Chapter 05

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Andrews

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Florence sat beside Priscilla during class as the two girls discussed what they should base their project on. It was supposed to be a quiet work period, but nobody was really abiding by that rule except for a selected few because Mr Phillips was away ⸺ working in his office which was beside the building. While some students were discussing their hair and outfits and others were plain goofing off around the room ⸺ Priscilla and Florence were genuinely attentive towards their project.

"I was thinking, how about we present about the district of Saskatchewan?" Prissy suggested and Florence thought about the idea for a moment, making a mental picture as to what that would like.

"Not a bad idea," she added, "But how about we incorporate the capital city ⸺ Regina ⸺ as well? We can spend a day in town and ask around about anyone who is familiar with the place, their lifestyle, climate, and such?"

"Oh, yes! I actually like that⸺" Prissy was interrupted by her younger brother, Billy Andrews, as he made a rather crude and loud remark about how he didn't expect to find his sister conversing with some stupid orphan. This had caught the undivided attention of Florence, who stood up at once, and Prissy was afraid of what would go down between the two. She knew that her friend wasn't afraid to speak her mind when the time came, but she also knew that her brother wasn't the nicest person in the bunch. It would be like two knights colliding to the death.

"Could you repeat that, please?" Florence questioned with such a steely tone that it contradicted her composure.

Billy turned around with a smirk. "Why? Are you hard of hearing?"

"Billy . . ." Prissy glared at her brother, standing up as well but he duly ignored her.

"Why should I be the one to quiet down? She's the one who needs to remember her stance among us men."

"A man, is that what you are?" Florence's voice remained steady as the boys around the Andrews boy had begun to murmur incoherently. She sighed, tapping her hands against her wooden desk. She met the boy's furious gaze once again and commented, "Boy, you could've fooled me."

"You stupid⸺"

"Hmm . . . speaking about me from behind my back? That's quite rich coming from someone named Billy."

Billy Andrews gritted his teeth and he could feel the heat rushing up his neck. Before he could retaliate, however, the classroom door opened widely and Mr Phillips walked through the door. Everyone's eyes shot up to the door and fell silent immediately at the sight of the intimidating man. After what happened to Anne earlier that day, the last thing they wanted was to be another one of the victims of his cruel punishments.

"Why are all of you standing?" the teacher shouted nonetheless and the kids were quick to take their respective seats. He made his way over to the blackboard and examined each of the students carefully, his gaze landing on Florence for the fraction of a second longer. "Silent reading for the remainder of the day, come on."

***

School ended for the day not too long after. Florence was on her way back home, her gaze to the ground as she examined the autumn leaves when a dark shadow appeared before her. She looked up to see none other than Billy Andrews, and he was blocking her path. She stepped around him and he raised his eyebrows, blocking her path again. She moved around again but he followed her, causing Florence to let out an exhausted sigh.

"Something you wanted?" she asked dully and he scowled.

"Stay out of my way, understood?" Billy pointed his index finger accusingly at her the entire time, and Florence furrowed her brows. He continued to back her up to the point that she didn't notice herself tripping over a rock on the grassy floor until she fell to the ground with a hard thud! Billy smirked again as Florence was now looking slightly terrified as he towered over her fallen figure. "You better watch your back, Robinson, or you'll be sorry⸺"

"There'll be no need because I'll have her back." From the woods, Anne emerged and walked over to Florence, causing the Robinson girl to exhale with relief. There were now two of them ⸺ he couldn't possibly take them both? That was the least of Florence's concerns, though, because she was honestly just happy to see Anne again after everything that happened in class earlier that day.

Billy chuckled incredulously. "As if you'll do her any good, you pathetic orphan!" he spat and both of the girls' determined gazes fell a bit. "If both of you orphans know what's best for you, then you better hurry along and never look back."

"Andrews, we're still on for the tutoring session at your place, right?" Gilbert Blythe appeared from the woods as well, his gaze set on the Andrews boy with hazed irritation.

Billy shifted his attention to the other boy. "Blythe, how did you⸺ yeah, of course. It's in an hour, so why don't we head to my place right now?"

"It's an hour away, so why should I need to go now?" Gilbert deadpanned and the altar rubbed his sweaty palms against his trousers. "You go on back. I'll see you when it begins."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Gilbert gritted his teeth but he didn't let it show. He shooed the Andrews boy with a flick of his hand and the said boy quickly turned for another direction. This had left Anne, a still-fallen Florence, and Gilbert alone in the woods.

"Um, thanks . . ." Anne said quietly and looked away, embarrassed after recalling what she'd done to him earlier that day. Gilbert smiled slightly and glanced down at the Robinson girl. He berated himself as he was stupid for not offering her his hand of support earlier, and did so now. Florence took it, stood up and dusted away at her clothes.

"Yes, thank you," she said, glancing up at him and he smiled kindly. "I'm not sure what we would've done if you hadn't stepped in."

"Oh, we would've been positively dead meat!" Anne exclaimed and Florence nodded truthfully. "That Billy and his unusual way of expressing that he doesn't appreciate our presence, I'll never understand."

The three of them stood quietly for a moment before Florence suggested to the other girl, "Let's head back."

"Are you two headed North as well?" Gilbert asked no one in particular.

"Um, yes, our houses are nearby each other," Florence said and Anne confirmed.

Gilbert nodding slowly, seeming like he was internally arguing with himself about something. Having visibly made up his mind, he then asked, "Mind if I escort you two back?" At the unsure stares, he added, "Just close to your homes?"

Anne shrugged and glanced at Florence as if to silently ask for her opinion. They exchanged looks of understanding, and the trio began to walk through the woods together, with Gilbert in between both of the girls. A little while in and Anne stopped abruptly, motioning towards her home which was a little visible from afar.

"I best be on my way." She and her best friend shared a quick embrace and she bid Gilbert a brief farewell before running through the trees to her farmhouse, wishing Florence well even when she was barely audible. This had caused Florence to smile; despite her being the one who was humiliated earlier today, Anne was still caring towards others.

Gilbert cleared his throat and Florence averted her attention to him. "You two apparently live close by, so where's your house?"

The leaves crunched beneath her feet as she motioned towards a small wooden house just south of where they were standing. "See that little cottage? I live there with my grandparents."

He nodded, shifting his gaze back to the younger girl. "Seems very . . . homey."

"Very homey indeed." She grinned and turned for her house, but stole a single glance his way. "Thank you for escorting Anne and me back, Mr Blythe⸺"

"Oh, it's just Gilbert. Mr Blythe is my father," he corrected, chuckling at her formality.

"Gilbert, then." Florence smiled once more and turned away. "See you at school."

"See you."

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