Chapter 2

Pam stood in front of her closet in despair. She couldn't wear any of her clothes on a date! Even the new ones she had recently bought online just didn't seem good enough for this occasion. This was her FIRST DATE WITH JIM. Pam took deep breath. Hastily she flipped through her clothes again, frowning at each item. Was this really what she looked like every day? Everything was so bland, so...frumpy. But there had been a reason for that. She bit her lip and pushed the thought out of her mind. No. The past was in the past, and she wasn't going to let it ruin her evening. She had been dreaming about this for so long. Pam glanced at her watch and gasped. 6:24. Already? She was running out of time. Panicking, she yanked the simple black dress hanging in the back of her closet off the hanger. Pam held it up against her body and studied her reflection in the full-length mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door. She frowned again. Penny had bought her this dress to wear to her great-aunt's funeral nearly 5 years ago. Pam hadn't touched it since then. But she didn't have a choice. It would have to do. Carefully she slipped it on, pleased to see that it still fit her as well as it had all that time ago. She turned side to side in the mirror, noticing how it hugged her hips and the way it curved around her breasts. Maybe it wasn't so bad. She smiled a tiny smile and scurried to the bathroom to do her makeup.

Jim hung up the phone with a grin. He had been able to get a reservation at Pam's favorite restaurant, Cugino's. He checked the time. 6:48. In a few minutes, he would text Pam and tell her he was on his way. His hands felt clammy. This was unreal. He was going to dinner with Pam. He paced the floor of his bedroom for what felt like the 30th time. How long had he waited for this? Months. Years. Jim tried to imagine what Pam was doing at this very moment. Was she excited? Was she as nervous as he was? What was she wearing? What if she was already ready and waiting on him? Crap. Jim grabbed his cell phone from his dresser and pulled up Pam's number.

Hey, can't wait to see you. Ok if I head over? -J

He hit 'send' and checked his hair one more time. He still wasn't used to this haircut. He hoped it didn't look douchey. Pam loved his floppy hair. Maybe he should grow it back out. Did he smell okay? He was wearing some new cologne. He hoped she would like it. Jim loved the way Pam smelled. Not even her perfume. Her natural scent was so sweet and tantalizing and it made him dizzy just thinking about it. He jumped as he heard the ping of a new text message.

Ditto, Halpert. Ready when you are :) -P

Jim grinned at Pam's response. Now or never, he thought to himself. Grabbing his car keys, he threw his jacket over his shoulder and took the bouquet of flowers from the fridge. Lilies. Pam loved lilies.

A knock on the door startled her. But then again, she had been expecting it. It's Jim, she told herself. She took one last look in the mirror, smoothing her hair down, and took a calming breath. It's gonna be great.

Pam walked through her tiny apartment and stopped at the front door. She paused for only a moment before she turned the lock and opened it.

There was Jim, tall and handsome and perfect. He was dressed in a charcoal-colored button down with a silver vest and dark jeans. His hair was still styled from his interview that morning and his bright green eyes seemed to stare into her soul. She tried to catch her breath. God, he was gorgeous.

"Hi." she smiled softly.

"Hi." he grinned back. Their eyes locked for a few moments before Pam remembered where she was. She broke their gaze and stepped aside.

"Please, come in," she gestured to the living room.
Jim stepped over the threshold and entered her apartment. "Nice place," he said, looking around. It was small, but it was tidy and artfully decorated. And most importantly, it was all hers. She smiled.

"Thanks. I love it. And it's not far from work." Not far from work? Ugh, like he really cares about location right now. Pam was mortified.

Jim chuckled. "Bonus! And I love the paintings," he said, nodding to the wall above the couch. "Oh, these are for you," he said awkwardly, holding the flowers out towards her.
Pam melted. "Jim, they're beautiful. I love lilies. How did you know?" she asked, taking them from him.
"You mentioned it once."
"Yeah, like 2 years ago!" she laughed in disbelief.
"I know."

Pam blinked a few times, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness. She smiled. "They smell lovely. I'm going to put them in some water, then we can go?"

Jim nodded. "No rush. We have reservations."

"Wow. Nice touch, Halpert." Pam was touched. Jim's kindness made her even more nervous. With clammy hands, she quickly opened a cupboard and took her only glass vase down from the top shelf. Placing it under the faucet, she filled it about halfway with water. Pam then unwrapped the bouquet from the tissue paper. Taking the kitchen scissors from the drawer next to the stove, she snipped the bottom of the stems and quickly placed them into the vase. Pam positioned the flowers so they fanned out from the center, lovingly placing the arrangement on her kitchen table. She caught Jim watching her out of the corner of her eye and smiled to herself.

"Sorry," she muttered, pulling the last petal into place. "I just wanted to do them justice."

"It's no trouble," Jim assured her with a grin. "So what's the verdict?"

"Perfect!" she declared. "Let's go."

Pam took her wrap and purse from the hook by the door.

"Wait, let me help you," Jim said quickly, taking them from her.

"Jim, it's okay, really-"
"Please, Pam. I want to do this right," he murmured softly, gazing at her with a look she didn't know how to describe.

"Okay," she whispered happily, allowing Jim to settle the fabric around her shoulders, making sure not to crush her meticulously done curls. Pam draped the wrap over her arms, and Jim handed her her purse.

"Ready?" he asked her, and Pam was surprised to hear the nervousness in his voice.

"As I'll ever be," she answered, the fear and excitement in her voice matching his own.

"Alright," Jim smiled, taking her arm. "It's a date."