Chapter Two- Howdy Do, Howdy Da!

There was just something about Jim that made Pam's heart race. Pam hadn't had a boyfriend in over a year and really wasn't looking for one. She was focusing on her art and really wanted to move forward with it. But the minute she laid eyes on Jim she felt like she couldn't breathe. He was tall with the most amazing hazel eyes. He had this quirky smile that brightened the room. His hair was brown and messy but it looked good on him. He was lanky and goofy but somehow it was, well, hot.

She managed to get through the tour without embarrassing herself. All morning she kept stealing glances at Jim. He seemed to be into his work but not too much. He didn't seem like a workaholic. Just someone who got done what needed to be done and that was it. Nothing extra, nothing less.

At 11:30 Dwight left for a sales call. It was then she noticed Jim get up. She watched him intently wondering what he was up to. He got Dwight's stapler out of his drawer. Pam wondered how he got the key. Dwight was very serious about keeping company property safe. Oh boy would Dwight be mad if he knew what Jim was doing. Pam let her curiosity get the better of her and when Jim took the stapler to the kitchen she followed right behind.

Pam walked into the kitchen and immediately noticed Jim holding a jello packet.

"Do you always carry jello around everywhere you go?"

Jim jumped surprised that he hadn't noticed anyone come in.

Jim replied still a little frazzled, "Oh. Haha umm well actually no I don't but I did today."

"So I see you stole Dwight's stapler." Pam said, "Dwight keeps all his company property safe so you better be careful with that."

"Oh don't worry. I'm just going to play a harmless little prank on Dwight."

"A prank?" Pam seemed to contemplate what Jim had just said. A little harmless office prank wouldn't hurt anybody and Michael wouldn't care. When was the last time Pam had fun at work. Never. That's when.

"I'm in.", said Pam.

Jim seemed confused at what she said. "What?"

"I want in. If anyone wants to give Dwight what he deserves it's me. He treats me like I'm his personal secretary. It's actually very annoying."

Jim couldn't believe this. She wanted to prank Dwight too? She already seemed perfect in every way and now this was just icing on the cake. She had a sense of humor. This was turning out to be a good day.

"Okay but we must never confess to our crime. Even if he knows it's us, we never confess. Deal?"

"Oh absolutely. Yes, deal!"

During lunch time Jim and Pam proceeded to put Dwight's stapler in jello. They knew it would take a little bit of time so they put one of the extra staplers in Dwight's desk so he wouldn't immediately notice its sudden disappearance.

At about 3:00 Jim looked over at Pam. To his surprise she was already looking at him. He nodded towards the kitchen door and she nodded in understanding. Jim got up and went to the kitchen. As he was in the kitchen Pam came up with a distraction for Dwight. She walked over to Dwight's desk.

"Hey Dwight? Umm sorry to bother you but do you know anything about cars? Mine has been umm making weird noises and I think only a strong real man should fix it."

Dwight looked at her quizzically. Then he replied, "Oh Pam, you don't have to pretend to have a broken car as an excuse to flirt with me. I am a man and I know a beautiful woman when I see one. You just need to.."

"Dwight! No, no I'm not flirting. I really do need you to look at my car."

"Oh. Well fine, let's go."

While Pam had Dwight out of the office, Jim came out with the jello mold with Dwight's stapler in it. Jim got strange looks from Phyllis but she didn't say anything. No one else seemed to notice him. Or they just didn't care. He placed the jello mold into Dwight's desk and took out the temporary stapler they had put in there. Just then Jim could hear Dwight speaking quite harshly to Pam as they entered the office.

"Pam, you have wasted my time. You women need to learn the basics of car maintenance. That is 5 minutes and 37 seconds of work time that have gone down the drain. I will be reporting this as wasting company time."

"Sorry Dwight. You're right I do need to learn about cars a little more."

Jim looked up at Pam and could see the humor in her eyes. Ah she was definitely something else. He just had to ask her out. She hasn't mentioned anything about a boyfriend and he didn't see a ring. Maybe he would just casually ask her to dinner. Say he wanted to discuss more pranks. Test the waters a little bit.

Jim sat back down at his desk and Pam sat back down at hers. After Dwight finished complaining to Toby about wasted company time, he too sat back down at his desk. It went back to business as usual. Well for a few minutes at least.

"So Jim, how you liking your first day? Pretty spectacular huh?"

"Um yeah Michael it's been pretty great."

That wasn't a complete lie. His day had gone better than he expected. He met a beautiful woman who he hoped would accept his invitation to dinner. He pranked the office jerk, and he was now anticipating the moment Dwight would find his stapler in its new storage place. Yeah this has been a pretty decent first day.

"Well that's fabulous Jim!", said Michael joyously. "You know what? We should throw a little party! You know a welcome to the family party. We can have balloons with your face on them and an ice sculpture of your favorite animal. You know, better yet we can just go get your favorite animal. Yeah Jim doesn't that sound awesome?"

"Umm you are joking right?"

"What? No. Why would I joke about something as awesome as a party?"

"Michael!" This time it was a petite blonde woman from accounting that spoke up. Jim couldn't quite remember her name. Amanda? Audrey?

"Ugh what Angela!", said Michael.

Ah yes Angela that was her name!

"We do not have the budget for all that stuff. Let alone a completely random party. I'll have you know we only get $20 per party and we are saving that for our Halloween party in a few weeks. I do not plan on putting any effort into a completely unreasonable party. You want it, you pay for it. But I will not be participating in any of your antics Michael."

"You know what Angela? You just sucked the life right out of this party. And out of this office. So thanks, now I'm just gonna sit in my office and pout for the rest of the day. Sorry Jim that your day has been completely ruined by Mrs. Stick up her butt!"

"Uh you know what it's totally fine. " Jim caught a glimpse of Angela as she turned to go back to her desk . Her arms were crossed in front of her chest and her lips were pursed and her nose was sticking up towards the ceiling. "Hmm", Jim thought, "I do not want to get on her bad side."

It was now 4:55 and Dwight still had not found his stapler. Just then Jim's work phone rang.

"This is Jim."

"Hey Jim it's Pam!"

"Oh uh hey what's up?"

"Hey so I'm getting ready to leave and I really want to see Dwight's reaction to our prank. Can you like ask to borrow it or something?"

"Hmm well you'll have to do something for me instead."

"What? I'll do anything."

"Go to dinner with me tonight..."

Silence. 1..2..3..

"You know so like we could discuss more pranks and stuff and maybe you could explain a little more about office life." Jim was nervous. Did she really not want to have dinner with him? Why hadn't she said anything? Did he just completely embarrass himself?

"Oh yeah okay. Sure that would be good." Pam was in shock. She couldn't believe Jim had just asked her to dinner. Well it was pretty much just for business. I mean he wants to discuss work. Or maybe that was just a cover up. She did take awhile to answer. But she said yes and they were going to dinner together. This day has been just crazy.

"Okay great! We'll discuss where in a minute. I've got a prank to finish up!"

Pam hung up and looked over at Jim. He gave her that half smile that she was now very fond of. And then Jim spoke up.

"Hey um Dwight?"

"What?", said Dwight begrudgingly.

"I guess I was never given a stapler. Can I borrow yours real quick. I promise I won't break it!", Jim said with a bit of humor in his voice.

"Fine but tomorrow you better find your own." Dwight opened up his drawer and reached in without even looking down.

"What in the?!", Dwight yelled.

"Michael! Michael!" Just then Michael came out of his office.

"What Dwight? What is so important that you had to interrupt my pouting?" Just then Dwight pulled out the jello mold with his stapler right in the middle of it. Michael immediately started laughing.

"Michael this is not funny. This is a fireable offense. Someone has damaged company property!"

"Oh Dwight it's not damaged, see?" Just then Michael reached in and pulled out the stapler. Jello began falling off of it and falling onto the floor. Pam noticed Jim looking at her and she put her hand out as if she was going to give him and high five. Jim put his hand up too and they gave each other an air high five. Just then Dwight looked up at Jim.

"YOU!", said Dwight, "It was the new guy! He did it Michael. Fire him! Fire him now!"

"Dwight calm down. It was completely harmless. And hilariously funny. I will not fire my best friend!"

Pam noticed Jim look at her and mouth with a questioning look on his face, "Best friend?"

Pam giggled. Just then Jim stood up and said, "Well I hate to wiggle away from here but it's five o'clock and I am starving. It was a great first day everyone. See you tomorrow."

Just then Michael went up to Jim and gave him a huge hug. Jim immediately pulled away and Pam couldn't help but laugh. Yepp, Jim was definitely a part of the family.

"What the? Michael please!", Jim said.

"It's okay buddy, I don't bite." But Michael let him go and saluted him and said, "Howdy do, howdy da, I will see you tomorrah!"

"Um yeah okay. Bye Michael.", replied Jim.

Pam got up and got her coat and looked at Jim. He gave her this look that said, "Let's get out of here." Pam nodded her head and they walked out together. Once in the elevator Jim spoke up.

"So where to?"

"How about Cuginos? It's Italian. I love Italian. You ever been there?"

"Yes actually lots of times and that sounds perfect."

They got down to the parking lot and Jim so badly wanted to offer to go together. He just wasn't sure if she would be comfortable with that. But just then, Pam spoke up.

"So are we going together or meeting there?"

"We can go together. I can drive."

Jim noticed a smile forming on Pam's face and couldn't help but think that she had the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.

"Okay", Pam said, "Sounds great!"