#millis

drew two more of my fantrolls tonight

Another one in my Roody series! Yipee! I’m so proud of this one and it’s been brewing in my brain for weeks. 

@silverlight85​, who always asks me for more fics! 

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Tillie and Ruby explored the fair, oohing and ahing every few seconds. They had never seen anything quite like this before. The colours, the sounds, a man on stilts and a man juggling. It was quite the experience.

"Look, an organ that plays by itself!" Tillie cried, excitedly.

Ruby squinted at it. "How is that even possible?" she wondered. They continued to explore, until Tillie suddenly stopped and tapped Ruby’s shoulder. 

“Ruby, I think you need to see this.” 

Ruby turned and her heart instantly sunk. Across the fair, Gilbert Blythe was walking arm-in-arm with another girl. Her Gilbert Blythe. The boy she had loved since forever is walking with a woman who was not her. She swallowed dryly, unable to peel her eyes away. Tillie tried to comfort her but she just shrugged her off. 

“I need to be alone,” Ruby whispered, walking off to an obscure, quiet part of the fair. She collapsed on the ground, hugging her knees, the smallest of tears slipping out of her eyes. But it wasn’t from sadness, it was relief. For years she had spent pining over him, but he never once showed her any affection in return. He never loved her, and now he’s with someone else. It felt like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. 

Her hand drifted to her pocket and she pulled out the handkerchief. She had forgotten she even had it, but at the sight of it, her heart did a cartwheel. Moody’s handkerchief. He gave it to her when she was crying over Gilbert. How long did she spend crying over him, not even noticing that Moody was there all along? He was always a true friend, but now she knew he could be so much more than that. Holding the handkerchief gingerly in her hand, she felt those all too familiar butterflies exploding in her chest. It all made sense. She didn’t love Gilbert anymore, because...she was in love with someone else. 

The realization slapped her in the face and she leapt to her feet. “I’m in love with Moody Spurgeon!” Ruby shrieked. “And I have to tell him RIGHT NOW!” She stuffed the handkerchief back in her dress pocket and took off running. Dodging all the various passerby's, she searched the crowd for him, but was dismayed when Moody was nowhere to be found. She ran over to Charlie, who was in line for ice cream. “Charlie!” she cried, grabbing his arm. “Have you seen Moody anywhere?” 

“He’s at the barn, rehearsing for the dance,” Charlie answered quickly, confused. “Why? Is everything alright?” 

“I need to - I need to find him,” Ruby gasped, catching her breath. 

“Well, you’ll definitely find him at the barn,” Charlie said. 

“The barn,” Ruby repeated, with a nod. “Thank you!” she cried, before running off again. As she ran, she passed by Tillie, who was admiring dresses. 

“Ruby, where are you going?!” Tillie called, running after her. 

“I can’t stop!” Ruby cried over her shoulder. “I need to find Moody, I have to tell him something!” 

“I - okay, I guess I’m coming with you!” Together they ran ran through the fair, racing by the hammer game where Billy was showing off, a woman selling flowers and Prissy and Jane strolling and gossiping. After an exhasting run, after which Tillie was completely out of breath, they reached the barn and Ruby threw open the door. 

Just as Charlie said, Moody was standing on the stage, with his banjo, rehearsing with the band. Ruby stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of him, and the world seemed to move in slow motion. Moody was focusing intently on the music, so focused that he didn’t notice her run in, and the pointers the band director was giving him. His eyes were sparkling with excitement. Ruby watched him in awe, breathing hard from the run. The smallest of sighs escaped her, but as she watched him play, her courage dissipated. He couldn’t possibly feel the for her what she felt for him - no one ever did. 

Tillie ran in after her, out of breath and clutching her knees. “So, what was it you wanted to tell Moody?” she grumbled. 

Ruby turned away from Moody, her heart heavy. “Nothing,” she replied, quietly. “I can’t tell him.” 

Tillie groaned. “You mean, I ran all the way over here for nothing?!” 

“Tell me what?” Ruby whipped around with wide eyes and Moody grinned at her. 

“Yeah, Ruby, tell him what?” Tillie said, still annoyed at having to run so far. 

Ruby’s brain blanked. “I-uh-I just wanted to - uh - say that you’re, uh...you’re...” She swallowed dryly. “Your - uh - banjo playing is really great.” 

“Oh. Well, thank you!” Moody exclaimed. “I’ve been playing it since I was a kid, so...it’s second nature to me now.” 

“Have you ever written a song before?” Ruby asked him, thankful to even be talking to him in the first place. At least it was something. 

“Nope, never have,” Moody replied with a shake of his head. “It always seemed daunting.” 

“There’s always a first,” said Tillie. 

“I mean, I could try, but what would I write about?” 

Ruby shifted awkwardly. “You could write a song about...me,” she suggested, boldly. Tillie’s eyebrows shot up and she stifled a laugh, however Moody seemed to seriously consider it.

“Hey, that’s a great idea!” he cried.

“Really?” Ruby repeated, the blush rising on her cheeks. 

“Yeah!” Moody exclaimed. “It’ll be great practice for me, and you’ll get your own song!” 

“My own song?” Ruby sighed. Tillie glanced between them and rolled her eyes.

Moody looked at her for a moment longer, his gaze softening. “Yeah...” 

Their moment was interrupted by the bandmaster calling Moody back to the stage to rehearse the “Dashing White Sergeant”. Moody turned back to Ruby. “i gotta go, but I”ll see you at the dance tonight?” 

Ruby nodded quickly. “Mm-hm, I’ll be there,” she replied. 

“I’ll...see you there, then.” He bounded back to the stage and Tillie dragged Ruby back out the door. 

“He’s going to write a SONG ABOUT ME!” she squealed. That would be the first of many times she will mention it the whole walk back to the fair. 

To be continued...in the dance scene of 3x06.