A/N: Still don't own it. No beta. No idea where this is going. Letting this little drabble write itself.

Chapter 2

Friday morning Annie woke up naturally for the first time since spring break. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was nearly noon. Stretching luxuriously, she flung back the covers and hopped out of bed full of energy and optimism. Her stomach grumbled and she put a hand on it with a rueful grin. It may be lunchtime but the first meal of the day should always be breakfast. And she had scored a great deal on some fresh blueberries at the farmer's market last weekend. Time for some pancakes. Not even bothering to fix the messy bun her hair was in or to change out of her layered tank tops and silky blue pajama pants ,she sauntered out of her room with a song on her lips and her heart light.

As she sat at the table finishing the last bites of yummy breakfast goodness and reading the news on her tablet she heard the door open behind her. Annie waved a fork in Abed's general direction before turning around and cheerily calling out, "Roomie! Last final all done?"

Abed sniffed the air appreciatively as he dropped his backpack by the door. "Yep. You made pancakes. Are you seeing someone?"

Annie laughed at the thought as she took her plate and put it in the dishwasher. "No, they just sounded good. I'm all done but there are still some blueberries left. Want me to make you some?"

Abed responded in his usual clipped manner. "No I had an early lunch with Rachel. Hey, can we have a party here tomorrow night?"

Annie's mood immediately deflated. "Ughhh, Abed. I don't know if I'm really feeling up to hosting a party here." Annie's shoulders slumped and her whole face fell at the thought.

Abed looked at her blankly. "I don't understand," he said. "You like parties. You like it when they're at our place. Because then you can change into pyjamas anytime you want and just go to bed if you get tired and you don't have to worry about getting home if you've been drinking."

Annie gave her roommate a small half-smile. He really did listen when she talked. "I know. And normally that's true but last week I made a promise to myself and I don't want to put myself in a position to break it."

Abed's eyebrows ticked up in surprise. "You made an oath?" He leaned in with interest. "What was it?"

She considered not telling him. Unfortunately Abed was not just her roommate, but a dear friend. He was also relentless with getting details about this sort of thing. She gave in with a sigh. "I swore to myself that I would focus on my future. Just mine. That I wouldn't be concerned with what other people were doing because I needed to look out for myself first. Nobody else will so it's up to me."

Abed shook his head in sadness as he digested what she'd said. "Annie, you took a level in cynic? When did this happen? How did I miss this? This is major character development. It's not like me to miss something like this."

Annie's confusion was clear on her face. "Took a level in what now? What are you talking about?"

Abed surprised Annie by grabbing her shoulders and leaning in to peer intently into her eyes. "You have to tell me exactly how you made this decision. I have to know everything. Inner monologue. External influences. Everything. Annie, this is important."

She put a hand on his cheek and leaned in to press a gentle kiss on Abed's cheek. "If I ask you very nicely will you drop this and let me be? I'll make you blueberry pancakes for dinner tonight." Her soft pleading tone and the Disney eyes were in full effect as she tried blatant bribery to get her roommate off the scent.

Any hope she had that he would leave this alone was quickly dashed as he shook her and focused on her like a hawk. "You know I can't do that, Annie. I have to know. You have to tell me."

Rolling her eyes, she shook of his hands and moved into the living room to collapse onto the couch. Pulling her knees to her chest and resting her head on them. "Ugh fine. But here are the rules. No interruptions. No speeches. No commentary. You listen and move on with your day. Deal?"

Abed quickly agreed and moved to sit next to her on the couch. "Begin."

"Ok you remember the conversation we had in the basement? About Jeff and Britta? Well after that I made the decision that I couldn't worry about Jeff anymore. I know he cares about me. He cares about all of us. But he will never feel the way that I feel. And you know what? That's okay. I don't know if you know this but I actually asked him once. If there could ever be anything between us. I may have put it more forcefully than that but regardless. I asked him yes or no, did he want me. Do you know what he said?"

Abed opened his mouth to answer what was clearly a question but Annie made the shush gesture with her hand and continued on.

"He said he wished he could give me an answer that made sense. But obviously that was just Wingerese for 'no but I don't want to hurt your feelings, kiddo.' So I buried my feelings. Acted like it was a silly crush and that I'd gotten over it. Tried to be the friend he clearly wanted me to be. Sure, I've slipped up a time or two. Forgot to pretend I wasn't completely in love with him. But I'm done. I can accept that I'm in love with a man that thinks I'm still the same girl he met five years ago and refuses to see that I'm an adult. But I know I'm not that girl any more. And it's time for me to put on my big girl panties and go after a future where I'm alone. Because here's the deal, Abed. I'm also done pretending there's anyone out there that I will ever feel this way about. I've tried dating over the years and sure it's a fun diversion but the closest I've ever come to actually developing feelings for another guy was when you catfished me by acting like Jeff."

She paused and gave him a sharp glare, "Dick." Abed had the decency to look ashamed at the reminder.

She continued on without giving him a chance to say anything, "I left early that night. The night we found Borchert and Subway left. I left and I came back here and I had a couple of drinks and really thought about my life. Abed, I had a bright future once. And I think I still do. But the only way I'm going to find out is to stop worrying about anyone but me. Whatever you all want to do I support. If any of you need me I'll be there. But Annie Edison is done with putting herself second."

"But Annie," Abed looked puzzled. "You know Jeff and Britta cancelled the engagement, right?"

Annie smiled sadly at her friend. "I found out yesterday when Britta told me after the meeting. But this week has been so freeing, in its own way. I don't want to move backward. I won't lie and say I wasn't thrilled when I found out. But Abed, what's the point? So I'm excited he isn't getting married? That's not what a friend feels. That's awful! And besides, that's giving him too much power over me. No. I've made up my mind to remove Jeff Winger from my heart. And if that fails I'll just take my mother's example and bottle my emotions up until they might as well not even exist. I've already completed most of the requirements for my degree in Forensic Science since the gen-ed stuff I already had to do for Healthcare Management. I'm set to get my Bachelor's next spring. Then another two years for my Masters. Hickey thinks he can get me a job with the Greendale Police while I'm doing that. Then once I have my Masters I can try to get on with the Denver Police. I have a future, Abed. And I'm going to chase it. Nobody is getting in my way. Not even myself."

Abed looked at the woman in front of him. She was a hardened version of the Annie he had met. But she didn't seem bitter, merely resolute. And determined to ignore her feelings for Jeff to focus on her own dreams. Abed didn't really understand what the one had to do with the other, and he suspected Annie didn't either. But he respected her oath. "So the reason you don't want to have the party is because Jeff will be here and you're afraid you'll get too drunk to pretend you don't love him?"

Annie had almost forgotten why they'd even started talking about this. "Yeah. You know how he gets when he drinks. He's extra flirty. I can't let that affect me anymore. No more daydreaming about being with him. If I keep telling myself that I'm over Jeff Winger then eventually it'll be true."

This changed everything. Annie's entire character arc had changed in one night. The Wide Eyed Idealist was gone. In her place was a Silk Hiding Steel. This new Annie was scarier. Abed liked it. Maybe. He wasn't sure. But he thought it was probably a good thing. "So don't drink. Annie if you're this sure about your oath what possible difference will a few hours around Jeff make?"

Annie nodded in agreement. A determined look on her face. "You know what, Abed? You're right. Let's have the party. Invite Rachel, too. She's an honorary member of the Committee. Tell everyone to be here around eight tomorrow night. I'll make fajitas and see if Shirley...Actually, do you mind if I just go ahead and make the plans?"

Abed smiled at his friend. "Go right ahead. I have to take care of something anyway. Oh, but don't invite Chang." He got up from the couch and entered his room, taken over once Troy had left. He quickly pulled out his phone and sent a text to his girlfriend.

Abed: Tomorrow is on but the plan is aborted.

Rachel: Really? What changed?

Abed: Annie.

Jeff came home from work and smiled broadly. Teaching was such a racket. He had an actual summer vacation and he was still going to be paid. Sure they pay wasn't as good as what he made when he was a lawyer in a successful practice, but it was far more than he had made when he tried to strike out on his own. And so he was home by noon a beautiful Friday afternoon and he didn't have to go back to work for three months.

His phone chimed with a new text as he was in the middle of his workout. He didn't hear it over his headphones. He also didn't hear the other seven texts he received. It wasn't until he had finished working out and taken a shower that Jeff looked and saw that he has missed them. Swiping his phone open as he toweled his hair he saw that seven of them were to the whole group but one was just from Annie to him. He looked at the group texts first, wondering what was going on.

Annie: Abed and I are hosting a 'Yay Summer!' party. Our place tomorrow night at 8. We're making fajitas and margaritas. You'll all be there, right?

Shirley: Oh that's nice! I'll make dessert empanadas!

Britta: I'll be there! I'll bring vegan refried black beans.

Duncan: Exotic! I'm afraid I have no idea what to bring.

Hickey: I might show up.

Rachel: Abed told me already. I'm excited! I'll bring homemade guac and chips!

Annie: Great! Duncan just bring some soda and ice if you want. See you all tomorrow!

Jeff frowned. She hadn't exactly waited to see if he would be coming before calling everything settled. Remembering that she'd texted him separately he backed out and tapped on her name.

Annie: Do you want low carb tortillas or would you rather just have lettuce wraps? Also, I'm making real margaritas not that premixed crap and they have like 2 carbs each but if you want something else you'll need to bring it. Invite the Dean if you want. See you tomorrow if you can make it.

His frown deepened. It didn't seem like Annie cared whether he showed up or not. But then again she'd mentioned making low carb drinks and asked his preference for dinner so that was positive. He quickly typed in a reply:

Jeff: Lettuce wraps would be perfect. Thanks. I'll let Craig know if I see him.

Switching back over to the group texts he replied to everyone.

Jeff: Don't worry about buying tequila. I'll bring some with me.

Setting his phone down Jeff got dressed and flopped onto his bed. Grabbing the remote he turned on the TV and settled in to catch a marathon of the original Star Wars movies. But he couldn't stop thinking about the party the next night. He'd been avoiding Annie since he'd realized how he felt about her. But add a few drinks to the mix? Annie had a tendency to get pretty flirty when she drank. And normally he flirted back because he could pretend it didn't mean anything. But now? He still hadn't managed to lock these feelings for her back away. In fact, seeing her again yesterday afternoon had brought everything back even stronger than before. He'd had to haul ass out of the study room as soon as their meeting was over. It was that or declare himself to her like some lovestruck leading man in a stupid rom-com. And that was a terrible idea. The last time they'd actually spoken was when he'd told her he was marrying Britta, for chrissake. Beyond that, it seemed like Annie was maybe mad at him for some reason and that wasn't even kinda okay. He'd need to talk to her and see what the deal was. Maybe he was reading too much into things.

Okay so bold declarations were out. He would just be himself. Only this time he wouldn't try to put false distance between them. He would show her how he felt even if he was still too much of a chickenshit to tell her.