Chapter Text
Going to a small town in the south of Arizona, especially in the summertime, had never really been on Annie’s bucket list. An invitation from Abed and Troy, who had recently moved out there to get away from the city, had prompted her decision. Annie drove silently along the winding roads, deep in thought as the summer breeze wafted through the air, until eventually, she arrived at her destination. The house was a quaint two-story design, with a decently sized swimming pool in the back. It stood out proud against the backdrop of the desert.
“You can do this,” she said shakily to herself, “you’ve dealt with worse.” She paused, as Jeff, who had remained equally silent throughout the entire ride, looked over at her. “What am I kidding, no I haven’t. Fuck.”
Meanwhile, Abed was rushing around the house, trying desperately to finish up any last-minute tidying. “Was that pillow there before?” he asked, to no one in particular. Then, almost as if on cue, there was a faint knocking at the door.
Abed opened the door and greeted Annie. “Hey, did you have any trouble get–”
Annie wrapped her arms around him, looking as if she was ready to burst into tears at any moment.
“Th–thank you…” she stammered, sniffling a little.
Abed gently welcomed Annie into his home. Jeff followed silently behind.
“Sorry Troy couldn’t be here to greet you,” Abed apologized, “he’s out getting extra groceries.”
“So… buttered noodles,” Annie smirked through the tears.
“Mostly for me,” Abed replied, almost sounding frustrated. “He’s doing this weird diet where he only drinks milk and eats venison. Seriously, venison?! I don’t know what he’ll think of next, but…”
He trailed off, noticing Annie looking down sadly at her feet.
“Anyway… make yourself at home,” he smiled, realizing that he had possibly missed yet another social cue. “I’ve got to go out and grab a few things from the general store. You’ll be okay until I get back, right?”
“Yes,” Annie hesitated, “thanks Abed.”
Abed gave a smile, and walked out the door, closing it softly behind him.
It was then that Jeff spoke up for the first time in ages. “Weird,” he said, “you’d think for a big-time filmmaker he’d have a bigger place…”
“Seriously?!” Annie rounded on Jeff.
“Yeah, like I’m pretty sure our old apartment was bigger–”
“How can you be so… just… cool about all this?”
“Do you have a better idea of what I should do?”
“Look, I don’t know,” Annie seethed. “I don’t know, I don’t have the answers. Why do things happen? Why is the sky blue?”
“Because earth’s atmosphere–”
“It was a fucking rhetorical question, Jeff!”
“Not really, there is a definitive answer,” he smiled.
Annie was close to exploding. “Ugh, just… I’m gonna go for a walk. See you later, I guess.” It took everything in her power not to slam the door shut as Jeff called out, “I love you!” After receiving no response, he exited the kitchen, and took a seat on the living room couch, pondering.
***
Later that evening, just as the sun was beginning to set, Annie had gotten situated in the guest room. She sat upright in bed, reading a book she’d read a million times before. She didn’t really care; in the moment it brought her comfort. Then, a knock came from the bathroom. She turned her head slowly, and there was Jeff, slowly approaching her bedside.
“Hey,” Annie almost whispered, smiling cautiously. Jeff leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “You know, you really shouldn’t be here…”
“Well,” Jeff said, ever so slightly annoyed, “it’s not like I’ve got anywhere else to go.”
“I wish you could stay,” Annie replied, “I really do. But…”
“No, I get it. It’d be… weird.”
Annie nodded, trying to force a smile through the tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
“I love you,” she said in a register just above a whisper.
Jeff stopped, and slowly turned around. “I love you too,” he said, before heading back downstairs. Annie watched him depart, tears streaming down her face. Now, she was all alone. Even Troy and Abed, asleep in the other room, couldn’t shake her from the grief she was feeling. She shut the lights off, but before falling asleep, softly let out three words.
“I just wish you didn’t have to go so soon.”