✔️Hazy [anne with an e]

| PORCELAIN

"You're a tad late, Miss Blythe.", he said, a condescending tone evident in his speech as he stared her down.

Caroline didn't waver under his gaze and shifted her weight to her left side, "Am I really? I had no idea."

Small chuckles echoed through the room as the teacher began to take a few more steps toward her, "Do you have an excuse for being an hour late?"

"Does my father being on his death bed work for you? Or do I need to think of something else?", her tone grew from sarcastic to serious in a few short words, causing the laughter to die down and for sympathetic glances to be cast toward her.

Mr.Phillips coughed and rubbed at the back of his neck, "That won't be necessary Miss Blythe, please take your seat."

She gave him a forced smile before turning to where she and Ruby sat together but, it wasn't Ruby sat in the chair beside hers. It was Anne, who didn't look too happy about the rearrangement. Caroline assumed it was because she was separated from Diana, who also looked distraught. With her things now set on the table, she pulled out her slate and piece of chalk, glancing at Anne every so often to make sure that the girl hadn't broken down into tears. Anne was a strong girl, she knew, but it was like she was super-human when she was with Diana.

Mr.Phillips continued his lesson and as Caroline was writing down the problem on the board, she saw Anne's lip quiver out of the corner of her eye. Glancing up to make sure their teacher was still turned around, she moved her hand, hitting in on random objects before finally finding Anne's. Anne was still for a moment, then gripped her hand like her life depended on it, bowing her head to make sure nobody else saw her cry.

The two stayed like that for about another hour, their hands locked together under the desk, while their other hand was writing furiously to try and figure out the equations. Caroline had gotten six out of the thirteen they were given incorrect, which had dampened her spirits slightly. No matter how hard she tried at the subject, it had always confused her. The numbers were bad enough but she had heard from her father that eventually they threw letters into the mix. What's the point of that?

Mr.Phillips tossed his chalk onto his desk, "Go eat."

He retreated into his office, as he always seemed to do lately after he glanced at Prissy, while the students began to stand up and the volume began to increase dramatically. Anne released Caroline's hand but gave her a thankful look before nearly knocking her chair down as she made her way to Diana. Ruby sat down beside her, a bright smile on her face.

"It's awful that we aren't able to sit together anymore Caroline. Caroline?", Ruby looked closer at her best friend, who seemed to have zoned out as she kept gazing out the window.

Caroline may have mentioned it so carelessly earlier but it hadn't really smacked her in the face until now. She felt her throat close up and her eyes begin to fill with tears as she imagined her father being buried under the snow which covered Avonlea. They weren't ready, they would never be. Caroline had tried to be brave, she really had, but she couldn't take it anymore. A light sob escaped her mouth as she covered it with her left hand. Ruby tensed but the lunged for Caroline's hand, trying to calm her.

It was no use as she pulled her hand away and stood up forcefully, knocking her chair onto the floor behind her. All eyes which were in the room turned in her direction, the room growing scarily still and silent all at once.