always felt weird wearing such nice dresses to school, but mother insisted that I look my best since that it where I'll find a "suitor" as she put it.

(Just for imagination purposes)

"Oh Eleanor! Your dress is absolutely gorgeous! I must know where you got it!" Diana asked, her eyes not staying in one place for too long.

"My father sent it to me for my birthday, he wanted me to wear it on the day." I shrugged and walked towards my seat.

"Today's you birthday?" Anne asked.

"Yes, I'm officially sixteen today."

"Wow! You're officially a woman today! How do you feel?" Diana asked.

"I feel the same, except...I think my bosoms grew more." I whispered, making us three burst out into giggles.

"You already look like a lady! With a corset, and a beautiful figure, and long flowing hair. You truly are a princess Eleanor Parks." Anne sighed happily as she pretended too faint.

"Why thank you princess Cordelia." I bowed, she giggled and bowed back.

"She's about as much of a princess as I am a pig." Billy snorted.

"Oh? So in that case, I'm a princess and you're a great big fat pig." I faked a smile as he shot me a glare.

"Enough class! Everyone sit down!" Mr Phillips just had to come in and ruin the fun.

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Narrator

"You really do look like a princess Eleanor." Prissy smiled as she walked over to the red head.

"Why thank you Prissy, I think you do as well. I sure hope Mr Phillips is treating you like one." Eleanor raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Don't worry, he is." Prissy blushed slightly.

The two girls giggled and walked outside, Eleanor had told Anne and Diana that she was going to sit with Prissy outside for a bit.

"It's quite chilly out here, is it not?" Eleanor asked as she picked up a handful of snow.

"I agree, maybe the boys do not agree. Maybe we should send them a hint to get inside and out of the cold, don't you agree Eleanor?" Prissy smirked as she reached over and picked up her own snow.

"I couldn't agree more Prissy."

The two girls held a snowball in each hand, they glanced at each other and nodded before turning the corner. The sound of boys talking made them move quicker and quieter, though it was hard as their feet crunched under the snow. Eleanor glanced around the corner and smiled as she noticed the back of Gilbert's head facing her, she motioned for Prissy to go around the other side and get Billy. Prissy nodded and sneaked around to the other side, the girls poked their heads out from beside the school house and nodded.

"Hey! What the-" Billy squealed as he was hit in the back of the head with two snowballs. The cold water trickling down his back and down his trousers, he screeched and smacked the rest of the snow off.

Gilbert turned around just as Eleanor had thrown her snowballs, one hit his face while the other hit his chest. Eleanor gasped, she didn't mean to hit his face!

"Oh my goodness! Are you alright? I truly didn't mean to hit you in the face Gilbert-" she started to apologize as she lifted her hand to wipe the remaining snow off of his face.

But before she could, Gilbert reached his hands up and caught her hands. Prissy was already gone as Billy chased her around the schoolyard, leaving the two alone in the quiet. Eleanor's breath hitched in her throat as she waited for him to do something, anything! He quickly shook the snow off of his face and smiled at her, his eyebrows and eyelashes held small specs of snow.

"Nice throw Ellie." he grinned.

"Thanks, though I truly didn't mean to hit you right in the face..." Eleanor trailed off as she looked to the ground.

Gilbert raised his hand and lifted her chin with his finger, his thumb grazing the bottom of her lip. Eleanor felt like she was about to throw up as the two stared at each other, she swear she seen Gilbert's eyes dart to her lips then back to her eyes.

"Ahem."

Eleanor whipped around as she heard someone clear their throat, her curls smacking Gilbert. He laughed and spat into the snow, trying to get her hair out of his mouth. Eleanor turned back around and giggled at his struggle, she placed a hand on his back as a mixture of coughs and laughs escaped his mouth.

"I said ahem!" Mr Phillips yelled.

Gilbert and Eleanor both straightened their backs as they turned to face their angry teacher, his ears slightly red. He glanced between the two then narrowed his eyes on Eleanor, he hastily reached forward and grabbed her upper arm. She let out a steak of pain as his finger nails dug into her arm, he glared at Gilbert before pulling Eleanor towards the entrance of the school.

Eleanor reached back towards Gilbert, he reached towards her as well. Their fingers grazed each others as they stared into each others eyes. A look of panic and pain in Eleanor's, and a look of worry in Gilbert's.

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"Please sir, I meant not to tease Mr Blythe. It was only friendly banter." Eleanor stated as she watched Mr Phillips pace infant of her.

"Quiet Ms Parks!" he snapped, making her bow her head and stare at the ground.

"You will need to be punished." he growled as he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the back room.

"W-What? It was just silly banter between friends! Sir this is not necessary!" Eleanor whined as he pushed her towards a desk.

Her back hit the desk hard, making her hiss in pain as she reached back towards her back. Mr Phillips grabbed her hand, making her stop and look up to him. He growled lowly and grabbed a paddle looking thing, a hard stick of wood that Eleanor thought to be used for "punishment" like he had said. With a quick raise, he brought it down onto her left hand, making her scream out in pain.

"I mustn't catch you around Gilbert alone anymore, do you understand? I cannot have a scandal going on in my school house, who knows what would've happened if I had not arrived." he sighed and rubbed his temples.

Eleanor sniffled as the tears pooled in her eyes, she stared down at her red and throbbing hand, a purple haze making its way over the area. She nodded and stood, quickly making her way out to the main floor, only to see everyone already in their seats and waiting.

"Eleanor! Oh my...what happened?" Diana asked as she and Anne both ran towards the sniffling girl.

Eleanor glanced up and met the eyes of Gilbert, he looked half worried and half angry. He looked like he could go harm Mr Phillips at any moment. But Eleanor looked away from him before he could fully understand what had happened and allowed the girls to lead her back over to her seat.

Mr Phillips came out a few moments later, he cleared his throat and fixed his petty coat before starting to teach. Eleanor tried to pay attention but she just couldn't look anywhere but her lap, resting in her lap was her now bruised hand. Anne tried to get her to focus, which only ended up in Eleanor shaking her head and more tears leaving her eyes. The thought of not being able to be near Gilbert alone anymore made her heart hurt, she wanted nothing more than to spend some quality time with the boy, but that came to an end quickly.

Finally, after what felt like hours of torture, Mr Phillips excused the class. Eleanor almost ran from her seat and to her jacket, she slipped it on and grabbed her basket. She placed her books and her luncheon jars into it before hurrying outside, her friends yelled after her but she was too busy almost running away.

"Eleanor please wait." Gilbert begged as he desperately tried to get her to stop.

"N-No Gilbert...I mustn't be seen alone with you." Eleanor stated, her voice breaking halfway through the sentence.

"Why mustn't you? You have to tell me what happened with Mr Phillips, did he hurt you?"

"That's none of your business Gilbert, just leave me alone!"

Gilbert stopped as he tried to catch his breath, after having to break into a run to keep up with Eleanor. He watched her figure grow smaller as she ran through the woods, his heart hurting for her. He had an idea what Mr Phillips did when he looked towards her hand, but he wasn't for sure about the whole incident.

"What way did she go?" Alvin huffed as he stopped beside Gilbert.

"I-I don't know...she wasn't going towards your house though." he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I have no clue where she would've went...I guess I must wait till she returns home. Would you like to come and wait with me?" Alvin asked.

"Sure." Gilbert nodded, hoping to get some answers out of her before the day was over.

The two walked in silence, unless they spoke about the rage they felt for Mr Phillips. Alvin promised that Laura would do something to the teacher, hopefully get him fired if she brought it to the board. But knowing them, it was unlikely, they are quite sexist and believe women should be punished if they even speak out of term.

This was the first time Gilbert had ever been to Eleanor's home, it was a large cottage style home with a beautiful garden. It was much larger and fancier than his, but he expected that after seeing all of Eleanor's dresses.

(For visual aid)- just imagine with snow lol

"Woah." Gilbert breathed as the two came to the front steps.

"Beautiful isn't it? Eleanor helped pick the design of it." Alvin smiled slightly as he opened the door to the large home.

"She really does have an eye for things like this doesn't she?" Gilbert chuckled.

"Oh yes, my little girl is always picking out the most extravagant items." Laura smiled as she seen the two boys walk in.

Gilbert quickly took his hat off and bowed slightly to her, giving her hand a small kiss. Laura raised her eyebrows to Alvin, who just laughed and walked to the kitchen.

"Well aren't you just a little gentleman!" Laura chuckled as she led Gilbert into the kitchen.

Gilbert smiled as he seen Eleanor sitting on the back porch, her figure visible through a screener. But just as he reached for the door handle, Laura gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I think she want's to be alone at the moment, why don't me and you go to the kitchen and make her some peach tea? It's her favorite." Laura stated as she patted Gilbert's shoulder and led him down a hallway and into an extravagant kitchen.

"Did she happen to tell you what happened mother?" Alvin asked as he was digging into a plate of cheese and grapes.

"Sadly no...all she told me was that she was "punished" for spending time with a Gilbert Blythe. She wouldn't tell me anymore." Laura sighed, completely obvious to the fact that Gilbert was awkwardly standing in their kitchen.

"Wait what? She got in trouble because of me?" Gilbert asked, his eyes widening.

"So your the boy she always speaks about, what made the teacher punish her for just spending time alone with her? You weren't doing anything to her were you?" Laura asked, raising a warning eyebrow.

"O-Of course not ma'am! She threw a snowball at me and we were joking around...then Mr Phillips pulled her into the school house!" Gilbert sighed as he ran a hand through his shaggy hair.

"It's probably just Mr Phillips being a damn fool, excuse my French Gilbert. He always has something to say whenever I see him in town! Saying that Eleanor needs tutoring! One on one with him! What a deranged man!" Laura huffed as she poured boiling water into a teapot.

"She doesn't need tutoring! She always helps me with my homework, I believe that she is the smartest in the class!" Gilbert huffed.

"Agree'd, she or Anne." Alvin agreed as he finally looked up from his cheese.

"That disgusting man is just trying to get her alone! I should go have a word with him! Alvin, you stay here and watch Harvey while I'm out. Gilbert, it was lovely to see you but I must go deal with this. Stay as long as you like, we have many guest bedrooms if it gets too dark." Laura stated as she grabbed her coat and started for the door.

"She seems driven." Gilbert chuckled as he pulled out two teacups and sat them beside the teapot on the tray.

"Oh trust me, she is." Alvin chuckled as he pulled out a few snacks and placed them on the tea tray.

"Food makes her happy, so try and offer her these and see if she'll talk." Alvin patted him on the back before turning and starting down the hallway.

Gilbert took a deep breath and turned to go to the backdoor, the tea tray clattering in his hands. He gently slid the door open and noticed Eleanor not even turn around, her eyes were glued to the forrest infant of her. He noticed that she had already changed from her birthday dress, and instead was lounging in a more comfortable looking dress without a corset. It was nice not seeing her all done up, her hair was down on her shoulders in curls and her stomach was slightly poking out as she slouched down.

"Hey there." he smiled as she jumped slightly.

Her eyes widened as she turned to see Gilbert standing there, she immediately stood up and covered herself. He laughed and shook her head, sitting down the tea tray he walked over and moved her hands. She seemed to relax at his touch as the two sat down, neither saying a word.

"I'm sorry for running off...I wasn't in much of a chatting mood." Eleanor stated, her eyes back to the woods.

"It's alright, your mother has gone to see Mr Phillips now. I'm sure she'll get the man in trouble, especially with the way she was stomping." Gilbert relaxed as Eleanor giggled slightly.

Eleanor held her hand up to Gilbert, his expression turned angry as he stared at the dark purple bruise covering most of her hand.

"May I?" he asked. She nodded and winced slightly as he grabbed it and examined it in his hand, after he was done she was expecting him to let go. But instead he was resting their hands on his lap, hers laid lightly on top of his.

"Does it hurt badly?" he asked.

"Only when something touches it, or I move too fast."

"I'm sorry he did that to you because of me."

"Gilbert...don't blame yourself. It was his stupid actions that made him give me this, he wouldn't listen when I tried to explain. He just hit me and told me to stay away from you, saying that it would cause a "scandal", whatever he means by that I don't know. He's just a sad, lonely, pig looking man!" Eleanor huffed, her anger getting the best of her.

"That's one way to explain it." Gilbert chuckled.

Eleanor smiled and gave the boy a playful nudge, she smiled as he grabbed the tea tray and held it towards him.

"My mother would kill me if she knew I hadn't put on my tea dress." Eleanor giggled as she sipped on her tea, sometimes taking a bite out of a dried apricot.

"You really have a dress just for tea?" Gilbert snorted.

"No, I just wanted to see if you would believe me." Eleanor smirked, Gilbert rolled his eyes.

"The sad thing is, I did." Gilbert stated, making them both laugh.

The time passed and it grew colder and darker, Gilbert bid goodbye so he could get back to his father before nightfall. Eleanor hated to see him go, especially when it was so dark, but he assured her that he would be alright. She agreed and sent him off with a smile and a hug, his cheeks seemed to be stained red with blush as he walked down the path.

Eleanor was already bathed and in bed whenever her mother returned home, her face looked happy and satisfied. She stated that she had went to see Mr Phillips and "gave him a piece of her mind" which ended up in her beating him with her purse. He promised never to lay a finger on another student, especially not Eleanor or Alvin.

Eleanor slept that night better than she had since she arrived. Her dreams consisted of her stomping on Mr Phillips, a day of writing and reading with her friends, and a picnic with Gilbert. She couldn't explain the feeling she felt whenever she was around the boy, but she knew that she liked it.

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This chapter is much longer than my other ones, just thought I would treat you all! :)

Happy Reading!

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