Meg's friends all think that Laurie is at that dance to court her, after all! Maybe it's TRUE... and then Laurie realizes that she sees him as a little boy (that's how she laughs off his presence to her friends, after all)... and it fills him with a seething jealousy which is behind his sharp words to her at the dance...

Laurie in love with Meg would probably be FAR more in accord with Jo about how it's HORRID that Brook is keeping Meg's glove. Laurie and Jo team up to ensure that Brook can never pursue Meg... and Jo realizes ONLY TOO LATE that it's because Laurie wants to steal Meg away his own self!!!