A/N: This fic is inspired by a movie called "Gardens of the Night. It's a movie that Gillian Jacobs starred in, and if you haven't seen it you really should. It's kind of hard to watch because of the subject matter, but I still thought it was really good. Anyway, I wrote this because I only saw the movie a couple days ago and I thought it would be fun to merge both the movie and Community. If you haven't seen the movie that's okay, it's not necessary. The fic will explain everything. Enjoy and Review! (By the way, in case you're wondering The Black Book has been discontinued. The reason for this is because I simply couldn't come up with anything else and I'm sorry for those of you who were enjoying it. I promise I don't usually discontinue fics, but I just wasn't feeling it anymore with that one.)
It's been like a week or something since school started up again.
So naturally, it's no surprise that Annie would coming running into the study room today with a list of about 50 million things that she's doing at Greendale this year in addition to what we're required to do.
"Guys!" she exclaims in her usual 'cheerfully-enthusiastic-but-confusing-because-no-one-should-ever-be-this-excited-about-anything-Greendale-related' tone. "Guess what I'm doing this year?"
I look expectantly at Jeff, the man notorious for having no qualms about shutting down anything with a face that's less pretty than his own. And not surprisingly, he doesn't fail to deliver the goods.
"Do we have to? Because I'd really like to leave this room today and not a week from now when your list has finally run its course."
Classic Winger.
For all of two seconds, Annie shows a noticeable pout before perking up considerably again and I just know that she's going to act like she didn't even hear Jeff. I mentally give her a high-five; that's my go-to with the snobby douche as well.
"What are you doing this year, An-nie?" asks Shirley in her not-so-innocent Ms. Piggy voice. I still wonder to this day why she insists on using it even though it's been ruined forever. I mean...doesn't she just have a regular voice? Is there no medium between annoyingly sweet and utterly terrifying sass?
I'm jarred from my thoughts when Annie's excitement once again sounds throughout the study room.
"I signed up for Greendale Guidance!"
The reaction from us is about the same as it always is at the beginning of every year when Annie gives us her exciting news.
Deadpan and uninterested.
Shirley's wall of intrigue noticeably crumbles. "Oh, well...that's...nice?"
Classic Bennett.
Well, we might as well give her credit for saying anything at all as the rest of us have returned to looking like we're studying, as per usual. As expected, Annie huffs and finally takes her seat across from me. She looks thoroughly put out, but on the other hand she should have expected this by now.
"You could at least act excited for me, guys..."
Nobody's looking at her, but everyone knows what's going on right now – Annie's Disney-facing the entire group. Even though we've built up an immunity over the years, we also know that when you have something like a textbook to distract you it's better to just not look at all. I chance a sideways glance at Jeff and immediately find myself smirking, as it's evident that he's clearly trying the hardest not to look at Annie. For some reason, he has to try twice as hard as the rest of us at not succumbing to the effects of Princess Pitiful. I love Annie, but she really has to learn to just deal with the fact that no one is just going to feel bad for you all the time. I had to learn that the hard way back when...
...never mind.
Finally, Winger breaks the intensely awkward silence. What a surprise...
"We're sorry, Annie. What is Greendale Guidance?"
Annie perks up considerably and flashes Jeff a cute smile, and I find myself smiling at the two of them as well. I can't deny that their moments like this have begun to grow on me. A part of me knows why too...
I take a moment of my own to glance in Troy's direction, flashing him a smile of my own. He looks confused at first, but soon reciprocates. I look away when I start to feel my face getting slightly warm.
Why is he so goddamn adorable...
It's around this time that I decide to tune back into the conversation at hand, and it's a good thing I did because it suddenly looks a lot more interesting that it did a minute ago. Annie's flailing her arms about and Jeff's sitting back in his chair looking very uninterested again.
Great...Winger fucked it up again.
"...I don't need you telling me to be careful! You know that he's harmless right? Are you jealous because it's a guy that's not you?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Annie. I'm just saying you don't know anything about this guy and he's been living on the street for like his whole life. I think it's acceptable for me to be worried in this case."
"Jeff...he needs my help. He needs our help. You know he can't even read?"
And now I'm officially listening.
I stick my palm out towards Annie to get her attention. She stops mid-rant to give me a surprised look.
"What did you say this program thing was again, Annie?" I ask hesitantly. I don't know what I look like, but judging from the thoughts going through my mind at the moment and the look on Annie's face I bet it's not really the way I normally look.
It can't be...
"Greendale Guidance? It's a program the Dean set up this year for us. We take in people from the street and give them a shot at having a real future. It's really inspiring. I met my student today."
I know what I want to ask, but the question is refusing to leave my mouth. Maybe it's because I'm a little afraid to know the answer. But the urge to find out for sure eventually wins out.
"N-name?"
Annie suddenly looks concerned. I don't blame her. I can feel my hands shaking, and I don't even want to know what my face looks like at the moment.
"Britta, are you alright?"
I recognize the voice as Troy's, which calms me down a little bit. I also realize that this isn't some therapy session between me and Annie. I'm suddenly very aware that the rest of the group is still here and they're probably really creeped out by me right now. So, I decide to recompose myself somewhat before addressing Annie again.
"What is his name, Annie?"
She still looks concerned, but I silently thank her for answering me anyway. I just need to know...
"Um...Donnie."
I feel my heart sink instantly.
Donnie...
That confirmed it. Even though I didn't get a last name, I knew. I knew it was him. I knew it was my Donnie. The only one that could ever understand who I really am. The only person who was there for me throughout the darkest parts of my life. The only part of my past that I didn't want to forget...
Donnie...my brother.
Suddenly, the study room feels too small. Everything feels too small. Before I can even ask my brain why, I'm running out of the library, totally ignoring the voices of my friends.
I don't even know where I'm going...just like back in the day.
