CHAPTER FOUR: Uproar and Phone Calls

Two more days.

Jim only had two days at the office left. He still hadn't told anyone about his leaving; he didn't want them to ask why he was leaving. The only person he told was Michael, and he made Michael swear not to tell a single person at the office. So, Jim continued his life at the office as if everything was normal. He still avoided Pam, but he didn't mind talking to the other people at the office. Phyllis was nice because she never really asked questions; Jim guessed she knew why he was acting differently.

After the fight that Jim witnessed, he realized how unhappy Pam was in her relationship. He saw the look in Roy's eyes whenever he saw Pam; Roy definitely loved Pam, but the feeling was not mutual. Jim had known Pam for a while, and he knew she was unhappy. She sat alone in the break room whenever she went in there, which Jim couldn't help but feel guilty about. Jim was the one who always accompanied her when she was eating, but now he ate at his desk every day.

His new job was exciting for him- he would be leaving his old, familiar life in search of a new one. However, he felt a stab of guilt when he heard Michael rumbling out of his office as Jim went to make a copy.

"Okay guys, how about Monday morning we all go out to lunch. Whaddya say, huh? Anybody? How about you, Jim? Oh, wait, I forgot you're leaving…"

"Wait, Jim's leaving?" asked Pam, worry evident through the way she spoke.

"How come you didn't tell us?" Oscar inquired.

"Yeah, Jim, why didn't you tell us?" repeated Meredith.

"I bet he's leaving because of Pam," Dwight added. In a mimicking tone, he turned to Jim and said, "He can't believe that not everybody loves him, can you Jim.

Jim tried to stay calm about the subject, but it was difficult when voices were shouting from all around him. Even Kelly came out to see what the noise was about, and immediately turned to Jim.

"You're leaving, and you didn't even tell me? We sit, like, right next to each other."

"Woah, woah, woah, you guys. Calm down- he found a different job," Michael explained. "It's not because of Pam, Dwight." Dwight scoffed, but didn't say anything when he saw the way Michael was looking at him.

"Wow, Jim," Kevin said, seeming to spit out the words. "You're just too good for us, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Angela piped in. "He obviously found a job better than here, Kevin. It's not hard to do so."

"So where are you going, Jim?" Phyllis asked. She seemed to be the only one who wasn't mad at Jim for leaving.

"Well actually," Jim explained, "I'm um… going to be a salesman again…"

This caused more uproar.

"Alright, alright, alright, everybody stay calm. If I hear anybody else talking about Jim leaving, they're fired," Michael shouted.

"Michael, you can't do that. I've said this a million times: you need a reason to fire somebody," said a nasal, monotone voice.

"Nobody asked you, Toby!"

Jim, while Toby and Michael were arguing, quietly grabbed his jacket and walked out the door. He couldn't believe that Michael had told everyone about his leaving. He had been quiet for so long, but Jim knew upon telling him that Michael would let it slip sometime. Jim had just hoped that it would be to a smaller group of people. Jim checked the time- it was only 4:30. He hoped that it was close enough to closing time for it to go unnoticed. As he got in his car and drove away, only one thought kept him going:

I only have one more day…

:::::

"Hey, it's Roy. Leave a message."

Pam finally threw her phone in exasperation. She had tried to call Roy countless times, but he wouldn't ever respond. As soon as she had said that she would rather not return home, Roy had gone back to where they lived, packed his things, and left. Pam had no idea where he was, or what he was doing there.

Maybe I can be friends with Jim again, thought Pam. With Roy out of the picture, it was possible for her friendship with Jim to flourish again.

No, I shouldn't be thinking like this. My husband just left, and I have no idea where he is. I shouldn't be looking at the bright side of things. Pam told herself. But those thought just continued. The longer she thought, the more it seemed like Roy leaving was a good thing.

She dialed his number again, but she got the same result as all the other times she tried calling Roy. Pam couldn't believe that she had wrecked her marriage over lunch.

Okay, so tomorrow I talk to Jim. I can tell him about how Roy and I are having a fight, and ask for his help. Hopefully we can be friends again…

She walked into the office, thinking more about how she was going to talk to Jim. When she finally saw him, she was too nervous to talk to him. Pam hadn't anticipated how difficult it would be to try to make contact with Jim again. Once, she got near his office she could hear Kelly blabbing about as usual. She tried to go farther, but couldn't.

He'll have to make copies eventually, Pam remembered. She sat at her desk and waited for him to come, but when he finally did, Michael started speaking before she could begin.

"Okay guys, how about Monday morning we all go out to lunch. Whaddya say, huh? Anybody? How about you, Jim? Oh, wait, I forgot you're leaving…"

Pam couldn't believe it. Had this been her fault? She immediately responded.

"Wait, Jim's leaving?" She tried to hide the worry in her voice. Many others continued talking, but was didn't hear anything. Her best friend was leaving. She knew that he was trying to block out what happened, but a small amount of hope remained: maybe he will still talk to us- talk to me…

She watched her best friend, until she finally heard Michael stopping everyone.

"Woah, woah, woah, you guys. Calm down- he found a different job. It's not because of Pam, Dwight."

Wait, did she hear that right? It wasn't because of her! That meant they could still be friends, even though Jim was leaving. She hoped that it was true, because she couldn't deal with losing her husband and her best friend in the same week.

Pam was still determined to talk to Jim, but about different things now. She would say how she still wanted to be friends, and tell him all about Roy.

Maybe then he would understand… Pam was thinking to herself.

Then, she got a call.

"Oh my God, um hi, Roy," she said, her nerves noticeable, even over the phone.

"Hey, babe. I'm sorry-" Roy began. But before he could finish, Pam cut him off.

"I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean it! I just was having a bad day at work, and-"

"Let me finish," Roy said aggressively. "I'm sorry, but this isn't gonna work out."

Pam sat in silence, crushed by what Roy just told her.

Roy continued, "I love you, but if you don't want to be with me, what's the point? So, since it's my apartment, I think it's best if you pack up your stuff and leave."

"Yeah, uh, okay," Pam replied. "Give me like, two days… Bye." She hung up the phone, still taken aback by what just happened. She and her husband were over, she had to find a new place to stay, and her best friend wanted nothing to do with her.

Well, it's worth a shot… she thought, devising a plan.

I guess talking to Jim tomorrow won't be happening…