Chapter 18- A lovely Trip

''That will be all for today, don't forget to complete the math work'' Ms. Stacy said, the students swarmed out of the schoolhouse.

''Anne, Gilbert, would you please come here for a second''

They both nodded and waited for the rest of the students to leave, ''It's no secret that you two are my most brightest students'' Ms.Stacy said ''For the first time Prince Edward Island is holding a student competition, all schools must send two students to represent them and compete by answering some educational questions''

Anne smiled widely, and looked at Gilbert excitedly

''Any who the competition is in Charlottetown and you're expected to leave the day after tomorrow. The first day will be registration and then you would stay at a hotel and the next day will be the actual competition. I have already informed Marilla and Matthew, Anne and Gilbert I went to inform your parents but-'' she stopped and gave Gilbert a sympathetic look.

Anne looked at Gilbert and could sense that he needed some rescue ''Well tell us all about it Ms.Stacy, what happens if we win?''

''Right of course, well if you do win Avonlea will receive extra funds for the school as well the two of you will be honored in ceremony '' she said.

''Oh how exciting! I better leave now so I can start preparing!''

''Ah yes,'' she hands both of them a paper regarding the regulations plus a list of the topics that will be covered, ''you'll be needing this if you are thinking of preparing''

''I have to get going but you can count me in'' Gilbert said as he smiled

''Yes me too!'' Anne said as they both waved goodbye to Ms.Stacy as walked out of the classroom.

''Looks like we're going to be spending some time together Shirley'' he said with a goofy smirk.

''Looks like it Blythe''

''Anne!'' Ruby and Diana waved to Anne as Anne waved goodbye to Gilbert and went to them.

''What was that about?'' Diana asked.

''Gilbert and I are going to Charlottetown for two days for a competition! Isn't it marvelous?!''

''YOU AND GILBERT ALONE FOR TWO DAYS?!'' Ruby gasped as she began sobbing ''WHY COULDN'T I BE SMART LIKE YOU ANNE?! THEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED TO GO WITH GILBERT''

''Oh believe me Ruby if I had to pick between my intelligence and your beautiful golden locks, I would pick yours any day'' Anne said reassuringly.

Ruby smiled through her sobs at Anne's comment yet still cried woefully nonetheless

* * *

''MARILLA THE DRIVER IS HERE, I HAVE TO GET GOING!!'' Anne yelled from downstairs.

''be safe child, don't talk to strangers and stay close to Gilbert. That boy's fond of you so I'm sure he won't let anything happen to you''

''Gilbert is not fond of me Marilla, why do you keep insisting!!'' Anne groaned

''I heard my name'' Gilbert stood with his arm leaning at the doorway with a soft smirk.

''don't get your hopes up'' Anne rolled her eyes.

She grabbed her luggage and hugged Matthew and Marilla goodbye as she boarded the carriage. The driver gave a small nod as he took off.

''How exciting! A competition! Exciting is not even the right word, more like THRILLING'' Anne squealed.

''Ey quiet down over there'' the driver said as he looked back.

''My apologies driver I'm just so excited!''

''say what's your name girl?'' the driver asked

''Oh how rude of me, my name is Anne Shirley Cuthbert, it's an exquisite pleasure to meet you''

''Well Ms.Shirley Cuthbert my name is Bernie. You sure do have a big vocabulary for such a young girl''

''I'll take that as compliment'' Anne smiled. Anne looked at Gilbert, he was staring at the sky he seemed in his head.

''hey you okay?'' Anne asked.

''Last time I went on a competition was with my father. We entered a father-son hunting competition.''

''Animals?! That's an outrage!'' Anne said.

''Well if it makes you feel better, I couldn't find it in me to kill them. Even though we lost, my dad said in a way we won, 'only the bravest of people can have the courage to do what they think its right' he told me.''

''Your dad sounds like a wonderful person. I only had to meet him once to know he was a kindred spirit'' Anne said.

Gilbert looked at her and smiled ''He would have liked you''

To say the rest of the trip was quiet would be a lie. Anne chatted away with the driver, telling him stories about Princess Cordelia with Gilbert silently listening to her stories too.

''Well looks like we're here'' Bernie said as Anne and Gilbert go off.

''It was a pleasure to meet you Bernie, you are the most wonderful driver I've ever met''

''Keep that big head of yours Miss, I have a feeling it would do a lot of good'' he tipped his hat and waved goodbye.

Gilbert reached to carry his bag and Anne reached for hers as Bernie went off.

''I can carry that'' Gilbert offered.

''Oh its alright, I like carrying my bag, makes me feel like I'm headed for an adventure''

Gilbert chuckled as they began walking to the hotel. Following Ms.Stacy's instructions Anne and Gilbert made it to the hotel fairly quickly.

They walked towards a tall white building, the streets were fairly crowded by women all wearing fancy dresses that Anne could only dream of.

They scanned the room and went up to the front desk were a man greeted them with a haizy hello ''Hello my name is Anne Shirley Cuthbert and this is Gilbert Blythe, we were instructed to come to this hotel.''

The man sighed and looked down at his paper lazily.

''Rooms 121 and 122, the third floor to the left'' he said as he handed them keys.

Anne smiled gratefully as they climbed the stairs and reached their rooms. As Anne opened her room she was greeted by velvet colored walls, decorated with elegant dark wood furniture, and a small canopy bed with soft red sheets.

''Oh this is splendid!'' she squealed.

"Looks like our rooms are joined'' Gilbert said as Anne noticed a door next to her bed.

Anne layed her bag on the floor as so did Gilbert and jumped on the bed.

As she laughed, she heard a knock on the door and opened the door. A small petite women with curly brunette hair greeted her with a wide smile.

''Hi, you must be Anne, my name is Catherine'' she reached for her hand, and Anne hesitantly shook it.

''Think of me as your mentor throughout the competition, we need to start heading over to registration, so let's grab the other boy, now what was his name...'' she said

''Gilbert Blythe?'' Anne said.

''Ah yes him'' she answered.

Anne fixed her braids and followed her to next room where she knocked on Gilbert's door, he opened the door confused to see Catherine, after they explained everything to him, he agreed to start heading off to the registration.

Outside the hotel was buggy, they all boarded it as Catherine told the driver some instructions on where they were going.

''So let me tell you about the competition, there are about 20 schools participating, but you both seem quite smart so I'm sure you'll win. Anyways the host will ask you a question and the judges will judge how well you answer the question. If you're asking for my advice don't focus much on answering the question correctly, just on answering it in a way that will go well with the judges'' Catherine said as Gilbert and Anne listened intently.

''Looks like we're here'' Catherine said as the carriage stopped, and she stepped outside. They arrived at a big building busy with young kids going in and out. Catherine led them inside and took them to a table labeled 'Avonlea'. They were instructed to sign some paperwork and forms, time seemed to pass fairly quickly. They went up on a stage and practiced answering sample questions as well as chatted with some of the competition supervisors. Before they knew it, it was nighttime and time for them to head home. They waived a final goodbye to Catherine and got on a carriage back to the hotel.

''I think it be a good idea if we studied a bit tonight, you know to get our minds flowing'' Anne said as they arrived back at the hotel.

''Good idea, I brought some of my books with me so we can study'' Gilbert said as they walked in to his room.

''Which topic should we start with?'' Anne asked as they took out their books. Just as they were about to begin a knock of the door was heard.

''Good afternoon, a lady named Catherine stopped by and told us to bring food to this room. Enjoy'' the man said as Gilbert opened the door. A cart filled with food rolled in as Gilbert said thank you to the man and closed the door.

''I like this Catherine lady'' Gilbert said as they both chuckled.

They ate as they talked about the different subjects quizzing each other on the material and laughing when the other one didn't know the answer.

''The answer would be gravity'' Anne said as she yawned.

''You seem tired, should we stop?'' Gilbert asked concerned.

''No, its fine, let's just take a break'' Anne said as they both laid on the floor looking at the ceiling.

They both laid in silence consumed by their own thoughts, ''What are you thinking about'' Anne asked after a while.

''My father'' Gilbert answered blankly ''Ever since he- well he left I've just been feeling alone'' he admitted.

''But you're not alone,'' Anne said as she sat up to face him ''You have Bash and Mary, and well ....me''

He softly smiled as they both slowly closed their eyes and drifted to sleep.

* * *

''OH MY DEAR LORD''

Gilbert and Anne but opened their eyes to find a very surprised Catherine looking at them. They looked down and found Anne's hand resting on Gilbert's chest. She pulled away quickly and got up.

''We must have fallen asleep while studying'' Anne said groggily.

''I sincerely hope studying was the only thing you too were doing last night'' Catherine said sternly ''get dressed quickly we have to leave in a few minutes'' she said as she walked away.

She walked to her room and changed out of her dress for a much cleaner and newer dress Matthew got her for the occasion. It was simple purple dress, he had gotten in a hurry but was still beautiful nonetheless.

They both walked out of their rooms and followed Catherine to the buggy which led them back to the building they had gone yesterday, except this time it was lively, filled with many people. They reached the stand with a sign that said Avonlea, were two plates a food where there.

''Eat quickly, the competition is starting soon'' Catherine ordered as she sped off.

''Excited or nervous?'' Gilbert asked

''I think a bit of both'' Anne said as she took a bite of her bread.

They ate quickly and were practically dragged by Catherine to the back of the stage were the rest of the students competing were gathered. They didn't bother trying to talk to the others, Anne mostly focused on trying to remember everything they practiced last night.

''Just relax Anne, everything will be fine. You're the smartest girl I've ever met, if anyone can win this thing, it's you'' Gilbert reassured.

Before Anne could respond the competition began and they were called on to the stage. The room was packed with people of all ages and sizes, this seemed to make Anne even more nervous. She looked at Gilbert who gave her a reassuring smile.

''Welcome to the first Prince Edward Island Educational Competition for Young Adults!'' The host announced as the people in the audience clapped. ''We have 21 schools represented here today and only one can be the winner of today's competition. Well without further or do let's have some fun!''

Avonlea was one of the last schools that was called up, as Anne became even more nervous as she watched other students answer the questions almost perfectly until she remembered one vital thing, there was one thing none of the other kids didn't have...her stubborn brain. With determination she went up to the front as Avonlea was called up.

''Representing Avonlea is Anne Shirley Cuthbert and Gilbert Blythe'' he announced loudly to the crowd. ''Your question is... who discovered gravity? As well as provide an explanation on what gravity is.''

A small smile crept upon Anne's lips as she almost instantly responded ''Gravity is a force that exists among all material objects in the universe, which was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton''

''That is very much correct!'' the host said as the judges nodded and wrote something down in a piece of paper.

They were exited out of the stage as Gilbert congratulated Anne kindly. As more students began getting questions wrong, they were down to the last 10 schools.

''Well ladies and gentlemen only 10 more schools left, and the questions will only get harder from here'' the host said.

As the schools were called up, Anne started getting nervous again, some of the questions they were asking the others Anne didn't even know the answer to. As if almost if Gilbert could read her mind he whispered ''we got this'' as they were called up.

''This question is a tricky one, what is the second least specific way to classify organisms?'' he asked.

A silence consumed the room as Gilbert rose and spoke ''That would be genus sir''

''...that would be correct! Bright one aren't ya?'' the host exclaimed as they both left the stage.

By the end there were only three more schools including Avonlea and tensions began to rise.

''Alright folks for the last three, they'll all be answering the same question and the judges will determine who has the best answer''

They all entered the stage again and stood silent as the host read the question out loud ''How can you as adolescents prepare for the future?''

A tall girl wearing her hair in a neat bun answered first saying that the best way to prepare was to study and listen to your parents''

''I think the only way to prepare is for men to work with other men and gain a healthy education and for girls to learn how to cook and clean so they are prepared to take care of our needs-'' a boy with greeinish eyes answered as the judges smiled and nodded.

As Anne opened to respond she looked at Gilbert first for approval who mouthed the words 'give him hell'

''That answer is absurb! Women are just as entitled to an education then men are! Women shouldn't be restricted of the possibilities of a job because of their gender, they can do anything a man can AND MORE!'' Anne practically screamed.

The audience stood quiet, ''Well, what...interesting answers from our competitors. The judges will now decide the winning schools'' the host said

The judges seemed to come into an agreement and whispered into the host ear.

''Ladies and gentlemen the winning school of this competition is Summerside!!"

The boy with the green eyes smiled widely as he and another boy went up to stage to receive the award. Anne and Gilbert were escorted out of the stage as Anne was red with fury.

''You did great!'' Catherine said as she gave them both a hug ''Lets get back to the hotel quickly so the two of you can pack your bags, we're leaving in a couple of hours.''

They went back to the hotel, as Catherine said she had to handle something.

''Well that was eventful'' Gilbert said as they sat down in the room ''I'm sorry we didn't win Anne''

''Oh don't be, I know I should be sad but, it was totally worth it to see him dumbfounded'' Anne said as they both laughed remembering the event.

''well all things considered; I think we did pretty good'' he said as Anne nodded.

Catherine came back with some a plate of corn and pork that Gilbert and Anne ate disturbingly quickly. They packed their bags and headed off the hotel to the buggy waiting outside.

''Well it was a pleasure meeting both you, you are both very special kids.'' Catherine said as she gave them a big hug and waved them a last final goodbye.

''Back to Avonlea'' Gilbert said

''back to Avonlea'' Anne repeated.