DISCLAIMER: I don't own Community, or anything else, except the plot.

„Did you see Troy's message? " Abed asked, sitting next to the kitchen counter, eating his favourite cereal. „He says that he'll be home for Christmas!" Annie could see that he was exited, even though it was hidden under thick layer of blankness.

"Yeah, I only just saw it. It's great news!" Annie grabbed a bowl from the cupboard, filled it full-grain cereal and milk. "It's been so long since he left. I have to start planning a "welcome-home" party, there isn't that much time left, and it has to be perfect, and..."

"Annie! Troy won't arrive next weekend, there will be three months before he comes home; you'll have enough time to plan. Although I admit, it is nice to have a Christmas special again, since we missed last year's."

"Real life doesn't have Christmas specials; we don't live in a TV show," Annie scolded, trying her best to hide a smile. She hadn't seen him so happy since the day Troy had decided to leave. "So anyways, have you made up your mind? Are you going to the "Downton dance" today?"

"I have to. I made a bet on which costume the dean is going to wear. I have 20 bucks on Lady Mary," explained Abed with a smirk.

"Me too!" exclaimed Annie, "Well, I mean, I have 5 dollars in, but also on Mary. So what costume have you planned? I decided to go as Lady Sybil, because, you know, she was the best."

"Oh, I don't have a character based outfit; I just planned to wear my gray suit." Abed crabbed his bowl and walked to the sink.

Annie looked at her roommate suspiciously.

"Really? You, out of all people, are not going to be in character?"

"Okay, you caught me. I was planning to go as Branson, but since you are going as his wife, I thought it would weird."

"Oh, no, you don't have to change your plans because of me. Besides, there will probably be tens of Sybils and Toms there, so it's not that big of a deal."

"Well, if you say so."

Annie was running down the corridor, realising that she was hopelessly late to her first class of the day. Sure, it was Law 201, taught by Professor Winger himself, but it didn't give her an excuse to skip a class. If anything, it only made her even more obligated to be there –she knew Jeff well enough to know that if the one person who actually learns in his class wouldn't show up, he'd probably dismiss the class and just spend the free time in his office, drinking whiskey and surfing online.

She stepped into the classroom, half expecting it to be empty. Much to her surprise, it was not only filled with students, but there was an actual lecture going on.

"Ah, miss Edison, nice of you to join us," mocked Jeff. "I was just telling the class about "The Case of Murdered Yam."

Annie sighted and slouched on the closest chair. For a moment there she had hoped that maybe she'll learn something from her professor, but as usually, his lecture was pointless. She had been there for the yam case, and it wasn't that big of the deal. Jeff was probably just trying to impress everyone on how he managed to get a better grade with minimal work.

She grabbed a book from her backpack and started to prepare for her criminology class. There was going be a quiz, and a little revision never hurt. She lost the track of time and before she realised...

"And you're dismissed. Read chapter five for next week."

Annie was packing up her stuff when Jeff asked her to come to his table.

"What is it? I have the next class in 20 minutes and it's in the other end of campus."

"Why were you late today? You are never late," Jeff demanded with an angry face.

Annie blushed as she tried to find the right words.

"I had a doctor's appointment that took longer than I expected. And I had to pick up the costume for tonight and then I realised that I forgot my pencil case home, so I had to go back for that, and then Abed asked me to wait for him, since our first classes started at the same time, and then I had to explain to him why he's not allowed to park next to the water hydrant, and then I realised that I was already late, so I started running, and..."

"Okay, Annie, slow down. Stop rambling. It's okay, really, I was just messing with you," Jeff smiled. "You really need to be a bit more loosened up."

"Oh, speaking of being loose, Troy sent a message this morning, saying that he'll be home for Christmas! Isn't that wonderful?"

"It's the best! I hate to admit it, but I kind of miss that guy. How did Abed react?"

"He was thrilled, you know, in his own way. " Annie smiled. "He hummed daybreak all morning, so I guess that he is euphoric." Annie's eyes stopped on the clock that hanged on the wall. "I really need to run now, but I'll see you at the dance, right?" She ran out of the classroom, not waiting for Jeff's answer.

Abed was putting books to his locker after his last lesson, when he felt his phone buzz. Let's give this bad boy a read, he thought absentmindedly. Hey Abed, I'm going Greendale this weekend. I have some things that I need to talk through with you. Rachel

Abed felt a cold grasp around his heart. It was finally happening. She was going to break up with him. It wasn't surprising; he had known that this was going to happen from the day Rachel told him she was going to move. That didn't change the fact that it still hurt.

Cool. Cool cool cool. Abed's reply was short, not giving away anything. He stuffed the phone back to his pocket, wondering whether to ask Britta for a session, but decided not to bother her. Besides, it was time to go home and get changed, and he didn't want Rachel's message to shadow is evening.