Chapter 4: Defiance

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Defiance

def'n: open, bold, or hostile refusal to obey or conform

The car ride was silent. Jim's hand never left Pam's lap where she rubbed small circles on his palm with her thumb. She didn't even have to look at him to know he was smiling. When they pulled into the parking lot of Dunder-Mifflin, however, she let go of his hand and sighed. "I'm going to hate not being close to you today."

He laughed slightly as he placed the car in park. He looked around the parking lot quickly and leaned over to kiss her. His thumb rubbed against her temple as her hand rested lightly on his thigh. This action on her part received a slight groan from him. She smiled into his lips and pulled back, leaving her hand in place.

He lifted her hand into his and pressed his lips to the back of it gently. "You ready?"

"No."

He laughed, thinking she was kidding until her faced dropped. "What?"

"It's just, what are we going to tell people? You know we're going to have to fill out the interoffice relations form with Toby, and Kelly's gonna freak, and-"

"Pam. We don't have to say anything. We'll keep it from Toby for now."

"Really?"

"Hey, I'm Assistant Regional Manager, missy. No worries." He kissed her cheek before they both got out of the car.

They walked up to the building with a comfortable space between them. As they waited for the elevator, they talked about the upcoming Dundies award night. When the doors shut, however, Jim's lips were on hers quickly. She pushed him off of her, giggling. "Jim."

"What?"

"We are at work. We can't do that."

"Fine, ruin my day before it starts." He stuck his hands in his pockets, frowned, and faced the doors. Just before the doors opened, two words made him smile again.

"Love you."

They got off the elevator and made their way to the office door, taking a breath in unison before entering. Pam started to fake laugh and nodded for Jim to play along with her. "I cannot believe they said that."

"I know. I was like, 'What do you mean you can't pick up my car?'"

"They actually said you had to bring your car to them?"

"Yes."

He hung up his coat and took hers to do the same. "Did you explain to them that it won't start?"

"Um, yeah." They both laughed again as Jim put his things down at his desk. "I'm most definitely calling another garage."

"I would. If you need me to take you to pick it up later, let me know."

"I will." She sat down at her desk and busied herself, her smile never falling.

Their decision not to tell anyone about their new "relationship" was actually making the day go by a lot faster. At least until lunch. He leaned on her desk, reaching for a jelly bean. "So, I didn't get time to pack a lunch since you so rudely needed a ride this morning. So, I was wondering if you wanted to go get something."

"Um," she looked up at him from her Sudoku puzzle, "Sure."

They made their way to the parking lot quickly. Once in the car, he reached for her hand and kissed it gently. "Man, I am so glad to get out of there."

"Me too," she sighed.

They went to Cuginos. It was their second lunch date there, but this one was more relaxed, more intimate. They laughed over their Cokes, grinned over their meal, and flirted over dessert. Pam held his arm as he paid, he held her coat as she used the ladies room, and they held each others hand as they walked to the car. Neither could deny it was the perfect date. Though it was technically, their third date, they both counted it as their first.

Once they got back to the office, the day dragged by. They barely spoke the rest of the day, both thinking of the evening they would spend together. Their thoughts were interrupted, however, when Michael came out of his office to make an announcement.

"Okay everyone. Thanks to Toby in HR, we all have to have a meeting about interoffice relations."

"Actually, Michael, it's because of you." Toby's exhausted voice slid through the murmurs.

"Yeah, whatever. Just shut up Toby. No one asked you."

"Actually, Jan asked me to have this quick meeting about the importance of informing HR on changes in relationship status if it is one between two employees-"

"Yeah, fine. Everyone in the conference room in ten minutes." Michael turned on his heels and returned to his office, leaving Toby standing facing Pam. She shrugged and went back to her puzzle. She hadn't even looked at Jim, even though she knew he was looking at her through the entire ordeal.

They sat in the side chairs as usual, but they were careful to sit far enough away as to not look suspicious. What they didn't realize was how suspicious they made themselves look. Michael had said a few words about how he thought the whole point of the meeting was stupid and that it was totally not necessary, but Toby assured him it was.

"I received a phone call from Jan at corporate this morning informing me that as a HR representative, it is my duty to remind you of some of the requirements involving interoffice relations. We do require some forms to be filled out when beginning or ending a relationship with someone who also works with Dunder-Mifflin. I want to assure you that it is confidential and the only people who will know are me and a couple people at corporate."

There were a few murmurs and exchanged glances.

"You can come see me after the meeting or send me an e-mail if you have any questions."

Everyone was filing out of the conference room-Michael was the first to leave-as Jim made his way up to Toby.

"Hey, did you get-" he didn't have to finish. Toby pulled out a piece of paper and slid it on the table in front of Jim. "Thanks."

"Karen faxed them over this morning with her transfer papers. I'm sorry about all of it."

"Well, it can't always work out," he responded as he signed the forms.

"No, no it can't." Toby sounded sad. Not that he didn't always sound sad, but this time especially.

At the reception desk, Pam couldn't get the thoughts of the night before out of her mind. Even though she knew they were keeping their new relationship a secret she wished she could have stood up in the meeting and announced it. She thought of his lips and his hands on her. His soft lips and large, strong hands. Her eyes wandered from her computer to Jim, who was still standing in the doorway to the conference room with Toby.

She remembered the way he looked in her apartment that morning. The way he looked on her couch. The way he stood in her bedroom. The way his smell mixed so well with hers. She was thinking about the way his breath felt on her neck as he kissed her the night before when she heard it.

"Oh my God, Pam! Did you hear?" Kelly's voice echoed off the walls of the office as she leaned against Pam's desk.

"Hmm?" Pam still hadn't completely snapped out of her daydream.

"Well, Jim of course. Oh my God, this is so great-well, for you I guess. Not for Karen. It kind of sucks for her I guess."

"What are you talking about?"

"Jim and Karen broke up. Didn't you hear?"

"Oh, that."

"Yeah, and Pam, oh this is so totally great for you. I bet Jim is totally interested in you. I bet he's gonna ask you out. I mean, you look so cute. Even hot. Seriously, you look so great today, it's unbelievable."

"Thanks?" Pam sat awkwardly in her chair, trying to see Jim behind Kelly-without it being obvious.

"No, really Pam. You should seriously dress like that more often."

Pam looked down at herself, "Um, Kelly, I wear this kind of thing all the time."

"Well, there's something different about you today. You look so pretty and you should totally talk to Jim. And maybe you should flirt a little."

"I'm not doing that Kelly."

"Okay, fine. So, do you want me to set you up with that friend of Ryan's? He's so cute and he's really funny and I think you would so get along with him so well."

Kelly hadn't seen Jim return to is desk during her short tirade, but Pam had. The look in his eyes alone made her choose her next words carefully. "Well, Kelly, it's really nice of you to offer, but I'm kind of seeing someone."

"Oh my God! No way Pam! Is he like totally hot and funny and a good kisser?"

"Um-"

"Oh, you're not back with Roy, are you?" Kelly's voice was overly loud and several people were glancing in their direction.

"Definitely not," she spat out. "It's not Roy. And yes, he's hot and funny and an amazing kisser," she breathed out the last words, thinking back to the night before. She glanced at Jim who smiled coyly at her.

"Wow, Pam. That is so great. Like who is he and stuff?"

"He's a friend. We got to talking lately, and things progressed." She was getting more and more uncomfortable talking about Jim that way to Kelly. It felt wrong somehow, talking about him without actually being able to talk about him.

"Wow Pam, just, wow."

"I know." Pam looked up to see a creepy smile cover Kelly's face. She could tell Kelly was plotting something crazy. "What?"

Kelly leaned over the desk to whisper to Pam, "Are you like, trying to make Jim jealous?"

Jim's head popped up from his computer at Kelly's comment.

"No. I'm just saying that-" Pam was cut off by the phone ringing. She just smiled and shrugged at Kelly who turned and walked back towards the annex, throwing a smile to Jim on her way. "Dunder-Mifflin, this is Pam."

When she hung up the phone, she leaned forward and cleared her throat gently. It was enough of a sound, however, to make Jim turn around. He gave her a look before getting up and taking his place at her counter. "Yes, Miss Beesly, you rang?"

"Can you take me to get my car?"

"Um…" He glanced at his desk before looking back at her. "You know, I'm totally busy. Maybe you could ask your new wonderfully amazing boyfriend."

She glanced around with her eyes before leaning towards him and whispering, "I am."

"Oh. In that case, maybe I'll have to take you to get your car. I wouldn't want you stuck here all night."

She raised her voice slightly, "That would be a travesty. If you left me here, I'd have to call my boyfriend and we'd probably end up making out on your desk. And then maybe in the conference room, the break room, the kitchen, and most likely the couch too."

"Wow. Just, wow." She smiled up at him. "I will definitely give you a ride to the garage then."

"Great."

"Let me know when you're ready." He drummed his fingers on the counter before returning to his desk. The papers he had left were going to have to wait. He was now thinking about Pam and her boyfriend-wow, him-making out on his desk, and in the conference room, and the break room, and…

It was five o'clock before he knew it and Pam was leaning on his desk, "Ready, Halpert?"

"Yup, let's go get your car."

"Oh, hold on, I almost forgot." She walked over to Karen's desk and pulled the box out from under it. Karen had left a voicemail telling Pam to use it, as well as what things she needed. Pam filled the box with the few items and made her way back to Jim. "Can't forget these."

"Yeah." He looked down at the items and back up at Pam. Her smile made him feel more at ease. They walked to the door and donned their coats. Jim took the box from her, insisting she shouldn't have to carry his ex-girlfriend's things. When they were in the elevator he kissed her on the cheek and she smiled wide.

She knew the rest of her night was going to be interesting and probably quite difficult to get through, but knowing she had Jim by her side helped her know she could do it. She promised to call him after she left Karen's and he kissed her gently before she got out of his car. He waited until she had started hers, just in case, and he drove home, awaiting her call. It was going to be a long night for both of them.

Defiance

def'n: not telling Toby about your new office relationship

Okay, there you are, chapter 4. This story is getting massively long and I'm happy. The next chapter is all Karen and Pam. Don't worry, no cat fights…unless you want it that way. Please Review! They make me happy and want to write more.