Step 8: Take a request

to be confined in closed quarters

that can either warm

or break

your heart

Carpooling to the ice rink with your coworkers was definitely not a good idea, Ryan concluded as he stood outside in front of Michael's Sebring with Creed. The car looked rather cramped and crowded with piles of empty soda cans and Filet o' Fish wrappers, and Ryan could feel himself getting carsick already. He glanced over at Creed to see how he felt about having to ride in Michael's car, but he merely looked like his normal unconcerned and delirious self.

Ryan began glancing around the parking lot, wondering if anyone would want to trade carpools with him, and he felt dread clench at his heart when he saw Michael bound up toward them. He wasn't going to get his chance to escape.

"Okay, all you Mifflinites! Time to hit the road...!" Michael clapped excitedly, and glanced behind him. "You ready, Pammy?"

Ryan glanced over Michael's shoulder and noticed a very regretful-looking Pam walking slowly toward them all.

"Ready Michael," Pam sighed. Ryan cocked his head when she came nearer.

"You're riding with us?" he asked. Pam rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, unfortunately."

Huh.

Ryan smirked slightly as he held the back door open for Pam to climb in. She thanked him, crouching down and sliding onto the plush seat in the tiny convertible, brushing the greasy pieces of McDonald's tissue paper to the floor as she went. She poked her head out of the open doorway and grinned at Ryan, patting the suspiciously-stained seat closest to him.

"Have a seat." she grinned playfully.

Ryan chuckled nervously, readying himself for the cramped quarters, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Ryan turned.

It was Jim.

"Hey man, can I have a word?" Jim smiled slightly before tilting his head towards a more secluded part of the parking lot. Ryan, a little confused, told Pam he would be a minute and followed Jim to the indicated spot.

"What's up?" Ryan looked up at Jim questioningly. God, he was, like, ridiculously tall.

Jim looked a little wary about something. "Um, I just wanted to ask... um, do you think we could trade carpools?"

Ryan raised his eyebrows.

Jim chuckled, "Yeah, I know this sounds kinda weird... but I just don't really want to ride with Dwight." He jerked a thumb left of them, and Ryan saw Kelly, Phyllis, and Dwight waiting for Jim at a car nearby.

Ryan knitted his eyebrows, "And... you think I will trade because Kelly's there too?" He gave Jim a skeptical look. Jim merely shrugged, grinning awkwardly.

"You are dating the woman."

Ryan looked at Jim a second longer, understanding why he really wanted to trade. It was sad, and even a little pathetic he wanted to suffer a carpool with Michael in order to be near Pam. But, at least Ryan wouldn't have to go through the uncomfort of a carpool with Michael Scott...

"Well?" Jim asked, a hint of desperation in his eyes. Okay, yeah... that was pretty pathetic.

Ryan clapped a hand on Jim's shoulder, trying but probably failing at being sympathetic, "She's engaged, man. You don't want to do that to yourself."

He didn't even gauge Jim's reaction before he turned on his heel and walked back to the car where Pam sat waiting for him.

Yeah, she was engaged... Ryan was reminded of this fact every day.

Step 8: Check