A/N: I'm such a sucker. Really. Despite all my angsty talk I still want them together so badly I can't seem to help myself. Even with that, there's still a few twists and turns to come I'm thinking.
We shall see. :)
Chapter Three
Becky sat at her desk, idly chewing on the end of her pen. She could tell something had changed. He no longer had that vacant look in his eyes. He smiled more. He was suddenly…happier. At first she thought it was because he was finally letting go a bit, that he might be moving on. To her surprise, she'd come to realize that if that was the case, she was ready.
Becky was a smart girl. She'd always prided herself on that fact. And she wasn't convinced that her theory was right. She was having trouble figuring out what was going on here.
Jim Halpert had taken her completely by surprise. She'd been shocked at how much she'd begun to care for him. He was not at all like the other guys she dated. Dated. Hmm. That didn't seem right. Could you even categorize what they were doing as "dating?"
If she really thought about it, they hadn't done anything – let alone date - in a while.
As if on cue Jim wanders over and smiles, asking her if she's ready for Happy Hour. She nods and grabs her coat and purse and follows him to the door.
Ironic, wasn't it? She couldn't help but think. Look what you've gotten yourself into. You thought you were going to help him get over her. She sighs heavily as she shakes her head. Now who's going to help you get over him?
xoxoxoxoxo
Still smiling widely at something Jim had just written, Pam moves towards the parking lot, fumbling for her keys. As she drops them and bends down to pick them up, she's suddenly eye level with a scuffed pair of boots. She knows exactly who they belong to.
"Hey Pammy." Roy whispers.
"Hi." She shakes her hair back off her shoulders as she moves to stand.
She looks at him quizzically. She knows the look in his eye. He looks almost guilty.
"You look…good." He says as his eyes roam up and down, over every inch of her.
She'd always hated when he looked at her like that. And it was worse now. Pam pulls her coat tighter around her. "Thanks."
He is still standing there, blocking her path. "So. What's new?"
"Not much." She shrugs. She stares up at him, wondering what he wants exactly. Finally, she can't take it any longer. "What's going on with you Roy?"
He looks at his feet. "I um…I just wanted to tell you, you know – in case you happen to hear it around town. I'm, uh. I'm kinda seeing someone."
Pam's eyes fly open wide. "Oh." When she can finally find her voice she adds softly. "That's…great."
"Yeah. It's kind of funny." He says, his hand moving to rub the back of his neck as he tilts his head. "You know that girl Halpert took on the cruise? Katy? We sorta hooked up last weekend."
"The purse girl…" Pam mutters under her breath. Figures. She pastes a smile on her face as she gazes up at him. "That's great Roy."
"Yeah?" It wasn't exactly the reaction he was hoping for. He'd kind of hoped that maybe it would make her jealous or something. He'd be happy if she was. Even a little.
"She's…great. I'm really happy for you." She adds with a nod.
He looks down at her and hates that he needs to know. "So. What about you? You seeing anyone?"
She shakes her head. "No, Roy. I'm not."
In a way he wishes she was. He somehow thinks it'd be easier to know that she ultimately preferred someone else over him. It killed him that she'd rather be alone.
"No one?" He hates that he needs to ask again.
Thoughts of Jim flash through her mind. She wishes she could give a different answer but instead she hears herself say. "No. Right now, I just need some time for myself."
"Yeah. You said that." He replies bitterly, remembering all she'd said when she ended things between them.
She doesn't want to do this. Not again. She starts to move towards her car. "I'm sorry. I've got to get going. I have somewhere I need to be."
Roy shrugs. "Sure."
Pam gazes over at him once more. "I hope she makes you happy, Roy." She calls out to him as she climbs into her car.
"Yeah. Thanks." He says sadly as he makes his way to his truck.
She watches him drive off and is reaching for her phone before she can stop herself. She's dialing before it even registers.
"'Lo." Jim's voice sounds distracted, and there's a ton of noise in the background.
"Hey." She whispers.
In a split second, he's no longer distracted. His eyes are opened wide and his heart begins to pound. "Hey." He strains to hear her. "Hold on…give me a minute."
A few seconds later it's much quieter as she hears his voice again. "Hey. What's the matter?"
She's a bit put off by his question. "What makes you think something's wrong?" Pam asks.
His mouth twists in a half smile. "Oh I don't know. Maybe the fact that you're calling me after I haven't spoken to you in over four months."
"We've spoken." She says defensively.
He sighs. "We've written. It's different. Now. Stop avoiding the subject. What's going on?"
"Nothing." She replies.
"OK." Jim realizes he's not going to get an answer out of her, at least not yet. He decides to try another tactic. "If we're not going to talk about it, then tell me something else."
"OK." She agrees.
"How about an update? Have you been keeping track?" He asks her then.
"Yes. And I'm telling you – it's crazy. I think Dwight's going to propose soon."
The idea of Dwight getting married sends fear sneaking up his spine. "No way."
"Yes way. He's been asking me all sorts of questions. I can't believe it. He even asked if I still had the ring Roy gave me." She shakes her head. "Do you think he'd do that? Give her a ring that belonged to someone else?"
"There is nothing I think Dwight wouldn't do." He shivers. "And I do mean nothing…"
There's a pause before she blurts out. "Roy's seeing someone."
So there it is. Jim leans up against the window in front of the bar. He smiles and waves when he sees a bunch of people from the office heading for home.
"Ah ha." Is all he can reply to that.
"Yeah…He's umm. He's seeing…Katy."
That was something he should have seen coming. "Katy."
"Yeah. Apparently." She says, annoyed that it's bothering her so much.
It was harder than he expected. He was having trouble easing back into this role. To being the one she came to when something happened with Roy. "And how do you feel about that?"
"It's fine. He can see whoever he wants. I just…I mean. Katy?" She says as if she still can't believe it.
He takes a deep breath and tries to find the words to comfort her. "This is not surprising. C'mon, Pam. You need to keep in mind that I happen to know Katy."
"I know that." She says, even more annoyed now that she's reminded that Jim had dated her too. Maybe that's what's really bugging her, she suddenly thinks. The fact that both Jim and Roy have chosen Katy over her, at one time or another.
"And I know she's about as deep as a wading pool." He replies.
She bursts into laughter. "Jim."
"It's true." He continues. "The lights are on, but, sadly, no one is home. This is a good thing, Pam. I think they are a great match."
"You do?" Pam asks.
"Yeah. Let's break it down shall we? He loves watching football, she loves cheerleading. He loves snorkel shots, she used to be a shot girl at Hooters..."
Pam's jaw drops. "She did not work at Hooters."
He narrows his eyes. "Would I lie to you, Beesly? I've seen her in action. Holsters of tequila and all."
"Jim." She laughs louder.
He's on a roll now. "It's a match made in heaven. She'll be perfectly happy serving hot wings and nachos while he and Darryl check out the game. And it's nice. 'Cause she still has the uniform." He adds, smiling widely. "Come to think of it – it's ideal. Roy'll never have to go out to a restaurant – and I use that term loosely - ever again. You know how he hates that."
He wants to keep hearing her laugh. Her laugh is his favorite sound in the world.
"You can't be surprised Pam. Katy's biggest dilemma each day is which purse to carry. Roy's biggest is which bar to go to after work. Anything more complicated is out of their realm. It's absolutely perfect."
She keeps giggling on the other end and Jim wishes, more than ever, that she was standing right there with him.
"Feeling better?" He asks her then.
"Much." She replies with a smile.
"Good." He nods.
There's another pause but it's not at all uncomfortable. It's kind of just like they are taking a second to just enjoy each other's company.
"God Jim. I really miss you." The words are out before she can stop herself.
He tries to keep his heart from soaring at the sound of her words but it's impossible. Get a hold of yourself Halpert, he scolds himself in his mind. She said she misses you, not she loves you. There's a difference.
"I miss you too." He says softly. "Every day."
"Are you coming home for Thanksgiving?" Pam makes herself ask.
He shakes his head as he answers. "I'm, umm. I'm not sure. My parent's might just come up here. They haven't seen my new place yet."
She tries to stifle her disappointment. "Oh. OK."
He can't stand the way her voice sounds. He rushes to add. "But it's not written in stone. It's still a couple months away." We'll see."
"Yeah." She says softly, trying not to get her hopes up. "We'll see."
Pam glances at the clock on the dashboard, suddenly realizing she's late for class.
She's still reluctant to end the conversation as she says. "Oh God. I'm sorry, Jim. I've got to go. My class started ten minutes ago."
The fact that she mentions her class makes him happy. He's glad that she's doing something for herself for once. "It's OK. Go on. Go to class."
"Thank you for…you know…everything." She says awkwardly. "You made me feel much better."
"Happy to be of service." He says quietly.
"Have a good night." Pam whispers, still unable to make herself hang up.
"You too."
"Bye Jim." She's stalling and she knows it.
He doesn't want to let her go either. "Bye Pam."
"Talk to you soon." She sighs before she finally makes herself close her phone.
Jim stands there alone, staring at his phone, a smile forming over his face before he can stop it. He heads back inside and grabs a beer, finally able to enjoy himself for the first time in months.
