Here is yet another fic inspired by a song. This time it's Skylar Grey's "Words." I do not own the song or the characters within, I'm just borrowing them for a while. Enjoy!
Annie ran hurriedly around her small New York apartment, running late for a job interview she needed to get to in an hour. She hoped traffic would let up just this once so she wouldn't be late. In the middle of buttoning up her shirt, her phone rang from the kitchen. Sighing in frustration, Annie marched into the kitchen and grabbed her phone.
"Did you have to call right now, Jeff? I'm running late," Annie answered, going back to buttoning her shirt.
"Hello to you too, Annie," Jeff laughed on the other end.
It had been two years since the study group graduated from Greendale. Sure, they went their separate ways and even moved away from Colorado, but they still managed to keep in touch.
"What is it, Jeff? Make it quick, I have to leave soon," Annie ran back into her bedroom to find her pencil skirt.
"Okay, what are you running late for?"
"A job interview! I'm applying to be an intern."
"For your journalism class?"
"Yes," Annie found the pencil skirt she was looking for and pulled it on hastily.
"I can tell you right now, you're going to get the job."
Annie laughed, "You don't know that."
"Annie, you're the perfect candidate. If they don't see that, then they're stupid."
"Thanks for your confidence in me."
"Anytime."
"Now why did you really call me?"
"I haven't talked to you in two weeks. I missed you."
"Aww, that's so sweet."
"And I wanted to know when you're coming back to visit us."
Annie put on her jacket, trying to come up with an answer. Jeff, Shirley, Pierce, and Britta were the only ones to remain in Colorado. Troy and Abed moved to California to pursue their dreams of becoming the next Writer-Director duo in Hollywood.
"I don't know, Jeff. I really don't. I promise I'll visit soon though."
"So, the same answer as usual."
"I'm sorry. I really am, if I wasn't so busy-"
"It's okay, Annie. I know how hectic everything is for you right now. I'm just saying don't be a stranger."
She grinned as she picked up her purse and key, "I gotta go. Talk to you soon!"
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
Annie didn't expect to come back to Greendale a year later. Between school and her internship, time had slipped away from her. She had tried several times to free up her schedule, but something always came up.
She also didn't expect the reason why she came back.
Jeff's funeral.
From what Shirley told her when she picked her up, nobody knew whether the accident was an accident or if it was intentional. The driver had been a client of Jeff's and was unable to get the charges against him cleared. The driver was also drunk that night when he got behind the wheel and struck the driver's side of Jeff's car going ninety. Jeff had died right at the scene, the driver died a few hours later in the hospital from his injuries. As far as anyone knew, the case would never be solved.
"Are Troy and Abed in yet," Annie asked, hating the silence that hung over them after Shirley finished explaining what happened.
"Britta picked them up a couple hours ago," Shirley replied, "we're all meeting at Pierce's."
Annie nodded, "Of course."
Silence once again echoed in the car.
"How are Andre and the kids?"
Shirley glanced to her briefly, "They're good. Andre got a promotion a few months ago and the kids are doing well in school. Elijah made the honor roll, Jordan is playing football now and Ben keeps growing everyday."
Annie forced a smile on her face, "That's great, Shirley."
"What about you," Shirley asked, "making it in New York?"
Annie turned to her. She had a feeling Shirley knew that the silence was bothering her and wanted to keep the conversation going.
"If you call getting three hours of sleep a night and running all around the city for coffee making it, then I guess I am," Annie replied.
Shirley managed to get out a chuckle, "Being an intern isn't the best job, but you have to prove yourself first. Just keep at it and you'll get where you need to be."
"I hope so," Annie replied.
They finally pulled up to Pierce's large mansion, where Troy pounced on Annie when she stepped inside.
"It's been so long since I've seen you," Troy wrapped her up in a tight hug.
"I wish these were better circumstances," Annie reciprocated the hug warmly.
Troy only nodded gravely as he pulled away from her. Abed came up behind him, giving Annie a small smile.
"It's good to see you," Abed said.
"Yeah," Annie was unsure of what to say, "good to see you too."
Annie looked past Troy and Abed and found Britta leaning against the doorframe of another room, smiling.
"I'm glad you made it," Britta said, gesturing to her, "Come on, we're in here."
Troy put an arm around her as the two of them followed Abed to Pierce's den, where he had snacks and drinks waiting for them.
"So...a party for the recently deceased," Annie said, pointing out the snacks.
"A celebration of Jeff's life actually," Pierce said from across the room, where he was acting as bartender, "I'm glad you're here, Annie."
Annie gave him a slight smile.
"Today we celebrate his life and all the good things he has done," Pierce continued, "Tomorrow we'll have all the time to mourn."