Pam sat down lonely at her usual lunch table. Today was Thursday- the fourth day of school and sadly, Jim was absent. She looked over towards Kelly and Ryan. Pam decided it was probably best she didn't join in the drama that was going on over at their table. She looked up from her sad excuse for a lunch to see Roy, Darryl, and some of their other friends walking over towards her.
"Hey, where's your boyfriend?" Roy smirked.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Pam said, her face turning beet red as she blushed.
"Well, either way, he abandoned you," Roy said. "So, you can come eat with us if you want."
The tips of Pam's ears grew hot. "He's just absent for one day! Drop it! Plus, I'd rather sit by myself."
Roy and Darryl started laughing. "Ok, ok! Feisty! If you ever need somewhere to sit, you know who to come to."
Pam looked down at her food to start eating. The others turned to leave but when Pam looked back up, a girl was sitting down across from Pam.
"Hey, I'm Val," The girl said. Pam nodded a bit gloomily.
"Don't worry about them," She continued. "They're idiots. But they grow on you. You should give them a shot. I think Roy likes you by the way. You know how boys are."
Pam smiled weakly. "Ok, maybe I will."
Val smiled and got up to sit with the others. Pam looked in their direction at Roy before looking back down at her tray.