Chapter 24: Billy Matthews

Cole's POV

I look around the train station searching for Anne, as I meet her bright eyes, I brace myself for the impact of her hug.

''It feels like it's been ages Cole!'' Anne squeals as she wraps me in a hug which I return.

''I just saw you in Christmas Anne'' I chuckle as she lets go.

''There's so much for us to do! How long will you be staying? I have school tomorrow, but I'm sure we can hang out as soon as it ends, unless you want to come with me. Oh, it be marvelous if you came with me! Everyone would die to see you again!''

I laugh as I hear her ramble on and on, I've missed her. ''Well I don't think I'll go to school with you tomorrow but I'm staying for a few days maybe even weeks, so we'll have all the time in the world to hang out''

''How marvelous! Look there's Matthew, come on" she walks up to Matthew and gives him a hug as I shake his hand and thank him for letting me stay.

We get on the carriage and begin heading to Green Gables, as we pass through the familiar vines and flowers, I remember the fact that soon I'll have to face my parents, a weird feeling goes through my stomach. I brush these thoughts away as we arrive at Green Gables, the brown house looks weird compared to were I've been living with Josephine that I almost don't recognize it. The door opens and Ms. Cuthbert with a friendly smile comes out and greets us.

''Thank you for letting me stay here for a while Ms. Cuthbert''

''Oh please no need for formality you can call me Marilla'' she smiled warmly

I smile and we go inside as Anne takes my hand and says ''Come on Cole let me show you to your room, I tried to decorate as much as I could before you came''

She leads me up the stairs and opens the door to a room to the right, as I entered the golden light from the window light up the room and I noticed the dark oak walls decorated with all different types of flowers, placed all around the room making the room seem like a garden.

I smiled gratefully ''It's wonderful, thank you Anne''

She let out an excited squeal ''Oh I'm so glad you like it! I thought maybe I overdid it with the flowers, but I wasn't entirely sure, I tried to go for a flowery bower. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be a princess?''

''I've missed you Anne'' as I chuckled at her ranting.

We sat on the bed as I filled her in on all my adventures with Josephine, the parties, picnics, art events, and so many more things.

''...and that's how my painting ended being bought, anyways how are things over here?'' I ask

''I have so much to tell you! Gilbert and I caught Diana and Jerry on a date!!''

''You and Gilbert were hanging out?'' I said as I smirked and raised my eyebrow.

''Oh shut up! It wasn't like that, we're just friends''

''that's exactly what someone who doesn't want to admit her feelings would say'' I smirked

She rolls her eyes at me and changes the subject as she begins talking about the stories that they're presenting tomorrow.

As the night rolled around, Anne said goodbye and went to her room as I wrapped myself around the soft blankets and slowly fell asleep while looking at the moon.

* * *

''GOOD MORNING MY KINDRED SPIRIT''

I open my eyes to find a brightful Anne dancing around my room while opening the windows to smell the fresh air.

''Good morning'' I say groggily as I adjust to the light

''I have to go to school now but I thought maybe I could convince you to come?'' she said with hope in her eyes.

''There's no way I'm ever going back there but I'll walk you there'' I said as I got up.

''Good enough, Marilla is making breakfast so come downstairs soon'' she says as she skips out my room and shuts the door.

I open my bag and take out a fresh pair of clothes and put it on. I give myself a final look in the mirror and fix my hair before leaving the door and going down the stairs.

''Good morning Cole, what are you planning on doing today?'' Marilla asked.

''Well I thought I might help you with some farm work I couldn't thank you enough for letting me stay here''

''How kind of you, well Matthew does need a bit of help today, after all he shouldn't be working that much at this age'' she says as she shoots Matthew a look which he ignores.

''Well I'll return him as soon as he takes me to school'' Anne says as we both finish eating and head out the door. We begin walking towards the school as the closer we get the more I wish I never agreed to go.

''Cole?!?'' I hear as I look up and see Diana racing towards me. I give her a hug as she engages in asking me all about Charlottetown.

''Will you excuse me for a second, I promised someone I would walk with them, I'll be right back'' Anne said.

''Gilbert'' Diana and I said in unison as we both laughed, and Anne groaned.

We both waited as Anne came back accompanied with none other than Gilbert Blythe himself.

''I'm not surprised'' I said under my breathe for Diana only to hear.

''Nice to see you again Cole'' Gilbert smiled.

''You too Gilbert'' I say,I look at Anne and notice a carrot necklace around her neck ''When did you get a necklace Anne?''

''Oh Gilbert gave it to me for Christmas, it was his official apology for calling me carrots'' she blushed as they both dreamingly stared at each other. Diana and I look at each other and smirked, these kids are in such denial.

We continue walking as I tell them about Charlottetown and my visit to London with Josephine for a prestigious art show.

''So, Gilbert, Anne talks a lot about you, she said you wanted to become a doctor?'' I say as I see Anne turn a bright shade of red.

''I DO NOT TALK ABOUT HIM'' she exclaims as I see Gilbert hide a smile from the corner of my eye. Diana laughs.

''Um well yes, I'm dedicating a lot of my time apprenticing for a doctor in town'' he says.

''that's wonderful, with the amount of adventures Anne gets to its comforting to know you'll be able to help her if she gets hurt'' I respond.

''With the amount of trees, she climbs, I'm sure she will'' he says as he looks at Anne and she giggles. Diana and I exchange a look of confusion but decide to let it go as Anne changes the topic.

We arrive at the school house as Diana and Anne give me one last hug before heading inside. The familiar scent makes me shiver as I recall the last time I was here; I shake my head as I try to forget the sound repeating through my head of Billy's screams. His long horrid screams of pains that haunt me while I sleep. I start walking back to Green Gables when I hear the voice of the teacher starting the class.

''Good morning class, last class you were assigned to write a page story about a misunderstood character, I trust you all did the assignment?'' she asks as the class echoes wit yeses. A part of me is intrigued by this peculiar assignment and wants to hear these stories. So, despite my common sense protest I stay near the window looking and hearing the class.

Most of the stories are pale and boring as always and didn't make much sense, however that couldn't have been said about Anne's story as it reached her time to read the whole class came to the edge of their seats.

''And that's when the kingdom realized that the dragon was not trying to destroy it, it simply was seeking the sisterly love that it's lacked for years.'' She ended proudly as the class clapped.

I almost clapped myself before I realized that its probably best that I stay hidden. Next up was Billy Matthews, he shyly went to the front of the class.

''Um my story is titled 'The Fox '' he cleared his throat and began in a soft quiet voice "There was once a boy who had no name, he was not like the others kids, he feared himself and his shadow henceforth he was a mean boy and destroyed everything in his path. The boy with no name was angry, he was angry at the colors of the sky and the smiles of others. His father taught him to never smile but as the days went by the more more he longed to join the smiling kids, his lips ached to arch upward. He was mad, mad at his dad for not letting him smile, mad at the others for being allowed to smile, and mad at himself for not having the guts to smile. He was envious of the kids allowed to smile and tortured them relentlessly to fuel his need to know that he does not need to smile. The only comforting thought being that one day the boy will smile, his lips with creep outward and his eyes will twinkle and he will smile with the rest of the kids far away from his father and far away from the person he used to be.'' he pauses for a breathe and looks up, the sounds of two girls giggling echoes through the empty room as everyone looks at Billy curiously. ''I can't do this...'' he murmurs as he takes off running clenching his paper in one hand.

A part of me tells me to go home and help Mr. Cuthbert and forget I was ever here.

I take off running following the trembling boy.

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