Author's note: There's something about the holidays that makes me want to write fanfiction and romance. Maybe I developed the habit from high school and university, finishing exams and having downtime to just write what I want to write for once.
There is something undeniably enchanting about the possibility of finding love over the holidays so forgive me if I'm a bit cliché or sappy but I hope you find my story at least a little bit entertaining. You'll also have to forgive my little fangirl heart for obsessing over Annie and Abed, I see so much of my past relationships in them that I just might be vicariously reliving some good memories.
Troy neatly fold his clothes then shove the items haphazardly into a duffle bag as Annie and Abed sat on the top bunk inside the blanket fort watching. The two observers, perched like owls, followed his progress while he paced around trying to find matching socks to go with a dress shirt. Annie complimented the design and wondered out loud why he didn't wear it more often. Abed pointed over to the end table and noted "blue sock, behind lamp" like a game of 'I spy.'
Troy huffed, grabbed the sock and rolled it with its twin and tossed it into the bag, "It's not fair, guys." he said and looked up at his friends, "I have to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with my family, a bunch of people who don't even celebrate Christmas, while the two of you get to stay here and chill, play video games and watch movies together."
"We weren't really planning on hanging out and making a day of it, Troy." Annie noted.
"Come to think of it, not one out of the three of us actually celebrates the holidays." Abed said and paused, "But we can watch Kick-Puncher when you get back in two days."
"I'm counting down." Troy said, "Tonight, eight o'clock till nine a.m. the twenty-sixth."
Troy's cellphone buzzed from inside the duffle bag, he scrambled to find it, tossing a pair of pants and boxers on the floor. He put the phone to his ear and grimaced.
"Yeah, I'm ready" he said, annoyance laced his voice, "Yeah, yeah, I'll be right down." He hung up and bent over and picked up his clothes and, without bothering to fold either article, shoved them back into the bag.
Annie slid off the top bunk and stretched out her arms; Troy hugged her and then held out an arm for Abed to join. Abed dropped down from his bed and hugged his friends.
"Merry Christmas, Troy." Annie said; her voice muffled between the boy's chests.
"Thanks, Annie." he said and gave them a brief smile, "Have a good day tomorrow, ok?"
The trio let go and Abed followed Troy to the door where they said their finale goodbyes with their handshake.
Abed turned to Annie who stood at the entrance of the blanket fort, she tilted her head and both just looked at each other silently for a moment. Abed counted five seconds before an awkward 'umm' escaped her lips, "D'you want t-"
Her holiday themed ringtone sounded off in her pocket. Annie reached in her paisley patterned skirt and answered her phone.
"Hi Jeff," she said and a large smile broke out over her face, "Yeah, we're not doing anything."
Annie looked up, covering her phone and whispered to Abed, "Jeff and Britta- go downtown for a nightcap?"
Abed stared, blinked, and then nodded his approval.
Annie hung up with Jeff and excitedly bounded over to Abed and gave him the details. He looked over her face; her big blue eyes lit up with the prospects of a Christmas Eve out on the town.
"You should dress up." he said suddenly.
Annie paused and the suggestion filled her with a vibrant energy. She looked up at Abed and gave a bursting smile, "That's a fantastic idea, Abed! Will you dress up too?"
"Yeah-"he said, "I can do that."