Author's Note: So I had a little trouble deciding where the story was going to go after that (pretty dramatic) last chapter. I think I've got some of it figured out...no I don't. But I'm working on it. Anyway, thank you all for your support, and I'm so glad you all like it!
He had the seat all the way back, top down on the Sebring. It was 4:30 and he was supposed to have left already, be drumming his fingers on the steering wheel to the newest album by Ben Folds or maybe some Death Cab and thinking about trying that Italian place next to his apartment.
Instead he was sitting in the parking lot of Dunder-Mifflin Scranton, watching the clouds float by and realizing he hadn't done that since he was probably six years old. He glanced toward the entrance of the building every few minutes, looking for a glimpse of shiny black hair and a swish of a purple skirt.
And then suddenly, there she was, flanked on either side by Jim and Pam. He wondered when they'd become her friends as he slammed the door of the Sebring shut without bothering to raise the top. She hadn't seen him yet, didn't recognize the car and he was glad for the element of surprise.
"Kelly," he said softly, and her eyes found his, surprised, he thought, to find he was still here. He was surprised himself.
"What, Ryan?" she said, but her voice was soft. Jim started to speak but Ryan cut him off.
"No, I have something to say," he said, and Jim glanced at Pam, but remained silent.
"Kelly, I—" he started, but he wasn't sure where to begin. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He waited for her to reply, but she said nothing. He took a deep breath. "I'm not sure what to do—I wish you'd told me sooner. I really do. I would have listened." She gave him a skeptical look. "Maybe I wouldn't have," he amended lamely. "But I'm listening now. Will you go to dinner with me?"
She glanced at Jim and Pam, unsure, but they both nodded softly. "Okay," she said, and he led her back to his car. She marveled at the Sebring, then laughed softly. "You have the same car as Michael?"
"Yeah," he smiled a little. "I told you that, you know. Before."
"I know." He opened the door for her, something he'd never done, and her eyebrows raised at him when she stepped inside.
"We can ride with the top down, if you want," he said, and she nodded.
Kelly decided on Chinese, and they sat in an uncomfortable silence over chow mien and sweet and sour pork. Kelly sipped her Sprite, leaving little gloss marks on the straw and finally asked the question that was on both of their minds.
"So, what are we going to do?" She asked, deftly stabbing a piece of pork with her chopsticks.
"I really don't know," Ryan said. "I mean, this was the last thing I thought I—we would have to deal with right now, honestly."
"Well, you know, I totally didn't plan for this either," Kelly said a little sharply. "But I've been dealing with it for five months. Look, I know that you don't want kids right now. I know that you really don't want me right now. I'm totally more than ready to totally raise this baby on my own and I will if I have to."
"Kelly—" He held her eyes for a long moment. "You know...You know I can't leave my job. I'm finally doing something with my life. It's not--"
"You don't think I know that? I totally know that, Ryan." She watched the sauce soak into the sweet and sour pork. It was the wrong thing to say and he knew it now. Regretted it. He was surprised that she hadn't started sobbing dramatically, black tears running down her face and he realized. She had changed.
Hesitatingly, he slid his fingers over the table, clasping her dark hand awkwardly. "Hey."
Her eyes flicked up and he smiled slightly. It was a strange feeling. His chest tightened when she didn't smile back.
"I'm not moving to New York." She said. "Scranton is my home, and I have friends here. New York is awesome, but it's not where I belong. Even if there are a million totally cute boutiques on every corner."
Ryan opened his mouth to remind her that he hadn't invited her up but thought better of it. "You don't have to."
"I'm done." She pushed her plate, still half-full, toward the center of the table.
He raised a hand for the waiter. "You're right. Let's get out of here."
They stood at the door to her apartment, Kelly fumbling awkwardly with the Styrofoam take out boxes as she searched for her keys. Ryan rocked back and forth on his heels, trying to think of something to say, but no words came.
She finally shoved the key into the lock, twisting it sharply and he reached for her arm. "Kelly, wait—"
She turned to him expectantly, and he stood silently, mouth open. "I…can I come in?"
"Goodnight, Ryan," She said stiffly, slipping from his grasp and turning back to the door.
"Are you still mad at me?" He said so softly that she could barely hear him, and she turned back once more.
"I think I have a reason to be." She said. "I don't think you understand, Ryan. Look, I've spent the last five months trying to figure out what I'm going to do when this kid finally pops out. I don't know how I'm going to do the work thing and the mom thing at the same time, but I'll figure it out. And my parents don't know yet, and they're going to totally flip when they do find out, but that's just another problem I'll have to deal with.
"You have your cushy job up in New York, living the high life, and I'm sure you'd love to just skip out on me. I would if I were you. And I'm completely prepared to never see you again, Ryan." She searched his eyes and then sighed quietly.
"Thank you for dinner," she said as she turned to go inside.
Ryan grabbed her arm.
"I'm done talki—" Her words were muffled as his lips met hers. He kissed her softly at first, and then more deeply, one hand in her hair. She didn't move, but when they finally parted, her eyes were half-lidded like they always used to be when they were in bed together. He realized he was still gripping her elbow and let go awkwardly.
She straightened her shirt a little, took one more look at him, and pushed the door of her apartment open.
"It'll work out, Kelly." He called after her.
She pushed the door closed with a click, leaving him standing on her doorstep.
Is it out of character? I hope not. Let me know what you think!