The first week of school went… unexpectedly well for Jeff. Well, as well as it could, considering he was at a community college that was basically just a high school on steroids. Every day (sometimes hour on the hour), the dean made new and silly announcements, or came in dressed in some sort of outrageous outfit (typically form fitting and extremely out of left field), and continued to do his best to touch Jeff at every turn. The school mascot was a thing of nightmares, there were lockers, and for some reason the week was concluding with a homecoming dance (he'd gone to several mixers while at university, but never a dance. In the cafeteria, of all places). It was very odd, but he tried to shrug it off and focus on the fact that in a few short months he'd have a degree and a shot at moving up in his firm.
He sat with his study group, his friends, now, as they wrapped up their time together for the day. Not a lot of progress had been made, since any time they began talking about how different genders consider and process sex and attraction Pierce had some antiquated opinion to interject. At one point Troy had convinced him that they had a new policy that students over 60 could cut in line for the 'good food' starting at noon, and that had Pierce busy for about twenty minutes (though, when he returned he was very upset. "Oh, that must start next week." Troy had shrugged, and Pierce sunk into his chair grumbling how "it had better").
"Well, I think that for our first group presentation we should divide up who is responsible for each section." Annie said, furiously scribbling notes in her red notebook ("They're all color coded to the tabs in my binder!" She had excitedly told Jeff before their lecture had started, flipping through each tab with a smile he was absolutely simping over). "I'm happy to do the research-"
"Abed and I will take care of the presentation." Troy said smugly, again doing his best friend's handshake with Abed. Jeff tilted his head slightly, eyebrow raised as he observed the two. He couldn't tell if both of them, neither of them, or just one of them had… social... issues; and if only one of them did, which of them was it? It was perplexing to him, to say the least.
"Well, Annie, I'm more than happy to help with research and writing," Shirley smiled, "especially since this project is about two different opinions."
Annie smiled weakly and nodded, "We also have to do two posters for the presentation, so Britta? Jeff? Do you want to take care of those?"
"What will we have to do with said posters?"
"Well, Shirley and I will give each of you a breakdown of what should be on the posters, then you transfer the information and make the poster look appealing."
"Great." Jeff smiled, leaning back in his chair. "I can definitely handle 'look appealing'."
"Oh my GOD…" Britta mumbled and rolled her eyes before nodding at Annie, "Next time I'll definitely help with research, but I have a lot to do in my other classes, so I appreciate being able to take a back seat on this one."
"Sure." Annie gave her a thin-lipped smile and finished writing the groups assigned positions in her notebook. "So Monday when we meet again let's make sure we have all of our materials and-"
"Wait a minute!" Pierce interjected. "What about me? You didn't assign me anything."
Annie laughed softly and made a big show of rolling her eyes, "Yes we did, silly." She held up her notebook and pointed to Pierce's name, next to which she'd written "SUPERVISOR".
"I'm the supervisor?"
"Yes!" She smiled. "You have to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, which means bringing back up posterboard and puffy paint in case Jeff and Britta forget their ONE assignment."
"Hey!" The two exclaimed at the same time before giving each other a disgusted look. Neither of them wanted to be lumped together as the slackers, but neither of them had the desire to press the matter any further.
"Are you two sure you're not brother and sister?" Abed deadpanned, staring at the two. "You argue like siblings on TV."
"Do not!" They said, again, in unison. Britta looked disgusted as she replied, "We don't even look alike."
The group mumbled and interjected some sounds of disagreement, and Pierce said, "All white people look alike. That's why they have a superiority complex, they see themselves everywhere."
Shirley and Troy looked back and forth from each other to Pierce and Annie wore a face of implausibility. Abed was, of course, stoic, still staring at the bewildered Jeff and Britta.
"You know," Shirley said grabbing her bag, "I think we've done well today. I'll see all of you tomorrow, I volunteered to make brownies for the dance."
"Greeeaat." Troy said, poorly disguising his disappointment. Not because Shirley's brownies weren't delicious, but because now if any of them didn't show up she'd take it as a personal attack.
"Cool. Cool cool cool." Abed nodded, grabbing his backpack and looking at Troy, "We can marathon Inspector Spacetime beforehand."
"Well, constable, that sounds genius." He grinned. "We'll see you all later."
The three exited the study room as everyone else started packing their things and Jeff scoffed, "You guys don't actually go to those dances, do you?"
"Usually." Britta shrugged. "Shirley will be bummed if we don't go to support her."
"And," Annie beamed, "If you go to all five dances you get a special shirt from the dean."
"Annie, I need you to know right now that I will literally never want anything special from the dean."
"Why not?" Pierce asked. "I've collected the shirts; I have one for the past six years."
"I'm going to elect to ignore that, but if you all are going, I guess I'll go too."
"Oh." Britta grinned. "You should absolutely go."
Annie raised an eyebrow and Britta shot her a death stare. Jeff picked up on the odd interaction and nodded, "Great. So, lunch?"
"I have a lab today," Britta sighed. "But you kids have fun."
"Thanks Britta," Pierced grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. "We will."
She rolled her eyes and shook Pierce's hand off her before waving to Annie, "I'll see you later."
"Yes! Bye! Good luck!"
Britta groaned loudly from the hallway and Pierce turned to the two remaining members expectantly. "Are we going to the cafeteria, or should we head off site?"
"Well, I have class at two," Annie looked around the desk, a little uncharacteristically scrambled. "Pierce why don't you go get us a table; I have to find my pen."
"Can do." The old man grinned, glad to be useful to his friends. "Jeff, you should help her look. I've heard the gays are very good at noticing small details."
"Yes, like your deep-rooted homophobia."
"Homophobia!" He laughed. "What's there to fear? I could take two, maybe even three at once."
Annie choked trying not to laugh and Jeff smirked, looking at Pierce with a gleam in his eye, "I'm absolutely sure of it, Pierce."
He nodded and walked out of the study room, mumbling 'damn straight' to himself. Jeff shook his head and turned to Annie, who began laughing so hard she had to put her head down. Jeff stood up and stretched before spotting Annie's missing purple pen under the desk. It must have rolled under, considering it was near Britta's spot (or she might have taken it and dropped it in her rush to depart).
"Here you go." He placed the pen in front of her and she regained control of herself, seizing her pen and putting it with her belongings. "Thank you."
"No problem." Jeff shrugged and awkwardly waited for her to gather their things so that they could go, noticing that he had started to get both hungry and anxious being alone with her. "So… are you going to the dance? Your little eye battle with Britta made it seem that you wouldn't be."
"Um, I have to work. I've asked her and the guys not to say anything about me working nights because Shirley gets a little over-protective. But you should go! You can get to know the others better, and Shirley's brownies are really good."
"Annie, do I look like I've ever ingested a carb?"
"I'm sure you can make an exception for your friend, Jeff." She grinned, leading him out the door. "Plus, it will distract her from the fact that I'm not there."
"She is a little weirdly protective of you."
"It's just in her nature."
"Well maybe I'll stop by your store on my way home from the dance to relay what an event it's sure to be."
Annie snickered, adjusting her backpack, "I have a second job, so I won't be at my store. But honestly, I'm putting in my two weeks this weekend, my course load is a little heavy and I really, really want to beat Shirley for valedictorian."
"Wait- you're tied with Shirley? What are the odds that your study group would have two brainiacs in it? I feel much more secure in my passing grade now."
"Well, you'll have to let me know on Monday how the dance was while we make our very meticulous posters for our A project."
"Passable project."
"I'm sorry, did you say you were switching to decaf?"
"Wow, so sorry your highness, let me not tout my laziness in front of you again."
She smirked and looked up at him, putting on a posh accent to say, "Please don't, m'lord, it's unbecoming of a gentleman. Let's go find Pierce before he has a meltdown."
A/N: Another short one, but they'll get longer!
