title: it was a love punch (yeah right)
characters: annie edison, jeff winger, britta perry, shirley bennett, troy barnes, pierce hawthorne
setting: study room f / greendale library (Anthropology 101)
pairing(s): repercussions of jeff/britta and jeff/annie
word count: 535

Annie's not sure why she punched Jeff Winger.

It's not like his smug, pointy, stupid(ly handsome), lying face didn't deserve it, but did he really deserve it from her? After the confirmation that he virtually destroyed her hopes and dreams of togetherness by being with Britta (and then fractured whatever it was he had with Britta by being withher), all Annie can think of is that ridiculous response from Phineas & Ferb:

'Yes, yes he did.'

(Yes, she watches cartoons, and that doesn't mean anything about her young flesh.

...Does it?)

Britta looks like she's about five seconds away from shoving the bouquet of flowers in her hands down Jeff's throat. She settles instead for gathering up her things and chucking it in the trash. A cold breeze is left in her wake. Shirley looks desperate to follow, but forces herself to stay, no doubt in case Jeff decides to pull the stupid card and try anything else with Annie.

(Gross. Like she would ever-)

Troy and Pierce are too upset with one another. Pierce departs, muttering obscenities loudly under his breath. Troy gives Jeff one deeply frustrated look before leaving out the other doors.

Jeff is standing where Abed had left him. She can see the blood drying against the skin of what used to belong to (and still is, let's be honest) a flawless face. Her knuckles throb painfully, warning her not to stare for too long. She'll have to go to the Health Center before she heads home. Shaking her head to clear it, and to send away any tears that may be prickling, Annie takes her things with her good hand. Shirley doesn't offer to help, and Annie knows she's offended her as well as Britta today. She knows they're mad at Jeff more, though.

Jeff doesn't move until she steps out of the room, something Annie notices out of the corner of her eye. She can hear Shirley snap something at him, but doesn't strain to hear his response. Members of Britta's fan club glare openly, and Annie can feel shame heat up her face, urging her to quicken her steps. She remembers Britta's words from yesterday morning, though it feels like ages ago now.

It's just like high school all over again.

Yes, it is. Except Annie Adderall never had a guy kiss her the way Jeff did. And she never once embarrassed herself about Troy the way she had about Jeff (though there were a few mome- No, don't think about it). Annie Adderall was never targeted as 'the other woman'. Annie Adderall never punched Troy in the face.

But apparently Annie Edison did these things. And she's not sure if she should like that she did.

It seems like Nurse Jackie is the only person who will smile at her today. He inspects her hand, prodding gently at the knuckles with his thumbs. Where does it hurt, he asks.

Annie closes her eyes.

Everywhere.

But she's had enough dramatics for one day. So she opens her eyes and settles for telling him exactly where she aches, and is proud to notice that her voice doesn't quaver when she does. Because if she has the confidence to punch stupid(ly handsome) Jeff Winger in the face, that means she can get through anything, right?