Prompt by eurydice180: 3) Annie isn't aware that she's actually on a date with Jeff.

Word Count: 1108

It's summer time, finally, and even though they're all taking courses to make up for the credits they lost during their brief (long, very long) expulsion, it's hard not to be happy. No, the Dean hadn't been able to magically grant them their lost credits (and he'd worn a magician's assistant outfit when he broke the news, so) but they're heading into their final year, it's sunny and bright out, and the group is finally fine. Really, Annie thinks, there's very little to complain about. So it's not really a surprise when Jeff catches up with her after classes one day and asks if she wants to grab coffee, maybe do an early dinner for no particular reason. They hang out, just the two of them, every so often and if it's a particularly gorgeous Friday? Dinner between friends isn't a crime.


They're at a tiny hole in the wall restaurant off of Bronson and Annie can't help but smile. Jeff is stubbled and smiling and even if she's not in love with him ('wanting to be loved is not the same as being in love!' Annie whisper-shouts at Annie-in-her-head), it's her involuntary reaction to smile back. Some people just inspire that kind of automatic behaviour, their smile so brilliant and engaging that you don't stop to think, the return grin you send their way instinctive. For Annie, Jeff is one of those people. He's her friend, he's movie star handsome, and she knows (boy, does she know) just how awesome he is. She's sitting there, smiling back at him, when the server bustles over to deliver their drinks and take their order.

"Have you decided yet?" The waiter's smile is patient and friendly.

"Grilled seafood with tabbouleh, please." Jeff's response is quick and Annie, desperately scanning the menu, looks up abashedly as he finishes.

"I can't decide between the brisket or the scallops and lobster." She's looking at Jeff, hoping he'll help her decide when the server cuts in, suggesting the scallops and lobster which, he mentions, is his favourite dish on the menu. Annie is certain he'd be offended if she went with the brisket so she agrees that it sounds good and he's on his way. Jeff is studying with that affectionate look he seems to reserve for quiet moments when she shifts her attention back to him.

"Did you decide on his 'favourite' because you thought it would hurt his feelings or because he looks like Justin Bieber?" His tone is teasing but Annie feels like there's an accusation in the joke so she raises an eyebrow at him before she deigns to reply.

"First off, he doesn't look like Justin Bieber, Jeff. Our waiter is much cuter than him." She pauses to make a face at him, letting Jeff know that she thinks he's a doofus. Then straightens her spine, folds her hands in her lap and eyes him haughtily. "Besides, what if he spit in my brisket? I'd never know! And I'd be getting his germs. We have finals coming up, Jeff! Finals." She makes her voice as grave as she can but it's a struggle because Jeff is laughing and she can't properly convey gravitas when that's happening.

"You'll have to share, you know." He says it as a statement. "It wouldn't be fair to me if I had to deal with your garlic-breath while mine was minty-fresh." Annie rolls her eyes and agrees because, really, they always seem to end up sharing anyway.


The cheque comes and Annie is pulling out her wallet when Jeff waves her hand away.

"Jeff, c'mon, I can afford dinner. I promise."

"I invited you to dinner, Annie, so I pay. It's the unwritten rule."

"You drove, too, Jeff. Would you at least let me treat you to dessert? Please?" Jeff has finished paying and, as they're stepping out of the restaurant into the evening air, Annie shivers just slightly. The restaurant had been air-conditioned so she knows it's not because she's cold. No, there's something tingling at the base of her spine, hair standing on end.

"No can do. Rules are rules, Annie. I asked you out, so I'm paying." Jeff's arm is around her shoulder and he had tucked her closer to his side as they walked through the parking lot to his car but that doesn't stop Annie from halting abruptly when she finally processes his words a minute later.

"You asked me out." Her voice is completely even. Mostly because she's not sure if she meant it as a question or not. She gets an answer, whether she wanted one or not, when she watches Jeff's face and sees the exact moment he realizes that they've been experiencing the same dinner in two completely different ways.

"Fuck."


They're sitting in a café on Bank, well known for its desserts. Jeff is staring into his coffee while Annie restlessly stirs her latte. They haven't been silent the entire time but Annie is now reassessing their entire date and she's realizing that, okay, maybe it wasn't totally obvious but, yeah, this was a date. Except. She didn't know it.

"Doesn't the law require action and intent?" The question bursts out of her without thought but it breaks the silence and so she doesn't regret it.

"It does." Jeff is nodding as he speaks. "If intent isn't present but the action is what it is, it's possible to plead down. Murder versus manslaughter – someone was killed but the accused isn't as responsible, so to speak."

"Well. If it pleases the court." Annie's mind is only barely forming thoughts ahead of her mouth forming words. "The defendant lacked intent as she was unaware of the nature of the outing. She can't really be held liable. But she was there, she enjoyed it," Annie peeks up at Jeff through her lashes, "And she would do it again, at a later date, if the opportunity were to present itself." The expression of Jeff's face has gone from troubled to pleased and, if Annie isn't mistaken, kind of turned on.

"The onus was on the prosecution to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the, uh, defendant went on the outing with full knowledge but clearly, the prosecution is a terrible lawyer. He went about this all wrong." Jeff stops for a moment. "You do know this entire…" He waves his hand between them. "Thing makes no sense, right? Because technically, I'm in the wrong, so it's a flawed-" Annie cuts him off by leaning across the table and kissing him.

"I don't kiss on the first date, Jeff. So this must not count."