"Come on, he's really not all that bad," Diana tried to convince me, her dark lashes fanning her porcelain cheeks as she glanced down to double-check that her dress was in pristine condition.

"Oh, just give it up, Di. You know how I feel about him. His very existence irritates me. So let's just drop this subject, shall we?" I rolled my eyes at her well-meaning words, knowing very well that I would not be giving Gilbert Blythe a chance.

Our history was not near as complicated as Anne's and his had been prior to forgiving and forgetting. But as for myself and Mr. Blythe? The answer was no.

But not at all for the reasons they'd had their own row. No, my problem with Gilbert Blythe was much more...complex. Such as the fact that being around him left me confused, joyful, irritated, and with a strange twisting in my stomach I couldn't quite define. No, Gilbert was someone I should definitely stay away from.

However, fate evidently had other ideas as the sight of a dark curly head came into view at a distance away from us on the path up ahead. I frowned, sharing a glance with Diana. Just my luck. I was hoping he was still taking a week off from school. Why did I have to be wrong?

"Good morning, Diana. Good morning-" Gilbert began to greet us both, a wide smile on his face as we passed him in the doorway.

But I cut him off, stalking past wordlessly with a blank expression on my face as I quickly scanned the students for my effervescent friend. It wasn't hard to find the shock of ginger hair in the crowd.

Sending a smile my way, Anne Shirley ushered us both over to our desks as Diana hissed in my ear, "That was very unkind of you."

I ignored the jibe, knowing full-well I was in the wrong for snubbing Gilbert. Yet, I couldn't seem to make myself sorry. It was a principle of self-preservation - one that Diana did not understand in the slightest. Curling a strand of ginger hair around my finger - one of the many symbols of our bond as bosom friends - I smiled over at Anne. I could feel Gilbert Blythe's stare burning a hole in the back of my head but I ignored that as well as the butterflies erupting in my stomach at the mere thought of him watching me.

"I heard you placed second in the spelling bee last week, Anne. Congrats, that's amazing! I hate I missed it." I smiled before pulling a pouty face.

There was a strangled sound behind me and I frowned, turning slightly in my seat and arching an eyebrow at Gilbert who was seated behind and two seats over. His gaze quickly averted down to his textbook and I rolled my eyes, turning back around. Boys were confusing creatures, I thought to myself as I tuned back into the conversation that had sprung up between Diana and Anne.

"-so my parents agreed you could come, Anne! I can't wait to see what you think about Newport. You're going to love it!" Diana chattered away happily, beaming at the end of her sentence as she reached over the desks to squeeze Anne's hand.

"What about me?" I asked blankly, a bit dumbfounded at being totally left out of the conversation.

But both bright smiles faltered in that moment and with a sinking feeling, I realized exactly why. As my nickname dropped from her mouth in a sympathetic tone, I knew what was coming next.

"They didn't...they didn't mention you at first. I asked - I promise I did! - but they wouldn't budge...I'm sorry. I really wanted both of you to be there," Diana apologized, her brown eyes sad and her tone sincere.

Her hand reached over to squeeze mine as she had done to Anne's and I accepted it, squeezing back gently before plastering a fake smile onto my face so she wouldn't know how much the rejection had stung, "It's alright. I'm from the wrong part of town, right? Can't blame them for not wanting me around."

"That's not true! You're kind and good and loyal and honest, nothing at all like...like others who live in that...area," Anne defended me, her words faltering at the end despite her resolve to comfort me.

I smiled, genuinely this time, at my friends whom I knew meant well, "Honestly, it's okay. I'll be fine. But you both better give me all the details on your fun trip once you get back!"

The awkward moment had disappeared then, the tension melting like the ice from the windowpanes in the rays of bright March sunshine and the conversation drifted into happier topics such as the arrival of spring, new dresses, and such. But my mind was elsewhere as we packed up our books to go home as soon as the bell was rung. I completely understood being left out like this - most people didn't even want me to befriend their children, much less accompany them on outings. Perhaps then, I should count my blessings that I had such good friends in Anne Shirley and Diana Barry.

Still...it hurt to think they were leaving me behind like this while they went off together on some exhilirating escapade. Anne and Diana quickly grabbed their hats and coats, laughing and talking excitedly. After agreeing to wait on me, both girls walked out and I suddenly realized I was one of only five students left now in the doorway of the schoolhouse building: Gilbert, Moody, and two others, the latter of which were chatting with another and completely oblivious of myself and Gilbert.

Tugging on my hat and mittens in an irritated fashion, I was mildly surprised when a hand shot out and latched onto my arm gently as I had just turned to leave.

"Wait, I want to talk to you a moment," he pleaded, his gray eyes illuminated in the fading sunlight streaming through the windows.

I huffed slightly, spinning on my heel to face him completely, "What?"

My voice came out sharper than intended and his face fell slightly.

But evidently, my sour mood was not enough to deter him as he went on, "I just wanted to say...I'm sorry how people treat you. It's not right and it's not fair for you to go through that,"

His words caught me off-guard, my eyebrows arching in clear surprise at this. Gilbert was apologizing to me? Despite the burning shame I felt from where I came from, his words warmed me from the inside out. It was a gesture I hadn't expected...and didn't deserve. Yet here he was, standing in front of me expectantly, apologizing for my mistreatment growing up here in Avonlea. It was something unexpected, something no one really bothered to do before.

Knowing he had shocked me and that I needed time to process, he smiled, "Look, I know this may not be the time or place to ask but...would you like to accompany me to Charlottetown? I have some errands to run for my father. It wouldn't the most interesting trip - really just to the seed store and back but-"

"I'd love to!" I replied immediately, shocking both myself and Gilbert as his light eyes widened a fraction at my answer.

Clearly, he hadn't been expecting a 'yes'.

"Um...okay then - great! I'll come pick you up at your place on Saturday morning," he grinned over at me before tipping the hat upon his head my way, "Well...I'll see you this weekend then."

And then he was gone, out the door with Moody and the rest of his friends, leaving me standing there, my head spinning and my heart racing.

Maybe that was the first day. The day it all began, the day my animosity towards Gilbert Blythe melted and disappeared as if had never existed in the first place. And suddenly, it was replaced with a torrent of emotions I couldn't quite explain or contain. But as I stepped outside, feeling the warm sunshine on my skin, I knew this was just the beginning.