MONDAY came by pretty quick, leaving Margaret and Anne almost no time to enjoy their free days. But they didn't mind. The morning was like an ordinary one at the Cuthbert's household. Marilla and Matthew silently finished their eggs and toast while the girls were in a rush to get going. The trip to school was very short, if a person walked there it would take them about ten minutes. But Anne and Margaret liked to take their time,taking stops to admire the view or sit and talk. So they always went to school one hour before it started.

Today was no different. The girls were on their way to the schoolhouse when they spotted a big pile of leaves.

"Look, Margaret! There's your new bed!" laughing,Anne pushed the blonde with all her might,causing her to let out a scream and fall in the pile.

"Why you little!" laughing, Margaret shook her head to get the leaves out of her hair when she heard a familiar chuckle behind her. Turning around, she spotted Gilbert and Lily smiling at her.

"Margaret Brown. What in heck are you doing?" walking closer towards the blonde, he extended his hand to help her get up.

Taking his hand and getting up, she let him ruffle her hair and take out the leaves and pinecones.

"Maybe you should ask Anne-" turning around her gaze searched for a pair of fiery red braids,but she couldn't find them."-hey, where's Anne?"

Surprised, Gilbert turned around himself and spotted the two girls walking towards the schoolhouse. They were laughing and pushing each other around. Chuckling to himself, Gilbert took Margaret's chin in his hand and turned her head towards the girls.

"Thank God, I thought she disappeared somewhere." taking her books from the ground,she started walking down the path covered in fallen leaves,Gilbert following right next to her.

"So..." scratching the back of his head, Gilbert looked at the girl.

"So?" grinning ,she gave him a quick glance before fixing her gaze on the two girls in front of her.

"I was thinking-" Gilbert's sentence was cut in half when another voice echoed trough the forest.

"Margaret! Gilbert! Wait up!" Diana was hurriedly walking towards the pair, standing right between him, and giving Margaret a worried look.

Glaring at her, Diana pointed a finger at Gilbert, raising her eyebrows.

Confused, Gilbert also glared at Margaret, pointing a finger at Diana and furrowing his eyebrows.

Margaret threw her head back and clutched her books tighter, giving Diana a side hug.

"Now my dear Diana, I had a little talk with my friend Gilbert here-" poking his arm, she wrapped hers around his neck and brought the two closer to her face,whispering "-about the Ruby situation."

Turning around as if she was checking if anybody's listening,she returned to the conversation.

"-And I'm sure he'll do something about it. As. Soon. As. Possible." giving them both a firm pat on the shoulder ,she released them and continued her route to school.

Giving him a nudge with her shoulder, Diana gave Gilbert a quick smile before saying "Just don't be too harsh on Ruby. She really likes you."

Patting him on the back, she ran to catch up with Margaret, leaving Gilbert confused.

"Oh,great." groaning, he slapped his face, thinking about the best way to decline Ruby's feelings without hurting them.

'This is going to be hard.'

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"Mr. Sloan. Spell out the word gorgeous on the board." Mr. Phillips said, stealing a glance now and then from a very red Prissy.

Charlie stood up from his chair, taking a piece of chalk and writing on the blackboard.

Margaret was writing on her own board, and Anne was silently talking with Diana. Something about a picnic next to the lake?

The thing that Margaret didn't notice was the stare Gilbert was giving her from the other side of the classroom. But what Gilbert didn't notice was the nasty glare Josie Pye was giving him, and a lovey-dovey Ruby also had her eyes on the pretty boy.

Recess came pretty quick, the girls stayed inside gossiping while Margaret and Tillie talked outside. Gilbert was talking to Billy and Charlie when a small figure approached the boys.

"H-hello Gilbert." shyly lifting her gaze from the ground to look at the boy, Ruby fidgeted with the rim of her pretty pink dress.

Noticing the girl, Margaret looked at the pair from the other side of the yard. When her gaze met Gilbert's ,she smiled and shrugged her shoulders, giving him a thumbs up.

"Hey,Ruby. What's up?" he said, offering the girl a big fake smile.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to give you this." taking out a, what seemed like an envelope from her dress pocket, she gently took his hand and placed it inside.

"P-please read this when you come home." stuttering, she ran back to the schoolhouse, where she was greeted with a fake hug from Josie and a honest "Well done!" from Diana.

Looking at the envelope, Gilbert put it in his pocket before giving Margaret a last quick glance and entering the schoolhouse.

Margaret wanted to be happy for Ruby. She wanted to be happy for her for finally confronting Gilbert. It takes a lot of courage to do that.

But something was keeping her from that.It couldn't be. Pushing her thoughts aside, she entered the house, Tilly right on her heels.

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"Did you see what Ruby did today? That was very brave from her!"  brushing out her hair ,Anne was getting ready to go to bed.

"Indeed it was. I just don't think it was a good idea." mumbling, Margaret took off her shoes and socks.

"Yeah, maybe you're just jealous. I mean, you do like him a lot." putting on her sleeping dress, the redhead continued "-and I'm pretty sure he likes you too. I mean, the way you look at each other,but don't want to admit it, you're both so stubborn."

Tying her hair in a loose ponytail, Margaret sat down next to the window,looking out at the stars.

"I don't really know about that,Anne. I guess I haven't thought about it." shrugging, she took off her dress and put on her pyjamas.

"Well, at least now you have something to think about." covering herself with her blanket, Anne mumbled a quick 'goodnight' before sleep consumed her.

Margaret had a hard time falling asleep, Anne's words repeating in her head. Finally closing her eyes, she sighed.

She couldn't do Ruby dirty like this. She's her friend.

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"Dear Gilbert,

It has been a long time since we met. I can't believe how long I've been loving 
you and how long I contained my love.

The look of your eyes and that smile that you gave me, melted my heart away. 
Those smooth cheeks you have, oh, I wished I could've given you a kiss right 
away.
I hope I'll be able to hold you in my arms and tell you that I love you. 
That's all I need from you. I love you and that's a promise.

Love always,

Ruby."

Sighing, Gilbert placed the pink scented letter on his nightstand, after reading it over and over a thousand times. What was he going to do?

Laying on his bed, he turned around and looked at the little girl sleeping on a matress on the floor. At least he had Lily. He could tell her his problems and they could work out a solution.

But first he had to think about what to respond to Ruby tomorrow.

"Wow." covering himself with his blanket, he looked at the ceiling before closing his eyes.

"That's really something to think about."