Ideals
Post-Celebrity Pharmacology
Luckily for the group, Britta wasn't as psycho about losing things as Annie, because Jeff knew good and well that they would never find her missing bra.
They put the study room back in order before heading out for their "cast party" at Peg Leg Pablo's, which they had chosen because Shirley was craving a virgin mudslide.
As they walked out into the night air, Jeff heard Annie's voice behind him. "I still have them, you know."
Stopping to let her catch up, he gave her a side glance and smirked, "What, your pills?"
"No!" she yelped, swatting his arm for good measure, "my ideals. I still have them."
He gave her a silent nod of acknowledgement.
"But," she continued, "I also have rent, and I let my fear of eviction override my common sense."
Jeff thought about his condo, and about the serious lack of square footage he was now dealing with. "I get that," he said, his tone considerably more gentle than it was earlier that evening. "But why didn't you ask one of us for help before you got desperate?"
Annie shrugged, "Because. I didn't want to look like a pathetic child who can't take of herself."
He knew all too well that the last thing she wanted to be seen as was a child. He briefly wondered just how much she worried about that image.
"So instead you let Pierce manipulate you?"
She glared at him out of the corners of her eyes. "Like I said, not one of my finer moments."
He laughed then, the absurdity of the day catching up to him. "Well, all's well that ends well, right? Hopefully we kept a few kids from getting on drugs, and we got to see Chang get his ass kicked by middle schoolers."
Though she giggled at the memory, Annie still seemed sad. "I really do hope we got through to them. I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone else."
Jeff turned his head to get a good look at her as she stared wistfully into the night sky. He sometimes forgot that she had been through hell and back. He sometimes took for granted how – despite her tiny frame – she was the strongest person he knew. He wanted to tell her that she was nowhere close to being a pathetic child who couldn't take care of herself.
Instead he said, "You did good, Annie." She turned to him, mouth open in surprise. He gave her a genuine smile. "You did really good."
She smiled back then, really smiled, and her face was as radiant as the moon. "Thanks," she replied simply.
When they reached the parking lot, they stopped mid-distance between his car, where Troy and Abed were already waiting, and Shirley's van. Jeff cocked his head to the side and nodded to the Lexus. "Virgin mudslides?" he asked by way of invitation.
Annie regarded him for a moment before giving him a small nod and moving toward the car. As she stepped by him she said, "Only if you're paying."
Jeff laughed and caught back up with her in one long stride. "I'll start a tab," he joked as they made their way under the stars.