Author's note: Okay, I know I said that this would be longer, but it's not, so. Sad for you. But I couldn't find a way to add anything without it sounding forced. And I really did try. :\ Ah well. I'm gonna put the next chapter up in the next couple of days. Hopefully tomorrow. So anyway, enjoy!
"Good morning, Pam," he recited as he entered the building, as he did every morning. She shot him a small smile and turned her attention back to her computer screen, as she did every morning. Except, it wasn't even a smile, not really. More like a pair of lips slightly turned up at the corners. There was no emotion, no meaning, no life behind them. He sighed in response, as he did every morning, and hung his coat on the rack next to hers before trudging toward his desk. The computer hadn't even chimed to life before he felt her eyes on him yet again. Unable to distract himself with work or a coworker, seeing as they were the only two in the office besides Angela and Toby and his computer took so painstakingly long to boot up, he glanced back into her eyes. She continued to stare for a few moments before breaking the gaze and took to refilling her candy tray. He was ready to turn back to his desk, but decided against it. This morning, he did something that went against the normal routine.
She didn't really notice as he approached her desk, but she never did anymore. She just let whoever it was take her jelly beans and leave. But he wasn't going anywhere. He tapped his knuckles on the counter a few times, like that one person used to do, and watched as her eyes closed and she took a deep breath, probably trying to remind herself that it wasn't that one person at her desk. It would never be. She slowly opened her eyes and turned her face toward his. "Yes?" her monotone voice asked. It wasn't really a question, either. Just something she said to try and get him to leave as quickly as possible. But this time, he wasn't leaving so easily. He hated to drag up memories, but it seemed like the only way to bring the old Pam back. Even for a moment.
"Do you want me to move?"
His question seemed to startle her, and she responded with a little more life. "What?" It wasn't much, but it was something.
"Would it be easier for you if I left …that desk? I mean, my old desk is still unfilled in the annex. And there's one next to Stanley and Phyllis. Or I could take Oscar's spot while he's still on his 'gay-cation.'" She looked confused as he continued to rattle off possibilities. "I just… Well, would it be easier for you if I wasn't sitting… there?"
She caught onto his accusation quickly and focused her gaze on the jelly beans in his hand. They were silent for a few minutes, and her eyes never left the candy. He tried to trick her into looking up at him by popping a jelly bean into his mouth, but she didn't fall for it. He eventually turned around, and heard her soft voice.
"It would be worse if I had to stare at his empty desk." Ryan didn't spin around to face her, or even acknowledge what she had said. He simply walked back to his chair and was pleased when he found his computer all ready for his use. A moment passed, and he heard her sigh a few feet away from him. He took a chance and turned his eyes toward her desk. He saw her reach for the bag of Jelly Bellys in a drawer and refill the half-empty candy dish for the second time that morning. Apparently he had been standing with her for a while.
A few hours passed without her eyes on him. He wondered if that was a good thing or not. He wondered if he should ask. Before he could decide, Michael exited his office and announced another worthless meeting in a few minutes. He took a few deep breaths and strolled into the conference room. He found her already sitting in her regular seat against the wall, and took the empty seat next to her. It was always vacant, as if everyone else knew she wanted him and only him to sit next to her. This morning, Kelly sat on his other side. The talkative woman wandered from topic to topic without a break, and Ryan had supplied a few one-word answers at her questions. That seemed like all it took to keep her going. His eyes may have been on Kelly, but his focus was on Pam. It was always on Pam.