Disclaimer: I don't own the Office. I own my DVD collection, which are on a shelf above bed.

A/N: I've been so busy lately so I'm trying to release the pressure of work hell by writing about work... hell... Hmm... Anyway, here's a one shot about my favorite girl on the show, the one and only Kelly Kapoor. Without further adieu, the next chapter...

July 17, 2007

12:30 pm

It was just a typical Saturday afternoon for Kelly Kapoor, aimlessly wondering through the Steamtown Mall, a home away from if you will, but more home than she could ever imagine. Inside these walls, a truth, a harmony that only the chosen ones could experience in all its glory. She took a moment to smell the air, the sensation of cinnamon concoctions being made down the court or the cheesy bit of guilt served on a plateau unrecognizable to the untrained eye, only as a Italian meal brought hundreds of years ago. She knew that she should feel ashamed of her emotional attachment to the structure made of bricks, but to her, it was her sanctuary, her salvation.

She bobbed her head to the intercom radio play, humming along to a Rihanna song, liking the way it went along with her stride. She let the corners of her mouth turn up slightly, allowing the scowl take a break. She sipped on her orange Julian, letting the juices pucker her cheeks but fought back a smile. She couldn't bring herself to do it, not when the sky was gray and the clouds were rolling in overhead. When her favorite songs only made her cry and seeing men with black hair make her wilt. Life just didn't seem enjoyable without Ryan in her world.

She looked at her reflection in the window of H&M and sighed, hating the person she'd become in the past weeks. Here it was, the peak of summer and she was walking the grounds where she once described as her own 'Glory Road', to now stumble down the halls as some lowly serf with nothing in her hands but a sweet smoothie and sticky fingers. How did she become this girl, a chick from Patheticville, USA? She shook her head, remembering how she called Pam out in the break room hours before Ryan broke her heart. Now who's mayor?

She was joke, an everyday mockery. How could she thought that she could talk about anyone being pathetic when she waited by the phone for hours before she gave in and called him in the late night, hoping that he would say the things she so desperately longed to hear from his lips: that he cared, that he understood, that he loved her. The things that she had affectionately pronounced every waking hour in his presence. She knew it was ridiculous to be so openly honest about how she felt for him, but the truth was she was just as surprised at the amass love she had for him. She couldn't understand how in so little time she could wake up at any given moment and have him on her mind. She couldn't comprehend how she could be so frightened yet so willing to fall in love and not worry.

She looked at the shoes in Aldo, feeling prickles of goosebumps floating up her forearms, taking in all the vibrant colors. She felt that way when Ryan truly looked her way the first time. It wasn't the kind of look she would expect would knock the wind out of her, but it simply did. Hanging out had become a ritual every Wednesday night, a night where nightly sports games didn't interfere and hanging out with the guys weren't compromised. She liked that they had a set time to be together, something that she could look forward to and immense her time to. It wasn't immediate, the initial attraction was obvious, but it wasn't until she gave herself to him, when she let him in completely.

She had always had been wary about intimacy, especially with someone she really liked because she knew how it could change everything, and without fail, it most certainly did. She woke up the the morning after Valentines' Day, and the first thing that popped in her head was how warm in her bed felt with him in it the morning before and how cold it was now. It scared her that she felt this way, these unknown sensations and instincts to have him near terrified her. She prided herself on being an independent woman, much to her parents dislike and enjoyed living on her own, making her own decisions and choices, but she wasn't prepared for destiny to come knocking on her door and making them for her.

She knew it was foolish to let a simple night of romping in the sack into a relationship, but something that felt that good couldn't be a mistake. She was frightened to follow her heart, afraid of the consequences that the heart could find her in, terrified of the path and where it led. But she took a chance and let it carry her into a vortex filled with lonely nights, desperate pleas and rejected advances. She wanted so much to have what she thought was real but knowing deep inside that her dreams would never become a reality was to disparaging to accept. So the best cure for her woes, denial.

She denied a lot of what she and Ryan were. The chemistry was never something she could dwindle on because a part of her knew it didn't exist. They were simply two people of convenience, which she hated to admit and till this day she still despised to recollect. It wasn't the sex or the kisses or the passionate making-out sessions after a few too many beers that she held on to however, it was the small moments when she could look across the office floor or even more recently, behind her chair and see the spiky hairs on his neck, the small mole no one noticed, the dimple that was always overlooked. She could see him and in someway, it made things real. He was real and so were they.

It wasn't until they broke up that she began to really look at herself in the mirror and wonder what happen to the girl that liked to shop and dance in her room listening to the latest Enrique Iglesias CD. She missed her carefree existence before everything seemed weird and unfamiliar and when the simple sigh or touch from him seemed to be the only thing that would help her through the day. She thought about Pam again, thinking about her speech at the beach in front of the office, looking determined and confident, something she simply thought she never possessed. She always thought Pam was always so lucky in the ways of love. She had two guys fawning over at the same time, both willing to spend the rest of their lives with her and here she was, clinging to a hope that never seemed to have any proof of being real. She watched on as Pam professed her love for Jim, not caring what the others thought, just wanting to let the one she cared for how she felt. It was so brave and courageous, making her feel insignificant again. How come life seemed easier for some people and sucky for...

Kelly stopped in the middle of the floor, looking at the dress in the store window. It nearly took the wind out her lungs but there it stood, shining in the cheap and insulting fluorescent lights they fixed in the store window. She couldn't remember when she actually entered the store but she touched the fabric of the dress, letting the silky smooth material glide under her fingers, taking it all in. She needed this dress. She had to have this dress. There was no if, ands or buts about it. This dress was going to be hers, if only she could find the price tag. 499.95. "Holy crap!"

She stiffened, not realizing that she actually said it aloud. She smiled sheepishly, looking around for a saleslady. She took another look at the dress, not really knowing what drew her to it, but knowing that whatever it took, she would possess that dress. Just as she was going to compare the color to her skin tone, a slim woman strolled next to her. "Welcome to DKNY, is there anything I can help you with?"

Kelly turned to the woman, feeling slightly smaller, "Um... I would like to try this dress on, please."

The saleswoman gave Kelly the once-over, "Hmm... I think there's a better dress in the back. You know, for you skin tone." She gave her a condescending smile, "You're more of a spring." She fingered the dress, sending chills down Kelly's spine, "This is more of a summer."

Kelly seared daggers at the woman's hand, not believing her audacity to touch her dress. "Um... thanks for the suggestion, but I would really like to try on this dress."

The saleswoman, who's name Kelly saw on her name tag was Bridgette, gave her another intimidating glare, "I think you might be more interested in the dresses toward the back." She waved nonchalantly toward the clearance rack. "They may be more fitting..." She gave a more devious smirk, "To your form."

Oh, no she did not! Kelly could feel the blood rushing to her face. How dare this buck-toothed bitch call her fat! She was in excellent shape, especially for her petite frame. She knew her body rocked hard and this skinny two-bit twit wasn't going to make her feel worse about herself. "No, I'm pretty sure that dress is what I want. Thank you again for you helpful suggestion." Kelly returned the ugly skank with her own seething glare. "So, if you don't mind, could you please take it off the mannequin?"

Bridgette nodded curtly, "As you wish." She turned her auburn haired head toward the back of the store and returned a moment later with the demagnetizing utensil for the security chips. After taking it off, she handed it to Kelly, "The fitting area is over there." She waved her hand airily again toward the back of the store. With that, she swooshed over to another customer a few racks over.

Kelly strolled to the back of the store, where another tall amazon woman walked over toward her. Kelly couldn't help but wonder when the mall got so mean and weird. It was as if the whole world was against her. "Hi, I'd like to try this on."

The woman gave her the once-over and handed her a gold number, "Go in the next available stale and please be aware that the dressing area has surveillance cameras." Another person, this time a man-version of the other two looked at Kelly and rolled his eyes. As he was checking his nails he whispered, "So keep your sticking fingers to yourself."

Kelly had had enough of the harassment. She cleared her throat, "Excuse me, but what the hell is your problem?"

The woman looked at Kelly as if she were speaking another language, "I beg your pardon?"

Kelly scoffed, "More like I should be asking for yours." She chuckled, "You think you're so cool with your designer duds and Rite-Aid bought highlights. Please... you work at a flippin' mall... in Scranton! You're nothing special. Just some chick who thinks she's hot 'cause you get a 30 discount, which in this store is barely the tax." She laughed in spite of herself, "It's people like you," She pointed to the man. "And you." She glanced to the front of the store where Bridgette was helping a customer, "And that saddity freak up there that make this mall suck." She shook her head, "I used to love coming here, but I guess the rumors are true."

The man stepped off his stool, giving Kelly his best scowl, "What rumors?"

Kelly gave him the once-over before heading into the open stale near the front. She stopped just before the door and turned, giving her best "Bitch" smile, "That this place is going to the dogs." With that, she walked into the stale and tried on her dress.

After looking at it on her, she smiled, feeling muscles in her cheeks she hadn't used in weeks. She looked gorgeous in the red dress, with the white polka-dots catching the light. She giggled, feeling like herself for the first time in a while. With the sudden boost of confidence, she walked out into the hall to the three-way mirror. As she spun around, she noticed the other workers looking at her with their mean glares. Kelly smirked, giving them a pose from behind, "That's right... eat your heart out."

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More to come. In the next chapter, a certain accountant shows his true colors. Until next time, loves! -MrsBigTuna