Heart Attack ? Shirbert

? 25 ? switching, strength, and secrets

Gilbert whipped his head back to Josie with anger flashing in his eyes, "Don't say anything about her. You don't know her."

"I don't need to," Josie wouldn't let anyone put her down, "She shows her freakish personality every day."

"Why do you care so much about insulting her? Why does anyone care? It takes a lot more effort to make snarky comments than to shut up."

Josie was taken back. She didn't know how to respond. Gilbert had a point.

She looked over at Billy and Anne and felt jealousy burning inside of her. Billy had a smirk on his face that she couldn't read. It looked like he was enjoying himself.

Billy saw both Josie and Gilbert staring at him, "Looks like you have Blythe wrapped around your finger again."

Anne only sighed in response. She didn't feel like using energy to respond to him.

"Does he know?" Billy tightened his grip on Anne's hand.

She flinched, "He doesn't know it was you."

"I should have known you'd run to your prince."

Anne rolled her eyes. What did he expect? "Yes, you should have."

Billy glared over at Gilbert, "If he doesn't know, why does it look like he's about to strangle me?"

"He has eyes." She responded mockingly, "He can see how uncomfortable you're making me and is very aware of how awful you are."

Billy looked down at her with devious smile, "I think he's just jealous."

"Of you?" Anne scoffed, "Don't flatter yourself."

Billy pulled Anne in even closer to him, "Yes of me." He whispered.

Anne tried pulling away without making people notice, but she was unsuccessful.

His breath was hot on Anne's ear, "He's jealous because he's not the only one who gets to be close to you. And I'm the one who's with you now."

Anne could see Gilbert was fuming. Billy was off. Gilbert wasn't jealous, he was protective.

"There's a big difference, Billy." Anne found all of her confidence and ran with it, "I want Gilbert to hold me. There is consent. No one wants you to touch them. He will always have that upper hand."

Billy was taken back. Anne's words got to him and he couldn't use his physical strength against her. In this setting, he had nothing.

Miss Stacy whistled, prompting everyone to separate, "Go back to your original partners!"

"This isn't over." Billy said so only Anne could hear.

She scowled at him as he walked away.

Gilbert ran over to Anne as quickly as he could, completely ignoring the glare Billy gave him.

"Are you okay?" He put his hand on her cheek and looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

Without thinking, Anne jumped in to hug him. She just wanted to feel someone else, like it would wash away the stench Billy left on her. Gilbert held her as tightly as he could.

Anne breathed in how he smelled: pine trees and apples. "I'm okay."

"It was him, wasn't it?" Gilbert asked quietly.

"Yes."

He pulled away from her, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Anne thought he would be irrationally angry with her and try to hurt Billy. But Gilbert looked worried, not mad.

"I didn't want you to hurt anyone. You're scary when you're angry." Anne couldn't help but let out a laugh.

He smiled, "Fair point."

Gilbert extended his hand, "Shall we dance?"

"We shall."

For the first time that day, Anne noticed everyone around her. People were whispering and staring at her and Gilbert. Somehow he was completely oblivious to this.

Miss Stacy turned off the music, "That's enough torture for today. Go home!"

Everyone separated and starting walking towards the coat rack.

Diana grabbed Anne's hand and pulled her to the side, "What's happening with you and Gilbert now?"

"What do you mean?" Anne was anxious about whatever people thought about them now.

"We all saw how he was looking at you while we switched partners and that hug when we switched back." Diana was beyond excited. They were finally together, right?

"That was nothing, he just knew I was upset."

"I mean I don't like Billy either but it's not like being with him for a minute will hurt you."

Anne pinched herself to prevent her from disassociating, "I have to tell you something."

Diana noticed her pinching herself, "Are you okay?"

"You know my broken wrist?" Anne held up her arm.

"I mean it is right in front of me."

Anne took a deep breath.

You can trust Diana.

"Billy attacked me on Christmas Eve."

Diana put her hand over her mouth, "Oh goodness."

"It's still haunting me," Anne gripped onto a nearby desk, "which is why I got scared this morning and was uncomfortable at practice."

Diana took her best friend's hand, "You must tell someone." She pleaded.

Anne shook her head sadly, "You know I can't do that. They'll crucify me. It won't be his fault, it'll be mine. I don't need to worsen my reputation."

They'll do exactly what they did to Prissy.

Diana sighed in frustration, but she squeezed Anne's hand lightly, "Thank you for telling me. That must have been awful."

Anne gave her a sad smile, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"I'm just glad you did now."

Suddenly, the girls heard yelling out in the yard.

They ran out of the building to see Gilbert facing Billy in the snow, "I told you what would happen!"

Billy stepped closer to Gilbert, "What are you going to do, Blythe? Punch me again?"

Gilbert smiled, "Precisely."

And Billy was knocked to the ground.