I was laying on my bed, listening to music, when some loser kept honking his horn.
It was about 4pm. Where in the world did this jerk have to be in such a hurry?!
I slipped off my bed and crept up to my window, wanting to see whether or not I should yell at the doof or not.
"Wait a second," I muttered aloud, peering out at the car parked in front of my house.
My heart pounding with anticipation, I ran down the stairs and practically tore the front door off its hinges.
"Gosh, I thought I was gonna have to set off some kind of explosion to get you out of the house!" called my brother, Jim, from the driver's seat of his car.
"What're you doing here!" I laughed with delight, clasping the open window of his passenger's side door.
"Hello to you, too," Jim teased. "Hop in and I'll tell you all about it."
Not asking any further questions, I pulled the door open and plopped myself into the car seat next to him.
"Soooo, what's up?" I prodded after a few minutes of silent driving.
"You know how I ended up transferring to Stamford after the night I kissed Pam, and then I transferred back to Scranton 'cause the Stamford branch closed and my girlfriend, Karen, came with me?" he played the quick catch-up card.
"Sure do," I nodded. "What about it?"
"Well, today, Karen and I both interviewed for a job with corporate in New York," he began.
"NO WAY!" I shrieked. "Jim, that's amazing!"
"I know," he smiled sadly, "But I didn't get the position."
I blew a raspberry. "Corporates missing out."
"Well, I blew the interview," he explained.
"You never blow stuff like that. What happened?" I quizzed.
"Pam," he smiled. "She put this in my sales reports."
He tossed me the note and the yogurt lid attached. "Dunno if this is sweeter than it is weird … I guess I'm too young to know the inns and outs of the lids of dairy products involved in romance."
Jim laughed and went on. "I just- can't get away from this feeling. But what about Karen?"
"You care for Karen, but you're in love with Pam, Jim," I smacked the dashboard lightly. "That's not about to change, bro. And if you want to be fair to Karen, you need to let her go."
"I know you're right, I just feel terrible for putting her through all of this," he said sadly.
"And I'm sure Pam felt terrible for putting you through all she did with Roy. You held out for her just like Karen is holding out for you Now you're finally getting your chance at the 'one who got away'. Karen will find her someone, just like you did," I smiled reassuringly.
Jim nodded, not saying anything more for the moment.
"You gotta take me home," I said suddenly.
"Why? Is everything okay?" he asked in a panicked tone.
"No!"
"What's wrong?!"
"You're still here with me, and not with Pam!"
He huffed out a large breath and chuckled with relief. "You are seriously insane."
"Runs in the family," I said, poking him in the side.
As he pulled the car into our driveway, he turned to me. "Hey, listen, C. No matter what happens between Pam and me, I want you to know how important you will always be to me. Doesn't matter who is in my life. You will always be my favorite girl."
"Yeah, yeah," I shrugged as I opened the door and jumped out. "That's what they all say."
"I'm serious," he said, catching my attention.
"I know," I smiled gratefully. "Now leave."
He laughed once more. "Love you, sis."
"Love you, bro," I called out over my shoulder.
It was only a short matter of time when I received the call I knew I would get eventually. Jim finally caught the one who didn't get away after all.