Title: Late Night Musings
Disclaimer: No infringement intended, The Office doesn't belong to me, otherwise- naw, I won't even go into it.
Summary: Coffee is good.
Spoilers: Phyllis' Wedding.
A.N.: So after the pitiful lack of reviews from my last chapter, I came to realize something, my writing sucks. So instead I'll just finish this up as quickly and shortly as possible.
1231
Pam remembered when coffee was a novel idea. Only to be used when you needed that extra ounce of energy to pull an all-nighter or babysit for the Chopstin triplets. She wondered now how it became into something that she needed to function. Pam remembered distinctly teasing Jim about his addiction, claiming she would never be as weak as to become prisoner to caffeine. At the time, Jim had just grinned and given some jedi-like quote, now she wished she could remember it. Still, sitting across from Jim in a café entitled Denny's, shredding his napkin, it made forgetting about the past easier. Her musings most definitely would have continued, if Jim hadn't spoken.
"Rough day." a fact more than a statement, but she responded anyway.
"It didn't start out that way."
"Oh?" the surprise could either be by her statement, or the coffee finally arriving, her chocolate croissant, and his plain bagel with cream cheese.
"I had an epiphany." Adding bunches of cream and sugar, Pam loved the look of coffee as the cream overwhelmed it: turning it from a rich black to a cool light brown.
"I heard those hurt."
"Not this one." A sip of her drink gave away that she'd added too much milk, as always. She took a gulp anyway.
"Do I need to guess what you realized?" Pam looked up to meet his eyes, they were twinkling, and Pam so desperately missed that.
"Yes." The word surprisingly held so much promise, so much hope. Jim took a sip of his coffee, (two milks, one sugar) and began.
"You've decided to become a construction worker." A shake of the head dislodged that thought from Jim's mind. "You're going to become a proud owner of one of those miniature dogs and realize Paris Hilton is your idol." that earned a loud chuckle, along with a solid (No!), "Ok. Hm, this is getting more difficult. You've decided to audition for Real World San Diego as the-"
'Would you like any more coffee?" the waitress is back and looking directly at Jim. Pam wishes she was one of those girls without morals so she yell at the woman that can't she see they're having a discussion that could change the rest of her life?
"Ah, no thanks. I'm still on my first cup." And to add more proof he shows her the full cup. The woman turns to Pam, and repeats her first question. Pam just shakes her head. The small resemblance of normal that was between them had abruptly vanished with the woman's arrival, and Pam could see Jim trying to think of something to say to make it right. Pam decided to shock Jim instead.
"My epiphany was realizing I wanted you back in my life."
"Oh."
"Yeah." Pam suddenly wishes she had another napkin to shred.
"Why didn't you say something before?" She's about to explain she came to this conclusion somewhere on Barbur street around 2am, but then realizes he means after her wedding cancellation.
"I was afraid you wouldn't forgive me." laughter was not what she expected from this comment, and the type he's using at that. Like you've just heard a terrible story that is so depressing you have to laugh, or you'll cry.
"You're afraid I wouldn't forgive you?"
"I rejected you. Twice. Once after I kissed you. I think that's under the definition as unforgivable."
"I think tease is more likely." He sipped his coffee. "And that openmouthed, bug-eyed look is good on you." Pam closed her mouth.
"I can't believe you just called me a tease."
"Just imagine Roy, he thought you two were getting back together. Instead you realized you wanted to be with another man." If Pam hadn't been grinning from ear to ear, she would be very angry right now.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You tell me you love me, you kiss me, and then you transfer two hours away. That's the definition of a tease."
"Ah, but you're forgetting you told me to get lost."
"A technicality."
"Really?"
"Yes. You knew I loved you." their light teasing banter is destroyed by those words.
"No, I didn't."
"Well I thought it was obvious." The smile is back.
"Did you?"
"Yes, I did."
"Next time you should be more clear."
"Like a banner?" A nod.
"A big blue one."
"With cloud lettering." Pam had forgotten conversation could be like this. After years of Roy's conversations, and then the lack of conversation between her and Jim, Pam forgot that it was ok to say exactly what was on your mind, to have hours of conversation about water balloons. Which just happened to feel more important than a conversation about the duality of man.
"Exactly." And with Jim smiling at her like that, Pam hadn't even realized she's opened her mouth, until words came spilling out, and every horrifying minute of her morning was shared, dissected and laughed at. In fact, Pam was having such a great time she didn't notice that someone was standing over at them, until they cleared their throat.
"I was wondering where you two had gone through." Pam wondered briefly as she stared up at the figure to the left of her, what, exactly, she done in her last life to warrant this day.
1. Who stands there?
2. The faster you review, the faster you find out.
3. Also, my toe nails are bright red.