Step 9: Just having a little fun
Could brighten up your whole day.
Even when you're not expecting it
Pam sat at her desk, silent and thoughtful. She stared at Jim's oh-so-familiar profile sitting at his desk and typing at his computer. Pam looked at the clock: 3:45. Jim hadn't said a word for almost six hours. Pam sighed, a little lonely, and turned back to her game of solitaire.
Pam had jinxed Jim earlier that day, and he wasn't allowed to talk until he bought her a Coke. But the vending machine was out, so Jim hadn't said a peep since then. Even though he was holding up his end of the bet surprisingly well, Pam couldn't help but wish she could talk to him. She hadn't had anyone to talk to in what felt like forever.
Pam couldn't take it anymore, and got up from her desk, grabbing her purse and pink coat and heading toward the door. She was going to end this game, once and for all.
She made her way down the hall, turned the corner, and froze. Ryan was standing in front of the stairwell, talking on his cell phone. He froze too when he saw her.
They just stood there, staring, till they both seemed to come to their senses a little. Pam shot him a smile and made her way to the elevators. Ryan's lip twitched in her direction, then he looked down, trying to focus on the person on the other line.
"Yeah, I'll have those over as soon as possible..."
Pam pressed the down button, and waited, listening to Ryan talk to some client over the phone. It was a little awkward, but at least she had an excuse to be silent.
There was a loud clunk coming from the elevator, and a whir, then silence. The light from the buttons dimmed, and arrow above the sliding doors went out. The elevator was broken.
"Oh, come on!" Pam said, louder than she intended. She pressed the down button several more times, then smacked the door in frustration. She couldn't believe her luck.
"Sorry, Mr. Bendetti... I'm going to have to call you back." She heard from behind her, then the sound of a phone snapping shut. Pam's face went red, remembering Ryan was there too, and turned to face him.
"Oh my God, Ryan. I'm so sorry!" Pam said quietly, turning to face him. She felt embarrassed she even had to apologize for her rudeness.
Ryan waved her apology away. "Oh, don't worry about it. That guy was a complete idiot anyway; I was just looking for an excuse to hang up on him."
Pam giggled awkwardly, and looked down. They were silent for a second longer before Pam remembered why she was there in the first place.
"Well, I should probably get going..." Pam trailed off before walking around him and down toward the stairwell.
"Where are you going?" he asked. Pam turned, a littled surprised he even asked.
"Uh... I'm just running out to get something." Pam turned back to the stairs, trying to hurry.
"You know, if you want to get a can of Coke for Jim..." Ryan called after her, and Pam froze. "I know a faster and cheaper way."
Pam just stared at Ryan, blown away by how much he knew. He wasn't smiling; just looking at her with a sense of understanding, and maybe a little unsettled sadness. Pam took a step up to him, looking at him skeptically.
"How did you know...?"
"Kelly," he said simply, and Pam knew that meant he probably knew everything about everyone in this office already.
"Oh."
They were silent again, before Pam took another step closer to him. "You said you knew a faster and cheaper way of getting Coke?" a small grin played on her lips, and Ryan smiled in spite of himself.
"Yeah... follow me." He jerked his head, indicating she follow him. She did, still grinning slightly.
He led her to the glass doors of Vance Refrigeration. He peered in, trying to inconspicuously check if anyone was around.
"Vance Refrigeration?" Pam asked curiously.
"Yeah. They have some nice vending machines in their break room. Name-brand and everything. But, the thing is, Bob refuses to let us Dunder-Mifflin guys come anywhere near them. You know, other than Phyllis." he added.
Pam giggled. "Seriously? I always thought that was a joke."
Ryan shook his head. "No way. Bob takes his vending machine snacks very seriously. Now come on," Ryan began looking through the glass again. "Check and see if anyone's coming."
Pam checked with him. All was clear.
"Kay. C'mon." he whispered, and opened the door quickly and quietly. Pam followed, just as silent.
They crept, crouching slightly, through the carpeted halls of the Vance Refrigeration office suite. There were no workers in sight; probably all out unloading refrigerators out back. Ryan walked ahead of her and led them to a side door, obviously the break room's, and motioned for her to follow.
She was just about to walk in, when he suddenly threw out his arm to stop her.
She probably would have screamed if Ryan hadn't slapped a hand to her mouth. He pulled her quickly down the hall and around a corner, away from view.
"Ryan...!" Pam tried screaming against his hand, but he shushed her quickly.
There were voices coming from that room.
Both remained silent as they listened to the other voices talk and laugh, sounding a little muffled. Suddenly the door burst open, and the voices got much louder.
Both Pam and Ryan simultaneously prayed that they wouldn't walk their way.
They both stayed hidden for several more minutes, listening to the voices which didn't seem to move from that one spot. Finally, after what felt like forever, they moved away in the opposite direction, toward the loading dock outside.
Pam and Ryan both let out a breath, relieved.
Pam looked down, and realized her and Ryan were pressed up together uncomfortably close, trying not to be seen during those couple minutes of fear. She didn't move; just looked over at Ryan right next to her.
His eyes were really blue, she noticed.
Ryan looked at her too; both their faces were inches apart, seeing as they were still sitting awkwardly close. Ryan cleared his throat.
"We should probably get that soda now."
Pam blinked, not realizing her breathing was becoming a little shallow. "Oh... yeah."
Pam didn't remember much that had happened after: just Ryan leading her to the indicated room and buying the soda for her. Handing it to her, she realized just how warm his hands felt when brushed against hers. They walked back out of Vance Refrigeration, thankfully without any more trouble, but Pam wasn't really thinking about that.
Just how incredibly blue Ryan's eyes seemed.
Step 9: Check
