Candy Coloured Pills

Category: Angst/Drama

Pairing: Annie/other, Annie/Jeff

Summary: Jeff discovers Annie's new boyfriend has an addiction... to adderall.

Warnings: mentions of drug addiction

Disclaimer: own nuda, zip! :)

Authors Notes: Had fun trying to incorporate humour with drama in the later chapters, hoping it worked ok ;) Also this is set somewhere around late season four-ish.

Jeff swaggered down the corridor completely unfazed by his tardiness, attention glued to the screen of his phone... until something in his peripheral urged him to stop.

He'd come to know the feeling as his 'seventh sense', the one that kicked in whilst he was texting to alert him to danger. It was something undoubtedly unique to younger generations and could even be their next stage in evolution. He wondered if he could coin that? Maybe go one better and sell it to the science department?

Nah way too much effort... he decided, glancing up and coming to a dramatic standstill as his eyes landed on the activity outside the library. Annie was engaged in a tentative kiss with her 'new friend' and judging by her adamant deceleration yesterday -that nothing was going on- it was probably their first.

Something tightened in his chest.

What if this was where it started? One kiss then they would grow disgustingly fond of each other; holding hands, going on dates, becoming best friends... why the hell didn't they just get engaged already?

The thought soured in his mind reverberating loudly and mocking him, 'did you really think she'd wait forever' and his new personal favourite, 'that's right you had your chance and you blew it'.

He could see his alter ego from the dark timeline leering beside the couple, grinning and laughing evilly-

Wait, what?

He shook his head clearing the image.

Now he really was just being ridiculous. She was allowed to see other people, in fact he was glad. No more worrying about her misinterpreting a glance or platonic touch. All that free time could go towards something far more productive... like trying to beat his top score in Jewel.

Yep, he was totally fine with her having a boyfriend.

So long as he wasn't a jerk... or a home economics student, or a footballer... or in drama, poetry or pottery class... or-

Crap.

Community college students had a lot of potentially unredeemable qualities and he inwardly groaned knowing he had an obligation to make sure this guy wasn't a crazy psychopath or worse, heaven forbid some sort of hipster.

He was going to have to get his hands dirty but that was ok, once he made certain this guy was legit then they could date until the cows came home. Hell they could get married on the farm for all he cared.

They parted suddenly and his attention diverted back to his phone, thumbing through the contacts as he kick-started his swagger.

He was after one in particular -Jordy 'Joardster' Patterson- a nerd he'd met during the chicken mafia fiasco. He'd claimed to have a wealth of gossip to trade for tendons and he'd looked the sort too. Abed had refused him on the grounds that he was a snitch with no regard for personal hygiene but if you could get passed the smell there was definite potential for value.

Right now he intended to utilise that value to its fullest.

Nearing the door to the library he heard the others making 'awwww' and 'that's so cute' references which he quickly pounced on as he announced himself, "you guys see that video of the basset hound and the rabbit too? I gotta admit, till all that blood the rabbit was winning in the cute stakes."

"You know that's a violation of-"

"Actually Jeff-" Shirley cut off Britta's protest before it could escalate and smiled sweetly, "we were talking about Annie and her new boyfriend."

"Would that be 'there's-nothing-going-on-Rory' by any chance?" He dropped his books loudly on the table, willing himself not to look across at Annie as he took his seat. He didn't need to see her glassy expression and flushed features, her pink lips daring him to object.

He wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.

"I'm sure he's a great guy and you'll both be very happy together..." he stated almost convincingly, "providing you're in the two percent of couples who actually stay together once college finishes and the real world doesn't tear you apart limb from limb."

Ok, yes he was a bastard... he just couldn't help himself.

Britta glared at him from across the table while Abed quickly interjected with the facts. "It actually averages at around three point six percent and couples who have children make up fifty-eight percent of those relationships that fail." He straightened his notebook, glancing up at Annie, "you should use protection to increase your chances."

She made a high-pitched noise that caught in her throat and to her surprise it was Britta that jumped to her defence.

"Don't listen to them, Jeff is just being an ass." She kicked him forcefully under the table ignoring his protest as she smiled reassuringly at Annie, "if you like Rory then there's no reason it won't last."

Of course she was lying through her teeth but one too many trips to the girls bathroom had taught her that when it came to Annie and dating advice the only way to ensure it didn't end in tears was by agreeing with everything that was said.

No matter how ridiculous or lacking in principals it was.

"Thank you Britta." Annie smiled, feeling a little more at ease as she opened her study book.

She really liked Rory and she was done putting her life on hold waiting for Jeff. Even if he was almost acting like he was jealous it was time to move on and find something real to make her happy, something that wasn't a blown up candy coloured crush on an older man.

Rory was exactly what she needed.

And she was determined to squash that tiny little voice that said otherwise.