Thank you for reviewing! I do love getting reviews :) Yep, this is my first Office fic, so excuse any mistakes! Also, the reason for Pam's lateness will be explained in this chapter. I hope you like this chapter. Watching Pam reject Jim in season two just broke my heart, so I wrote this story to make a better alternative for JAM lovers. Or maybe just me, lol! Anyway, read & enjoy!
Chapter Two
Jim kept glancing over at Pam's face as they sat at their desks. He had taken her outside of the coffee shop to try to get her to calm down, but she couldn't stop shaking. As much as Jim disliked Roy, he hated seeing her so upset over him even more. He couldn't understand why she was so worked up over him. Well, he reasoned, he understood, but wished she wasn't.
Finally Pam seemed to focus on where she was, and stepped away from Jim.
"Hey, hey," Jim soothed, "It's just me." Pam nodded, clearly unsure what she should do. Jim loosened his tie a little, thinking. Humor had always been his way of dealing with a situation, but he could tell that not even a prank on Dwight could fix what Pam was feeling this time. "Come on Beesly, let me take you home."
Pam shook her head. "No, Jim, I think I should go back inside." She paused as they started walking back to the office. "Just, let me go back by myself, ok?"
Jim realized she was afraid Roy would see them together from the warehouse. He was surprised Roy hadn't hit him in the coffee shop, and knew that seeing them together again would just anger him more.
So far since they were back in the office, Pam hadn't looked at him. But from what he could tell, she wasn't concentrating on anything at the desk either.
The phone rang four times as she sat there, staring at the computer screen. Dwight had watched Pam, oblivious that she was upset, and finally answered the call. Jim could hear him muttering something about being fired as he sat back down.
Phyllis rolled her chair over to Jim's desk. "Jim, is everything ok?" she whispered, her face worried.
"Yeah. She'll be fine." He gave her a half smile that he hoped looked convincing.
Phyllis paused. "I don't mean just her. I mean you guys." She gave him a knowing look.
Jim looked away, embarrassed. "Phyllis, we're friends."
She murmured something and rolled back to her desk, and Jim looked back at Pam to see her facing him. He shrugged, giving her a that's weird expression only he could give, but she didn't respond.
Jim to camera: I have no idea what Phyllis is talking about. I mean, Pam and I are friends. We've always been friends, we always will be- (pauses and looks down). Yeah. (gets up)
Phyllis to camera: He's obviously in love with her. (nods knowingly)
Pam had tried to ignore Phyllis' conversation with Jim, but she couldn't help overhearing. Phyllis had said to her she thought they were more than friends at Jim's party a few weeks ago, but it never occurred to her other people might assume that, too, like Roy. How many other people in the office might think they were seeing each other?
The phone rang, forcing Pam out of her thoughts. A call from Jan, which meant Michael had obviously done something wrong. She mouthed Jan to Jim, who grinned, and Pam felt a little relieved knowing they could go back to joking around when this whole misunderstanding with Roy blew over.
That is, if it did blow over.
Her cell phone vibrated on the desk. Roy. Pam caught her breath and walked to the hall to answer, but Roy was already standing there.
"Hey," Pam said softly.
"Hey." Roy ran his hand through his hair. "Let's go downstairs."
Pam nodded, not speaking until they were outside, away from the office. "It wasn't how it looked, Roy."
Roy chuckled. He seemed calmer than he had at the coffee shop, but his voice had an edge as he spoke. "Then maybe you can tell me how it is, Pam. I've seen you and Jim spend a lot of time together. Every weekend you're out with him. You guys saw a movie, went bowling, and you go to lunch almost every day together."
Pam felt her anger rise for the first time since she had left the coffee shop. "The reason we've been spending time together is because you never want to do anything with me. And I always invite you along!"
"Come on, Pam. I see the way he looks at you. Whenever I'm around you two you just ignore me."
She remembered their fight this morning, the reason why she was so late to work. Pam had gone to a movie with Jim last night and hadn't gotten back home until Roy was asleep. When she woke up she was faced with his accusations. She was so sick of fighting about it.
Roy continued, looking away from her. "I went to the office to apologize and take you to lunch, but you had already left. I know you guys go to that coffee place a lot." He grunted. "I thought it was weird having one of those cameramen follow me there, but I guess that's why, huh?"
Pam rolled her eyes, and was going to reply when she thought of how Roy found them, making her blush. When Jim had grabbed her hand she had sensed something, and she felt guilty for it. Friends shouldn't have that reaction. Sure, sometimes she thought about him that way. But that didn't mean anything. And yeah, she didn't like Katy. But Katy just wasn't right for him. He needed someone more like... well, herself.
She realized she hadn't spoken in awhile, and remembered Roy was there watching her. "Yeah, that's what I thought," he said, and started walking away.
Pam knew she should run after him, but for some reason couldn't bring herself to do it. Roy stopped, turning around. "Maybe you should stay at Angela's tonight." After looking at her stunned face for a minute, he left, leaving her alone.
Kevin to camera: Ok, so I was having my afternoon snack when I looked out the window. And it looks like Roy and Pam are fighting. (smiles) Oh man, if I weren't with Stacey… Well, I think we would make a great couple.
Pam sat on the curb outside the front door, not ready to go in yet. Her cell phone vibrated again, and Pam opened it to read Jim's text. Hope you're ok. Hate to tell you but Kevin and now others know you and Roy are fighting. Just a heads up.
Pam groaned. Of course. Things traveled fast with such a small office. At least it would make asking Angela if she could stay over a little easier if she already knew what was going on.
When she walked upstairs she expected to go straight to her desk. But when the elevator doors opened Jim was standing there, and she found herself hugging him, burying her face as if he could somehow shield her from everything.
They rarely hugged. Pam could remember very few times they had even touched, but she knew hugging Jim was different than hugging her parents or even Roy. His embrace was always stronger, and somehow safer to her, and her problems always seemed so insignificant when she was with him. She felt Jim lean his head on top of hers, and wanted to stay there longer, protected.
As she pulled away, Jim was smiling down at her. "Well Beesly, if I knew you would react like that I would come get you for Michael's lectures more often."
Pam blushed, averting her gaze. "Shut up, Halpert." She sighed, walking back to where she knew everyone would be watching. "Please tell me you were joking about the lecture. It's already a bad day."
Jim laughed. "Sorry, no. Five minutes in the conference room. I'm guessing it'll be about the call from Jan."
"I look forward to those the most," Pam said sarcastically, casting another look at Jim before making her way to Angela's desk.
She could hear Kevin whispering to Oscar as she walked over to them. "You're single Oscar. Tell me you wouldn't hit that."
Oscar hesitated. "Um, oh yeah, of course. Totally my type." He excused himself to do some filing behind his desk.
Kevin suddenly noticed her. "Oh, hi Pam. You look pretty today, as always."
Pam tried not to look too bothered by the way he was looking at her. She supposed it was a compliment, in a strange way. "Angela, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Instead of seeming annoyed like she normally did, Angela brightened. "Yes, I'm so glad you came to talk Pam." She pulled her away from Kevin, who was eavesdropping attentively.
"Really?" To say she was shocked would be an understatement. "Um, I'm guessing you heard about Roy. And I was just wondering-"
"I know exactly what you were wondering." Angela smiled. "And yes, Jesus can always forgive you. Even you're not far enough gone to be a lost cause, Pam." She pulled out a copy of 'The Purpose Driven Life'. "I believe this can really save you. Read it and learn."
Pam stared at her, at a loss for words. "Oh. Wow. Thank you, Angela. I will definitely read it." She took it and made a mental note to skim at least a page so she could be prepared for any questions Angela asked later. "But what I was actually wondering is if I could stay over at your place tonight."
Angela's smile dropped, and she was back to the way Pam was used to. "Well." She sighed, going back to her desk. "I'm actually… meeting a friend tonight, after work. He's – I mean, she's – going to be over late, otherwise I would let you."
Pam glanced back at Dwight, who was smiling at Angela. Angela continued, "But just remember Pam, 'If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it'."
Pam was starting to get irritated enough to retort, but Michael's call to go to the conference room interrupted them.
She sat down next to Jim in the back, giving him a small smile, then stopped when she noticed Angela a few seats from her, shaking her head disapprovingly. She mouthed something to Pam that looked like "office mattress".
Michael clapped his hands together, signaling a start. "Well, you probably all know, thanks to people like Toby, that some people are…" he searched for the right word. "Unhappy."
Kevin raised his hand. "Are we talking about Pam?"
Pam covered her face with her hand as everyone turned to look at her.
Michael apparently hadn't heard yet. "Kevin, what are you talking about? Oh my God Pam, did Roy die? Is he hurt? Should we go to the hospital?"
Toby answered before Pam had a chance to come up with something. "Michael, let's just continue with what Jan told you to say."
Michael shook his head. "Why do you even talk, Toby? No one cares."
Toby looked up at the cameraman filming. "This is exactly why Jan called."
Michael sighed, deciding to continue. "According to… some people, who shall remain nameless," giving a pointed look to Toby, "There are distractions and so called pranks that are supposedly leading people in this office to be unhappy. So it's up to me, as always, to take care of everything."
Dwight jumped up from his chair. "Yes! I knew that file in New York would get Jim in trouble eventually!" He gave a triumphant sneer to Jim, who Pam noticed was looking increasingly concerned, obviously remembering the daily pranks pulled on Dwight.
Toby to camera: There is no file in New York. I feel a little bad about lying to Dwight when he complains to me, but I can't even believe some of the elaborate stories he tells me about Jim. I don't think some of them are even possible. (he sighs) Honestly, the reason why Jan called today is because I sent her a copy of the complaints against Michael. (he smiles)
Toby got up to stand next to Michael. "Corporate has talked it over and decided that going over some of the recent footage filmed in this office could be helpful. They've decided to let someone go over it here, and since I'll be meeting with corporate tomorrow, I need someone to do that."
Dwight jumped up again. "Let me do it. As volunteer sheriff deputy, I am the most capable for this job."
Jim and Pam looked at each simultaneously, their eyes wide. Pam realized that the office knew about the pranks on Dwight, but they didn't know that she was always involved. Fortunately, Dwight always blamed Jim for them.
"I'll do it." Pam volunteered.
Toby hesitated for a second. "Alright. Just talk with the cameramen tomorrow, they'll show you the footage."
She grinned at Jim, who looked happier than she had seen him since that morning. "Beesly, I'm in awe."
As the meeting ended Dwight chased after Michael, no doubt trying to convince him to change Toby's mind. Pam waited until her and Jim were the only ones left. "Hey, Jim, I have something to ask you. And well, I wouldn't ask but Angela is busy and I think any other person in the office would drive me crazy."
Jim smiled. "What's up Pam?"
Pam shifted in her seat nervously. "Um, can I stay over tonight? I can just sleep on the couch or something. You know, if Mark doesn't mind…" she glanced up at Jim's face. He looked surprised, but happy.
"Of course Beesly. We'll rent a classic like… Ace Ventura?"
Pam laughed. "Um, I'll only stay if we can watch Legally Blonde, like, at least once."
Jim pretended to groan. "It's a good thing we're friends, otherwise I'd be kicking you to the curb right now."
Jim to camera: Am I excited Pam's staying over tonight? Well, she's upset over Roy, so it's not exactly for the reason I would - (stops, clears his throat) Uh, yeah, I guess you'd say excited. (he smiles) To be honest, the day is definetely looking up.
Note: No offense against the Purpose Driven Life! Also, I've started chapter 3, so look for that in a few days.. Anyway, what do you think?