All Is Fair in Love and Science (1/?)
Title: All Is Fair In Love and Science
Author: Avaritia_90
Spoilers: Season 2
Rating:R
Word Count: 1058
Disclaimer: I do not own Community or Sanctuary or Nikola Tesla.
Summary: This is a prompt for Ficcy Friday from the ever lovely eva_aftagrl, who has been patient enough to be nominated for sainthood. Her prompt was that Professor Nikola Tesla comes to Greendale, sexy-shinnagians ensure.
______________________________________________________________________________
Nikola Tesla would like to state, just for the record, that it wasn't his fault.
Really, it wasn't.
He had planned everything perfectly, he had done the research, had tested and perfected everything for days. -okay, well, more like hours if you minus all the hours he spent in Magnus's wine cellar searching for the perfect wine to compliment his brilliance. Which, as anyone knows is extremely difficult. There's so much wine and he's brilliant a lot so it's a tad hard to quantify.
Point remains, he, Nikola Tesla was in no shape or way at fault.
Even his intentions had (for once) been pure.
He was just trying increase peace and love, and what's wrong with those? Everyone needs more of that in the world, right? There are even songs dedicated to it.
Had everything gone to plan, it would have been a brilliant . It would have worked, he would've been congratulated and win a (few) Nobel peace prize(s). Maybe even get a kiss from Helen for such a good job.
-and so, no matter what anyone (Helen) says, it was a brilliant plan.
He just didn't factor in Human error.
___________________________________________________________________
“I hear we have a substitute teacher for biology again.” Were the first words from Annie's lips that Monday morning. Britta looked up from her knitting, confused.
“Again? All we've been having lately is substitutes for that class. Does anyone remember the name of the original teacher?” She looked around the room, everyone looked blankly for a bit and then gave up. “See. Why doesn't the Dean just fire him?”
“I still don't understand how he hires anyone. Seriously, look who used to work here.” Jeff gestured over his shoulder, to where Chang's face was pressed painfully against the glass. He was again, waiting for their acceptance that would never come.
“Shouldn't we just let him in?” Annie asked, staring at the Asian man who was looking sadly in her direction. “-we do after all have a free seat.”
All eyes locked onto Pierce's empty chair.
Shirley made a noise of disapproval, “Oh no, I ain't trading one pervert for another, you aren't the one who has to sit next to them are you?”
Annie crumbled, “It just feels weird not to have anyone sit there.”
“Well, get used to it because he's not coming back and we sure as hell aren't allowing Chang in.” Jeff snapped. He hadn't meant to direct his anger at Annie, but his blood pressure always skyrocketed whenever someone mentioned Pierce.
Annie's eyes flashed, “Maybe, if we were a little more open to people, Pierce wouldn't have left.”
Britta looked back and forth between Jeff and Annie, who were glaring so hard at each other the temperature of the room dropped. This was becoming more and more of an occurrence ever since the start of school. It wasn't the sexual-tension banter Jeff made with Britta, the kind that meant little and was just annoying to hear. This was different, this was like watching your parents fight. Where it's just between the two of them, and it's personal and you can do nothing but sit on the sidelines and mind your own business.
“Pierce left, because he's an asshole who was tired of us.”
Annie rolled her eyes, and started to pack away her things. Getting ready for Biology.
-but Jeff caught the movement and his own eyes narrowed.
“What was that?” He accused.
Annie didn't look up, “What was what?”
“That eye roll.”
“It was nothing. Let it go.”
“No, go on. Obviously you have something more to say, so just say it.” Jeff coxed, but his tone was mocking her with every little infliction.
“I don't want to.”
“Oh, what? Too tired now to-”
Annie threw the rest of her books to the table, causing everyone, even Jeff to jump. Her lips trembled, but there were no tears in her eyes. She looked beyond furious.
“Yes, that's it Jeff. I'm too tired to keep fighting with you on this. You know you're wrong, you know you could get Pierce back if you just admitted you are, but you won't. I keep trying to make you see reason, but you just keep making one stupid argument after another and I can't-” Her voice cracked and she started again, “I understand why Pierce left, and I don't get why you can't.”
Whatever anger Jeff had before, deflated instantly. He wanted to comment, wanted to tell Annie she was wrong, but her eyes were locked on his and he found no words could escape the tightness of his throat.
“Annie-” Britta started, but then stopped. She didn't know what to say.
“I think,” Annie started again, “-that Pierce is right. Whatever this group is...isn't healthy.”
Jeff refused to acknowledge how her words made him feel. Which was like having a Professional Football Player sock one to his stomach.
Shirley clutched her purse, “Annie! Don't leave too.”
“Yeah! Whose gonna help me with my home-I mean...” Troy stopped talking, realizing that it sounded shallow.
Annie turned to them, “Look, you guys are still my friends. I'm not...completely blocking you guys out of my lives. I just...I just think that maybe coming to the study group and spending every few moment of my free time with you isn't a good thing. I've already been at Greendale for two years, I think maybe it's time, I made some new friends.”
The others visibly relaxed at this, but Jeff didn't. He still had the stormy expression.
“So, basically you're ditching us for a bunch of younger people.”
“I didn't say that, Jeff. -but maybe you're right. I need people my age.”
Jeff, once again, ignored the football player punching his guts.
Before anyone could stop her, Annie gathered her things up and left the room.
No one said a word in her wake, just gathering their stuff and headed for the door. All but Abed who stood just a fraction of a second near Jeff.
“While it's not surprising that Annie did this,” he started, “-it is surprising that you didn't stop her, Jeff.”
-then he too left.
Jeff leaned forward, forearms resting on the table, then buried his face into his hands.
For once, he was tired of fighting too.
"This...is hell."
____________________________To Be Continued______________________________________
Author: Avaritia_90
Spoilers: Season 2
Rating:R
Word Count: 1058
Disclaimer: I do not own Community or Sanctuary or Nikola Tesla.
Summary: This is a prompt for Ficcy Friday from the ever lovely eva_aftagrl, who has been patient enough to be nominated for sainthood. Her prompt was that Professor Nikola Tesla comes to Greendale, sexy-shinnagians ensure.
______________________________________________________________________________
Nikola Tesla would like to state, just for the record, that it wasn't his fault.
Really, it wasn't.
He had planned everything perfectly, he had done the research, had tested and perfected everything for days. -okay, well, more like hours if you minus all the hours he spent in Magnus's wine cellar searching for the perfect wine to compliment his brilliance. Which, as anyone knows is extremely difficult. There's so much wine and he's brilliant a lot so it's a tad hard to quantify.
Point remains, he, Nikola Tesla was in no shape or way at fault.
Even his intentions had (for once) been pure.
He was just trying increase peace and love, and what's wrong with those? Everyone needs more of that in the world, right? There are even songs dedicated to it.
Had everything gone to plan, it would have been a brilliant . It would have worked, he would've been congratulated and win a (few) Nobel peace prize(s). Maybe even get a kiss from Helen for such a good job.
-and so, no matter what anyone (Helen) says, it was a brilliant plan.
He just didn't factor in Human error.
___________________________________________________________________
“I hear we have a substitute teacher for biology again.” Were the first words from Annie's lips that Monday morning. Britta looked up from her knitting, confused.
“Again? All we've been having lately is substitutes for that class. Does anyone remember the name of the original teacher?” She looked around the room, everyone looked blankly for a bit and then gave up. “See. Why doesn't the Dean just fire him?”
“I still don't understand how he hires anyone. Seriously, look who used to work here.” Jeff gestured over his shoulder, to where Chang's face was pressed painfully against the glass. He was again, waiting for their acceptance that would never come.
“Shouldn't we just let him in?” Annie asked, staring at the Asian man who was looking sadly in her direction. “-we do after all have a free seat.”
All eyes locked onto Pierce's empty chair.
Shirley made a noise of disapproval, “Oh no, I ain't trading one pervert for another, you aren't the one who has to sit next to them are you?”
Annie crumbled, “It just feels weird not to have anyone sit there.”
“Well, get used to it because he's not coming back and we sure as hell aren't allowing Chang in.” Jeff snapped. He hadn't meant to direct his anger at Annie, but his blood pressure always skyrocketed whenever someone mentioned Pierce.
Annie's eyes flashed, “Maybe, if we were a little more open to people, Pierce wouldn't have left.”
Britta looked back and forth between Jeff and Annie, who were glaring so hard at each other the temperature of the room dropped. This was becoming more and more of an occurrence ever since the start of school. It wasn't the sexual-tension banter Jeff made with Britta, the kind that meant little and was just annoying to hear. This was different, this was like watching your parents fight. Where it's just between the two of them, and it's personal and you can do nothing but sit on the sidelines and mind your own business.
“Pierce left, because he's an asshole who was tired of us.”
Annie rolled her eyes, and started to pack away her things. Getting ready for Biology.
-but Jeff caught the movement and his own eyes narrowed.
“What was that?” He accused.
Annie didn't look up, “What was what?”
“That eye roll.”
“It was nothing. Let it go.”
“No, go on. Obviously you have something more to say, so just say it.” Jeff coxed, but his tone was mocking her with every little infliction.
“I don't want to.”
“Oh, what? Too tired now to-”
Annie threw the rest of her books to the table, causing everyone, even Jeff to jump. Her lips trembled, but there were no tears in her eyes. She looked beyond furious.
“Yes, that's it Jeff. I'm too tired to keep fighting with you on this. You know you're wrong, you know you could get Pierce back if you just admitted you are, but you won't. I keep trying to make you see reason, but you just keep making one stupid argument after another and I can't-” Her voice cracked and she started again, “I understand why Pierce left, and I don't get why you can't.”
Whatever anger Jeff had before, deflated instantly. He wanted to comment, wanted to tell Annie she was wrong, but her eyes were locked on his and he found no words could escape the tightness of his throat.
“Annie-” Britta started, but then stopped. She didn't know what to say.
“I think,” Annie started again, “-that Pierce is right. Whatever this group is...isn't healthy.”
Jeff refused to acknowledge how her words made him feel. Which was like having a Professional Football Player sock one to his stomach.
Shirley clutched her purse, “Annie! Don't leave too.”
“Yeah! Whose gonna help me with my home-I mean...” Troy stopped talking, realizing that it sounded shallow.
Annie turned to them, “Look, you guys are still my friends. I'm not...completely blocking you guys out of my lives. I just...I just think that maybe coming to the study group and spending every few moment of my free time with you isn't a good thing. I've already been at Greendale for two years, I think maybe it's time, I made some new friends.”
The others visibly relaxed at this, but Jeff didn't. He still had the stormy expression.
“So, basically you're ditching us for a bunch of younger people.”
“I didn't say that, Jeff. -but maybe you're right. I need people my age.”
Jeff, once again, ignored the football player punching his guts.
Before anyone could stop her, Annie gathered her things up and left the room.
No one said a word in her wake, just gathering their stuff and headed for the door. All but Abed who stood just a fraction of a second near Jeff.
“While it's not surprising that Annie did this,” he started, “-it is surprising that you didn't stop her, Jeff.”
-then he too left.
Jeff leaned forward, forearms resting on the table, then buried his face into his hands.
For once, he was tired of fighting too.
"This...is hell."
____________________________To Be Continued______________________________________