*June 31st*
It was a stormy day in London, like the hundred previous ones. Gilbert had missed the sun once, but he had now gotten used to living among raindrops that were constantly falling from the sky. He had acquired a taste to it, actually. His favorite thing during the mornings was to go to the cafe across the street and sit by the window, studying, or reading Anne's book. He found it very relaxing: Watching the drops falling on the glass and then running through it until they hit the floor, while he was enjoying his warm coffee inside the cozy shop. The place was vintage-looking, so that also gave him a feeling of comfort. Besides, it brought back some good memories... meeting Winifred. He couldn't believe that had happened five months ago, and that that girl had been his girlfriend for three. A grin was drawn across his face as he thought he'd be going back home in less than a week. He was beaming that he'd see his family and friends again, but he was also aware he was going to miss all that. The early mornings in the cafe, the football competition and his whole new team, going back to his room to find Owen... That was the worst part of all: Leaving his roommate. He was going to miss him greatly. Anyway, he promised himself to take him to Avonlea one day. He and his friends would get along really well.
As it was the last week in London, he decided to continue "The fault in our stars". He had stopped reading it for a while because he had reached chapter 10 way too quickly and wanted to make it last.
The contact with Anne had been scarce during the whole month of April, but, luckily, was restored during the following two, after the camping trip with her friends. They had been endlessly talking about the books she read, commenting on every single thing that happened. However, Gilbert still didn't know about Noah's date with her, neither the reason why she had once been so distant. But, as long as they were sharing some time with each other, he was fine with that. They were finally chatting everyday again, and he wasn't willing to tempt fate by bringing it up.
Recently, however, it stopped. Once again, she stopped texting back, she stopped picking up the phone, she stopped commenting on the books... Like if she had disappeared.
Shirley and Blythe
08:38 AM
Blythe: hey shirley
Blythe: are you alive? you haven't been on the phone in days...
Blythe: anyway, i'm on chapter 13
Blythe: i finally understand why you cried
Blythe: the way he compares the scan to a christmas tree is horrible
Blythe: i can't believe how you didn't flood avonlea in tears with that metaphor though
Blythe: i mean, this is much worse than My Girl
-Good morning, baby- he saw his girlfriend approaching him- Who are you talking to?
-Mornin'- he smiled- Just Anne.
-Oh...What was she saying?
-Nothing, it's 4AM there. We haven't talked in a while anyway, so I'm getting kind of worried.
-You don't need to talk to her EVERY day.
-But she is reading my book, so not receiving a comment is pretty unusual- he chuckled.
-It's probably nothing important. Now, do you want to do something today?- she quickly changed the subject.
-Oof, I wish I could. I have football practice.
-But it's Saturday!
-But the game's on Monday, and it's the last one.
-Maybe another day, then.
-Of course- he placed his hand on hers, smiling softly at her- Besides, we'll have plenty of time when we are back in Canada.
-No Canada for me. I live here, you know?
-I'm well aware of that, but...
A smirk appeared on his lips, as he eagerly searched through his backpack. And, as soon as he found them, he held them between two of his fingers.
-Is...Is that...Are those plane tickets?!
-For both of us- he grinned right before she snatched them out of his hand and looked at them in awe.
-I'M GOING TO CANADA!
-You are- he nodded with a titter. He knew it had been her dream destination for long now.
--------------------------------------------------------
Shirley and Blythe
10:22
Blythe: i've read chapter 17 during a brake they gave us
Blythe: it was the shortest one so far, but so fucking sad
Blythe: anyway, how are you?
Blythe: we haven't talked in a while
Blythe: and it's weird that i haven't received any comments on The house of God yet
Blythe: cause that's hell of a book
01:39 PM
Blythe: shiiiiiiiirrrrlllllssss
Blythe: are you there?
02:31 PM
Blythe: i'm serious, is everything ok??
Blythe: if you are mad at me, just tell me
Blythe: i just need to know if you are ok
03:42 PM
Blythe: you know i am here if you need anything, right?
Gilbert and Diana
03:49 PM
Gil: hey di
Gil: are u there?
Gil: i'm worried about anne
Gil: she hasn't answered her phone in four days
04:56 PM
Gil: it's been over an hour since i contacted you and you are a fast replier
Gil: is everything ok?
Gil: if you have some minutes could u call me please?
Blythe and Baynard
05:00 PM
Blythe: hey baynard
Blythe: kinda worried about anne
Blythe: do you know why neither her nor diana are answering their phones???
Blythe and Bash
05:17 PM
Blythe: bash
Missed call from Blythe 05:17 PM
Blythe: i'm worried
Blythe: why is no one answering????
Missed call from Blythe 05:55 PM
Blythe: sebastian
Blythe: can you answer your goddamn phone please?!
Blythe and Charles
07:29 PM
Blythe: charles
Blythe: tell me someone's alive please
Blythe: what the hell is going on
Charles: wtf dude
Charles: why are you so desperate to contact us, you barely texted us during 6 months
Charles: why so eager now?
Blythe: oh thank god, someone
Blythe: what's going on?
Charles: what do you mean?
Blythe: i mean as in anne, jerry, bash and di not answering their phones
Charles: nothing i know of
Blythe: please tell me if you hear anything
Charles: chill out dude
Charles: it probably isn't anything serious
Blythe: hope u are right
Charles: look, i'm about to go to the movies with jane
Charles: if she knows anything i'll call you, i promise
Blythe: thanks charlie
Charles: no trouble
Charles: just calm down and make sure you practice for that big game on monday
Charles: see you in three days bro
Blythe: see you
Blythe: don't forget to ask jane
Blythe: and tell her i say hi
Charles: will do
-Stop tapping your foot, mate- Owen shot a crumpled paper at him from his desk.
-Uh, sorry.
-What's gotten inside your head?
-Stuff.
-Wow, thank you for that extensive explanation.
-I'm worried, that's all.
-I'd like to say that it is the redhead Anne, but I should probably ask about your girlfriend.
-No...It's about Shirley- he mumbled, checking his phone once again.
-I knew it! What's with her?
-That's the problem, I don't know. She hasn't been answering.
-You've told me she likes books, maybe she's reading...What about the one you exchanged? She's probably busy with that one.
-She would be sending me comments.
-Look, you're probably being overprotective, as always. Calm down.
-It's been four days, and now she's not the only one. I've tried calling Bash, Jerry and Diana too, but they haven't texted back either. The only one that did was Charles, but he doesn't know anything.
-I don't know who half of those people you just named are, but stop worrying about it and finish your essay.
Rubbing his hands against his face in distress, he groaned. He was aware that Owen was right, he was sometimes overprotective, especially towards Anne, but he was fretted. Being on the other side of the Atlantic ocean left him helpless. If someone really needed him, if there was something going on, he couldn't do anything. What if Anne was in trouble? What if Billy was hassling her again? Or what if there had been an accident? Maybe a fire?
Even though he failed, he tried to shrug those thoughts off and keep on writing.
It was 12AM in London when the phone started buzzing uncontrollably on the nightstand. It took just a second for Gilbert to wake up at the sound. He squinted his eyes trying to see who was calling at that time of the night. Diana's name popped up on the screen, and he instantly picked up.
-Hey, Di, finally. Is everything okay?- he answered huskily.
-Hey, Gil...I'm uh, sorry to wake you up...
-What's wrong?
-Haven't you heard?
-No... what happened?
-I've... just left the hospital.
-What?! Are you okay?!- he sat up briskly, his heart beating out of his chest.
-Yes. It's not me you should worry about.
-Is it Anne?
Owen turned on the lamp, completely puzzled and still not fully conscious. He was determined to murder his roommate for waking him up, until he saw the panicked expression on his face.
-Fuck...Is it serious?- he asked through the phone, starting to pace across the room- What did the doctor say? Are the chances high?
The blonde boy knew the answer without even listening to the girl on the other side of the line. Gilbert let himself fall onto the chair defeatedly, muttering something unintelligible under his breath and burying his face in his hands as soon as the phone call ended. Owen put his arm over his friend's shoulder, holding him reassuringly. The response had clearly been unpleasant.