*This one is a bit longer than usual, but it shows dinnertime at three different apartments with three very different couples. Abed's is the shortest, but for good reason. They just say what they mean! Enjoy :)
Chapter 20 – The Importance of a Three-Course Meal
Jeff and Annie walked into his apartment after a long first day and he collapsed on the couch. Annie looked over at him and let out a subtle laugh. "Rough day?"
"You could say that."
"Aside from the roof collapsing, I didn't think it was all that bad. Then again, I had my first 'Ladders' class today, so that helped. Did you know there are thirteen different types of ladders?"
"Very useful information for everyday life." Jeff's reply was extra snarky, which caught her attention.
"Hey, what's going on?" She sounded concerned and took a seat next to him on the couch.
"It's nothing." She placed her fingertips on his chin and turned him to look at her.
"Jeff, you can talk to me." He let out a sigh.
"I'm afraid of being stuck here. Being a teacher at Greendale and wasting the part of my life when I'm not a liar and a fraud. I finally have my personal life mostly straightened out and yet my career is…pointless."
"Your career is not pointless. Greendale is special. It did so much for all of us and made us better people. Did we receive good educations? Absolutely not, but that doesn't mean we didn't learn anything. You were a great lawyer before. A shitty person maybe, but a great lawyer." This finally made Jeff crack a smile. "You can be a great law teacher, too. Your heart just has to be in it."
"I just can't get past the fact that eventually everyone I know and love is going to leave here for bigger and better things…and this is it for me."
"I'll tell you something my mom would always tell me when I would get discouraged: 'Buck up, little girl. Life is an endless series of disappointment.'"
"What the fuck. Who says that to their kid?" Annie shook her head and laughed, but he could tell that her mom had done some serious damage. "So, when do I get to meet this delight of a person?" Annie began nervous laughing and finger-combing her hair.
"Oh, yeah. We really don't talk anymore since I went to rehab, but that's fine."
"You haven't talked to her in five years? What about your dad?"
"They divorced when I was in middle school and his visits kind of just dwindled over the years." Jeff looked at Annie, confused by how someone with this much pain was able to keep it so together all of the time.
"Annie, that's horrible. I'm so sorry."
"That's why I never really gave you any shit about your relationship with your dad. I get it. Home life isn't always rainbows and unicorns." Her demeanor quickly switched from sympathetic to typical, driven Annie. "As for teaching, maybe cool it with drinking at work for a bit. I could even help you come up with a lesson plan."
"Let's pump the brakes."
Annie rolled her eyes. "I didn't say stop drinking, just not while you're on the clock."
"Not that, though I finally figured out a way to keep ice in my desk. I meant let's go back to your parents."
"Why? There's nothing to talk about."
"You don't want to see them? At least get some closure? Britta helped me with my dad and I didn't think I needed it until I finally got it."
Annie was dismissive of the topic and was trying very hard to stay upbeat and change the subject. "I'm fine, really. You didn't even know I had issues until I told you, that's how fine I am. Besides, you guys are all the family I need." She got up and headed into the kitchen, opening various cabinets to look busy. "What do you want to do for dinner? Jeez, we really need to go to the grocery store."
Jeff looked over at her, trying desperately to keep her mind occupied with anything else. How is she able to stay so perky? My dad destroyed me and I barely even knew him. Not wanting her to suffer alone, he walked into the kitchen and lifted her up to his level to kiss her. As he placed her back down, she was blushing.
"What was that for?", she asked while giggling.
"Because I love you and every little thing about you." She hugged him and he wrapped his arms around her tiny frame. For once, he didn't feel like the one who needed saving.
Britta was on the couch typing up a Psych paper when Duncan came home. She turned around and smiled when she saw him.
"Hey! How was the rest of your day?" Her question made him melt a little. After years of self-sabotage, he finally got a glimpse at what a normal life could look like and it looked good. He dropped his bag on a chair and plopped down next to her on the couch.
"Intro was brutal. I've never seen such a collection of random people in my entire life. Half of them aren't even Psychology majors." He tossed his glasses onto the coffee table, leaned back and rubbed his eyes.
"Yeah, did you see that one kid in History of Psych? The one with the paper crown? Wait, is he part of the class, like a lesson on human behavior or something?"
"No, he's just a freak wearing a paper crown." Duncan smiled and put his glasses back on as he watched her laugh and admired how it made her even more beautiful. As her laughter subsided, she looked back at him and mirrored his gaze. Suddenly, the world was silent. The sound of his leaky sink had vanished.
"Britta, I…I should order us some dinner. What would you like?" And just like that, he snapped out of it and began frantically searching through his phone for takeout ideas. Britta kept her gaze on him.
"Ian?" He finally stopped fiddling with his phone and looked back at her. "You don't have to do that." Confused by her comment, he pointed at his phone.
"But, I was just ordering. Are you not hungry?" She gently took his phone from his hand and placed it on the coffee table.
"Do you like me?" He nervously laughed and attempted a response.
"Of course, Britta. You're a great student and my friend."
"You know that's not what I meant. I know you would say creepy, flirty things but anyone can do that. Do you legitimately like me? Like, as a person?" Duncan took a moment to collect his thoughts before begrudgingly speaking.
"When I first met you, my immediate thought was that you were extremely attractive. That's all I had to go on for quite some time. I'd hear about you from Jeff, but I never really got the full picture. It wasn't until last year when we actually started spending time together with the group that I learned about your complexities. You're passionate about your beliefs, you care about your friends, you pronounce 'bagel' weird, and that's coming from someone with a British accent." Britta blushed and tried hard to control her smile. "You're always trying to help people and make them better. Look at Jeff, he was a mess the first day he met you. Now he's an active member of society with a live-in girlfriend."
"Yeah, but-"
"But nothing. You're a good person and a good friend. That's what really makes you hot." He gave a big smile at the end to reinforce his joke.
"Do you want to kiss me?" Ian's smile faded as he processed what she said.
"I have for years, but I couldn't possibly-" Britta stopped him mid-sentence with a passionate kiss. After the immediate shock passed, he pulled her in closer and allowed his hand to tangle through her wavy, blonde hair. When they finally parted, Britta smiled at him, allowing him to relax a bit.
"Britta, don't think this is why I invited you here. I'm fine being your roommate."
"Shut up, Ian", she said as she kissed him again.
Abed and Rachel were talking about their respective days as they entered the apartment. Abed placed the takeout bag on the table as Rachel grabbed plates from the kitchen. Everything just felt so easy when they were together. They didn't have to change a thing about themselves to fit in or relate to each other. As Rachel sat down and began opening the containers, Abed stared at her, smiling.
"What's with you?", she asked as she strategically placed the various containers on the table.
"I've never met a person who made me this happy before." She sat down and grabbed his hand.
"You make me really happy, too. Life is more…comfortable. I'm not a chameleon trying to blend in with everyone else. It's really nice. I'm glad you found me in that coat room." Abed paused for a moment, as if he were deep in thought.
"I think this is what love is. I've seen many different versions of it, not all good or even passable, but I think this is what they were all aiming for. Someone who you couldn't live without." Rachel's smile widened.
"I love you too, Abed." She kissed him and as they separated, they both looked so incredibly happy. She scanned the table and grabbed a container. "Dumplings?"