IT WAS A FEW DAYS BEFORE
Christmas when Amybella and her friends were busy preparing their Christmas-Pantomime from town. The blonde girl helped Gilbert backstage as she watched the girls from her school complimenting Cole, doing the painting of the stage. 

"You're so talented Cole!" Said Jane grinning up to him.

"I love that bird so much." Amybella rolled her eyes in annoyance at the girls' giggles. Cole seemed equally annoyed by this, however he focused on his work.

"You're so talented Cole." Bella mimicked the girls and put one of the boxes down behind the curtains. Gilbert chuckled at her behavior.
The girl put her hand to her forehead dramatically and grinned at the brunette boy.

"What's there to grin about?" Gilbert asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm in the Christmas spirit. I mean you, Christmas, Bash." She replied and the brunette boy now returned her smile.

"Let's enjoy the good times." Said Gilbert and Amybella's grin disappeared as uncertainty spread across her face.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused and slightly anxious.

"Nothing at all. You just never know what the future holds. So let's enjoy the here and now." he stood in front of the girl and Amybella looked at him.
His flawless face. The smell of dust behind the stage. She scanned his eyes, which clung to hers and couldn't help but smile at him. She internalized the moment in her mind, feeling so comfortable and safe in this environment, like she didn't since a long time.
She concentrated on her sensations and wished that they would last forever. That this one perfect moment would never end.

The two of them jerked their heads apart when they heard a crash and several screams. Amybella quickly ran out from the back of the stage and saw Cole lying on the floor. The others of those preparing for the play had gathered around the blond boy.

"COLE!" Amybella yelled in shock and knelt beside him. Cole whimpered in pain as he held his wrist convulsively. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut and his teeth clenched tightly.

"Stay still. Don't move," Gilbert said, looking at the boy's arm. Amybella placed a hand on Cole's shoulder, hoping to ease his pain.

"Is he alright?!" Rachel asked in alarm as she frantically approached the scene and then knelt down as well.

"His wrist is definitely broken, I don't know what else." Gilbert replied. Amybella placed her hand over her mouth as she gently stroked the suffering boy's upper arm.

"It was an accident. I swear!" Shouted Billy Andrews defensively, raising his hands innocently.

"For heaven's sake!" Rachel murmured hysterically.

—
Gilbert was right. Cole's wrist was broken, so he couldn't paint the mill.
Amybella came back to the stage to pick up a few of her utensils when she saw the blond boy standing in the middle of the room, in front of the stage.

"Don't worry about it Cole. Your wrist will heal." Amybella said, stopping next to the boy.

"What should I do now?" the boy asked helplessly and Amybella heard the desperation in his voice. She shrugged her shoulders.

"I mean it will take time and you'll have to be patient, but soon it's gonna be healed and back to normal, I'm certain of it!" Amybella encouraged the blonde boy. She nudged him in the side.

„You can impress the girls in other ways!" She said and shrugged her shoulders. Cole flinched a little and looked at her in surprise when she said the word 'girl'.

„I-I mean not that you have to-.." Bella wanted to explain herself when the boy interrupted her.

"I don't want to impress girls." Cole said in a rush and then looked at the girl in shock.

"What?" She then laughed and Cole fell into a silence. A strange feeling spread through her as he empathized the word ‚girls' in a strange way and then stared at his shoes.
Amybella always thought that Cole could have easily impressed girls, but that he was too shy. The fact that he didn't want to, however, confused her.

They turned toward the entrance to the room as the doors to the community center flew open. Anne and a few other of her friends came into the room and stopped in front of them.

"What are you all doing here?" asked Cole.

"We went to your house to check on you, but your folks said that you came here. Can we help you?" Anne said and Cole looked at Amybella as she grinned wryly.

"If you tell us what to do, maybe we can do it together." she said, shrugging her shoulders.

"I've always wanted to be a painter!" Moody said excitedly and they all burst out laughing.

—
A little later, Gilbert and Bash picked Amybella up from her house to walk with her to Green Gables for a Christmas dinner.

"Are you cold? Do you want my coat?" Gilbert asked anxiously as the blonde girl hid her face deeper in her scarf.

"You're nearly freezing to death yourself Blythe." Amybella laughed and nudged him lightly on the shoulder. A little later, they arrived at the Cuthberts' cute white house and Matthew opened the door for them.
The old man looked at Sebastian in astonishment and irritation as Marilla then pushed past him to the door and smiled at the three of them.

"Merry Christmas to you! Do come in." She said and stepped back from the door. Amybella returned her smile kindly.

"And to you, Marilla. Matthew. Thank you for the invitation!" Amybella replied and entered the warm home. She took off her coat and ran towards the red-haired girl who came running down the stairs.

"Merry Christmas Anne! I'm so glad we're spending it together!" smiled Amybella as she wrapped her arms around the girl.

"Me too!" Anne replied happily.

"Oh, I've got something for you! I'll put it under your Christmas tree come on!" Amybella took the girl's dainty hand and ran with her to the decorated fir tree. She placed the small parcel she had prepared for Anne underneath.

"Oh, what a lovely home." Bash's voice rang out as he entered the room.

"Nice and warm!" he looked at Gilbert and Amybella giggled softly at his remark.

They all sat down on the sofa and Amybella looked at Matthew, who still seemed overwhelmed.
Anne came into the room, she had changed her clothes quickly. She saw bash, who now stood up
along with Gilbert and Bella.

"You're Sebastian. Oh how thrilling!" with quick steps, the girl walked towards them, a big smile planted on her face and a sparkle in her eyes.

„I've read so much about the ancient kingdoms of Africa and the Moors of Spain! But I've never actually met a colored person before!" she said, which caused Bella's mouth to fall open.

„Or not one of your complexion. Your skin is absolutely extraordinary! It-It's a rare pleasure to meet you." She exclaimed and everyone else in the room looked in shock at the girl who had left old Bash speechless.
The man then suddenly laughed and the tension in the room disappeared as he shook her hand.

"A pleasure to meet you too, Anne of Green Gables." He replied.

"I warned you. Anne is passionate in her way with words," Amybella said and they sat down at the table to eat.

—
"Sea legs? I've heard tell from fishermen around these parts but I didn't know it was true." Marilla replied to Bash's stories.

"Oh it's true, as Bash here has delighted in pointing out to me." Gilbert said.

"He was a sight to behold." Bash laughed and everyone else joined in.

"Have you been to many exotic ports of call? Please do tell us!" Anne asked with interest.

"New York! Boston! Jamaica!" Replied Bash.

"Where was your favorite?" asked Anne.

"My island, of course." the young man grinned at her.

"I can understand that. In fact, the Christmas Panto is about our magical island." Anne now told him excitedly.
"Panto?" asked Bash irritably, looking at Gilbert and Bella for help.

"Pantomime." the blonde girl said quickly.

"The play we both have been helping with." Gilbert explained, pointing between him and Bella.

"It's going to be wonderful. And the costumes are fantastical thanks to Marilla." Anne said enthusiastically, eliciting an embarrassed smile from Marilla at the compliment.

"Sounds like Carnival! Why didn't tell me more about this?" Bash asked reproachfully to Bella and Gilbert.

"Because you said you weren't leaving the house again until spring!" Gilbert defended himself and laughter rang out from the others at the table.

"But.. if you want to, you can always help." Amybella suggested.

"Yeah, we could really use your help with the rigging. What do you say?" Gilbert asked. Sebastian seemed to think about it for a moment.

"Why not? I'd like to know more about this magical island!" he grinned and they raised their glasses solemnly.

"To the island." said Anne and they clinked glasses.

"Merry Christmas." Gilbert said as his gaze met Bella's. His sparkling eyes captivated the girl and she looked at the curly brown hair that hung down his forehead.
She averted her eyes and drank hastily from her glass as she felt her cheeks begin to get hot.

On the way home, Gilbert suddenly stopped. Bash, however, walked on unaffected.

"I have something else for you. I wanted to give it to you personally," the boy said.

"I have a present for you too. We're going to my house, I just have to take care of the animals." For once, Bella took him by the hand and pulled him along.
They entered her house and Amybella took the present out of her room.

"I forgot it, I was too excited!" She laughed and held it out to him. Gilbert took it out of her hands, his fingers slightly touching hers, and then opened it. A book appeared.

-

pathological anatomy
-by K. Chiari

-

"Where did you get that?!" The boy asked in astonishment. The girl smiled.

"Do you like it?" She asked and he smiled like a toddler.

"Of course I like it!" He opened it, then rummaged in his pocket and handed the blonde girl a package.
She opened it and looked astonished. It was a bracelet.

"Gilbert how much did that cost?" she asked indignantly. The boy laughed and took it from the girl's hand.
He stood closer to her and took her hand into his. Amybella felt her knees go weak as the boy stood so close to her.
He placed the bracelet around her wrist, as Bella felt his breath softly touch her face.

"Merry Christmas Amy."

"Merry Christmas Gilbert."

—
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