Fic: You Forgave, and I Won't Forget (5/20)
Title: You Forgave, and I Won't Forget
Author: cgkm2099z
Pairing: Jeff/Annie
Spoilers: Current
Rating: PG-13
Warning Some language. Depends on whether you think "damn" and "hell" are curse words.
Word Count: 4,217
Disclaimer: I do not own Community. Community, and its characters, are the creation of the great Dan Harmon. I think it's still owned by Sony Pictures Television, but after the hack, I'm not so sure. The title is from the song "I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons.
Next Chapter
Previous Chapter
“Abed, what is this? Why do I have to dress like Albert Einstein at a disco?”
“It’s a futuristic outfit. The white hair symbolizes age and venerable wisdom. You’re playing the mayor.”
“I had no idea.” Jeff said dryly as he held up a silver sash that read ‘MAYOR’ in black lettering. Abed was already ignoring him though, having turned his attention back to helping Garrett and Pavel set up the camera. Jeff slipped the sash on and busied himself with trying to straighten the bushy white eyebrows that were part of his outfit. Man this wig itches.
“Abed!” Britta came trotting up carrying a bundle of leather straps. “I am not wearing this. And shame on you!”
Jeff eyed the jumble of straps Britta held, “Is that a whip?”
Britta looked at Jeff for the first time and burst out laughing.
Jeff scowled at her, “Sure, laugh it up. Wait’ll you read scene 42.”
“Oh come on Jeff, it’s not all that bad. It shows off your pecs, you must love that.”
Jeff’s scowl deepened, and he crossed his arms as he continued to glare at Britta. He did love that, but he didn’t love being called on it.
Abed finished with the camera and looked at what Britta was holding. “That’s not your costume, Britta, that’s a horse harness.” Jeff’s scowl morphed immediately into a grin at the mortified look on Britta’s face. “Go see Vickie, she’ll be making some adjustments to your outfit as soon as she’s done with Annie’s.”
As Britta went off in search of Vickie, Abed turned back to Jeff. “We’re about ready to start the first scene. Annie should be down any minute. Remember, we’re shooting out of order, so this is the scene where you meet the alien ambassador.”
“Yeah, about that… I’m confused. I thought she was supposed to be my head of security or something. I didn’t get a chance to read all…”
“Who, the ambassador?”
“No, An…”
“Good, Annie’s here.” Abed interrupted, then called out, “Places everyone!”
Jeff turned to look and froze in place. The person walking onto the set wearing a hot pink dress with a billowing skirt and a dark blue beehive wig was Annie alright. Annie Kim.
“Abed. Abed!” Jeff hissed.
Abed gave Jeff an inquisitive look.
“Sidebar!” Jeff tried to keep his voice low, and gestured towards the hallway with his eyes.
Abed followed Jeff out into the hall. “What is it?”
“What is she doing here?”
Abed glanced back over his shoulder. “Annie? I told you she was in this.”
“I thought you meant our Annie. You said we’re supposed to…” Jeff cut himself off before saying the word ‘kiss.’
Abed tilted his head and peered at Jeff. “Is there a problem?”
“No I…” Jeff hesitated, and tried to force the disappointment out of his voice, “I just thought I was supposed to be working with our Annie… that’s all.”
“Hey guys!” Annie called out as she came jogging up the hallway behind Jeff. “Sorry I’m late… car trouble.” She giggled as she got a look at Jeff’s outfit. “Nice look, Jeff. I’ll go get changed!” She rushed past in a whirlwind and disappeared through the door.
Abed gave Jeff a knowing smile. “You are.” He spun on his heel and walked back towards the set. “Everyone to first positions!”
Damn you, Abed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Annie shifted uncomfortably in her tinfoil bra. Despite Abed’s insistence that it was a staple of science fiction and Jeff’s assurances that she should take it as a compliment, she still wasn’t happy about how much cleavage the black leotard under her bra was showing. Britta stood next to her, fumbling with her weird binocular goggles. Jeff and Abed were leaning over a monitor examining the last take they had done. Abed was gesturing emphatically and pointed to the screen, giving Jeff some kind of instructions for how to play the scene the way he wanted. The fact that Jeff was leaning over was causing his shirt to hang open. Annie caught herself staring at his chest and gave herself a shake.
“Only one more scene before we break for lunch, right?” Britta asked.
“Yeah, I think we break after the shootout. I don’t know if I’ll have time to eat though. Abed just gave me the script for my last two scenes. I feel so unprepared.”
“Don’t worry so much Annie, this isn’t exactly Casablanca.”
Annie let out an offended gasp. “Britta! That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our best! We’re doing this for Abed.”
Britta rolled her eyes and resumed fumbling with her goggles.
Abed and Jeff finished at the monitor and Jeff headed back over towards her and Britta. Annie flushed slightly and pretended to fix something on her laser gun. She hadn’t been alone with Jeff since Shirley’s kitchen, and had no clue what to expect when it finally happened. She had been sure he was about to try to kiss her when Britta had come walking in, but then the rest of the night and today he had been acting like nothing had happened. She had to catch herself in order to keep from making a frustrated noise. She should have given up trying to figure out Jeff Winger a long time ago.
There was something else though… something she couldn’t quite put her finger on from the night before. It was like trying to remember a dream after you woke up, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was important. Britta walking in on them had probably been a good thing though. She wasn’t sure what she would have done if Jeff had tried to kiss her. Shoving him away would’ve created one kind of mess, but letting him do it would’ve created a whole different one.
Lately she’d been feeling like they were as close or closer than they’d ever been. She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but he somehow seemed… reliable. There were certain things she had never talked to Jeff about because he’d just roll his eyes and make a sarcastic comment or just dismiss it entirely. But recently it was like she could go to him with anything, no matter how small. He still rolled his eyes sometimes… but he was never dismissive. Anyway, she needed some time to sort out her feelings, and the last thing she needed right now was to be kissing Jeff.
Abed called for action, and Annie snapped to attention. Jeff launched into his showdown with the leader of the robot army, and soon Annie was shielding her eyes from the falling Styrofoam being dropped from above to simulate the start of hostilities. “I’ll see you in Hell!” Jeff yelled at the scene’s climax.
“Cut!” Abed called. “Great take, everyone, I think that does it. Let’s break early. Starburns! Get me that light meter!”
As Abed continued barking orders at the crew, Annie went over to her bag and pulled out the new scene scripts Abed had given her, then walked back over to where Jeff and Britta were.
“Sorry Britta,” Jeff was saying with exaggerated seriousness. “I’ve gotta take this.” He held his phone up to his ear and strolled away casually.
Britta huffed and turned towards Annie. “Can you help me pick up lunch from Shirley’s? Jeff just” she made air quotes, “got an important call.”
Annie glanced longingly at her script, but nodded and walked with Britta over to the cafeteria. Several bags full of sandwiches and chips awaited them on the counter. Shirley, however, was nowhere to be seen. They fished through the bags and counted the contents to confirm they had enough for the entire cast and crew. Just when they were about to gather everything up and head back, Shirley emerged from the kitchen wearing a concerned look on her face.
“Shirley? Is everything ok?” Annie asked.
Shirley frowned and shook her head. “I just got off the phone with my mom. My dad is in the hospital.”
“Aww, Shirley!” Annie ran around the counter and wrapped Shirley in a hug, with Britta joining her a moment later.
The three women stood together for what seemed like several minutes before Shirley pulled back, her face lined with tears. “Thanks, you two. My mom didn’t really have much information yet, but she sounded worried. I think… I think I need to head home. I wouldn’t make a very good village councilwoman right now…”
Annie fought back tears of her own as Britta said “It’s ok, Shirley, we’ll tell Abed and Jeff.”
They went in for one last hug before Shirley gathered her things and left. Annie and Britta collected the bags of food and walked somberly back to the movie set.
As they entered, the crew cheered at the arrival of food, but Annie and Britta weren’t sharing the mood. They pulled the boys aside and told them the news. Abed looked crestfallen, but Jeff’s expression was unreadable. The four of them joined together in a group hug before each broke off to find a distraction to take their mind off Shirley’s news.
Annie retreated to her chair in the corner with a turkey sandwich and her scene scripts. She chewed absentmindedly while she read through the first new scene, making periodic notes in the margins. Her character was seriously wounded while saving Jeff’s life in the battle, and this scene took place in the infirmary. The hospital-like setting kept bringing Shirley back to her mind, so she put it aside and picked up the other new scene - the last one they’d be shooting that day.
The scene number indicated that it was one that would be towards the end of the movie, and by this point her character had recovered from her injury. It was some sort of big emotional scene between her character and Jeff’s. Apparently her character had been in love with Jeff’s for a long time, and her near-death in the battle had made him realize that he felt the same way. The dialogue was a little over the top, but she’d get to yell at Jeff, so that should be fun. She reached the end of the scene and almost choked on a bite of her sandwich. She made a strangled noise in the back of her throat and her eyes were threatening to pop out of their sockets.
The last line of the scene read simply: Mayor and Security Chief kiss.
Annie jumped up from her seat and franticly scanned the room for Abed. She spotted him at the makeshift video station, staring at a screen and with oversized headphones covering a large portion of his head. She dropped the remnants of her sandwich on the chair and hurried over to him. He didn’t notice her at first, so she tapped him insistently on the shoulder.
Abed turned and pulled the headphones down around his neck. “Hey Annie.”
“Abed, sidebar!” she hissed, and gestured towards the hallway. Abed made a face, but followed her out the door.
As soon as the door latched closed, Annie rounded on him. She shoved the last scene in his face and the pitch of her voice threatened to shatter glass as she exclaimed “Mayor and Security Chief kiss?!”
Abed winced, glanced at the paper, then back at Annie. “It’s common in movies, Annie.” He said with a shrug. “I’d rather focus on the robot battles too, but romance helps the audience to…”
“Abed!” His mouth clamped shut as Annie cut him off, “I don’t care about the robot battles!”
Abed’s recoiled as if this was the most offensive thing she could have said. He visibly calmed himself before saying carefully “Ok Annie. There are always creative differences between a director and the cast. What is your concern with the scene?”
“My concern?! My concern is that you…!” She clenched the script tighter in her fist and shook it in Abed’s face. “You have me kissing Jeff!” she almost shouted.
Abed’s face went blank and he eyed her carefully. “Why is that a problem?” he asked innocently.
Annie stopped short, her anger fading into discomfort. “Because…” she glanced around nervously, “you know about our history together…”
Abed tilted his head as he regarded her. “I know you kissed each other over four years ago. I know you used to have a crush on him. But you also told me you weren’t in love with him. Is there something else I should know?”
Annie’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly as she scrambled to think of a reply.
“It’s just a movie, Annie. You’re playing a character. Jeff is playing a character. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Annie’s mind was racing. It was just a movie, and no, it didn’t have to mean anything… But things with Jeff were never that simple. Every time she thought she knew where she stood and what she felt, the universe, or sometimes just Jeff, threw her a curveball. True, she wasn’t in love with Jeff, but how could she tell Abed that she was afraid kissing him would reopen all those old feelings she had worked so hard and painfully to bury? He’d been acting differently recently, but there had been other times she thought he was finally coming around only to have it brutally shoved in her face. She wasn’t sure she could handle going through that again.
Abed continued on, “We are but poor players that strut and fret our hour upon the stage, and then are heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Annie looked at Abed in shock. “Did you just quote Macbeth?”
Abed smiled at her. “Shakespeare was the Spielberg of his time.”
Annie huffed out a small laugh. “I don’t know…”
“Annie, this is a critical scene for my movie. Reviews of my early films all said they lack an emotional component. This is my chance to show them I can do it. And if it makes you feel any better, Jeff doesn’t think this is a big deal.”
Oh great, what does that mean? Annie let out a long sigh. “Ok, Abed. But you still should have told me about this beforehand.”
“Sorry.”
Annie cocked her head to the side and gave Abed a playful look. “You know, the way you used that Macbeth quote? You indirectly called yourself an idiot.”
Abed laughed. “Yeah, I died a little inside when I said it.”
Annie smiled widely at him, and moved to head back to the set.
“Oh, Annie, one more thing though.” She stopped and looked at him expectantly. “The kiss may not mean anything, but your director needs and expects it to be passionate.” Abed turned and went back through the doorway, leaving Annie gaping in the hallway.
Darn you, Abed!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Years!” Annie shouted. “I’ve waited years for you to feel for me the way I feel for you!” Jeff flinched, and a thoroughly miserable expression covered his face. “I had to nearly be killed for you to realize that you love me, and now you’re telling me that we still can’t be together?!” Annie projected as much anger as she could into her lines, it helped to slightly quell the grapefruit-sized butterflies that were frolicking around her stomach.
A light breeze shook the leaves of the trees surrounding them. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows everywhere. Jeff held his hands up in a placating gesture. “My dear, I’m sorry. Truly I am. But this war… we both may die tomorrow. We don’t know…”
“If we may die tomorrow, then all the more reason for us to live today!” Annie said fervently.
Jeff looked around helplessly. “My dear, I wish I could. Truly. I never knew until now how much I wished it.”
The butterflies scourging her stomach began to work faster. How is he so calm?! “If you wish it, my liege, then why deny it?” Annie pleaded. “There are so few chances for happiness in this world. Let’s take this chance together.”
Jeff hung his head dejectedly. “My dear, I cannot let you take such a chance. Not with me.”
Tears began welling in Annie’s eyes. “Why?” she whispered.
Jeff looked as though his heart was breaking open inside his chest. “Because my dear… I…”
Annie stepped close to him and took his hands in hers. “Tell me…” she begged.
“I am not good for you, my dear. You are young and beautiful, I am an old man. I could never give you everything you need. I do not deserve one such as you.” The raw pain in Jeff’s voice more than doubled the effort it was taking for Annie to keep her face calm.
She gazed at him, a profound look of sadness spreading over her. “Now we come to it. You think you are unworthy of me. Unable to provide me with what I want or need when all I’ve ever wanted or needed is your love.”
They were getting close now, and the butterflies in her stomach had apparently taken up the drums.
“You think you’re protecting me,” Annie continued, “but really you’re telling me that you don’t respect me enough to decide for myself what is good for me.” Annie’s cheeks were on fire, and she almost giggled hysterically. Keep it together Annie…
Jeff stared at her, his eyes tormented, but unable to speak.
“Very well,” she said, letting go of his hands and dropping to kneel before him. “It has been my life’s honor to serve you my liege. If you will not let me live together with you, then I will die for you.” She raised her fist in salute, then stood and turned in one motion, walking briskly away from him.
“No.” she heard him say determinedly from behind her. His long legs quickly closed the gap between them; he caught her by the elbow, spinning her around. She only caught a brief glimpse of him, his face a mixture of pain and frenzied desire, before his mouth closed around hers. Her eyes snapped shut and her mouth opened involuntarily in response to his. His arms wrapped around her almost roughly, clutching her close. It had been over four years since she had last kissed him, but it all came rushing back in an instant. The heat of his touch, the taste of his mouth, the slightly musky scent of his cologne… and the passion. This couldn’t just be acting could it? Their tongues slid together and all attempts at rational thought flew from her head. She inhaled sharply as the world spun around her, and her toes tried to curl up in her shoes. One arm snaked up his back until she had a handful of his hair, the other she locked around his waist, so that she was holding him just as tightly as he held her.
Some time later - she wasn’t sure how long - she realized that someone was shouting.
“For the last time, I said cut!”
Reality slowly returned to her and she remembered where she was. And how many people were watching. It took all her strength, but she was finally able to pull away from Jeff. Her knees were trembling so badly though that she still had to lean against him for support. She looked around sheepishly while trying to hide the fact that she was gasping for air. Almost the entire crew wore looks of varying levels of embarrassment. Abed, however, looked annoyed as he walked up to them.
He looked back and forth between them and shook his head slowly. “You know, these camera batteries only last four hours. I know I told you I wanted passion, but this is a family movie.”
Annie stole a quick glance at Jeff, and was gratified to see the dazed look on his face. She opened her mouth to apologize to Abed but no sound would come out, so she just shrugged and looked at him guiltily.
Abed arched an eyebrow, then turned back towards the camera. “Ok, let’s get another take. We’re going to lose the light!”
Oh dear.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jeff sat on his couch, surrounded by piles of forgotten midterms. He stared without seeing at the Rockies game playing on his TV. All his attempts at thinking about something other than Annie had ended in abysmal failure.
Prior to the climactic scene of the day, Jeff had been surprised at how much fun he’d been having. The dialogue was a bit cheesy sometimes, and he wasn’t exactly a science fiction fan, but something about doing something so ridiculous with his friends just seemed… right. The news Annie and Britta had shared with them about Shirley had been the one dark cloud on the day, and Jeff quickly checked his phone to see if his friend had emailed him back yet.
No response. Jeff dropped his phone on a stack of midterms at his side.
He leaned back and gazed at the ceiling. ”Years! I’ve waited years for you to feel for me the way I feel for you!” ….. “you’re telling me that we still can’t be together?!” ….. “all I’ve ever wanted or needed is your love.” ….. “You think you’re protecting me, but really you’re telling me that you don’t respect me enough to decide for myself what is good for me.” A movie script it may have been, but hearing Annie say those words… Jeff hadn’t had to do any acting in order to inject pain into his voice.
He’d been a nervous wreck leading up to the scene, and then all the way up to the kiss. Annie had been so calm and composed, he must have looked like a fool in comparison.
And then… the kiss. It was something he’d been wanting to do for a while, but when it happened… He had put everything into that kiss. All his pent-up desires, his secret longings, every touch, every smile, every look between them in the four years since their lips had last met, all his love for this silly, amazing woman. Good God, how had he allowed four years to go by without kissing her? And why had he ever convinced himself that kissing her was a bad thing?
Jeff’s phone buzzed twice in quick succession, indicating a text message. It buzzed again as he reached over to pick it up.
2 Messages
Britta (2)
Jeff opened the text window and read the messages Britta had sent. Then he read them again. And again.
Watching some of todays fotage with Abed.
Saw your last seen wiht Annie. OMG!!!!! You better get her a pregnency test!”
Jeff groaned and ran his hands through his hair. So much for subtlety. He hadn’t exactly forgotten that they were shooting a movie, but in the moment, everything else had disappeared except for her. Even on the subsequent takes, it had been difficult to control himself. Abed had eventually stopped doing reshoots of the entire scene and had them only doing takes of the kiss. He needed to find some way to thank Abed for that.
His phone started buzzing again. He rolled his eyes at the expected snarky text from Britta, but quickly realized he was getting a call. He looked at the display screen.
Oh no.
Call From:
Annie Cell
Jeff started to panic. They hadn’t really spoken after the shooting had finished. He wasn’t sure what they could have said… but now she was calling him. What could she want? There was no way this was a casual ‘how ya doin’ phone call. The possibilities multiplied in his head, creating an Annie fractal. He realized the call was about to go to voicemail, so he hastily picked up the phone and resigned himself to the coming questions about what the day had meant to him.
“Hey Ann…”
“Are you watching this?!” Annie exclaimed through the phone.
Jeff could not have been more confused. “Wha…?”
“Channel seven. Now!”
Jeff fumbled for the remote and flipped the channel.
“…caught fire, creating quite a show and alarming morning commuters.” The picture on the screen was showing some shaky cell phone footage of what looked to be a burning river. “Emergency crews quelled the blaze and no one was injured, however, maritime traffic for one of the busiest ports in the southern hemisphere was disrupted for the better part of the morning.” The screen changed to a more recent shot that looked to be from a helicopter. Emergency boats clustered around a dark spot in the water, and black smoke still hung in the air.
Jeff furrowed his brow in confusion. He could see a familiar looking bridge in the background, but couldn’t place it. The shot changed to a different angle, and Jeff immediately recognized Sydney’s famous opera house. He was about to ask Annie why she was showing this to him, when the shot cut back to the news anchor. The words died on his lips and Jeff’s mouth hung open in shock. The story headline displayed at the bottom of the screen read: “Local man arrested in Australia.”
“In a bizarre twist, actor LeVar Burton was also aboard the vessel, though there is no word at this time if he has been charged with any wrongdoing.”
Troy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author: cgkm2099z
Pairing: Jeff/Annie
Spoilers: Current
Rating: PG-13
Warning Some language. Depends on whether you think "damn" and "hell" are curse words.
Word Count: 4,217
Disclaimer: I do not own Community. Community, and its characters, are the creation of the great Dan Harmon. I think it's still owned by Sony Pictures Television, but after the hack, I'm not so sure. The title is from the song "I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons.
Next Chapter
Previous Chapter
“Abed, what is this? Why do I have to dress like Albert Einstein at a disco?”
“It’s a futuristic outfit. The white hair symbolizes age and venerable wisdom. You’re playing the mayor.”
“I had no idea.” Jeff said dryly as he held up a silver sash that read ‘MAYOR’ in black lettering. Abed was already ignoring him though, having turned his attention back to helping Garrett and Pavel set up the camera. Jeff slipped the sash on and busied himself with trying to straighten the bushy white eyebrows that were part of his outfit. Man this wig itches.
“Abed!” Britta came trotting up carrying a bundle of leather straps. “I am not wearing this. And shame on you!”
Jeff eyed the jumble of straps Britta held, “Is that a whip?”
Britta looked at Jeff for the first time and burst out laughing.
Jeff scowled at her, “Sure, laugh it up. Wait’ll you read scene 42.”
“Oh come on Jeff, it’s not all that bad. It shows off your pecs, you must love that.”
Jeff’s scowl deepened, and he crossed his arms as he continued to glare at Britta. He did love that, but he didn’t love being called on it.
Abed finished with the camera and looked at what Britta was holding. “That’s not your costume, Britta, that’s a horse harness.” Jeff’s scowl morphed immediately into a grin at the mortified look on Britta’s face. “Go see Vickie, she’ll be making some adjustments to your outfit as soon as she’s done with Annie’s.”
As Britta went off in search of Vickie, Abed turned back to Jeff. “We’re about ready to start the first scene. Annie should be down any minute. Remember, we’re shooting out of order, so this is the scene where you meet the alien ambassador.”
“Yeah, about that… I’m confused. I thought she was supposed to be my head of security or something. I didn’t get a chance to read all…”
“Who, the ambassador?”
“No, An…”
“Good, Annie’s here.” Abed interrupted, then called out, “Places everyone!”
Jeff turned to look and froze in place. The person walking onto the set wearing a hot pink dress with a billowing skirt and a dark blue beehive wig was Annie alright. Annie Kim.
“Abed. Abed!” Jeff hissed.
Abed gave Jeff an inquisitive look.
“Sidebar!” Jeff tried to keep his voice low, and gestured towards the hallway with his eyes.
Abed followed Jeff out into the hall. “What is it?”
“What is she doing here?”
Abed glanced back over his shoulder. “Annie? I told you she was in this.”
“I thought you meant our Annie. You said we’re supposed to…” Jeff cut himself off before saying the word ‘kiss.’
Abed tilted his head and peered at Jeff. “Is there a problem?”
“No I…” Jeff hesitated, and tried to force the disappointment out of his voice, “I just thought I was supposed to be working with our Annie… that’s all.”
“Hey guys!” Annie called out as she came jogging up the hallway behind Jeff. “Sorry I’m late… car trouble.” She giggled as she got a look at Jeff’s outfit. “Nice look, Jeff. I’ll go get changed!” She rushed past in a whirlwind and disappeared through the door.
Abed gave Jeff a knowing smile. “You are.” He spun on his heel and walked back towards the set. “Everyone to first positions!”
Damn you, Abed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Annie shifted uncomfortably in her tinfoil bra. Despite Abed’s insistence that it was a staple of science fiction and Jeff’s assurances that she should take it as a compliment, she still wasn’t happy about how much cleavage the black leotard under her bra was showing. Britta stood next to her, fumbling with her weird binocular goggles. Jeff and Abed were leaning over a monitor examining the last take they had done. Abed was gesturing emphatically and pointed to the screen, giving Jeff some kind of instructions for how to play the scene the way he wanted. The fact that Jeff was leaning over was causing his shirt to hang open. Annie caught herself staring at his chest and gave herself a shake.
“Only one more scene before we break for lunch, right?” Britta asked.
“Yeah, I think we break after the shootout. I don’t know if I’ll have time to eat though. Abed just gave me the script for my last two scenes. I feel so unprepared.”
“Don’t worry so much Annie, this isn’t exactly Casablanca.”
Annie let out an offended gasp. “Britta! That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our best! We’re doing this for Abed.”
Britta rolled her eyes and resumed fumbling with her goggles.
Abed and Jeff finished at the monitor and Jeff headed back over towards her and Britta. Annie flushed slightly and pretended to fix something on her laser gun. She hadn’t been alone with Jeff since Shirley’s kitchen, and had no clue what to expect when it finally happened. She had been sure he was about to try to kiss her when Britta had come walking in, but then the rest of the night and today he had been acting like nothing had happened. She had to catch herself in order to keep from making a frustrated noise. She should have given up trying to figure out Jeff Winger a long time ago.
There was something else though… something she couldn’t quite put her finger on from the night before. It was like trying to remember a dream after you woke up, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was important. Britta walking in on them had probably been a good thing though. She wasn’t sure what she would have done if Jeff had tried to kiss her. Shoving him away would’ve created one kind of mess, but letting him do it would’ve created a whole different one.
Lately she’d been feeling like they were as close or closer than they’d ever been. She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but he somehow seemed… reliable. There were certain things she had never talked to Jeff about because he’d just roll his eyes and make a sarcastic comment or just dismiss it entirely. But recently it was like she could go to him with anything, no matter how small. He still rolled his eyes sometimes… but he was never dismissive. Anyway, she needed some time to sort out her feelings, and the last thing she needed right now was to be kissing Jeff.
Abed called for action, and Annie snapped to attention. Jeff launched into his showdown with the leader of the robot army, and soon Annie was shielding her eyes from the falling Styrofoam being dropped from above to simulate the start of hostilities. “I’ll see you in Hell!” Jeff yelled at the scene’s climax.
“Cut!” Abed called. “Great take, everyone, I think that does it. Let’s break early. Starburns! Get me that light meter!”
As Abed continued barking orders at the crew, Annie went over to her bag and pulled out the new scene scripts Abed had given her, then walked back over to where Jeff and Britta were.
“Sorry Britta,” Jeff was saying with exaggerated seriousness. “I’ve gotta take this.” He held his phone up to his ear and strolled away casually.
Britta huffed and turned towards Annie. “Can you help me pick up lunch from Shirley’s? Jeff just” she made air quotes, “got an important call.”
Annie glanced longingly at her script, but nodded and walked with Britta over to the cafeteria. Several bags full of sandwiches and chips awaited them on the counter. Shirley, however, was nowhere to be seen. They fished through the bags and counted the contents to confirm they had enough for the entire cast and crew. Just when they were about to gather everything up and head back, Shirley emerged from the kitchen wearing a concerned look on her face.
“Shirley? Is everything ok?” Annie asked.
Shirley frowned and shook her head. “I just got off the phone with my mom. My dad is in the hospital.”
“Aww, Shirley!” Annie ran around the counter and wrapped Shirley in a hug, with Britta joining her a moment later.
The three women stood together for what seemed like several minutes before Shirley pulled back, her face lined with tears. “Thanks, you two. My mom didn’t really have much information yet, but she sounded worried. I think… I think I need to head home. I wouldn’t make a very good village councilwoman right now…”
Annie fought back tears of her own as Britta said “It’s ok, Shirley, we’ll tell Abed and Jeff.”
They went in for one last hug before Shirley gathered her things and left. Annie and Britta collected the bags of food and walked somberly back to the movie set.
As they entered, the crew cheered at the arrival of food, but Annie and Britta weren’t sharing the mood. They pulled the boys aside and told them the news. Abed looked crestfallen, but Jeff’s expression was unreadable. The four of them joined together in a group hug before each broke off to find a distraction to take their mind off Shirley’s news.
Annie retreated to her chair in the corner with a turkey sandwich and her scene scripts. She chewed absentmindedly while she read through the first new scene, making periodic notes in the margins. Her character was seriously wounded while saving Jeff’s life in the battle, and this scene took place in the infirmary. The hospital-like setting kept bringing Shirley back to her mind, so she put it aside and picked up the other new scene - the last one they’d be shooting that day.
The scene number indicated that it was one that would be towards the end of the movie, and by this point her character had recovered from her injury. It was some sort of big emotional scene between her character and Jeff’s. Apparently her character had been in love with Jeff’s for a long time, and her near-death in the battle had made him realize that he felt the same way. The dialogue was a little over the top, but she’d get to yell at Jeff, so that should be fun. She reached the end of the scene and almost choked on a bite of her sandwich. She made a strangled noise in the back of her throat and her eyes were threatening to pop out of their sockets.
The last line of the scene read simply: Mayor and Security Chief kiss.
Annie jumped up from her seat and franticly scanned the room for Abed. She spotted him at the makeshift video station, staring at a screen and with oversized headphones covering a large portion of his head. She dropped the remnants of her sandwich on the chair and hurried over to him. He didn’t notice her at first, so she tapped him insistently on the shoulder.
Abed turned and pulled the headphones down around his neck. “Hey Annie.”
“Abed, sidebar!” she hissed, and gestured towards the hallway. Abed made a face, but followed her out the door.
As soon as the door latched closed, Annie rounded on him. She shoved the last scene in his face and the pitch of her voice threatened to shatter glass as she exclaimed “Mayor and Security Chief kiss?!”
Abed winced, glanced at the paper, then back at Annie. “It’s common in movies, Annie.” He said with a shrug. “I’d rather focus on the robot battles too, but romance helps the audience to…”
“Abed!” His mouth clamped shut as Annie cut him off, “I don’t care about the robot battles!”
Abed’s recoiled as if this was the most offensive thing she could have said. He visibly calmed himself before saying carefully “Ok Annie. There are always creative differences between a director and the cast. What is your concern with the scene?”
“My concern?! My concern is that you…!” She clenched the script tighter in her fist and shook it in Abed’s face. “You have me kissing Jeff!” she almost shouted.
Abed’s face went blank and he eyed her carefully. “Why is that a problem?” he asked innocently.
Annie stopped short, her anger fading into discomfort. “Because…” she glanced around nervously, “you know about our history together…”
Abed tilted his head as he regarded her. “I know you kissed each other over four years ago. I know you used to have a crush on him. But you also told me you weren’t in love with him. Is there something else I should know?”
Annie’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly as she scrambled to think of a reply.
“It’s just a movie, Annie. You’re playing a character. Jeff is playing a character. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Annie’s mind was racing. It was just a movie, and no, it didn’t have to mean anything… But things with Jeff were never that simple. Every time she thought she knew where she stood and what she felt, the universe, or sometimes just Jeff, threw her a curveball. True, she wasn’t in love with Jeff, but how could she tell Abed that she was afraid kissing him would reopen all those old feelings she had worked so hard and painfully to bury? He’d been acting differently recently, but there had been other times she thought he was finally coming around only to have it brutally shoved in her face. She wasn’t sure she could handle going through that again.
Abed continued on, “We are but poor players that strut and fret our hour upon the stage, and then are heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Annie looked at Abed in shock. “Did you just quote Macbeth?”
Abed smiled at her. “Shakespeare was the Spielberg of his time.”
Annie huffed out a small laugh. “I don’t know…”
“Annie, this is a critical scene for my movie. Reviews of my early films all said they lack an emotional component. This is my chance to show them I can do it. And if it makes you feel any better, Jeff doesn’t think this is a big deal.”
Oh great, what does that mean? Annie let out a long sigh. “Ok, Abed. But you still should have told me about this beforehand.”
“Sorry.”
Annie cocked her head to the side and gave Abed a playful look. “You know, the way you used that Macbeth quote? You indirectly called yourself an idiot.”
Abed laughed. “Yeah, I died a little inside when I said it.”
Annie smiled widely at him, and moved to head back to the set.
“Oh, Annie, one more thing though.” She stopped and looked at him expectantly. “The kiss may not mean anything, but your director needs and expects it to be passionate.” Abed turned and went back through the doorway, leaving Annie gaping in the hallway.
Darn you, Abed!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Years!” Annie shouted. “I’ve waited years for you to feel for me the way I feel for you!” Jeff flinched, and a thoroughly miserable expression covered his face. “I had to nearly be killed for you to realize that you love me, and now you’re telling me that we still can’t be together?!” Annie projected as much anger as she could into her lines, it helped to slightly quell the grapefruit-sized butterflies that were frolicking around her stomach.
A light breeze shook the leaves of the trees surrounding them. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows everywhere. Jeff held his hands up in a placating gesture. “My dear, I’m sorry. Truly I am. But this war… we both may die tomorrow. We don’t know…”
“If we may die tomorrow, then all the more reason for us to live today!” Annie said fervently.
Jeff looked around helplessly. “My dear, I wish I could. Truly. I never knew until now how much I wished it.”
The butterflies scourging her stomach began to work faster. How is he so calm?! “If you wish it, my liege, then why deny it?” Annie pleaded. “There are so few chances for happiness in this world. Let’s take this chance together.”
Jeff hung his head dejectedly. “My dear, I cannot let you take such a chance. Not with me.”
Tears began welling in Annie’s eyes. “Why?” she whispered.
Jeff looked as though his heart was breaking open inside his chest. “Because my dear… I…”
Annie stepped close to him and took his hands in hers. “Tell me…” she begged.
“I am not good for you, my dear. You are young and beautiful, I am an old man. I could never give you everything you need. I do not deserve one such as you.” The raw pain in Jeff’s voice more than doubled the effort it was taking for Annie to keep her face calm.
She gazed at him, a profound look of sadness spreading over her. “Now we come to it. You think you are unworthy of me. Unable to provide me with what I want or need when all I’ve ever wanted or needed is your love.”
They were getting close now, and the butterflies in her stomach had apparently taken up the drums.
“You think you’re protecting me,” Annie continued, “but really you’re telling me that you don’t respect me enough to decide for myself what is good for me.” Annie’s cheeks were on fire, and she almost giggled hysterically. Keep it together Annie…
Jeff stared at her, his eyes tormented, but unable to speak.
“Very well,” she said, letting go of his hands and dropping to kneel before him. “It has been my life’s honor to serve you my liege. If you will not let me live together with you, then I will die for you.” She raised her fist in salute, then stood and turned in one motion, walking briskly away from him.
“No.” she heard him say determinedly from behind her. His long legs quickly closed the gap between them; he caught her by the elbow, spinning her around. She only caught a brief glimpse of him, his face a mixture of pain and frenzied desire, before his mouth closed around hers. Her eyes snapped shut and her mouth opened involuntarily in response to his. His arms wrapped around her almost roughly, clutching her close. It had been over four years since she had last kissed him, but it all came rushing back in an instant. The heat of his touch, the taste of his mouth, the slightly musky scent of his cologne… and the passion. This couldn’t just be acting could it? Their tongues slid together and all attempts at rational thought flew from her head. She inhaled sharply as the world spun around her, and her toes tried to curl up in her shoes. One arm snaked up his back until she had a handful of his hair, the other she locked around his waist, so that she was holding him just as tightly as he held her.
Some time later - she wasn’t sure how long - she realized that someone was shouting.
“For the last time, I said cut!”
Reality slowly returned to her and she remembered where she was. And how many people were watching. It took all her strength, but she was finally able to pull away from Jeff. Her knees were trembling so badly though that she still had to lean against him for support. She looked around sheepishly while trying to hide the fact that she was gasping for air. Almost the entire crew wore looks of varying levels of embarrassment. Abed, however, looked annoyed as he walked up to them.
He looked back and forth between them and shook his head slowly. “You know, these camera batteries only last four hours. I know I told you I wanted passion, but this is a family movie.”
Annie stole a quick glance at Jeff, and was gratified to see the dazed look on his face. She opened her mouth to apologize to Abed but no sound would come out, so she just shrugged and looked at him guiltily.
Abed arched an eyebrow, then turned back towards the camera. “Ok, let’s get another take. We’re going to lose the light!”
Oh dear.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jeff sat on his couch, surrounded by piles of forgotten midterms. He stared without seeing at the Rockies game playing on his TV. All his attempts at thinking about something other than Annie had ended in abysmal failure.
Prior to the climactic scene of the day, Jeff had been surprised at how much fun he’d been having. The dialogue was a bit cheesy sometimes, and he wasn’t exactly a science fiction fan, but something about doing something so ridiculous with his friends just seemed… right. The news Annie and Britta had shared with them about Shirley had been the one dark cloud on the day, and Jeff quickly checked his phone to see if his friend had emailed him back yet.
No response. Jeff dropped his phone on a stack of midterms at his side.
He leaned back and gazed at the ceiling. ”Years! I’ve waited years for you to feel for me the way I feel for you!” ….. “you’re telling me that we still can’t be together?!” ….. “all I’ve ever wanted or needed is your love.” ….. “You think you’re protecting me, but really you’re telling me that you don’t respect me enough to decide for myself what is good for me.” A movie script it may have been, but hearing Annie say those words… Jeff hadn’t had to do any acting in order to inject pain into his voice.
He’d been a nervous wreck leading up to the scene, and then all the way up to the kiss. Annie had been so calm and composed, he must have looked like a fool in comparison.
And then… the kiss. It was something he’d been wanting to do for a while, but when it happened… He had put everything into that kiss. All his pent-up desires, his secret longings, every touch, every smile, every look between them in the four years since their lips had last met, all his love for this silly, amazing woman. Good God, how had he allowed four years to go by without kissing her? And why had he ever convinced himself that kissing her was a bad thing?
Jeff’s phone buzzed twice in quick succession, indicating a text message. It buzzed again as he reached over to pick it up.
2 Messages
Britta (2)
Jeff opened the text window and read the messages Britta had sent. Then he read them again. And again.
Watching some of todays fotage with Abed.
Saw your last seen wiht Annie. OMG!!!!! You better get her a pregnency test!”
Jeff groaned and ran his hands through his hair. So much for subtlety. He hadn’t exactly forgotten that they were shooting a movie, but in the moment, everything else had disappeared except for her. Even on the subsequent takes, it had been difficult to control himself. Abed had eventually stopped doing reshoots of the entire scene and had them only doing takes of the kiss. He needed to find some way to thank Abed for that.
His phone started buzzing again. He rolled his eyes at the expected snarky text from Britta, but quickly realized he was getting a call. He looked at the display screen.
Oh no.
Call From:
Annie Cell
Jeff started to panic. They hadn’t really spoken after the shooting had finished. He wasn’t sure what they could have said… but now she was calling him. What could she want? There was no way this was a casual ‘how ya doin’ phone call. The possibilities multiplied in his head, creating an Annie fractal. He realized the call was about to go to voicemail, so he hastily picked up the phone and resigned himself to the coming questions about what the day had meant to him.
“Hey Ann…”
“Are you watching this?!” Annie exclaimed through the phone.
Jeff could not have been more confused. “Wha…?”
“Channel seven. Now!”
Jeff fumbled for the remote and flipped the channel.
“…caught fire, creating quite a show and alarming morning commuters.” The picture on the screen was showing some shaky cell phone footage of what looked to be a burning river. “Emergency crews quelled the blaze and no one was injured, however, maritime traffic for one of the busiest ports in the southern hemisphere was disrupted for the better part of the morning.” The screen changed to a more recent shot that looked to be from a helicopter. Emergency boats clustered around a dark spot in the water, and black smoke still hung in the air.
Jeff furrowed his brow in confusion. He could see a familiar looking bridge in the background, but couldn’t place it. The shot changed to a different angle, and Jeff immediately recognized Sydney’s famous opera house. He was about to ask Annie why she was showing this to him, when the shot cut back to the news anchor. The words died on his lips and Jeff’s mouth hung open in shock. The story headline displayed at the bottom of the screen read: “Local man arrested in Australia.”
“In a bizarre twist, actor LeVar Burton was also aboard the vessel, though there is no word at this time if he has been charged with any wrongdoing.”
Troy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~