AN: Due to changing the plotline, Holly's role has been changed. Edits have been made to correct the problem.
The first thing I did, once Pam and I got back to the car, was call my boss to let him know that I got the interview for tomorrow morning. He was definitely happy about that and while I knew I wouldn't be immediately off probation, it felt nice to not feel so insecure about work again. As we drove back to the festival, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of energy run through me. I could do anything.
So, I drove back to the festival, loving the fact that I could end the day with Pam at my side. We hadn't talked about what would happen after the firework show, if I would take her home or if I could manage to ask her to my place, which I really wanted to do, but the end of the night seemed far away. I only wanted to stay lost in the happy bubble we had created, where time seemed to stand still.
Of course, returning to the festival meant a return to reality. As we walked up to the gates leading into the park, hand in hand because I couldn't seem to go that long without feeling her skin against mine, we noticed that something odd was going on. A police car, its lights flashing blues and reds, was parked right at the entrance of the park. Pam and I exchanged curious glances and headed towards the crowd gathered at the park entrance. We saw two policemen escorting a male in handcuffs, all we could see was the dark hair on the back of his head, into the police car.
Oscar, Phyllis and Kelly were at the front of the crowd that had gathered around the police car and Pam immediately made her way to them. "What happened?" Pam asked as the police car slowly began to drive away.
Oscar spoke first. "Ryan was arrested." He didn't seem to have any sympathy but Pam's jaw dropped open. "You know those fireworks he got for the festival? Well, he stole those out of a delivery truck last night along with some electronic equipment that he was selling on eBay." Oscar shook his head.
"Oh my god," Pam replied in shock, dropping my hand to cover her mouth. I somehow didn't feel sorry for the guy. "Did they take the fireworks away?" was Pam's response and I had to laugh that she was more concerned about the festival then Ryan.
"They did," Phyllis informed her. "But don't worry, everything is continuing on smoothly. Bob Vance had some fireworks left over from a party he had a while back. They're getting them ready right now. Everything should be just fine."
Pam let out a little sigh of relief.
"I cannot believe how much of a moron Ryan is," Kelly said, her eyes fixed on where the police car once was. "Oh wait, yes I can. Any jerk that dumps me gets what he deserves. I hope he rots in jail. I cannot wait to visit him in jail, especially with my new boyfriend…"
"You have a new boyfriend?" Pam interjected, suspicious of Kelly's words.
"Oh yes," Kelly replied. "Darryl Philbin. Jim knows him, right?" She pointed to me and for a second it didn't register because I had a hard time believing Darryl would even go on a date with Kelly. I nodded anyway. "Yeah, he's so big and manly. And Ryan is such a little runt. I hope he picks up some dirty disease in prison that makes his penis fall off."
My jaw dropped then but Pam, who was much more used to Kelly than I was, waved the statement aside. "Um, has Jan come back at all?" Pam asked Phyllis and Oscar. Before either could speak, Pam got her answer when Jan walked up, Michael only a few paces behind her. I have to say, I was slightly surprised to see her there and not locked up, probably in the same place where Ryan was currently going.
"I'm not staying," she announced grandly. "I'm just getting my stuff and I am leaving." She paused to take a look around but she seemed to have no remorse. "And I don't really care," she grumbled as she walked past us.
"Jan, I…" Michael started going after her.
"Don't follow me!" Jan snapped.
"I just bailed you out of jail!" Michael screamed after her.
"What?" Oscar asked looking at Pam with amazement. "What the hell happened after you guys left?"
"Do you have all night?" Pam asked shaking her head.
"Jan quit," Michael wailed. I wasn't sure if he was crying because he was actually upset or because he needed attention. "And then she dumped me after I gave her all of my money."
"Oh Michael," Phyllis groaned.
"Jan quit?" Oscar responded, his eyes wide.
Pam and I both nodded.
Just then, a blonde woman approached us. "Hi, I'm sorry to bother you but was that just Jan Levinson that passed by? My name is Holly Flax, I'm one of SIA's board members and I need to speak with her."
"Oh, hi," Pam replied. "I don't think we've met, I'm Pam Beesly, PR for SIA," she held out her hand and Holly shook it. "I don't believe Jan is… approachable right now. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Holly gave Pam a lop-sided smile. "Oh, I don't know if it's appropriate to discuss," she said hesitantly.
"I promise you," Oscar stated. "Nothing around here is too taboo to discuss. We'll all hear about it eventually."
"Oh, um, okay," Holly said. "You are all museum employees then?" Everyone, including myself, nodded. I half expected someone to call me out but no one said a word. "Well, okay then, due to the recent termination of Ms. Levinson, the museum board has asked me to come out here and discuss the terms of her severance."
"Termination?" Kelly interjected. "You mean she didn't quit?"
"Un, no," Holly said. She was a little nervous to be disclosing the information. "After the events of this afternoon, where she said some very bad things at the hearing, she was let go. Apparently, if I heard correctly, she also was arrested for arson this afternoon as well?"
I let out a chuckle at that but Pam gave me a glare so I stopped.
Michael let out a wail. "And she broke my heart again," he sobbed. "I just can't take it anymore."
Holly looked at him with genuine concern and sympathy. She came over to him and placed a comforting arm around his shoulders. "I'm so sorry to hear that…"
"Michael," he told her as he buried his head in her arm. His sobbing became louder. "I think it's really over this time."
"Oh, I know, Michael," Holly stated, patting his back. "I just got dumped too about a week ago. It just sucks so much doesn't it?"
Michael lifted his head to meet Holly's eye line and then something strange happened. It was almost as if I could tell they had an immediate connection. The odd thing was, despite Michael's over dramatization of everything, Holly didn't seem too off put by it. And when Michael noticed the kindness she was presenting him, the sadness seemed to melt away and a smile formed upon his lips.
"Being dumped sucks," Michael agreed. "So, are you staying for the firework show?"
"You know, I was only planning on staying long enough to talk with Jan…"
"Oh come on," Michael insisted. "Best firework show in Pennsylvania is tonight and you don't want to miss that."
Holly gave him a broad grin. "Yeah, I think I can manage to stick around for the best fireworks in all of Pennsylvania."
I remained transfixed by how Michael was apparently charming Holly without really trying. But a moment later, Pam grabbed onto my hand and I knew by the look in her eyes that it time to return to that happy bubble I was so fond of.
She didn't talk about Jan or Michael or Holly arriving as we found a couple of lawn chairs and set them up a good distance behind the rest of the crowd waiting for fireworks so we could be alone. The temperature had dropped some and neither of us had a blanket to use. I offered to retrieve my coat from the car but Pam shook her head, wrapping herself around my arm and snuggling close. My heart began to beat faster as she clasped one of her hands in my own. It felt perfect. Everything about her sitting there cuddled up close to me felt perfect and I couldn't remember the last time I could say my life felt perfect.
"Crazy night, huh," I let out, looking up at the darkened sky, waiting for the show to start. I could hear laughter and faint music in the distance but the festival felt so far away now.
"Yeah," she replied. She rested her head against my arm and I could feel her warmth spread over me. "I can't believe Jan got fired. And went insane and tried to burn a restaurant down."
"I can't believe I got on probation or that we crashed a party," I added with a laugh.
"And Ryan got arrested…" Her voice trailed off as she contemplated her next thought. "Um, Jim, I was going to ask you this earlier but, uh, I kind of got side tracked by everything tonight, but, uh, this morning, after Ryan hit on me," she stopped to let out a shudder. "Uh, I called you my boyfriend and we hadn't talked about that yet but you weren't weirded out by that, right? I mean, I know we just met but it's okay for me to consider you my boyfriend?" She looked up at me with uncertain eyes but all I could think about was how adorable she looked in those glasses and that she had nothing to worry about.
"Absolutely," I replied, not hesitating to lean down and brush my lips against hers for added confirmation. I could have told her that I had been considering her my girlfriend since we kissed last night and if it had been possible, I would have wanted her as my girlfriend that first day I met her. But I refrained from elaborating and stared deeply into her eyes, letting my own do the speaking for me.
She said nothing in response, only smiled at me with that warm grin I enjoyed so much. She didn't hesitate when she kissed me back, a tender, sweet kiss. One that quickly grew more passionate as we sunk into it. I ran my hand through her hair, pulling her as close as possible because I could not get enough of her. It still amazed me that I had not only found her but that she wanted to be with me as well. And that I could sit there with her and kiss her and be lost in such a blissful moment with her. I had never felt that sense of connection with anyone before and it wasn't until that moment that I realized-
*POP*
The first of the firecrackers went off, green and gold sparkles shimmering down over us. We pulled apart, panting slightly, but still grinning happily at each other as the next firecracker went off. Pam squeezed my hand tightly and rested her head against my shoulder. I watched her for a moment, taking her in, as she got comfortable and looked up to observe the fireworks. I finally glanced at the sky with a sense of wonderment, not at the fantastic display, but at how in such a short time I had come to care so deeply for the woman beside me. I knew I was-
-falling in love-
Love
I thought that I had known what love was. I had thought I had fallen in love before but none of my prior relationships had felt like this. I had never felt this strongly for anyone and that is how I knew it was love. Real love. I suddenly became very nervous because not only did the prospect of falling in love scare me as much as it did thrill me, I wanted share how I felt with her as well.
I felt a surge of exhilaration flow through me as I opened my mouth, ready to speak. "Pam," I managed, my voice barely a whisper. She didn't stir and I remained staring at fireworks illuminating the sky above. My heart was racing and I began to sweat but I knew, just knew, that if I told her she would feel the same way. "Pam," I started again, this time more audible. "I know we've only known each other for a short time but I've never met… You are such an amazing person and I…" I paused because nothing seemed to sound right in my head. "Pam, I think I'm falling…"
My voice trailed off when I looked down to find her fast asleep against my shoulder. Her breathing was steady and gentle and she had a small smile across her lips. I grinned as I realized just how tired she must have been. Neither of us had slept the previous night and it had been long couple of days. I let out a heavy breath and leaned in close enough that I could smell the sweet scent of her apple shampoo.
"I think I'm falling in love with you," I whispered so quietly that I could barely hear myself. I smiled lightly before giving her a soft kiss on the top of her head. Not a bad day, I thought to myself as I nuzzled my head against hers, feeling lucky enough just to have her next to me. My own fatigue finally caught up with me and I closed my eyes, not really aware that the big firework finale had just lit up the sky. I just wanted to remain in this perfect moment forever.
Not a bad day at all.