Chapter Ten:
And Suddenly, It All Made Sense.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"This is absolutely, positively outrageous!" Anne cried, slamming Mabel's door shut behind her. Mabel jumped, spinning around to see who it was.

"Oh my word! Anne! You scared me." Mabel said calmly, placing her hand against her rapidly beating heart. "I thought we talked about this?"

"Right! Right, sorry, sorry, I'm sorry!" Anne apologized, leaving the room and closing the door behind her. Mabel sighed, going to stand up and get her.

The door opening, much softer and quieter interrupted her. Anne appeared and softly shut the door behind her. "This is absolutely, positively outrageous!" Anne repeated, pacing around the room. "Unbelievable! A tragedy!"

"What is?" Mabel asked, her voice soft as she stood. She stepped over to Anne, helping her onto the bed. "What happened, Anne? Is it another book character having difficulties? If so, please don't tell me the end-"

"No! Well, yes, actually, but no!" Anne cried, falling back onto the bed. Mabel adjusted herself so that she was looking at Anne. Her right hand rested next to Anne's head and her left gently took Anne's into her own.

"What is it?" Mabel squeezed Anne's hand gently, a way to comfort the redheaded girl.

"So, Diana, you, and I are going to Aunt Jo's party, right?" Anne's eyes were wide as she looked up at Mabel.

"Mhm.." Mabel hummed, raising her eyebrows.

"Wrong!" Anne suddenly shouted, startling Mabel. "Oh, sorry, but wrong! We are not allowed to go without a chaperone."

"A chaperone?" Mabel questioned, her eyebrows furrowed. "What about Diana's father? Mr. Barry?"

"He has the tiniest of colds! And Diana, nor I, nor you are allowed to travel without a male chaperone!"

"You're right! That's absolutely ridiculous!" Mabel agreed.

"I know! A chaperone!" Anne confirmed, "Can you believe it?"

"A.. chaperone.. like, a boy?"

"Yes! Unbelievable! Outrageous, right?  This entire world is ruled by boys!"

"Ri-Right.."

"This is absolutely- Wait!" Anne suddenly shot up, and grabbed Mabel's shoulders, with her free hand, nearly knocking her back onto her bed.

"What?"

"You have a brother!" Anne pointed at her after letting go of the grip she held on Mabel's shoulder.

"Yes, two, actually." Mabel confirmed with a nod, "Wh-"

"My point is, can't he chaperone us?" Anne's eyes lit up suddenly and her entire face seemed to brighten. "He used to when we walked to school, so, I figured that maybe he'd do this for us, or, moreso you, but there's a chance. Can he?"

"He can, yes, bu-"

"Perfect! Let's go ask him!" Anne shot off the bed, forgeting that their hands were still connected.

Mabel fell to the ground, pulling Anne with her.

"Ow, you really must stop doing that.." Mabel grunted, even if her heart sped up and she knew she didn't want Anne to stop.

But she didn't know why. Or, maybe she did, deep down, but ignored it.

"Let's go ask him!" Anne shouted excitedly, "Oh, I can't wait to tell Diana!"

~~

"No."

"But why?" Mabel cried, earning a look from her sister, who sat reading with their mom.

"I don't want to." He lied. Mabel and Edward were close in age, meaning that Mabel knew all his give aways, and he knew all of hers. Most of the time he chose to ignore it, though.

"You're the worst!" Mabel huffed, crossing her arms

"No, I'm the best, Mabel." Edward smilled jokingly at her, "But, in all seriousness, I'm busy."

"Busy with what?" Anne asked curiously. Mabel smiled teasingly at the boy.

The tips of Edward's ears reddened, "Uh, I'm spending the day with-"

"With Jane Andrews, I presume?" Mabel interrupted, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow.

"Mabel! Haven't I taught you not to interrupt your brother?" Mabel's mom shook her head. "I will not repeat myself."

Mabel resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Sorry, mother."

Catherine raised her eyes from the book to watch the exchange, a small smile resting against her face.

Mrs. Barnes eyed her suspiciously before going back to reading her book.

Mabel frowned before leaving the room. Anne followed silently behind her, disappointment hanging heavy on both girl's hearts.

Anne sighed, "Who will we go with then? I've been looking forward to this for.. for.. forever!'

Mabel frowned, laying herself down on her bed. She stares at the cieling, her hands folded together and resting on her stomach.

She felt the bed dip and Anne laid herself down next to her. Anne's hands were also folded and resting on her stomach.

Mabel turned her head to look at Anne, her heart skipping a beat when she saw that Anne's eyes were already focused on her.

No matter how hard Mabel willed herself not to, she couldn't help but let her eyes trail down to Anne's lips.

~~

"It's absurd that ladies aren't allowed to travel without a male companion!" Anne said loudly.

Mabel nodded in agreement, "Positively unbelievable. I mean, what makes us any less than men? Nothing, that's what. We should be equal!"

"Agreed! And, did I mention, this is the first year we've been invited! And, Aunt Josephine is having a world-renowned pianist perform?"

"What?"

"No!"

"Yes!"

Cole's grunt as he angrily stood interrupted their conversation. He briefly glanced at the girl's before he tossed his sketch book in the fire.

Mabel gasped in horror as she stood, "Cole!"

"No!"

"Cole, what are you doing?"

"Leave it!" Cole shouted as Anne went to pull the burning book out. "I said leave it."

Anne didn't listen as she pulled out the burnt book and began stomping on it to put the fire out.

"Cole, why on earth would you do that?"

"It should've been better by now.." Cole explained sadly.

"These things take time. It'll get there." Mabel said comfortingly.

"It will be! You just need time-"

"I got my splint off weeks ago, Anne! It's just not the same. I can't draw anymore.." Cole looked as if he was about to cry.

"Cole-" Mabel and Anne started at the same time, but Cole angrily pushed past them.

The three girls got their stuff and rushed after him.

"Cole! You can't just give up on your art!" Anne tried to reason.

"I agree! Your art is beautiful, Cole."

"I don't want to talk about it!" Cole snapped, "Just.. just.."

"Could this day be any colder to match our wintery moods?" Anne said solemnly.

"That's precisely why Aunt Josephine has her party. A summer themed soiree to chase away the winter gloom.." Diana explained, saddness in her tone.

"Oh, could it be more perfect! It's what we all need, Cole especially."

A lightbulb went off in Mabel's head, and she could see it went off in Anne and Diana's too.

"Wait-"

"Cole is a man! Cole is a man!"

"Thank you?"

"Diana, what if we could convince your parents to let Cole accompany us to Charlottetown?"

"Cole.. is very tall." Diana observed.

"Cole, isn't it just the thing you need in your time of... deep sadness?"

"I agree! It would certainly help."

"To attend a party? In a room filled with strangers?"

"A change of scenery! To take your mind off-"

"Your wrist." Mabel finished for Anne.

"My folks would never let me miss a Saturday on the farm."

"If I can come up with a plan.. will you do it?"

"Fine, alright."

Mabel giggled happily, standing on her tippy toes, even having to jump a little, to throw her arms around Cole.

He laughed to himself, pulling the girl closer by her waist.

"This is gonna be amazing."

~~

Mabel couldn't believe it. They had actually pulled it off! Mabel was sure that her heart had beat out of her chest every time she said those lines.

"We're going! We're going!" Diana cheered excitedly, pulling Mabel and Diana into a hug.

"I can't believe it!" Mabel grinned, pulling Anne in for a tight hug.

"Come, help me pack!" Anne cheered excitedly, leading the girls and Cole up to her room.

"Thank the stars that Miss Jeanie gage it back!" She exclaimed once they had entered her room and she pulled out her favorite dress.

Mabel thought it looked amazing on her. The color of the dress brought out her beautiful eyes.

"I don't own party clothes.." Cole sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh, it won't matter!" Diana exclaimed.

"I'm so, so, so, very excited!"

The next day came quickly, the previous one becoming a blur as adrenaline rushed through her veins.

She and Diana could barely keep still as they rode to Green Gables.

"Anne!" Mabel waved, helping Anne into the carriage.

"This is going to be amazing! You have no idea!" Mabel grinned, shaking Anne slightly.

Diana nodded in agreement, "You girls are going to love it!"

"I thought you'd never been before?" Mabel asked, tilting her head.

"Well.. I haven't.. but I know you're all going to love it."

"Oh, Diana.. you're so precious."

Diana blushed, "Thank you, Mabel."

Mabel smiled, her leg bouncing up and down in anticipation. She could not wait to see Aunt Josephine again.

The last time Mabel had seen her was for her birthday. Aunt Jo gifted her with the most beautiful dress she had ever seen!

That's what she was wearing now, actually. It was bright yellow, her favorite color, with flowers embellished throughout.

"I love your dress, might I say! It looks positively exquisite on you."

Mabel blushed as she looked away, "Th-Thanks, Anne.."

~~

"Welcome, my lovelies! This will be the scene of the crime." Aunt Jo explained she led them into a beautifully decorated ballroom.

Flowers, real ones, lined the cielings and the walls. Some even hung down!

"Woah," Mabel gasped, spinning as she gazed up at the ceiling.

"Oh, I've dreamed of parties before.. and while I do believe I have a quite capable imagination.. I could have never imagined something this beautiful.." Anne grinned, looking over at Mabel.

"Well, you've thought of yourself, haven't you?" Mabel blurted, her eyes widening when she realized what she said.

Aunt Josephine looked the blushing girl up and down before sharing a knowing look with the piano tuner.

"I-I don't know what to say-"

"I'm exceptionally excited to hear Cécile Chaminade play!" Diana interrupted, jumping off the step and dancing around the room.

Mabel, thankful for a way out of the conversation, agreed. "Me too! I've heard her playing is enchanting!"

"Miss Barry spares no expense to get people through the bleak winter." The piano tuner explained.

"Oh, how wonderful!" Anne cried happily.

"I can't take credit for Gertrude's idea. This was her night.. I couldn't bring myself to have this party last year without her.." Aunt Jo explained sadly, "Well! Time marches on, doesn't it?"

Mabel spaced out of the conversation as she looked around at all the beautiful flowers.

She imagined that they must be from somewhere exotic.. like Trinidad.. or Spain..

"Come on, now, Anne, Cole, let's get ready for supper!"

~~

Piano music filled Mabel's ears. She was right. It was enchanting.

Mabel couldn't help but gaze at Anne as she laughed, her stomach being stormed with butterflies.

Applause filled the room as the woman finished the piece and stood, taking a bow.

Aunt Jo came over and stole over and stole Diana away to meet Cécile.

"Are those strawberries! Anne, we need to go over there, now!" Mabel exclaimed, shaking the redhead, "Strawberries are my favorite!"

Anne giggled as she followed her to the table, looking around the room at all the interesting people.

Mabel had never seen so many unique people like this before! She loved it.

Mabel moaned as she took a bite of the strawberry, "Anne, you simply must taste this!"

Anne nodded, giggling. Mabel expected Anne to reach for a new one, but instead she took the strawberry straight out of Mabel's hand.

"I-I-" Mabel stuttered, her face flushing red.

"You're right, these are magnificent! Let's go find Diana!" Anne linked her arm with Mabel's and turned, accidentally knocking into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry-"

"I love your pixie cut!" The woman complimented, briefly glancing down at their arms.

Anne smiled, "Thank you!"

"Oh, there she is!" Mabel pointed to Diana, pulling Anne along with her.

"Oh, Diana, isn't this just the most amazing group of people!" Anne exclaimed once they reached the raven haired girl.

"I don't know what to think.." Diana said, her voice nervous and unsure.

"Neither do I!"

"It's amazing!"

"I suppose I should go practice." Anne explained, hugging Mabel and Diana briefly before pacing the room to learn her piece.

~~

"Good evening!" Aunt Jo spoke, gaining the attention of the room. "I'm thrilled to be among your lovely faces. But we feel the absence of one.. What a face it was.. I still recall it.. peering over my shoulder.. reading over my shoulder.. no care for decorum. That's how we met."

Mabel grinned, glancing over at Anne before facing Aunt Jo again.

"In a bookshop in Paris.. a woman introduces herself as Gertrude and tells me I do not want to purchase the book I'm perusing as it's impossibly bleak and, in the end, the protagonist is murdered!"

Laughter broke out among the room, Mabel's grin never leaving her face.

"I spent my next decades hiding what I was reading as she couldn't help but spoil the ending of ever novel or night at the theatre! She also attempted to bleed me dry, spending all my money on the arts.. and look what I'm left with.. a room full of the most wonderful friends."

Mabel grinned looking over at Anne and nudging her slightly, earning a giggle out of her.

"To Gertrude!" She, along with every person in the room, rose their glasses, "May she be reading over our shoulders for eternity."

"To the most wonderful couple. My romantic ideal. Gertie and Jo."

Mabel's hand fell, along with her jaw. Aunt Josephine spoke again, but Mabel didn't hear it.

She felt so... she couldn't even describe it.

"Anne fits right in, doesn't she?" Cole spoke, pulling her out of her own thoughts briefly.

Only briefly, though, as she was right back into her mind when the sentence was finished.

Anne spoke, but Mabel heard none of it. She knew she had to speak to Aunt Josephine as soon as possible.

She had countless questions, and maybe Jo would know..

~~

Mabel giggled as Anne spun Diana around before turning and spinning Mabel around as well.

"Isn't this just the most remarkable of evenings?" Anne exclaimed, dipping Mabel down before pulling her up and spinning her again.

"What do you suppose that woman in the hat meant when she said that Aunt Josephine and Gertrude were her romantic ideal?" Diana asked, causing Mabel's ears to perk up, she wanted to know, too.

"Why they were in love!" Anne said casually. Mabel swallowed thickly as everything began to slowly but surely make sense to her. "Isn't it ever so sad to see what Aunt Josephine lost, but it's lovely to see what a life they had together?"

"No. I've known Aunt Josephine and Aunt Gertrude my whole life. They.. they can't have.. they weren't!"

"But what if they were?" Mabel spoke quietly as the music stopped, "Would.. Would it have mattered?"

"Oh, how wonderful!" Anne watched in awe as a man turned a rock into a dove. Mabel was so deep into thought that she hadn't even noticed Diana walk off.

~~

"I'm going to trade my puff sleeves for a top hat!" Anne squealed excitedly. "Or! Maybe I'll wear them together because maybe that is me!"

Mabel sat in silence, watching from the chair.

Anne jumped onto the bed, taking off her flower crown. "Oh, and, Diana, Cécile Chaminade, did she inspire you to play and play and play some more?"

Diana looked emotionless, "Aunt Josephine kept her life a secret.. my parents certainly don't know.. That must mean it's wrong."

Mabel's heart was struck with fear and her blood ran cold. "What?"

Anne looked over at Cole, then at Mabel, before reaching over and picking up the book.

"To my Gertrude," Anne began reading, "Someone will remember us, I say, even in another time. Forever you have my heart, Jo."

"T-Two women could never have children. It doesn't make sense-"

"Love isn't all about having children, right?" Mabel spoke up, playing with the hem of her dress nervously.

"How can you say that, when such beautiful words were written from one to another?"

"It's unnatural, Anne!" Diana cried, briefly looking toward Mabel who had a unnoticeable pained look on her face.

"If your aunt lived her life feeling something was wrong with her, that she was broken, defective.. or unnatural.. But then, she met someone who made her feel that wasn't true, there was nothing wrong with her and she was fine.. shouldn't we be happy for her?"

Her mind began to clear, and everything began to make sense suddenly! It had never been Gilbert Blythe! But Anne Shirley-Cuthbert.. all those times she thought, or convinced herself, that she'd been jealous of Anne? No, she'd really been jealous of Gilbert! It all made sense now..

"I think it's spectacular! There's so much more possibilities.."

"Excuse me." Mabel spoke quietly, standing and rushing to the door.

She needed to talk to Aunt Jo right away. No time to waste.

Mabel ran down the halls, her dark hair whipping behind her.

Her feet pouned against the floorboards until she reached where she knew Aunt Jo would be.

Out of breath, she stumbled up to the woman.

"Oh, whatever is the matter, dear?" Aunt Jo asked, gently seating Mabel next to her on the couch.

"I-I need to talk to you-" Mabel began, only to be cut off by the older woman

"About Anne?"

"Y-Yes.. About Anne." Mabel spoke aloud. "I-I think? I don't really know, actually, I just.. I-I, I don't know where to start!"

Aunt Joseph motioned for her to continue, "Anywhere."

"Um.. I think I'm like.. that I'm like you.. and, and Gertrude." Mabel's eyes began to tear up, "And, and, and-"

Mabel began to cry. Aunt Jo's eyebrows furrowed together as she pulled her into a tight hug.

"It's okay, dear." Aunt Jo ran a comforting hand up her back.

After Mabel had calmed down, she pulled away with her cheeks stained with tears. "I think, no, no.. No, I know that I'm like you."

The woman smiled gently, "I know, dear. I could see it the moment I saw you looking at that Anne."

Mabel's face flushed as she wiped a stray tear and looked away.

"My word of advice? Be safe with those you trust, and life will be filled with joy. But, also many bumps and hardships. Find people you trust, your bond with them will be much greater. Thank you for choosing me as one."

Mabel smiled softly, though tears did continue to roll down her face. "Thank you."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

{ Word Count: 3193 }

{ A/n: Wow,,,,,,, I: love her. so much and she finally realized! i had so much fun writing this chapter }

{ Edited: Nope }