"Ok Britta, just hang those crape paper chains over there, above the archway." Shirley said.

Shirley beamed as she looked at all her hard work. Pierce's New Years Eve party was starting in five hours and already the mansion was coming along nicely. At first she was hesitant when Pierce asked her to help him set up and organize his party (she almost hit him when he said "it's not like you'd be a servant or anything.") But she then realized she could be creative and show that she knew how to plan a party. So she agreed, on the condition that everyone in the group would help her set up. And they all came through for her.

Well, almost everyone.

She glared at Jeff, who was currently sitting on the couch with his phone. "I don't suppose you can put that thing down for a moment and actually help out."

"I am helping out. I'm staying out of the way."

"That's so lame Jeff." Britta said.

"It's legitimate. That's how I always helped my mom when she cleaned."

"I'm not one to speak badly about someone's mother, but if you were my son you'd never get away with that laziness in my house." Shirley said.

"Ok mother superior."

"Jeffrey, everyone else is helping. Troy and Abed are blowing up balloons."

"Ten bucks says they're making their voices sound like chipmunks."

"Even Pierce agreed to make a run to the liquor store."

"And how much to you want to bet he'll come back with magic beans or moonshine that will make you blind."

"Jeffrey!"

"Well what about Annie? She's not here."

"That's what you're going with. Your blaming the girl who's visiting her cousin and coming back today for the party. AND who still agreed to bring an appetizer."

Just then Britta's phone rang. She jumped off the ladder and pulled it out of her pocket as she answered it. "Hey Annie. How far away are you from Greendale?...What? That's terrible…Yea, I'll come get-." She suddenly grinned evilly as she looked at Jeff. "Actually, Jeff just volunteered to personally come get you. He jumped at the opportunity. We'll see you tonight."

"I volunteered for what?" Jeff said.

"That was Annie." Britta said as she hung up her phone. "There were some mechanical problems with the train she was going to take and now she's stranded. She called for a ride and I told her you would come get her."

"I'm not driving four hours there and back just to give someone a ride."

"You won't do someone a favor Jeff?"

"I'll do something reasonable. But driving two hours one way and another two back is outside my limit."

"It's Annie. I'd think you'd jump at the chance to play her knight in shining armor."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Oh I don't know. Milord, milady."

"Oh for heaven's sake you two, stop bickering with each over." Shirley said. "Jeffery, just go get Annie. It'll give you a chance to do your favorite helping out activity, staying out of the way."

"Fine, I'll go.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

As Jeff pulled his lexis into the train station he saw Annie sitting on the curb. She practically beamed rainbows from her eyes as he got out of the car. "Jeff!" She ran over and hugged him with more feeling then he anticipated. "Thank you. I didn't think anyone, thank you."

"I'm just picking you up. It's not like I'm giving you a kidney or anything." He said.

"I know. It's just…" she bit her lower lip in sadness before grabbing her suitcase. "Can you please get that container?"

"What is it?"

"Stuffed mushrooms. I made them for the party."

They put her suitcase and the container in the backseat and then got in the car. As soon as they sat down Annie held out her hand. "Your phone." She said, looking at him with her formidable face.

"What?"

"Give me your phone. I'm not going to sit here while you text the whole way back to Greendale."

"Annie, I know how to multitask."

"Jeff, every time I'm in your car I'm always scared you'll get into an accident because you can't keep your eyes off your phone. I won't go through that for two straight hours."

He looked at her for a few moments before he handed it to her, surprised he gave in so easily. She grinned as she put it in the pocket of her sweater. "If anyone calls I'll take it. Just think of me as your car assistant."

"Can you wear your hair in a beehive and say 'can do Mr. Winger'?"

"Only if you drink martinis and come up with ad slogans."

They drove for several minutes in silence as Jeff searched for a decent radio station. After finally finding one he figured both of them could stand he looked over at Annie. She was staring out the window with a sad expression on her face. "You sure you're ok?"

"Yea, I'm fine."

He knew from her tone that something was bothering her. Taking a guess he said "Did something happen when you were at your cousin's?"

"No, I had a good time. Until…" She shook her head in frustration. "When I got to the train station and found out the train wasn't running I called Karen and asked if she'd pick me up and let me stay over for one more night. She said her boyfriend just came back from seeing his family and she couldn't come get me. When I asked her again she said 'I'm sorry you're stuck. But now that my boyfriend's here I want to spend time with him'."

Jeff looked at Annie as she scoffed in annoyance. "Wow. That really sucks Annie."

"So basically I was just there to distract her until her boyfriend came back. I guess I know where I stand when it comes to her."

Jeff gripped the steering wheel, feeling like an ass for being so reluctant to come get her. "I'm sorry."

"At least one thing came out of it. It showed me who I can truly rely on in my life. I knew one of you guys would come get me. Although I was pleasantly surprised you volunteered to do it. Abed and Troy would have gone no problem. Same with Shirley or Britta. But you. That was a surprise."

Jeff swallowed thickly, feeling uncomfortable that she thought of him as her selfless savior. "Annie, I didn't completely volunteer to do this."

"I know." She looked at him as she said it. But from the tone in her voice he could tell she wasn't upset. She was rather stating a fact. "I know they had to guilt you into coming. But the point is you came. You drove two hours out of your way to pick me up, where she wouldn't even take ten minutes to come get me."

"I would have come. I may have needed poking and prodding to do it, but I wouldn't have just left you high and dry like that. Besides, I figured I still owed you for bailing when you were moving."

"This is true." She took his phone out and stated fiddling with it. After a few moments she grinned as 'Kiss From A Rose' filled the car.

"Are you serious Annie?"

"Come on Jeff. You know the words." She grinned maddeningly at him as she started to sing. "There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea."

He started to tell her to cut it out, but he couldn't help laughing at how much she was getting into it. What the hell, he thought. It's just the two of you.

"Love remains a drug that's the high and not the pill. But did you know, that when it snows? My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen. Baby! I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey!"

They were having such a good time singing they didn't notice the car next to them change lanes without looking. The car crashed into them, sending Jeff's car spinning around like a top. Jeff fought to regain control when another car slammed head on into the passenger side.