Chapter Text
Annie doesn't know when it happened, the sudden growing attraction to Abed. Maybe it was the Don Draper impression that first got her attention, or maybe it was the Han Solo and Leia kiss under a gushing spray of orange paint. She could still distinctly remember his lips that were soft but firm, the way his tongue mapped the insides of her mouth and an electrifying sensation spread throughout her entire body like she had been struck by lighting.
He tasted delicious, like chocolate, spices and something that is distinctly Abed. Her toes curled and her knees felt weak, it was only his strong grip on her waist that stopped her from falling on to the orange paint splattered floor.
Abed's words in the aftermath had hurt. It felt like she had been doused with a bucket of cold water. Annie felt humiliated, both by his statement and how her body just utterly gave itself away at his touch.
Annie had worried about the incident for days, and between bouts of daydreaming and studying, she's drawn to the conclusion that she must have misunderstood. That must have been it, and the tension and frustrations with Jeff just spilled over to Abed. After all she can't seriously be attracted to Abed, right?
Right?
Annie doesn't know when it started, the staring. A few months after the paintball incident she caught herself looking at his side profile while they watched the new season of Inspector Spacetime.
Her eyes tracked the TV lights dancing on his sharp cheekbones, across his prominent nose, his large chocolate brown eyes and caramel colored skin. Her perch on the arm of his chair provided her enough chances to stare unabashed without being caught.
She bit her lip when Abed absent-mindedly grabbed a few popcorn from the bowl on her lap to pop in his mouth. Her mind wanders for a moment. Did he really taste like chocolate or was that just a delusion her mind had made up?
Annie shook herself back to reality and grabs a buttered popcorn. On the seat next to her Troy reaches over to grab a handful of popcorn but paid her no attention, his eyes glued to the screen. Weird how you just obsess over the idea of someone for years and then poof, the feeling is gone.
It had been three hours, the popcorn was gone and the bowl was on the floor. Her position has made her tired, she could get a chair from the dinner table but she's already committed to this bit, and she's stubborn. Plus Abed smelled really nice, like clean soap and spices with a hint of chocolate. So she started leaning more against the back of Abed's chair, propping her arm up to lean her head against her palm. The small move didn't faze Abed at all, he was so focused on the show.
Annie must have fallen asleep at some point, as she was gently shaken awake by a warm hand on her shoulder. She nuzzled on the warmth she was pressed against. The smell of chocolate and spice slowly lulled her back to sleep.
"Annie." A voice whispered near her ear. Disgruntled she wiggled closer to the warmth. A moment passed and then she was being carried.
She was gently laid down onto her soft cold bed, the wonderful scent was gone along with the warmth. Her hand reached out and grabbed the end of a sleeve. Another moment passed before a hand grasped hers, a thumb stroked her palm for a few seconds before letting go. A rustling of her bed covers as she was carefully tucked in.
"Go to sleep Annie. Good night."