Poor Annie.

It's exactly what we thought it might be, but that doesn't make it any less SAD.

It's exactly what we thought it might be, but that doesn't make it any less SAD.

Well, at least it's not because she's weirded out. Gotta love close friendships absent of judgement. ^__^

nooooo

And now everyone can let out a collective sigh of relief that Annie didn't say "ew lebsians."

awwwwww ): No way Kat is going to do that Annie!

*Jawdrop* ...I hope that is completely out of context to current events, or we are going to have a potential threesome on our hands!

That last panel must be one of the most beautiful, heartrending comic panels ever.

So there. Exactly as everyone called. Oh Annie, such a cauldron of emotion. Just like her dad.

Yeah I think most of us guessed this was why she was upset.

That's what I thought, or more the point, what I hoped.

...that, and the fact that you have gotten yourself and another girl into a homosexual relationship.

Oh Annie I wish I could give you a hug :(

That's okay, Annie; once you have a baby, you'll die! :)

I knew Annie's issue would be "Kat's in a relationship" not "Kat's a lesbian omg" XD

I knew it. She doesn't want Kat to go away.

Yay, Annie's not a homophobe! On another note... I'm a little confused. Overly attached Annie, perhaps?

I personally think this is quite interesting. really hopes that there is a middle ground that they can have, like spending time together as a 3 people friendship group. P.S first comment

While I'm glad to see Annie wasn't bothered by Kat kissing Paz, it is still feels-rising page for different reason... Annie, don't you worry! Kat would never leave youuuu, there's no doubt in that!

Shipper fuel IGNITED.

Why, Annie? Why must you make me have these FEELS!?

I like how Annie looks in a different direction each frame; It really sells the uneasiness of the conversation. Also, Annies growing closer to Ysengrin and away from Kat is going to make for an interesting few chapters, if that's actually what happens. Also FEEEEELLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSS.

What letter is she talking about?

Aww Annie, I can't believe you think Kat will ever leave you, you two are like sisters, and maybe closer than just sisters.

so she wouldve reacted the same way if kat was dating a guy instead of paz, you can all stop with the "annie y u so homophobic?!"

Well. Unexpected, melancholy, and a reasonable reaction. Well played.

Yeah. . . I know just how that specific insecurity fees. :\ Of course the thing we fear in our insecurities, even when born of experience, don't always manifest. :}

So... What's the percentage lesbian up to now? Because I feel like it's unnaturally high.

Awwwww!

Kat-surprised-face is the best.

Everyone was right on the money. Annie's biggest fear is losing people she loves. Kat can promise not to leave, but Surma did that and look what happened. No reassurance is going to really reach Annie. All Kat (and Paz) can do is try to remember to keep Annie in their circle of friends as much as possible. Getting Annie a date might distract her a bit. :)

oh noooooooo i thought it would be this i thought it would be afraid that she's going to lose her best friend my heart is breaking

All aboard the feels train! Departing the Fuzzy Feels Station, heading for Reality Sucks Village.

Wow, possessive much?

Ahhh! Beautifully put, Tom. Makes the wait worthwhile!

:(

I love, love, love that 4th panel. It so encapsulates the scene.

Panel 5, Annie's legs are messed up.

Awww! Sadface! The saddest face!

yeah... so I really think Annie's deal with this situation is not romantically involved. She was excited to see Kat have a love interest (refer to Catalyst). This page nails it down -- if Annie is fearing Kat's leave not because of love, than it's because of friendship. Her parents have left her a field day of tribulations, so that one friend she's always depended on? Yeah, I'd sympathize with how she's taking it.

Awwwww, that's sweet. And 'there you go everyone', Annie wasn't worried about Kat's choice of partner, or about being supplanted by Paz, but about the inevitability that their friendship won't remain the same forever. We should have had more faith in her. (Though I suppose the shippers still have an outside chance that it's all leading up into a confession of love.)

OMG. Too cute to handle. I think this page will satisfy all the readers. But then... she ran off because she was overcome with the thought of losing Kat? ok then. maybe she was watching them longer than we thought, and had time to come to that relevation.

i knew it! i knew it. ha ha i knew it. oh poor annie

I wanted to have sex with you, Kat. Or is it friendship forever? I am so socially awkward it is hard to tell that apart and will be part of the next romantic plot bit.

Ah, Annie :(

And right in the feels.

Do I detect jealousy, oh Antimony Carver? Big surprise! /sarcasm :P

♫ ... in short, our pal is doomed! ♫ Yes, things change when a good friend finds a full-time relationship, but if the friendship is based on more than just superficialities, you can be friends for life. Take courage, Annie.

I KNEW she couldn't be worried about the lesbian thing!

In a way, not what I was expecting. But so much better than what I was hoping for ^^

Me and my best mate, we have actually both had this crisis apparently. As obvious as it is, it's pretty crushing to realize that your friend's happiness means he/she will no longer have as much time to you as before.

Aww, Annie just felt left out... Also thank you SO MUCH for posting "Annie in the Forest," I've been wanting to read it but I have no money ^_^

Annie grew a whole 'nother layer of hair in the third panel there. It's scaring me a bit

Oh annie. You and Kat are stuck together forever. Like with superglue.

Not necessarily, Annie - you and Kat may very well wind up together when you grow up. (And there's always polyamory.) But it's very mature of you to think *that*, instead of "Kat doesn't love me any more!" or "Kat has betrayed our relationship!" or "That evil Paz has stolen my girl!" or "Waaah, I'm not the center of Kat's universe any more!"

Awwww :'( I knew that was what Annie was upset about. She doesn't seem the homophobic type.

I knew it was because she was scared of losing her! A little disappointed it isn't a romantic scare/jealoiusy of losing her, but still glad this was the outcome.

Aaaaaaangst...!

I knew that's what it was about. Annie ain't no phobe.

Ah, I knew it! (Or at least hoped it) Annie is just afraid of being abandoned by her best friend, which I guess considering her history is understandable. Aww the feels. :C

Awwww :(

"Wait, so this isn't about me dating a girl? *phew* For a second there I thought we had a serious hang-up on our hands. Now, let me do the whole reassuring friend thing that this situation calls for."

I will admit... I saw this coming.

Glad to know this isn't going to devolve into "Kat, I realize I've been in love with you this whole time and I'm jealous."

Bleh, emotional vampire much? Rather than be happy for a friend you make her feel guilty for your sake?

Awwwww, poor baby!! (Also, Annie in the Forest, zomg2@*6#!~!)

I KNEW IT!

Not trying to be too negative with the comic I love Tom but Annie in panel three looks a little...deformed.

An unhealthy dependence like that needs to break sooner or later. She is not an extension of you.

woah, that last panel sentence. lots of potential there.

Oh good! I mean, not good because sad Annie, but good in that not homophobic Annie, and not super-jealous-wanting-to-make-out-with-Kat Annie. Just worrying about not having the full brunt of Kat's attention anymore, which is perfectly normal and reasonable for a best friend. I did have to go back a couple chapters to remember the "letter" that started this whole ordeal, haha! I reread Gunnerkrigg Court once every few months but I haven't recently enough I guess. (Also, weirdly enough my spellcheck wants to correct that to Gunnerkrwigg even though Google has no results for that word... Mysterious...)

Kat's expression D:

What What What What What is this

I imagine that the knowledge of your own demise through potential offspring also puts a damper on happiness concerning romance.

oh annie :C

...This was about a fear of being abandoned, not being repelled by a display of Kat's sexuality. Oh my GOD, ANNIE. YOU TWERP. YOU LIKABLE, CRIPPLINGLY AWKWARD TWERP.

Annie's got abandonment anxieties? You don't say.

Oh... Poor lil' pumpkin with abandonment issues. Don't worry, Annie. Kat will always be there for you. That's a given...

Ah, I thought that might be it. So glad Annie isn't homophobic =)

*HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF*

Eh, yeah, Annie. Er, your little girl grew up so fast. Already dating other girls. Next thing you know, married and off to philladelphia.

Aww, Annie, Kat won't leave you! She is your best friend! D:

This is pretty much what I figured the issue would be. Poor abandonment-issues-Annie.

Knew it! It was obviously going to be jealousy and-or fear of abandonment rather than homophobia. Poor Annie.

When Kat leaves her, Annie will be the one who walks her to the door. In Annie's mind, that's just how things are.

Well, it is somehow satisfying, that this is relly the issue

Oh, Annie! You poor Dear! This is the very hardest lesson I have ever had to learn: when you are young; their tastes change -- when you are old; they die on you. Either way you get left behind. "Learning to make new friends" - It is the only defense.

Annie's worst fear is confirmed. She's afraid Kat will leave her just like her father did. T____T (By the way, Tom, I purchased all four current volumes off Amazon, and it just amazes how much the art of the characters has evolved since chapter 1.)

Aww no Annie, that's not it at all! Though of course she wouldn't mind about the gay thing - I mean, she DID have a crush on a green-skinned, pointy-eared tree elf, after all.

Love the comic, been reading since volume one. Happy that I can now grab a copy of AITF. I hope you keep up the awesome work on this lovely story

YAY ANNIE! WOOO! ...Aww, Annie...

The good news, is that Antimony is NOT a homophobe. The bad news is that everyone else was right and she is terrified of losing Kat. I don't have much more to say except that I'm glad Antimony was honest about her feelings. Take care, and keep writing!

jumping to extreme conclusions much?

Oh, thank GOD.

Yes! I'm so glad this was her motivation for running away and not anything worse... Though of course, this must have been killing her, but at least it won't end in a ruined friendship.

Well there ya go. Annie thought Kat was leaving her.

KAT X ANNIE! YES! SHIPPING!

KAT X ANNIE! YES! SHIPPING!

HAH! Knew it! She's just afraid of being left out all along! There was no way that making Annie homophobic made sense with her character, but this explanation did!

Knew she wasn't homophobic, and I really doubted that she was romantically interested in Kat. Though I hate seeing Annie so sad. Come Wednesday, I hope Kat can successfully cheer her up.

Someone from last page's comments called this so hard! Kudos to them!

Okay, so she's not anti-gay. That's good.

theory proven. Poor Annie feels so lonely. I think we all know that feeling to an extent... your best friend gets a significant other, or some new friends, and even if it's irrational, you feel like they're being taken away from you. At least Annie isn't being judgmental. I hope that Kat reassures her.

dang yo

Sooo... What's Annie mean?

Right because, when they were at the tree, Antimony was freaking out about not having her Dad around and her Mother was dead and how she was alone. I'm so sorry for you Antimony.

But with Facebook and 24/7 texting, they can stay in touch forever! Does the Court not have Facebook and texting??

Thought this might be the case. Very glad you took this route.

We saw it coming since Kat has been the only constant person in her life since her mother died.

Oh Annie, Kat's your best friend, even if she gets a girlfriend she will always be by your side. Just like you would for her.

Before we all go saying "Oh Annie, you're totally not right here; she's your BFF!", maybe we ought to entertain the idea that Annie might actually be right? When I say this, I don't mean Kat will just abandon her outright, but rather, at some point, there's a finality to how many times you can see people before... you can't. And as her only friend, it'll mean a lot for Annie to spend as much time with Kat as possible, especially considering abandonment has been a problem all her life. Now all that being said... man, this page hurts to read.

Awww that's why I lloe annie. She doesnt care about Kat liking chicks (I expected this, wouldnt be in her nature to get upset by something like that), she's just worried about losing her best friend... Oh the feels

I love it! Tom, you're the best! L-TRIANGLES AHOY

I LOVE all the faces. They're gorgeous and expressive and perfect. I'm particularly fond of Panels 3 and 8.

Aw, bb. Having a girlfriend and eventually a wife/husband does not mean that Kat will ever leave you...

Ah, Antimony...

I'm glad Annie's dealing with abandonment issues instead of being uncharacteristically "traditional."

I'm flipping between happy and sad and proud and melancholy at about 50Hz, here, Tom. :)

The obvious solution, Annie, is to construct a robotic copy of Kat!

ANNIE IS AWESOME FOR NOT TOTALLY FREAKING OUT

Letter?!

Well duh that's what she was upset about. Fear of abandonment is Annie's schtick, not fear of same sex love.

Well duh that's what she was upset about. Fear of abandonment is Annie's schtick, not fear of same sex love.

AnnieKat shippers incoming!!

Oh no, no no no no no no!

.... Oh Annie...

So, all this time. It was her fear of losing her friend to another? Does Annie really think that they ware only... hugging?

Now which is it... Is Annie in love with Kat, or is she just afraid of losing a friend? Either way she looks like she really needs a hug.

Well. That hit me emotionally. I was not ready for that in the morning.

Her Dad has been gone for however long, and her mom is dead (though technically, but not intentionally) by her birth. The only other person she could ever call hers has been Kat. Of course she doesn't want to lose that! I totally get where Annie is coming from DX

"that you will one day leave me" sounds very stilted to my ears. Does not seem like a genuine sentiment, or at least not genuinely expressed. I suppose Annie has always tended to the formal, though I might have hoped that with Kat she would be able to express herself more organically.

Seeing this page really makes me think about the evolution of Tom's illustration. I noticed before that it's been different for a while, but couldn't place my finger on it (the lines in the hair and "camera" perspective). I went back and looked at some random pages, and jeez, he's come a long way from beautiful backgrounds and not-so-beautiful characters. While it seems he's at the peak of his ability, he probably isn't. I'm cool with that, even if I miss the old cartoony versions of the characters (such as in 249, 401) and the semi-real versions (640, 821) - and the pre-now version (998, which I think is best of all, but whatevs). Just so long as you don't pull a Penny-Arcade and go from cartoony to less cartoony to balanced to more cartoony to ultra cartoony, Tom. :x

There it is. Everyone that Annie has loved has left her in one way or another. She must have abandonment issues, big time. Of course Kat won't leave her in that sense, but change, yeah.

Get out of my head, Tom.

well, lets everyone say it out loud CALLED IT!

In before, "who will I copy work from then!?"

"Kat: Wait, that's what this is about?! Annie: Well, what else? Kat: You aren't worried about me ... you know ... kissing a girl? Annie: That was a girl? o.O Wait, was that Paz?!"

Cuz it's all about me...

Kudos to those who guessed it was Annie's abandonment issues.

Though technically Annie will be the one leaving Kat, the way Surma did Anja.

Kat's face.

Tom I've been dealing with the same feelings for the past week and this isn't helping :(

I'm not sure why anyone ever thought she would be homophobic, but maybe that's because I just read through the entirety of Gunnerkrigg yesterday so comics from years ago are still fresh to me. She reacted in a similar manner to Kat hanging out with Alistair in "A Week for Kat", and that was for just a week.

Kat: But now you’ll have two best friends! 2 > 1! Because science! (one week later) Kat: *breaks up with Paz* Annie: Nooooo I lost half of my friends NOOOOO!

While I totally understand her pain, that seems just a little hypocritical after she disappeared for the entire summer without a word to Kat.

Anyone else think Annie's eyes look a little small in panel six? I knew she wasn't homophobic.

Oh my god Annie's so off-model here o.O *I mean art, of course. That the problem she has is this has been pretty obvious.

It's kind of funny how her issues with this can be summed up as "I'm coming to terms with the fact that I won't always be your main babe". I'm not 100% sure where she's going with this line of thought, but holy crap do I want to find out. Also, Tom! Regarding what you said on your Twitter: the internet tells me that you can get infinite free cardboard boxes by politely requesting them from store attendants in supermarkets (their stuff arrives in boxes, recycling's a hassle, and it's a good way to build brand loyalty, so they give them away to whoever asks).

Also Katface-in-final-panel is bestface.

panel five: kat's blood frozen while thinking (is she saying that don't have realised that could be a girl?) --- panels six and seven: blood remain frozen --- panel eight: wait, what? (kat mind is gone as you can see by her eyes)

HAHA! I knew it! Annie was concerned about losing a friend, not a romantic interest. I would have nothing against Annie being bi/lesbian, but it just doesn't fit right with who she's become. Well done Tom, you have kept your characters in character while still changing dynamics left and right. Well done, indeed.

I knew this is what it was about all the time. :P

hmm considering Annie more or less grew up in a hospital with her mom and went straight from there to the court I suppose she never had any real human friends. And if you think about it there was that phase where Kat was into birds and Annie still supported her.... so it would make sense that the lesbian/bi thing wasn't what bothered Annie

Aww, Annie. :( I can really relate to this.

C'mon annie. You'll always have Chuckles. A girl and her dog? No? This illustrates how much Annie depends on her friends and how alone in life we all can feel.

well that makes sense; Kat was Annie's first friend, her best friend and she has only ever known loneliness before Kat.

Phew, she's not homophobic.

When you only have one single friend in the whole world, the prospect of losing them is terrible. :(

*Sigh* Yes. That: Abandonment. I'm sure Kat will give Annie what reassurance she can but perhaps, inevitably... ah, I don't want to think about that just yet. On this these, as an avoidance of all the feels, I've also been worried whether a schism will occur between Annie and Kat but for the Court tech/Forest nature polarisation. I think even that has lessened with Kat attempting robots growing by natural processes and by autonomy becoming being as any other and Coyote's manipulations in the Forest show not all due to nature. These two friends be the catalysts that bridge the divide. (Also: Yay! Annie in the Forest 2 for Xmas!)

I'm really sad for Annie, but my gut reaction to this was "Yay! She's not a homophobe!"

knew it!! It's ok Annie! Kat won't ever leave

Relieved because Annie's not a homophobe. Sad because she's all alone. :/

AWWWWWW! Annie... nono. Kat wouldn't just leave you behind...

So she completely skipped over what everyone was worrying that she was worrying about and worried about her friendship eventually coming to an end. Annie is aweomse.

Wow Annie, a little hypocritical don't you think? I understand the whole abandonment issue thing, and often romantic relationships, especially new romantic relationships, do trump other friendships, but you literally abandoned Kat when you ran away to the forest a few months ago. That said, I love the realistic flaws you give your characters Tom. Looking foreword to reading more.

I should stop underestimating Annie, but still I do it. Every. Single. Time.

T-T Annie, no! Kat would never leave you! Tell her that Kat. TELL HER. *sob*

So here I was, thinking it was just going to be a heart-to-heart chat, something nice and meaningful, and then you make me cry.

I can understand this. Same thing happened with me and my brother; when he came home with his first girlfriend, it hit me like a hammer that sooner or later he was going to go off and I'd be all alone. Sooner or later, though, I realized that he was still the same person as before, just maybe a bit...moreso. And now we're cool. Needless to say, I'm anxiously awaiting how this will turn out.

See? :3

I would have been okay if Annie was initially uncomfortable about Kat/Paz because it would be an opportunity to show Annie getting past any queerphobia. But I should have known the issue would be FRIENDSHIP FEELS because she went to the CHERRY TREE and SAD. Growing up is sad sometimes *hugs*... imagine how Kat's mom feels about things like this though.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww poor annie. don't worry kat will stick around she'll just have a girlfriend oh I can see the akward moments now.

Argh! Sadness about Annie's perspective all mixed up with happiness that she's not upset about the whole lesbian thing! It deeply confuses me.

Annie, you are left but one recourse: You must replace Kat with Jones! Also, I don't get where all this "Kat is Annie's only friend" nonsense is coming from. She's got Mort, Renard, Ysengrin, Parley, Smitty, and whoever she may have befriended in the forest over the last summer. Also also, I don't see how this page rules out Annie being jealous and wanting Kat for herself. We are not out of the woods yet.

It's really sad to see it like this. It's nice to see that Annie is not judgemental of Kat's decisions, but it's sad when you remember that Kat is the first human friend Annie has ever had. :(

I KNEW IT

I've felt this way so many times.

Aw, Annie. *hugs*

See? Annie's just jealous -and no wonder, considering that she's always had trouble building relationships with other people and Kat's her only real, close friend. Can't even imagine why Reynard would think she might be weirded out by Kat being with Paz. Guy ought to have known better.

Awww... I'm glad that Annie isn't prejudiced against what Kat is, she's just feeling lonely and she's afraid of losing her friend. It's sad for Annie though.

Aww..

Annie in the Forest!!! I bought part 2 immediately because part 1 was excellent.

So much hearty laughter.

i love you tom you are perfect

good god why do you people keep insisting on them becoming a threesome not everyone has to be a lesbian

Because everyone leaves Annie.

Fifth Treatise and why Kat gets no love according to it? Perhaps she feels so upset in response to Annie she vows to kick Paz to the curb and never make Annie feel this way again? It'd be a disproportionate response, but I'd be really surprised if Kat's anti-heart didn't refer to something in the next few pages.

wht is her face doing

This is so very, very fourteen years of age. It's beautifully done. Of course Kat is in the flush of new romance, and so is Paz. And of course it's scary and new not just for Kat but for Annie, after they've been so close. But at the same time... there's something so *Antimony Carver* about making Kat's new relationship all about her. I love the girl dearly, but it's *always* about her. Like I said, this is so fourteen. Thank you so much for this.

Aw shucks, looks like Annie ain't a homophobe after all. Ah well, whatever, still a great comic.

Aah, that makes sense. The fear of losing the ones closest to you. Bravo Tom!

so so so so sad!

THAT'S what she was worried about? Oh Annie, you silly person.

Damn me typos. Anyways... Congrats to everyone emotionally invested in these characters to guess the issues at hand. Good call those that mentioned the many diectiond Annie looks and looks away this page. Positive note: Look how many older Court/Forest characters have maintained their relationships through the years (and with Jones, decades). You've good reason to hope as much as any mortal may Annie. Good onya for donating books Tom, reception notwithstanding.

PART TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO yay :3

@PK Yes, Annie's being selfish, but it's in a perfectly normal, human way. She's not trying to make Kat feel guilty, she's trying to honestly express what she's feeling. If she had just tried to bury those feelings and force a smile for Kat's sake, Kat might sense that Annie's upset about something and think it's about the gender of her partner rather than about their friendship. I think it was very mature of Annie to let Kat know how she feels

She's afraid of anyone leaving her, just as she feels she was left behind by her mother, her father, and who knows who else.

What is that. Oh, my ship is starting to sail? This is quite an interesting development.

So many feels...

Okay, don't kill me for this - but Annie has *NO ROOM TO TALK* here. Who bailed on a summer together for the forest? $5 says Kat *creams* her for trying this 'woe iz me' guilt crap - and she's right. She just gone done telling her "it's hard to be your friend." COME ON ANNIE BIG GIRL BOOTS

Scored AITF #2. Thanks, Tom! As for abandonment issues, I think it's a little presumptuous to judge Annie by entirely human standards. Her first friends were, after all, the Keepers of the Dead, and they too will abandon her as they did her mother because at that point there will be, as Rey informed her, "nothing left". That's an existential problem that nobody around her will ever have to face. It's what her father is fighting for her, I suspect. And he's losing. High speculation there. Just my $0.02.

It's all about growing up (and stuff)! By the way: Tom, I really like how adult Annie looks in lower left(#7) panel. Great strip, please keep up the good work, and Thanks! (Also for posting "Annie In The Forest")

This is amazing, because this speaks to me so much. I have the exact same anxieties as Annie, and it really feels like no one else ever goes through it. I think mine tend to be worse than Antimony's, but at the same time, it's really cathartic to read. Thank you!

Well, it's kind of hypocritical of Annie to say that Kat will leave her, seeing as she was the first one to "leave" when she spent the summer in the forest instead of on a planned vacation with Kat and her family...

@Meow1413 Thank You for saying it that way. What Kat is. Just so much awesomeness. Thank You.

OH........triggered Annie's abandonment issues. Poor girl.

Everyone Annie has cared about has left her. It all makes sense. Oh, Annie :(

Could it be? Could my trend of absolutely loving this comic's main character slightly less over time be reversing due to this new and sudden character development? Or could it just be that I've now read the first part of Annie in the Forest and I've been caught up on all that much more of the character development, making her sudden near complete personality overhaul since Chapter 32 make a lot more sense? Or could it be both? Actually I think I'm just relieved to find out that Antimony still has problems after having been in the forest. She was starting to look like a bit of a Mary Sue for a while there. Tom sure dodged a bullet on that one.

It can only be the "Carver Curse!" Kat is Annie's closest friend, and everyone else can only be classified as "acquaintances." When she fell off the bridge, Kat went out of her way to find her, rescuing her from Jeanne in the process. Parley also saved her from Jeanne, but her relationship to Annie has yet to be developed, so for now, she's too into Smitty (no pun intended!) to be concerned with the underclassmen. Aside from Renard and Ysengrin, Annie seems rather detached from the other students in school.

Oh Annieee D:

I like Kat's absolutely dumbfounded look in the back.

That's how it goes anyway. Everyone cares about oneself first. Kat thought Annie would judge her. Annie thought Kat would leave her. Both wanted to save their friendship, but could just ruin it because of simple misunderstanding.

Tom has yet to establish (at least to us!) who will be included in Annie's group of (human) friends. If he follows the blueprint of Surma's school chums, then there should be at least six of them, three boys, three girls. Among the girls, she and Anja were the closest. Among the boys, James and Donald. Both had been introduced to each other by Jones, probably as one of her "experiments." I rather like the Jones/Annie pairing if simply because we don't know exactly what she is, and Zimmy hinted at it. In her long existence, she might have had a lady or two, and if not, Annie could be her first.

annie ;__________________;