I got the inspiration to write and this is what came out. It's not been beta'd so anything horrific is my own sole responsibility. If you like it let me know and I'll finish it. If it sucks, let me know and I'll consign it to the Recycle Bin of Eternity. Please review; love or hate. It really will dictate extension/ termination.

Standard disclaimer: I own nothing; neither Community nor any of the referenced songs. They belong to Springsteen, to Jimmy Eat World, to Paramore, to the Stereophonics, to Freeze the Atlantic, and to The Gaslight Anthem.


'What the hell Jeff!'

He grimaced. She'd found him. She always could. She was a Jeff-Seeking-Missile.

'Well we've already learned I can't hide in the men's room or any of the store cupboards so I came here. At least this time Pierce won't walk past with a pencil stuck in his cheek…'

She didn't even flicker a smile. He knew he was in trouble.

It had been another day and another argument. He'd lost track of the reasons, they had all blurred into one recently.

'Look Annie…' he started but she cut him off.

'You need to decide and decide now. I need to know. I'm fed up of this. It's been four years and we're still here'.

'Still where?' She ignored him; she had a fire burning bright in her eyes.

'You need to decide: you either want to be with me, or you don't. Which is it?'

He was immediately struck by a deep sense of déjà vu.

'I'm sick of this', she continued, 'you say you just want to be friends then this happens. You say you just want to be friends and then you chase off any guy I so much as smile at. I'm fed up of it!'

'Annie…' Again he tried to get a word in. Again he failed.

'It's like this. I've been offered the chance to spend next semester in London. If I go I'm flying out three days after New Year'.

He knew. He didn't know who it had been that had given her the idea but he had been amazed at how she had taken to it. Her drive and determination. She had letter-bombed every College in England until one had said yes.

'Tell me not to go. Tell me to stay here, to stay with you. Because I will. You're not stupid, you know how I feel. So this is your chance. Your final chance'.

He must have searched for an answer for just a fraction of a second too long.

'Thanks Jeff', she said, 'Thanks for finally letting me in. It wasn't too hard now was it?' With that she turned and left, the door slamming behind her.

The silence remained unbroken for a few seconds before he aimed a kick at a nearby storage crate, sending it clattering across the room.