There's Only One Girl In the World For You (31/?)
Title: There’s only one girl in the world for you (31/?)
Author: lapacifidora
Spoilers: Season 1 and into an AU Season 2
Rating/ Warnings: PG-13, for the time being; there is an f-bomb in this chapter.
Word Count: 3,001
Disclaimers: Not mine. Although I think Dan Harmon knows this friend of mine and based Troy on her… The title comes from a Wreckless Eric song.
Author’s note: This is for shan21non ’s Ficcy Friday prompt for Greendale’s inaugural study abroad program. So, because solsty was sick today and didn’t have anything new to read, I decided I would get at least one chapter written tonight. Also, updates may be irregular for the next few days because I’m waiting to find out when I might have a job interview - and I’ll need a good nights sleep before that. ETA: Thanks for the support y'all. Interview is scheduled for 10:30 Friday morning, so no new chapter tonight, but I can probably knock one out tomorrow. Now I just need to decide on an outfit: I'm thinking of something between a travel agent and a professor thing. ;7
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 a/ b | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 a/ b | Chapter 21 a/ b | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24 | Chapter 25 | Chapter 26 a/ b | Chapter 27 | Chapter 28 | Chapter 29 | Chapter 30 a/ b |
***
It was as normal a week as anyone could expect, given it was the group’s first full week of classes, and there was little more than five weeks until they’d be boarding a plane to take them home to Greendale.
Saturday evening Professor Whitman met the group at the Air Canada Centre a half-hour before the Maple Leafs-Sabres game, but somehow managed to sidestep or change the subject of what he’d done all day - and with whom - came up.
Sunday the group outvoted Pierce and headed to the Bata Shoe Museum, with plans to visit the Julian Schnabel exhibit later in the afternoon.
(Whitman hadn’t been expecting the roundabout on Spadina Avenue, so what should’ve been a five minute trip from one museum to the next took nearly 10. Somehow, though, watching Pierce cringe and whimper in the passenger seat every time Whitman missed their turn made the longer trip bearable. At least until Troy announced he was beginning to feel sick and managed to turn an interesting shade of green.)
Monday was miserable, wet and cold, and Britta learned that the Humber cafeteria ran out of hot meat-less entrees the hard way.
(“Dude, there is nothing worse than an angry, hungry vegetarian.”
“Troy. I’m sitting right here.”
“I know! I can clearly hear you bitching about your salad.”)
Tuesday Abed invited a sullen dark-haired kid from his film class to sit with the group at lunch. When not even Annie could draw the young man into conversation, the group turned annoyed glares on Abed. When the young man excused himself 10 minutes before they left, Troy asked if he could remove the button camera Abed had rigged up. The group was bemused as Abed explained he had purposely invited an unpleasant classmate to gather footage of how the group interacted with someone like that for his documentary.
(“And you all thought my friend Gary was bad!”
“Tell me, Shirley: Have you heard from Gary lately? Is he settling in well at the University of Hell?”
“But, Abed, why did you have to invite him? Couldn’t you find someone unpleasant but nicer than him?”
“Well, Britta, there was a tall, sardonic guy in my class, but I didn’t think our group dynamic could stand that much sarcasm.”
“I prefer ‘witty’ to ‘sardonic.’”
“I wasn’t talking about you, Jeff. I think every ensemble can only handle one buzz kill, and we’ve already got ours.”
“Hey!”
“Now, now, Brittles. Abed just means that you’re a stick in the mud, and inviting the butch - well, butcher - version of you for lunch would’ve been too much.”)
Wednesday Jeff, Troy and Abed found themselves at a loss when a simple question (“Are you gonna finish the rest of those fries?”) resulted in angry accusations (“Why? Am I too fat to eat them?”) and Britta, Annie and Shirley storming off halfway through lunch.
“Dude.”
“Curiouser and curiouser.”
“What. The. Hell. All I wanted to know was if she was going to eat all her fries.”
“Lads, it has nothing to do with food.”
“First, don’t call us ‘lads.’ Second, what are you talking about?”
“Well- how can I put this delicately?”
“Since when does that matter to you?”
“Chrissy says being tactful is an important facet of human interaction.”
“whipped.”
“I heard that, Barnes. Don’t think I didn’t. Oh, I know! They’re all on their rag.”
“What?”
“If that means what I think Pierce thinks it means, ewwww.”
“This could be a fascinating dramatic element in my documentary.”
“Y’know: Rag. Out-of-town visitors? Mother Nature’s little gift? The Red Badge of Womanhood? Their…monthlies?”
“Thank you, Pierce, I knew exactly what you were talking about. But all three of them?”
“That’s a good point, Jeffrey, my boy. Do you want to ask Brittles and the African Queen or shall I?”
***
Jeff had been cautious when he sat down next to Annie in their after-lunch class, frowning when she didn’t look up from the issue of the Toronto Sun she was reading. He cleared his throat and carefully placed a whole, wrapped crisp rice square on the desk at her elbow. Annie glanced down at it from the corner of her eye, but still didn’t look at Jeff. A few minutes later, when the instructor entered the room and called the class to order, Jeff noticed that Annie did tuck the treat into an outer pocket of her backpack.
When the class was over, Annie looked him in the eye for the first time.
“Thanks. For the rice krispy square.”
“You’re welcome.” Jeff stood, waiting as Annie zipped up her backpack and stood, hoisting it onto her shoulders. “Ready?”
“Yep.” They began to exit the room when Jeff heard his name being called.
“Mr. Winger, would you mind staying behind a minute?” Jeff looked to Annie, who smiled and shrugged and continued on to the hallway. Jeff turned back to face the instructor, who was an attractive woman in her 30s, dressed today in a pair of dark denim trousers, a fitted white blouse, a dark blazer and a couple of artfully arranged long necklaces.
“Ms. Mantey?”
“Please, Jeff, call me Jackie.” She smiled at him and tucked a strand of her auburn hair behind one ear. “I realize this will probably come across sounding sort of strange, but I understand that you’re part of an exchange program here, and you’ll be leaving us at the beginning of next month.”
“That’s right. There’s seven of us; actually, the woman I was sitting next to, Ann-”
“That’s nice. Look, Jeff, I’ll cut straight to the point here.” She leaned across the table, going for what Jeff was a full-on smolder. “You’re not here for very long, and you’re very attractive. I’m just an instructor, not a professor, so I’m not bound by all the same rules, and, well, let’s face it, I’m pretty much rockin’ this look. Am I right?” She stood up and gestured at her figure. Jeff stared at her blankly while his brow furrowed a little. “What am I saying? Of course I’m right.” She laughed. “Anyways, when two attractive people have a limited window of opportunity, they should seize the moment. Have dinner with me tomorrow night.”
“Dinner?”
“Well, if you want to stick around for breakfast, that’s fine, but it’s not a deal breaker.”
“Uh, I’m flattered, but no, thanks.”
“You don’t date instructors?”
“Tried it once; didn’t work out.”
“Well, then don’t think of me as your instructor. Think of me as this hot redhead you’ve happened to meet in one of your classes here. In fact, let me try this again: Hey, you with the hair. Date me.”
“Not to get into semantics, but what you’re offering isn’t really dating. And, seriously, thank you, but I’m not interested.”
“It’s that blonde, isn’t it?” She frowned, shaking her head and mumbling to herself. “Why is it always a blonde?” She looked back up at Jeff. “Is it the ‘fuck-off’ attitude or the earnestness? It can’t be just the hair.”
“It’s not the blonde.”
“You and the Black chick? Really? Huh.” She cocked her head to one side, picking up several folders in one hand and her briefcase in the other, heading for the door. “I did not see that one coming.” She paused in the doorway and turned back to face Jeff. “Look, if you change your mind about dinner - and/or breakfast - you know where to find me.” She left, and Jeff could hear her heels clicking away. He stepped into the hall and looked around until he spotted Annie, standing several yards away and leaning against the wall, reading the paper again. He jogged over to meet her, hoping she hadn’t heard their instructor’s offer to him.
“Hey.”
“Oh. Hey.” Annie closed the paper and folded it, meeting his gaze with a bright smile.
“Sorry about that. Ms. Mantey was, uh, just welcoming me - and all of us - to Humber.”
“That’s nice.”
“Right.” Jeff stared at Annie for a minute: He wasn’t sure if he was imagining the strained tone of her voice or the way her cheeks seemed to tremble a little, as though she was trying to smile to widely. “Ready to go? I thought we could hang out in the library until everyone else is done for the day.”
“Why, Jeff, you want to hang out in a library?” Annie gave him a shocked look and put a hand to her throat, though her mocking tone took the sting out of her question. Jeff smirked and threw an arm around her shoulders, leaning down so his mouth was by her ear as they headed toward the library.
“Why, yes, Annie, I do. I was thinking we should go explore the stacks on the upper floor, near the back.” He pulled back, his smirk growing as Annie shot him a confused look.
“But, Jeff, that’s where people usually go to, you know.” Annie’s voice dropped as she looked around. “Make out a-and stuff.”
“Yep.”
***
Jeff wasn’t particularly fond of libraries. It was less that he disliked books and more that he disliked being told he had to be quiet.
(Or it could have had something to do with a dusty book on a top shelf, a particularly ugly brown spider and a librarian with no shred of human kindness when he was seven. Maybe.)
But the library at Humber was beginning to go up in his estimation. It was less to do with the extensive collection and more to do with the panting, disheveled Annie he had pressed up against a bookshelf in a deserted aisle on the quiet upper floor.
(Or it could have had something to do with the overall ambiance of the library, which was decorated tastefully and had several comfy arm chairs. Maybe. But probably not.)
Jeff slid his hand along Annie’s leg, hitching it higher around his waist, while his other hand rubbed at the base of her skull while he changed the angle of their kiss. He pulled away, skimming his lips over her cheek and down her neck before latching onto the juncture of Annie’s neck and shoulder. Annie mewled and arched into him, prompting Jeff to crowd further into her and the bookcase.
Annie had one hand beneath the waistband of Jeff’s jeans, alternately scratching lightly and clutching at him when he changed the pressure of his mouth against her skin. The other held onto the hairs at the back of Jeff’s neck. The distant ping of an elevator made her whimper. She tugged at Jeff’s hair.
“Jeff.”
“Mfffny.”
“Jeff.”
“Mfffny.”
“Jeffrey.”
“Ann-Ow.” Jeff removed his hand from her neck, reaching around to the back of his own head and rubbing at the tender spot. “Did you pull anything out?”
“Jeff, be serious.” Annie pushed at his shoulder and removed her hand from his waist as she tried to lower her leg, but Jeff tightened his hold on her. “Let me down.”
“No.”
“C’mon, Jeff. What if someone finds us? Let me down.”
“Nope, sorry, not going to happen.” Annie scowled at him, and Jeff pecked her on the lips. “If someone finds us, they find us.” He leaned in again, his mouth headed for hers. He pouted when she turned her head aside. “Annie.” He tried to catch her eye, but she looked up at the ceiling, trying to look put out. “Annie. Edison, c’mon, look at me.” Annie’s eyes closed and she sighed, but when her eyes opened, they were on a level with his. “I know the Greendale library isn’t as big as this one, so we’d be more likely to get caught. But we could always study at the city library, just you and me.” He smiled slowly, one eyebrow quirking up as he felt Annie shiver against him. “And you know the city library has three whole floors, even though no one really uses the two upstairs floors.” His last statement was punctuated with kisses along Annie’s jaw and throat before he returned to her mouth, where their lips slid together with practiced ease.
“Mmmff.” Annie pulled her head back, grimacing when she smacked her head against a shelf. Jeff put a hand to the back of her head, rubbing gently even as he hitched her higher so her head rested against a row of books and not a sharp corner. “Jeff.” She put one hand over his mouth when he tried to kiss her again. “Hold on.” She drew a deep breath, momentarily distracted by the feel of Jeff’s solid chest against hers and the muscles in his forearm where he was bracing them against the bookcase. “OK. When you say we should study at the city library, you don’t mean study studying, you mean- this, right?” She swallowed when Jeff nodded and shifted the hand over his mouth down a little, unnerved by the feeling of his exhalations fanning over her skin. “So, you still want to make out with me once we get back home?” Jeff nodded again and Annie stared at him blankly for a moment before she yelped. “Eww. Jeff.” She rubbed her palm against his shoulder. “You licked me.”
“Again, Edison: That bothers you when I’ve had my mouth other places that I’m pretty sure you enjoyed?” Jeff chuckled and leaned in, his mouth hovering over her own. He met her eyes, and Annie had to focus on not going cross eyed. “Yes. I still want to make out with you when we get home.” Annie nodded slowly, and Jeff closed the distance between them, while his free hand dropped to the leg she still had barely touching the ground. He urged her to lift it and wrap it around his waist, which she did as she wrapped both arms around his neck. Jeff still had one arm braced against the bookcase, but he worked his other hand between their bodies, slipping his fingers behind her waistband and rubbing against her skin for a moment before Annie felt him tugging at the button of her fly. Annie tensed and used one hand to tug on his head.
“Mmff.”
“Fffut?”
“Mmup.”
“Fffut?”
“Stop.” Annie swallowed thickly, feeling the air between their faces cool as she pulled away again. “Not now.”
“Annie.” Jeff whined, then dropped his head to her shoulder. “Why?”
“Um.” Annie stared at the books opposite, looking for a way to say what she needed to say that wouldn’t cause her die of embarrassment. “It’s just, today and tomorrow and, well, maybe Saturday probably aren’t the best days to, uh-”
Jeff raised his head to look at her. “Weird.”
“What?”
“Pierce was right.” Jeff seemed to choke on the words and grimaced. “I don’t know how Britta’s managed to say that twice now. I feel like I need to gargle with bleach before I do anything else.” He saw Annie frown. “I need to gargle with bleach because of what I just said, not what I was doing before.” Annie’s frown faded, but she stared at him curiously.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, when you girls left at lunch, Pierce said it was probably because-” Jeff paused, searching for the right words. “OK, there’s no nice way to put it, but Pierce suggested it was because it was that time of the month.” He cleared his throat. “Y’know.” Annie nodded and smoothed a few strands of hair away from his forehead.
“Yep. He guessed correctly.”
“Oh, sure, leave me to say those words.”
“Well, I don’t think both of us gargling with bleach would be a good thing.” Annie grinned, bumping noses with Jeff, who grinned back and leaned in to kiss her again.
“Jeff?” They both froze, their mouths barely touching as their eyes met. Abed’s voice called out again. “Jeff? Are you up here?”
“crap.” “yep.” Annie’s legs dropped from round Jeff’s waist, and she smoothed out her shirt while Jeff ran a hand through his hair and half-tucked his shirt in again. Annie reached down to pick up her backpack and moved to enter the main aisle when Jeff caught her arm and tugged her back. Annie’s squeak was cut off as Jeff’s lips found hers again briefly.
“Rain check?”
“Okay.” Annie breathed out, her eyes still closed.
“Sunday?”
“Yeah.” Annie swallowed and licked her lips, opening her eyes and meeting Jeff’s gaze. She considered absently that if they were both as flushed as he was, there was no way Abed wasn’t going to figure out what had been going on. Jeff let her go and retrieved his notebook from the shelf he’d put it when he’d walked ahead of Annie nearly 90 minutes ago and found this row.
They both walked along the main aisle, being careful not to touch, although their hands brushed against each other a few times. As they neared the stairs, Jeff spotted Abed.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Abed eyed them both, but Annie supposed they looked more composed than she thought as he didn’t say anything. “This is some library.”
“Yep.” “Sure is.”
“In fact, if this were a typical college movie, it would be necessary for two characters to either skip classes to make out in here or be caught by a friend making out here.”
“Is that so?” Annie feigned interest, as she glanced at her reflection in a nearby mirror and smoothed her hair. “It’s a good thing then that we were just looking through the anthropology section.”
“OK.” Abed nodded, still looking back and forth between them.
“Is everyone else ready to go back to the house?” Annie gave both men a brilliant smile when Abed nodded. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” She skipped down the stairs.
“You heard the lady.” Jeff nodded at the stairs, and they both started down.
“It’s odd, though.” Abed said a few minutes later, as they followed behind the rest of the group toward the parking lot and the van.
“What is?”
“I thought the anthropology section was on the first floor with the rest of the social sciences?”
***