The prompt: there's a knot in my chest and only you can untie me.
He's not really the type to hyperventilate or panic. When Ted told him he was being fired? Cool as a cucumber. When he met his dad after years of abandonment? A controlled burst of fury. So, no, Jeff's not the type to freak the fuck out. At least, not so anyone can see it. But here he is. Freaking the fuck out.
He rubs absent-mindedly at his chest feeling like his lungs are twisting and knotting and that's why he's struggling to breath, and continues pacing up and down.
"You have to Annie." She shoots him an exasperated glance and shakes her head.
"No, Abed, I don't. We've talked about this before, remember? We aren't a cast of characters, you can't direct our lives." He regards her calmly.
"I know that. And I wouldn't tell you to do this for no reason." He cocks his head, thoughtful, before he continues. "It worked out for me, Annie." He clutches Rachel's hand and swings it up high for Annie to see, as if his point is proven. "Rom-com tropes. The movie clichés. And it worked." She remains unmoved by his words even as they watch Jeff pause and bend at the waist as if he's about to start heaving. "Besides, someone has to do it." Annie balls her hands into fists and plants them on her hips, irritation mounting.
"That's not fair, Abed. What about Britta? Or Shirley?" Abed furrows his brow as if to say 'you really think they're options?' but she merely shrugs her shoulders in response.
"Britta and Troy just broke up. That would be insensitive. Shirley is convinced that Jeff is intimated by her sexuality." He cocks his head, eyebrows rising just for a second and sotto voice, adds, "I'm inclined to agree with her." He exchanges a look with Rachel, who nods in response, then turns back to Annie. "I have to say, Annie, I'm disappointed in you. You didn't even consider Troy or myself as options. What's that about?"
Her indignant gasp is expected.
"Abed! I just… It's not like… It's nothing, okay? I just know that Jeff… I mean, I'm pretty sure Jeff is into women, but… " She glares at him, aware she's being manipulated. She glances at Rachel and receives an apologetic smile followed by an eyebrow waggle and a shooing motion. She sighs. "Fine, but I want it on the record that this isn't fair." Abed nods and shoots her the finger guns in agreement.
"Why is he freaking out again?"
"Graduation." Rachel nods sagely; it makes total sense. She leans in again.
"What romantic trope is this?"
"Could be a few but that's really beside the point. Once upon a time, I wasn't sure Annie and Jeff being together was a good thing." He watches as Annie stomps angrily toward Jeff. "I should have trusted my instincts, I'm the one that originated the idea of them after all." Seconds later, Annie takes Jeff's face in her hands and kisses him. "This puts a nice cap on their story." They watch for a few more seconds but Jeff's hands are wandering and Abed knows his work is done. His timing, as usual, is impeccable; hands still linked, he and Rachel walk off into the sunset.