a/n: First Community fic! Anyway, I don't own Community.
Synopsis: Annie moves to Boston for Graduate School before Jeff can tell her how he feels. A month later, he decides to go to Boston and tell her. Abed tags along to film it with hopes that Jeff will use a Grand Romantic Gesture. However, things become complicated when they discover she's dating another guy. Chronicles Jeff's many attempts at the perfect Grand Romantic gesture to tell Annie how he feels and many homages/references to movies/shows set in Boston.
This chapter is more of an Introduction/Prologue.
Jeff stopped staring at the empty suitcase on his bed. He got up and packed five dress shirts in various colors and then folded three pairs of pants. As he sifted through his dresser drawers, he selected five t-shirts; three black and two white. He didn't think this would be a long trip. What he needed to say should have been said a month ago. Now, he needed to tell her. He was going to do something he never thought he would do for any woman. He was going to go to her.
He needed toiletries. He rummaged through his bathroom cabinet and packed the essentials; hair gel, moisturizer, deodorant, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. He threw them into one of the side pockets of his suitcase. He took five pairs of underwear out of his drawer and placed them next to his pants. He shoved some pairs of socks into the netted pocket. He was done. This was it.
He ran over to his computer and printed out the airline ticket. Denver to Boston at three PM. He folded the ticket neatly and placed the crisp, computer paper into the back pocket of his Dior Hommes.
It was summer. He wouldn't need a jacket. He locked the door to his condo and turned around.
"Why, Jeffrey!" the Dean faced him with a smug, but vehement smile. He took a couple steps closer, holding a grocery bag, "Funny seeing you here."
"Do you mean it's funny that by some, 'twist of fate,' we unfortunately live next door to each other? Because it's not," Jeff said.
"Taking a trip?" the Dean asked.
"Yes," Jeff said before walking past the Dean, down the hallway.
"Can I come with?" the Dean asked, shrugging. He motioned his hips side to side, "You know? Guys' getaway?"
Jeff looked back and said, "No, and do not even begin to describe to me what a 'guys' getaway,' is," and continued walking down the hallway.
"Where to?" the Dean asked.
"Nowhere," Jeff said, not turning back. His grip on the handle of the suitcase tightened.
The Dean would probably just hack into Jeff's e-mail later and find out where. Jeff changing his password every week didn't stop him.
Jeff waited outside for the cab. He checked his Movado watch for the time. Take off was at three and it was a four hour plane ride. He added in an extra hour for time difference. He concluded, he would get there by eight.
The cab pulled up, causing Jeff's face to contort from an expression of indifference to one of vexation. The lines on his forehead became more distinguished and he resisted from kicking his suitcase. "What the hell are you doing here?" Jeff asked. His teeth clenched together.
In the cab, Abed had a camera resting on his shoulder. He said, "I'm coming with you."
Jeff's arms motioned like a baseball referee and he said, "No, no, no. You are not making a documentary about this. In fact, how the hell did you even find out about this?"
"Shirley," Abed said, expressionless. "Also, I wouldn't exactly call this a documentary. Maybe a participatory documentary or a reflexive documentary because I'll probably end up getting too involved. Much like in Man with a Movie Camera or Chronicle of a Summer."
Jeff threw his bag into the trunk of the cab. He sat besides Abed in the backseat. First he glared into the camera and then looked ahead. He said to the driver, "Please, take him home on the way to the airport."
"Jeff?" Abed asked, "Do you have a plan?"
The sound of the camera zooming buzzed through Jeff's ears.
"What do you mean?" Jeff said. He tipped his head at Abed.
"When you go tell Annie you love her. Do you have a plan? A Grand Romantic Gesture? Do you know how long you'll stay in Boston?"
"No, no, and no," Jeff said. His lips tightened into a scowl.
"Have you spoken to Annie since she's moved there for Graduate School?" Abed asked. The camera lens droned, indicating Abed zooming out.
Jeff shook his head and closed his eyes. He said, "No," before burying his face in his hands.
"Do you even know where she lives?"
"No, I don't, Abed, even though she gave all of us her address before moving a month ago," Jeff said sarcastically, "that would just make too much sense."
"Do you know that she's moved?"
"What? Why did she move?" Jeff said. His eyes widened with concern.
"She had a temporary sublet," Abed said candidly.
"So, she lives somewhere else now?" Jeff asked. His eyebrows rose and he looked at Abed with intense anticipation.
Abed nodded and said, "I have her address right here." Without taking his eyes off the viewfinder, Abed reached into his jean pocket and pulled out a folded, yellow piece of paper.
Jeff reached for the paper, but Abed pulled it away.
Abed tilted his head at him, "Take me with you, Jeff. You're going to need me. You can't do this by yourself and you might need my help. Also, my plane ticket is non-refundable."
"What kind of help am I going to need?" Jeff asked. His eyes narrowed like he was questioning a used car salesman. He had a feeling Abed knew something he didn't.
"What if some kind of conflict arises? What if things go awry? Jeff, you don't even have a plan. It's not like you can just knock on her door."
"And why, exactly, can I not just knock on her door?" Jeff asked with indifference.
"It's not romantic. It has no appeal to. It's-"
"Abed, I'm just going to knock on her door," Jeff said, then sighed for a minute and winced. He added with reluctance, "You can film that if you want, but it's only because your plane ticket is non-refundable."
"Deal," Abed said.
After the plane ride, Abed and Jeff arrived at the Logan Airport baggage claim. Jeff stood next to the conveyor belt, texting on his phone. Abed found his bag on the belt and immediately took out his camera.
"Jeff, who are you texting?" Abed asked him. The camera buzzed as he zoomed in on Jeff.
"It's not that of your concern," Jeff said. His eyes focused on the screen of his Blackberry, "Can't you disable the zoom sound on that thing?"
"I like the effect the sound adds. Who you're texting might be of my concern. Does it have to do with a Grand Romantic Gesture for Annie?"
Jeff looked up. He said with nonchalance, "No." He spotted his suitcase on the conveyor belt and grabbed it.
As they walked to the airport shuttle, Abed asked him, "How do you feel, Jeff?" The camera hummed as Abed zoomed in on Jeff's face.
"Nervous," Jeff simply stated.
"Are you going right to Annie's apartment or are you checking into a hotel first?"
"I'm going right to Annie's apartment."
"You do know you have to take the subway and then transfer to a streetcar?"
"Yes, Abed. I'm aware of how public transit works."
"You do know it's going to take a couple hours to get there?"
"Is this you not so subtly implying you want me to take a cab?"
"I don't know? It's your choice," Abed said.
They got onto the shuttle bus that would take them to the Airport T-Station. Jeff sat down on one of the hard, plastic seats and looked at the yellow piece of paper in his hands. "I want to take the streetcar," he said, "I need more time to think."
They waited at the Blue Line Subway T-station and got onto the subway.
Abed turned to Jeff and asked, "Do you know what would be awesome?"
"No, Abed. What?"
"If you happened to meet Annie on-"
"Does this have to do with a movie?" Jeff interrupted.
"Yeah, it's-"
"I don't want to know. This is real life and I don't need these unrealistic, romantic comedy moments of realization being referenced every five minutes."
"Okay," Abed said, "But-"
"But nothing. You should be happy that I'm letting you film this," Jeff said.
They got off of the subway and transferred to the Green Line streetcar station. Jeff stared at the public transit map.
"You want to take the 'C,' branch," Abed said from behind Jeff's back.
"I know, Abed. I was just looking," Jeff said. He sighed and ruffled one of his hands through his hair.
The street car arrived. Jeff sat down on one of the seats. Abed sat across from him and focused the camera.
"Do you know what you're going to say to her?" Abed asked.
"I'm still not sure," Jeff said as he looked at the doors open. Hoards of Red Sox fans poured into their car.
"Will there be an epic Winger speech declaring your love for her?"
"I'm working on something," Jeff said before he got elbowed in the head by one of the Red Sox fans. He glared at the fan who elbowed him and then at Abed. Jeff asked, "Are you going to be asking me annoying questions the entire time?
"Maybe not the entire time. It all depends on what happens."
Jeff and Abed got off at the T-stop. Jeff looked at his phone and typed in Annie's address on the GPS. They walked on the treelined streets past old, brick brownstones.
"So, care to provide some backstory?" Abed asked. He focused the camera on Jeff.
"Backstory?" Jeff questioned. As he walked, he looked at himself in the glass window of a Dunkin' Donuts.
"For the viewer. About you and Annie and what happened," Abed said.
"I am not providing a 'backstory.'"
"What about the context? Shouldn't the audience know about what happened-"
"Please, drop the question," Jeff said. He looked to his right and asked, "Is it me or is this the third Dunkin' Donuts we've been by in the past four blocks?"
"Jeff, are you still nervous? Do you think the last conversation you had with Annie is a significant reason for your apprehension?"
"Abed, I told you to stop asking me questions."
Suddenly, Jeff saw a petite, brunette woman and a tall man in his twenties leave one of the stores in front of him and Abed.
"I'm just trying to inform the audie-"
"Shit," Jeff interrupted. He grabbed Abed by the arm and dragged him into an ally.
Jeff peeked over the side of the wall and observed the couple walking down the street. Their hands were linked together.
Abed peeked over the wall below Jeff and said, "It's Annie."
"Are you sure?" Jeff whispered. His eyes were still fixed on the couple walking down the street.
"The woman is about five-two. She wears a floral skirt, cardigan sweater and Mary Jane shoes. She's walks as if attempting to feign an easy going nature. Her shoulders displaying the perfect posture of-"
"Is she holding hands with a guy?" Jeff asked. His eyes became wide. His mouth started to feel dry.
"It doesn't appear to be a woman. So, yes," Abed said flatly.
"Oh, this is just the perfect time for a joke, Abed. And a lame one too, I might add."
"Sorry, I was trying to lighten the situation. It's my job as the supporting character."
"Well, don't," Jeff said. His voice became stressed as he complained, "She's been been here only a month and she already has a boyfriend? She was at Greendale for four years and the only guy I can remember her having anything serious with was Vaughn."
"The population of Boston's median age is late twenties. For Greendale it's the early fifties."
"What are you implying?"
"Annie's dating pool is larger here," Abed said. After a pause, he added, "Let's follow them."
"What if she sees us? How the hell to we explain-" Jeff shook his head and pointed at the camera, "this...And everything...You know, us being here like total stalkers. She's going to think I'm like Jude Law in Closer."
"If we play it right, she could think of you like Lloyd Dobler. You know, you could put on an impromptu Grand Romantic-"
"No, Abed. This isn't a romantic comedy from the eighties," Jeff interrupted.
"Anyway, I think she is too absorbed with other things to be worried about what's behind her," Abed said. He left the ally and started to follow Annie and the man she held hands with down Beacon Street.
"Well, I would be concerned if some schizoid with a camera was following me," Jeff said. He sighed, closing his eyes and tilting his head back. With reluctance, he followed Abed.
They followed the woman they believed to be Annie and the man holding her hand from a distance. When they saw them go into an apartment, Jeff and Abed stopped walking and stood across the street from the brownstone. Jeff looked at the yellow piece of paper in his hands. He shook his head, then crumpled it as his hand transformed into a fist.
"It's Annie," Jeff said. His eyes focused on the window of her building where a light just turned on.
"What are you going to do?" Abed asked. He pointed his camera towards Jeff, shining the light attached to it in Jeff's eyes.
Jeff squinted from the luminescence of the mountable camera light and asked, "How the hell do you afford all this camera equipment?"
"It's not important. What's important is what you're going to do," Abed said.
Jeff turned his face away from the camera light and said, "We're waiting."
"For what?" Abed asked.
"For one of them to come out," Jeff said.
After waiting a while, drunken college students began to roam the streets.
"Jeff, its one-thirty. Let's catch the next street-car back to the center of the city before they close public transit."
"I want to wait, Abed. We can take a cab back, if we need to," Jeff said, "I need to figure out what's going on before I talk to her."
"It may be the end of June and only sixty degrees out, but maybe we should go back to the center of the city, where Annie wont see us, get a hotel room and reconvene for tomorrow?"
"Fine" Jeff sighed.
Just when they were about to leave, the man Annie was with left her apartment.
"Follow him!" Jeff whispered to Abed.
"I think this may have officially become stalking," Abed said.
"Just, come on," Jeff said. He walked away.
They followed him to the nearest Green Line T-station. They saw him wait for a train and followed him into the car.
The man wore tan cargo shorts and a Ralph Lauren polo. Jeff tried to avoid looking at him from the corner of his eye. Abed set his camera down in the seat across from the man, pretending to not film what was happening.
The man's phone rang and he answered it, "Hey, man...No way! Dude, really? No way! ...It was great...Yeah, she's wicked awesome...No, not yet...Yeah, she's kind of conservative...Obviously eventually...Tomorrow? No, I can't. I'm taking her to a Red Sox's game...Later?...Maybe later, I guess. I'll see...I gotta go, its my stop...Alright, see yah."
Jeff sat in his seat. His eyes filled with anger while Abed held him back, gripping his arm. Jeff's arms were folded and his lips compressed to a pout.
At the next stop, the man exited the train car.
Abed picked up his camera from the seat next to him and focused it on Jeff. He asked, "What now?"
Jeff turned to him, looking directly into the camera, and said, "Abed, get ready to film a Grand Romantic Gesture."
