After almost a year of living with Troy and Abed, Annie was used to hearing the Inspector Spacetime theme song blaring through the apartment into her bedroom. It became a routine in the Barnes-Nadir-Edison household. Every now and again she found herself humming along.
After Britta moved into the old dreamatorium, the boys started watching in their blanket fort (for the sake of Britta's countless documentaries and news stories about whatever crisis was going on in whatever country, typical.) Annie knew not to disrupt the boys and their favorite TV-show, but from time to time she couldn't help herself and pulled back the makeshift door to peek in on them. It's not like they ever noticed, so what was the harm in it?
It was nearing the end of Annie's usual study session when she heard the familiar tune of the song beginning. The corners of her mouth turned up into a tiny smile and without another thought, she closed her Political Science text book and hopped off her bed. Other than the theme song (which sometimes shook the walls, depending on the importance of the episode,) the entire apartment seemed silent. Annie wasn't suspicious in the least bit, she simply assumed Britta was out or alone in her bedroom working on some sort of psychology paper or reading 1984 for the millionth time. However, when Annie quietly poked her head inside the blanket fort, her smile fell and she had to fight off a gasp.
Abed, who was usually grinning from ear to ear next to his best friend in the world while he watched the show, was completely alone with a blank face, staring at the screen like he didn't care about the program in front of him at all.
Annie gawked at him. It was the most unusual thing in the world to her, until it clicked in her mind.
Britta and Troy.
She had noticed them hanging out around the apartment more and more, she suspected a relationship would happen eventually regardless, but Troy ditching Abed and Inspector Spacetime? It was ridiculous. And a little bit sad.
The next time she heard the song, three days later to be exact, Annie peeked in again. She hoped Abed watching alone was merely a one-time thing, but once again, Britta's door was closed and Troy was nowhere to be found. Annie continued this routine and even started checking in on the blanket fort when the song wasn't playing through the apartment. Every single time, Abed was alone.
Annie sat in bed on one Friday evening, waiting patiently for the theme song to begin. She felt so terrible for Abed; she needed desperately to do something for him. So tonight, instead of just peeking into the blanket fort, Annie walked in and sat down next to him, her delicate hands shaking slightly.
"Annie, what are you doing?" Abed's robotic voice had a twinge of surprise. It sounded almost accusatory. Abed obviously had no idea how intimidating he could be sometimes. Especially when it came to Annie.
She straightened her skirt and looked up at the screen. The X-7 Dimensionizer was landing in an odd looking planet and the Inspector stepped out in his usual curious fashion; Constable Reggie following suit. "I—um, wanted to watch Inspector Spacetime with you… Is that okay?" Annie was surprised by the tone of her voice. She was nervous? Around Abed?This had honestly never happened to her before, well... not for a while, at least.
Abed glanced over at her, scanning her face in a way that made her heart beat even faster. Annie gulped in anticipation and wiped her clammy palms on her thighs, pondering why in the hell she was so nervous around him. Her mind flickered to the past- to a place she tried not to wander. The paintball game more than a year ago, when Abed pretended to be Han Solo, and the crush Annie had on him that lasted a good portion of that following summer. One of the many times he dressed up as Batman and the mere caress of her cheek that made her nearly melt on the spot. His Don Draper impression and how Annie always cursed Shirley for stopping him before their lips could touch.
This wasn't like those times, though. Before, Abed was never actually being Abed. Now he was, and Annie was feeling the exact same way; reduced to a puddle of goo from just one glance. How was that even possible?
It seemed like a lifetime before Abed answered her. "I don't know… Maybe some other time." His voice was cold and Annie's chest and stomach tightened into a large knot—which she tried to pretend didn't happen just seconds later.
She could feel her so-called Disney face start to appear. "O-oh… alright then…" Annie managed a small smile and avoided eye contact when she sat up, straightened her skirt and walked off before Abed could notice the small tears forming in her deep blue eyes. He could be harsh, and who knew what he'd say if he saw that.
Just as Annie's hand pulled the blanket fort door open, Abed spoke again. "Wait, Annie…" he called after her. Annie's face lit up with hope and she swung around. "… I guess you could stay. For a bit." Abed's face softened and he smiled at her. Which for some odd reason, made Annie's heart melt. But she'd never, ever admit that.