Britta's face swims incoherently on the screen for almost an entire minute before the connection finalises and she comes into focus.
"Can you see me?"
"Yes."
"Can you hear me?"
Annie just shoots her a look.
"Oh, right, yeah. Sorry. Still kind of hungover."
"Yeah."
Video-chatting is awkward, especially with Britta, and Annie really would have preferred to just call or text, but apparently her friend had gotten it into her head that it was absolutely pivotal that they see each other in their first non-textual conversation since her departure to DC, so here she is.
Sitting on a barstool at the kitchen counter, phone propped up with a coffee mug in front of her.
"So, what's up?"
"I don't know." She replies instinctively. "Just the internship… It takes up a lot of my time. How's everything back home?"
"Annie," Britta sends her a raised-eyebrow sort of look. "Come on. I want to know how you're doing."
"Why?" She narrows her eyes. "Is Shirley putting you up to this? She won't stop sending me passive-aggressively concerned texts. If-"
"No!" Britta indignantly cuts her off, wearing her Judgey Face, but kind of slumps a little afterwards. "Look, it's just not the same back here. And ever since you left… I don't know. I just keep thinking about all the Annie-things I missed out on when you were here, you know? And we haven't properly spoken since you left, and I felt bad."
"Oh."
"Plus, there's only so many topics I can speak about with Frankie." She adds. "And most of them involve real estate, past interpersonal dynamics of the old group, and future Nippledippers-slash-Sustain-Greendale-Committee projects."
"I suppose she can be a little… Closed-off."
"Yeah, understatement of the century." She punctuates this with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, since we got that out of the way… Seriously. How are things in DC? Answer honestly, this time."
"It's good. My roommate's pretty cool, even though we're not in the apartment at the same time that much." She wonders if this may be enough, but Britta's encouraging nod forces her to keep talking. "The internship is really, really fun. I'm definitely learning a lot - I can't really talk about a lot of the stuff that goes on, though, 'cause a lot of it's classified. And it's been fun exploring the city a little, whenever I have time on the weekends. I don't get to do much of that, though, 'cause work keeps me busy."
"Have you spoken much to the others? I mean, I've been keeping up with the group chat but nothing much has been going on the past few days."
"Um." Her hand freezes where she had been absentmindedly picking at a thread on her skirt. How can she answer that question? "I guess… A little. Everyone's so busy over this summer, y'know?"
"Have you spoken to Jeff much?" (She doesn't see the way Annie's head snaps up at that.) "Or has he been ignoring you, too?"
"He's been ignoring you?" She asks, instead of replying to Britta's question.
Britta shifts, the top of her face climbing out of frame for a second before she pops back into view again. "Well, I guess it's not entirely fair to say ignoring, but he's with some new girl at the moment, so he hasn't been coming by the bar as often."
She swallows hard, feigns innocence. "Oh."
"Yeah." She fake grimaces. "I mean, she sounds cool and everything, though. Just, he hasn't introduced her to any of us yet."
"Oh."
"I'm just glad he seems to be, well, growing up. Less sad-older-guy-trying-to-fit-in-with-the-youth, more older-guy-finally-accepting-his-age."
"Oh."
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?" She shakes her head, hoping to rid herself of the overanalysing thoughts surrounding what her friend has just told her. "Um. Yeah, just a little tired."
Britta makes a sort of sure you are face, all raised eyebrows and reproachful mouth, but drops the subject, instead beginning a 10-minute rant about the cost of vet bills for her latest rescue cat.
("He seems to be, well, growing up."
For a brief, fleeting moment, she gains a sliver of hope. Before it dissipates, she makes a decision.)
text
sent 18:44
TO: Jeff
we need to talk. call me tomorrow?