OK, I put a lot of thought in to this chapter. Not much happens, but there is a sad flashback from Pam. I really hope you enjoy this chapter, I did too, despite the little bit of angst. but hey, I'm really trying to follow the storyline. So, without further ado, Chapter 8.

Disclaimer: I don't own the office or NBC. I DO own Pam's flashback, though.

"Yeah, I'll take the guest room." Karen was sleeping at her cousins house, since they lived in a tiny town right outside of Scranton. Jim was sleeping in his old bedroom, which made her angrier and angrier with every thought or him and that red-head meeting up. Why did they have to live so close?

It didn't help that "Bees" was totally in love with Jim. Or at least not over him. She had been so assured that nothing would get in the way of them, since Jim told her that Pam denied him. Rejected him. Broke his heart.

But when she said those words, those obvious words, Karen's stomach did cartwheels. Pam said that she broke up with her long-time boyfriend three days after Jim left. Anyone who didn't understand the fact that she broke up with that guy for Jim was stupid. Karen didn't feel any better when she realized that Pam and Jim had spent the majority of their lives together. Karen was not trying to be too possessive, but it was hard not too. She was pretty much a goner for him.

The only problem was that she had feelings Pam was a goner too.

XXXX

Pam lay in bed that night, remembering the day's events. Jim had a girlfriend. A possessive, totally and disgustingly gorgeous girlfriend. How was she supposed to compete with that?

But she was. She had too, if she wanted Jim back. She had been so positive that he would be alone, missing home and always thinking of her. But he wasn't. He had a girlfriend. Please!

She knew that she had turned him down flat, left him for the worse guy. She knew that, only days too late. Days. The problem was, that something as little as days can ruin you're entire destiny.

When she turned over, she saw the flashlight and knew what she had to do.

Pam picked it up and flipped the switch, aiming it towards Jim's bedroom window.

XXXX

Jim couldn't stop the thoughts, reeling through his mind. He didn't think seeing her would be so hard. He didn't know that he still had feelings so strong. He thought that Karen would protect him from thinking that he still liked Pam.

He didn't expect to break down so quickly at the sight of her.

Wrong. He didn't expect to break down at all.

But when she hugged him, her small arms wrapping around him and the smell of her hair sweeping his nostrils, blocking out all thoughts and means of functioning, he knew that he couldn't stay here too long.

Karen, clearing her throat with a little ahem brought him out of his trance, but he couldn't mistake the way Pam's smile fell when she saw Karen. Or the way Karen was hanging on his arm, like a starved monkey. Everyone noticed. Pam did.

When he found out that Pam broke up with Roy, three days after he left, he realized that she did it for him. All of it. She was wearing a nice outfit and a different hairstyle and lip gloss because he was coming, and she wasn't bringing Roy. It was such a relief.

Jim had to get out of this town soon, though, before he left Karen for Pam. He loved Karen. He loved Karen. He loved Karen.

He was repeating these lines until he saw the familiar light flash inside his bedroom.

XXXX

Pam had small tears in her eyes, while she turned on that flashlight. She always cried when she remembered the first time she got drunk at that stupid party.

They were at Meredith's house, which was pretty big and full of booze. Her parents were gone for the weekend, and Roy had insisted that they go. Together.

Jim showed up too, mostly because Pam went. He sat on the couch with a few basketball players who didn't want to get caught partying. The season was in full swing, so getting caught now would screw everything up.

Pam followed Roy around, grabbing a beer and taking a swig. It tasted worse than cough medicine, but she gulped it down anyways.

Three more beers later, she had lost track of Roy and didn't recognize anyone here. Meredith lived on the outskirts of town, so she couldn't walk home. Even if she could, she wouldn't be able to find her way.

She wandered through the crowded house, stumbling and calling Roy's name. When she passed a guy she didn't know, he groped her until she stumbled away, leaning against the wall for support.

A sigh of relief erupted from her when she found the front door, grabbing that door knob and turning it, the rush of cold winter air. She had to get out of here, though.

She didn't have her coat, the cold air sent goose bumps rippling along her soft skin, she shivered so much it took the breath out of her. She cried, tears warming her cheeks and her face turning red. Cried and cried and cried. Where was Roy? Why did she even came here in the first place?

Her sniffles were loud, little sobs and tears and cold and her mind blurry from all the alcohol. She shouldn't have come to this party, full of juniors and seniors. She was only a sophomore.

Then he came out, walking over to his Toyota when he heard the muffled sob. She couldn't keep them quiet enough. The look of shock on his face when he saw her there, in the cold, drunk and crying. Jim picked her up, setting her in the passenger seat and buckling her in while she cried.

The warm blast of heat made her functional again, and soon she stopped crying. His hand crept over, opening the glove compartment and pulling out some tissues. She blew her nose and wiped the mascara from her cheeks, before leaning over and giving him a drunken kiss. The look of surprise that crossed his face when her lips pressed against his cheek made her giggle, before bringing her hand to her mouth.

A little moan escaped, then he pulled over, leaning across her and shoving the door open so she could puke all over the side of the road.

When she shut the door, it was silent. He pulled into her driveway, helped her to her bedroom, and left.

XXXX

Jim watched the light, swirling and dancing across his wall and ceiling, turning on and off, telling him to answer. He couldn't answer, though. He couldn't get attached to her like he did before.

Jim turned around and closed his eyes, begging God to help him block out the memories of her.

XXXX

Pam sighed. He wasn't going to answer. Not now, not ever.

Yes, a little angst my friends. If you review, you might get some sort of 'beach games' confession soon. If you have any ideas on how I can execute that, then just drop it in a review.

Remember: In one month is the Season premier of The Office! I'm just shaking with excitement!