i did not write this imagine i found it on tumblr by spacemochi-x
Ever since you could remember, you've had a thing for Gilbert Blythe, the boy next door. He was smart, kind and amusing, so it was no surprise when nearly every girl at your school fell heads over heels in love with the boy.
You were no exception.
You just couldn't help yourself. He was always so nice to you and charming and never thought you were stupid because you couldn't score like him and your academic performance was, to put it kindly, less than brilliant.
In your Fourth Year, he'd even offered to help you once when you had received particularly harsh feedback from Mr.Philips who hadn't hesitated on voicing his thoughts on your History essay in front of your entire class. Gilbert had been very patient and understanding. Nevertheless, your performance didn't budge by much; you just couldn't bring yourself to focus on all the names and dates that kept swirling inside your head when he was sitting so close to you.
You've always remembered the gesture though.
Unfortunately for you, Ruby Gillis had called "Dibs' on Gilbert a motion so strong it made nearly every girl one;s worst enemy if they so much as looked at Gilbert for a second too long.
Obviously, you were terrified of anyone finding out about the feelings you harbored and quickly became adept in hiding your true emotions for the boy, often acting bored and uninterested every time the topic came up.
You had everybody fooled.
Or so you thought.
~
"I know about the less than platonic feelings you've been keeping a secret from me."
Anne confronted you, her voice ringing rather loudly in the empty classroom.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
You swallowed harshly and wiped the sweat of your hands on your skirt.
"I, Anne Shirley Cuthbert, am confronting you about the romantic thoughts that you've, for the lack of a better word, thought up regarding Gilbert Blythe."
Anne fixed her eyes in you, determination reflected in them.
"Don't be silly, Anne. If I did have less than platonic feelings, how couldn't confide in you, the master of romantical tragedies? Besides, Ruby has dibs."
You fibbed shamelessly, fingers nimbly moving from one task to another as you tried to calm your nerves.
"Ruby having dibs has nothing to do with how you feel. Also, I'm hoping that your future relationship with Gilbert doesn't end in a tragedy."
You kept quiet, not knowing what to say.
"Y/N, you can trust me. Do you like him?"
You swallowed once more before nodding your head slightly, a ghost of a smile making it's way onto your lips.
"I knew it! I knew it! Oh my goodness I was right! I knew it!"
Anne shrieked loudly in triumph.
"Why ever didn't you tell me?"
"I knew you'd make it a big deal and I really didn't want to deal with all the drama."
You replied wearily.
Make it a big deal! My best friend just admitted that she likes THE Gilbert Blythe! Of course it's a big deal!"
Anne twirled around happily, her pigtails flying with her.
You both were laughing at her antics oblivious of the figure that had entered the classroom door, unnoticed.
"So, which of his traits do you most admire?"
Anne asked, still happily twirling around.
You paused for a moment to collect you thoughts.
"I love how kind he is. Most people, including me, if they had his confidence and good looks and brains they wouldn't think twice about someone who doesn't. He does. And he doesn't act like he's gifting anyone anything by talking to them. He's humble, he's kind, and he knows his value. It's the perfect combination. Not to mention he's definitely the most charming and handsome person I've seen in Avonlea."
Anne suddenly stopped twirling so abruptly, she stumbled, her face slack.
"Anne! Anne, what is it?
You asked her, concerned.
You followed her gaze until it fell upon the boy standing at the door. It was Gilbert with an expression of utter shock on his face. You honestly felt like you could collapse in embarrassment right then and there. If you thought confessing your love for Gilbert to Anne was bad, then your crush hearing your pathetic deceleration was definitely worse. Trying to save your last remaining shred of dignity, you stood up, grabbed your cloak and basket and strode towards Gilbert when every nerve in your body was yelling at you to move in the opposite direction. You pushed past him and thankfully, he didn't try to stop you.
It was a while of walking in the woods, crunching dry leaves and sticks with your boots before the tears came.
You never dared to hope for Gilbert to reciprocate your feelings but you always secretly wished for him to be, at the very least, your bosom friend. A little of Gilbert was better than none.
And now any chance you had with him, whether they were remote or not, was not completely, irrevocably gone.
You've never quite been one to cry your emotions out but in this case it seemed like you had no other option. You sat on a log of wood nearby, rubbing your hands together.
You had forgotten your gloves in the classroom and as a result, your hands were freezing.
You were so preoccupied with keeping your hands warm, you didn't notice someone approach you from behind. Hence, you had a fright when you felt someone tap you on your shoulder.
"Don't scream! Don't scream, please."
Gilbert held out his hands in a placatory manner.
You tried to look anywhere but at him.
He came slightly closer, step by step, trying not to scare you off.
"Did you mean what you said?"
His question was met with silence.
"Y/N, please look at me."
You kept quiet, hands trembling silently.
He took another step forward and there were mere inches of space separating your chest from his. The tip of his nose was red and you realized with a sudden plunge of guilt that he wasn't wearing any jacket whatsoever.
No hesitating for even a second, you slipped off his your jacket and placed it around his shoulders before he had time to resist.
"I couldn't possibly - "
"Yes, you can and you will. I won't have you dropping dead of hypothermia on my account. Ruby Gillis would never let me forget it."
You cut him off not interested in his excuses. He let out a soft smile before becoming serious once more.
"Y/N, please, I need to know. Did you mean what you said?"
"How does it matter, Gil - "
"It matters."
You sighed in defeat.
"I meant every word."
Gilbert let out another smile that made him look so warm and inviting.
"That's great. I had just let me get a word in, you'd have known that I did too."
"You know you don't have to say that just to please me, right? I'll get over it before you even kno - mmph!"
You let out a muffled sound of surprise when you felt Gilbert's lips on top of yours. One of his arms looped around your waist, pulling you closer to him while the other got tangled in your hair. You slowly loosened your body and reciprocated the kiss, still in shock.
Gilbert Blythe was kissing you.
You were kissing Gilbert Blythe.
Gilbert Blythe's hand was in your hair.
It was everything you expected an so much more. He tasted like the strawberry apples that grew in his family orchard. His breath was warm and lips even more so despite the cold. One of your hands tugged slightly at the nape of his neck while the other lay on his shoulder, a firm reminder that he was real. He didn't try to use any tongue, perhaps knowing that your lack of experience in such areas wouldn't be able to handle it just yet. The kiss was just like him; soft, gentle and sweet. You felt something warm erupt in your chest, it gave you a tingly feeling all the way down to your toes.
You both pulled away slightly, need air, as trivial as it seemed then. The smile on your face felt so large it was just plain embarrassing but then again, so was the grin etched on his.
His forehead touched yours and his eyes looked at yours, not helping in calming your racing heart.
"Yo- you, feel the same way?"
He chuckled in response, his chest vibrating underneath your fingers.
"I should think the kiss would have been a strong enough answer to that question."
There was a comfortable silence between the both of you.
"Could I have my jacket back now?"