When it came to him, she always felt like she was in the background. Standing on the outside looking in. She felt unnoticed by the one person that she wanted so badly to realize it was her, that it's been her all along. But, she was young then and she's young now. There has been so many glances, comments, special heart to heart discussions, actions of affection that Annie must have just been reading into. Nothing more than that. That's why standing in this basement on the verge of tears, Annie wants to go back to being on the outside. She doesn't want him or the others to notice her, to see her cry.
Marriage? Jeff and Britta? That is an institution she thought neither of them believed in. But, of course, it seems so typical, so right for them to be together. No complications, no judgements. Annie could've eventually seen this coming, but that doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt.
She cannot believe she is actually crying. Crying over a man, and how dumb she was to think that maybe - just maybe - they had a shot. That, in the end, they would end up together. It would be her all along. But in actuality, she knows he hasn't looked at her in that way for over a year - maybe even two.
When Abed comes in, Annie wants to flee, get up and run and forget about this stupid town, this stupid guy, and this stupid college. Abed tells her it's temporary, but for her it's not. This sadness, these tears, are five years of pent up emotion, longing, and anger. Anger that signifies all of the times she thought there was something there. All of the moments when he made her feel like she truly meant something special to him, but in actuality she was always that sad little girl who had a very big crush.
She genuinely thought she was over him, but can you ever really be over Jeff Winger? Annie doesn't know what to do or say to make this right. She always feels it's her responsibility to situate everything, to make everything okay. To solve the group's problems.
She is just so mad at him.
For playing her so good after all these years. He knew he had her wrapped around his finger. She believes to this day he felt something for her too, once upon a time. The things he has said to her agrees with that assessment, but nothing ever happened. If it did, Annie would not be in a secret basement of a community college crying to her friend about how she really wants to be the one Jeff wants to marry.
But it can't happen, and it won't happen.
So now, all she can do it wipe away her tears, keep her head held high, and do what Annie Edison would do.
Because in the end, all she wants is for him to be happy.
