A/N: This is the sequel to my other story, Lonely. If you haven't read it, I strongly recommend you do that. If not, it could get a little confusing. Anyway, please try to review and let me know what you think, I haven't exactly decided where I want this to go yet.

DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own The Office. No, the characters are not mine. Is that really a surprise?

"You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with."

-Wayne W. Dyer

For some reason, Jim had the idea that by getting the transfer back to Dunder-Mifflin Scranton, his life would return to exactly the same as it was before. Well, except for now he was dating Pam. But it wasn't the same. Not at all. First of all, Pam and Roy had both quit. He wasn't sure where Roy was, but Pam had decided to take an internship for graphic design in Philadelphia. Ryan had been promoted to corporate, Toby had moved to Costa Rica, and then there were the new people. The new HR rep, Holly, a new intern whose name Jim couldn't remember, and the new receptionist. It was different for him, always looking up at reception and instead of seeing Pam, he saw this new girl. Her name was Kristin, and she was pretty and blonde. Michael had made so many inappropriate comments to her during the nearly five months that she'd been working here, but she just didn't seem to appreciate the humor. Or lack of humor. She kept to herself, and didn't really talk to anyone, except Kelly, who mainly talked at Kristin, rather than to her, and hardly ever got a response. He'd had five months to get used to it, but it still seemed weird every time she answered the phone to hear, "Dunder-Mifflin, this is Kristin." It just didn't sound right. He was pondering this as his phone rang.

"Jim Halpert, how can I help you?" he said professionally, and got a response of a giggle.

"You can help me by asking my boyfriend if he can take a long lunch break and meet me. I have the day off today, and my errands are all done. I'm bored." Her voice always made him smile, even now after five months of hearing it every day.

"Let me check with him." Jim said jokingly, "Yep, he said he'd love to get out of the office as much as possible." Pam laughed again.

"OK, what about that Italian place? Say 12:30?"

"Sounds good, see you then." As Jim hung up the phone, he noticed Dwight staring at him. At least that hadn't changed.

"Personal calls during company time are forbidden, Jim. Or did you forget that when you were off working in Stamford?" Jim could have continued messing with him, but decided not to today. It wasn't the same without Pam anyway.

"I did forget, actually. Thanks for the reminder, Dwight." Just then, he heard someone open the door to the office.

"Hi, can I help you?" Kristin's cheerful voice said.

"Yeah, I'm looking for Jim Halpert." This voice was familiar too, but in a different way. It didn't make him smile, that was for sure. He turned around in his chair to confirm that it was who he thought it was.

"Karen?" She stood at the desk, her hair neatly pulled back, and wearing simple clothes, not her normal work attire. She smiled at him, but it was more of a sad, almost forced smile.

"Hey, Jim."

- - - - - - - - - -

Pam sat at the restaurant, and glanced at her watch again. 12:47. It wasn't like Jim to be late, ever, but especially without a phone call. She was getting worried. Would calling him be too much of a needy girlfriend move? Pam considered this, and decided that it probably was, but pulled out her cell phone anyway. It rang once, twice, three times. Finally, just when she was losing hope, Jim picked up.

"Hey, sorry, I can't make it to lunch. Sorry." His voice sounded...not like him. Stressed and upset about something. But what?

"Geez, thanks for calling."

"I know, I'm sorry. I've got...stuff to do OK? I forgot about our plans, and...I'll call you after work."

"Where are you? Did Michael plan some elaborate lunchtime meeting for you all?" Even though Pam would never admit it, she did kind of miss Michael and the office.

"No. Not quite. I've got to go, talk to you later?"

"Sure." Pam hung up, confused. Jim wasn't the kind for secrets. Something big had to be going on. But what? The waiter walked by for what seemed like the tenth time.

"Is the other member of your party coming, miss?" Pam felt her eyes start to water, and she blinked away the tears.

"Um, no. I guess I'll just leave. You can give the table to somebody else." The waiter said something else, but Pam didn't hear it. She was already halfway outside going over all the horrible possibilities about what could be going on with Jim.