Author's note: this is my first attempt at actually writing fiction as opposed to a simple storyline, so please review and give constructive criticism. This takes place in between seasons 3 and 4, during the summer when Jim and Pam were secretly dating. I don't own these characters (sigh) or the Incubus song this story is named after, so don't sue. I wouldn't have much money for you to sue me over anyway. More chapters to follow. Enjoy!

Pam was practically trembling with joy as she applied her eyeliner, almost smearing it. She couldn't understand why her nerves were getting the best of her; after all, it was just dinner with Jim. She had gone out plenty of times with him—to Poor Richard's, or to the roof to have his famous sandwiches. But this felt different.

"Alright… then it's a date."

The words were ringing in her ears as she slipped on a pale yellow, knee-length summer dress. She had just bought it, hoping she could use it for a special occasion, and this seemed like the perfect one. She knew wearing it to work was out of the question; even though it was only slightly lower-cut than the button-downs she usually wore, she knew Michael would make a big fuss over the simple act of wearing a dress instead of her regular ensemble. She wanted this dress to be for certain eyes only, and luckily those certain eyes had asked her to dinner.

Jim swallowed again; trying to clear the permanent lump in is throat, as he drove to pick Pam up. Finally, he was going to go on an actual date with the girl he'd been dreaming about dating for years. He prayed that he wouldn't say anything stupid tonight as he pulled into her apartment complex. He grabbed the fresh flowers he bought for her from the passenger's seat, and made his way up to the building to ring her bell.

She had seen him coming though, because by the time he got up to the door, she was there to greet him. She smiled when she saw his hair was back to its normal style; she thought that suited him better anyway. And he looked stunning in his good suit, the one he had worn to his interview earlier that day in New York. Jim was already tall, but this suit made him look ten miles long. He was perfectly polished.

His stomach did flips when he saw her: her hair was in soft ringlet curls and pinned back behind her ears, and she was wearing a pale yellow dress that hugged her waist perfectly. But perhaps her most beautiful accessory was her smile, the smile she wore whenever she saw him.

"Hi!" she greeted him excitedly.

"Hey.. how are you?" Her tried to sound like his calm and cool self, but he felt a twinge of nervousness in his voice.

"I'm great.. Oh, flowers! You really didn't have to—"

"I know. Uh, it just felt appropriate." He felt very sheepish as he handed them to her. She smelled them intently, and he couldn't help but cock his head to the side and relish in how adorable she looked.

"I should put these in water. Do you mind coming upstairs for a sec?"

"No, definitely not."

"Okay, come on in," She opened the door for him and they climbed the stairs to the second floor of her building and went into her apartment. Inside, Jim couldn't help but notice that the walls were covered in her art; it wasn't just a well-hung painting here and there, she had filled her walls with watercolors.

"Wow, Beesly, you having an art show in here?"

"Oh, well my instructor wants me to donate a couple to display in their building, and I just don't know which ones I want to give up. I thought this would help me.. but I think this just made the decision that much more difficult."

"Well they all look amazing.. Any one you pick will be great."

"Thanks," she blushed as she set the flowers in a vase and put it on her kitchen counter. "So hey.. you never said how your interview went." She half-knew he'd never ask her on a date if he had gotten the job and was moving to New York, but she wanted to make sure.

"Oh, well, uh, about halfway through the interview, I told David Wallace I changed my mind.." She looked at him with a look of shock on her face that he would say something like that to the CFO of the company, and he felt compelled to go on. "Yeah, I told him I'd miss working with people."

"Oh.. I didn't think you wanted to be in sales forever.."

"I don't…. Uh, it was a great opportunity, but it just didn't feel right to me." They exchanged glances knowing what he really meant by 'miss working with people.' The only thing he would've really missed was working with her.

"Well, that's fair," she stated, just to break the silence. "Wanna go?"

"Absolutely." He gave her a smile and she giggled a little, and with that, they were off to dinner. Pam felt strange driving in Jim's car; he had The Format playing and he was tapping along to the music on the steering wheel. But he kept looking over at her, and it made her a little uneasy, like she was under surveillance. He simply couldn't believe she was in his car; he had to keep looking over to make sure she wouldn't disappear into thin air or something.

They arrived at the restaurant, and Jim escorted her inside. Pam couldn't believe what a perfect gentleman Jim was being. She thought of the mental checklist every woman has of what a man does on a date that makes him chivalrous: opens doors, pulls out chairs, et cetera, and Jim did every single one. She knew Jim was a genuinely nice guy, but she also knew he was consciously trying tonight, and she had to laugh a little to think he was trying to impress her.

"So.." he started in after they had ordered. "Uh, this may be a little awkward, but I need your advice."

"Oh sure, what do you need?"

"Well, ah, I'm technically still dating Karen.."

"Oh." Her eyes widened, and he could almost sense apprehension in them.

"Yeah… but I don't want to be. Uh, that is to say, hah, um.." He stammered as he tried to find the right words. "See, I just don't think Karen.. understands me. She's always questioning things I do or making me talk about things, and not that I don't like talking, but…"

"You don't need to explain," Pam said to save him from tripping over his own words. "Um, what do you want my help for?"

"Oh yeah, uh.. well, I figured since you're so good breaking up with people—I mean, you did call off an entire wedding and all—"

"Oh, come on!" She laughed. This was the first time they were finally being themselves: not nervous or anxious about being on a real "date" with each other, but just being together and teasing each other. "Do you want me to call off your relationship?"

"Nah. Just give me a few pointers, you know…"

"Well, uh.. do you know if she got the job in New York?"

"Ehh, she didn't actually. Guess who did get the job though?"

"Who?" Pam's eyes lit up, hungry for some good gossip.

"Ryan."

"No way!"

"Yep."

"Wow…" The conversation went on like this throughout dinner. They talked about Kelly's temper tantrum when she found out Ryan had gotten the job and was leaving her, about how to easily let Karen down, and about other seemingly random topics that only the two of them would find hilarious, like how Pam felt the need to cut her dinner in half as soon as she got it.

"It helps to portion out the meal!" She insisted.

"Can you believe the look the waiter gave you when you asked for a box right after the food got here!" Jim chuckled. "So judgmental."

"Hah! I know!" Pam decided she could get used to this, especially now that Jim wasn't trying so hard to make an impression her. She knew it may have been too soon, but she had to ask.

"So um, what about us?"

"What do you mean?" Jim inquired, wondering secretly what she thought about her own question.

"Well.. all of this tonight has been amazing, and I'm just wondering if there will be more like it."

"Would you want there to be more of it?" He raised an eyebrow at her, and she had to laugh.

"Yes, I think I would… but I just.. wouldn't want to feel like the other woman," she stated more seriously.

"I can accept that," he agreed. "I was planning on talking to Karen soon anyway."

"The sooner, the better!" Pam exclaimed, and they both laughed at the eagerness in her tone. They split the bill, deciding Jim didn't have to go completely all-out for this date, and he drove her home. And as they sat in the car humming along to The Format, Jim took hold of Pam's hand and kissed it sweetly. She blushed and smiled at him, knowing he didn't want to impress her just then, but that he only wanted to make her smile.

"Well, here we are," Jim announced as they pulled into Pam's apartment complex, and he walked her to the main door. She fiddled with her keys as they said their goodnights.

"Jim, I had a really great time."

"Yeah, this was a lot of fun. Thanks."

"No, thank you!" She giggled. They hugged, and as they began to break apart, they exchanged glances and sensed a spark. They both leaned in and engaged in a soft, sensual kiss that seemed to last forever, even though it was only a couple seconds long. When their lips parted, the both had wide smiles on their faces.

"Um, ok, see you tomorrow," Pam said in a wispy voice.

"Yeah.. Oh! Tomorrow—"

"We don't have to say anything. Just play it cool Halpert." She winked at him, and he laughed. "Goodnight." She went inside and left him at the front door.

"Goodnight, Pam," he whispered, and he walked back to his car, wondering how this night could possibly be topped.

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