First name terms

31- Unexpected declarations

God, I would give anything to go on a date with you, he thought to himself.

But that conversation wouldn't go as he had planned, and he realized that when, at that moment, she lifted her head to look at him wide-eyed.

SHIT, his breath got caught in his throat.

Aw, but damn it! Diana should've warned me that THIS would happen. She should've told me what to say!! Oh fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, she thought instead.

-Did...Did I say-...Did I say that out loud?- he stuttered, he was a literal nerve wreck at that moment. She just nodded slightly in reply- Holy sh...

-Look, I really am flattered but I...

-I know you don't like me back. But...

-Wait, you are a great guy. You are polite, responsible, and probably one of the purest and most kind-hearted people I've ever met. It's just that th...- they continued interrupting each other.

-I'm asking for one chance.

-What?

-Just one date. Whenever and wherever you want. And if you don't enjoy it, we stop. Just one.

-This will only end up hurting you, Noah.

-I don't care. If I'm heartbroken, it means I've been happy before, right?

-But you deserve so much better. And I'm a hundred percent sure that you will get something better. Someone better.

-I don't want better. There is no better.

-I'm sorry, Noah, but I can't let you do this to yourself!

-What do we have to lose? And, besides, it's better to go on a date with the person I like and then be destroyed by the fact that she didn't want to go out with me again, than being destroyed by the fact that she rejected me from the start.

-Noah...

-Just one date. Nothing more.

Fuck, I can't say no to those puppy eyes... is what she thought during that minute of silence. Fuck everything, he's right, I've got nothing to lose...

-Fine. Just one date- she rolled her eyes, biting back a smile.

A dorky grin was drawn on his face at her response, and he wore it as he walked away and then secretly celebrated when she wasn't looking. And, just some steps away, all their friends discreetly listened to the conversation, and they were just as surprised at her response as Anne herself was.

-Well, that was... unexpected.

-Making Anne mad with the Norley shit was fun until it became fucking real- Josie sat up as soon as she heard the girl's response.

-Oh, crap. Shirbert emergency, the ship is sinking- Cole whispered breathily, almost hyperventilating.

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Among the pitch black night, one of the tents shone brightly as a flashlight lit it up. It was already 2AM, but the redhead was the spilling words as quickly as the thoughts went through her mind. Damn, did she have boy trouble.

-I still can't believe you did it!- she whispered strongly.

-Me neither! I'm the most stubborn person existent, why did I agree to that? It's true that he was looking at me with puppy eyes, and he looked so devastated when I rejected him at first, and he is new in Avonlea- well, kind of- and he... I don't know, he's the first guy to actually like me. Like, like me like me- she stared upwards, her hands on her stomach. Meanwhile, Diana was laying on her side, facing her. It almost looked like Anne was in a therapy session- which, in a way, she was.

-Yeah, that's what you say...

-What? What do you mean?

-Oh, uh, nothing...- she rolled to be in the same position as her friend was.

-No, you are not doing this Diana Barry! Now you have to tell me!

-Okay. First and since always, Gilbert Blythe. Then, Charlie in 7th grade...

-WHAT?! Charlie as in Charlie Sloane? Charlie as in Jane's Charlie? You are kidding!

-I'm not. Just, don't tell him I told you.

-Oh my god, no way- she scoffed, a mischievous lips appearing on her lips.

-It's true! And Oliver Howell, from our Geography lesson. I heard he got a crush on you when you did one project together.

-Oliver?! From the New Zealand project?! Wow, there's a lot I didn't know...How come you didn't tell me this before?

-Because you would've just denied it.

-I wouldn't have.

-You would've.

-I wouldn't have.

-You are not helping your case- she snickered.

-Fine...You have a point. Anyway, we better go to sleep, it's getting late.

-True, goodnight.

-Goodnight.

The night sounds of the forest surrounded them once again. And, even though Anne was the one who had boy trouble, Diana was the one doing a lot of thinking now. What about shirbert?, is the question that filled her mind while the redhead started falling asleep.

-I think you should text Gilbert.

-What?

-You haven't talked in a while, right? And I know you miss him.

-He has a girlfriend, Di. And I don't want to get between them. I'm sure she wouldn't like how close we are...- she started saying, but Diana just stayed silent for some seconds, knowing that that wasn't it- And I'm still kind of mad for... Is what we talked about in the van, you know?

-But I think he misses you too. And, after all, you can't have him for yourself if he isn't yours. Imagine if he didn't let you date anyone, but you aren't in a relationship neither have figured out what you feel yet. I think it will be good for both of you.

-Yeah, I guess I won't be able to avoid him during his whole relationship with Winifred. He'll eventually come back to Avonlea, and, when he's around, he can be pretty insistent. All those years talking to me, even when I almost didn't answer back, or just yelled in reply...

-He's just...perseverant.

-Yes, he is.

-So, will you talk to him?

-I'll see tomorrow morning...

However, just ten minutes after they decided to go to sleep again, the light of her phone broke the darkness. She unlocked it and sent three short texts.

Blythe🤪 and Shirley🧡

Shirley🧡: hey blythe

Shirley🧡: how are you?

Shirley🧡: it's been so long