Step 13: Double dates can be fun

But sometimes not in the way you'd expect

Pam leaned back in the cramped booth beside Kelly's neighbor Allen. Being on a first date for the first time in nine years she knew was going to be weird, but she didn't think it would be this awkward. As much as she liked talking art, Allen was shy and only occasionally brought it up, leaving it to be filled with uncomfortable silences as Kelly and Ryan sat across from them, her continuously feeding him soggy fries smothered in ketchup.

Pam couldn't help but chuckle when she looked at Ryan: he had about three or four fries sticking out of his mouth, and Kelly still kept trying to stuff more in there. Ryan kept looking over at Pam with a 'help me!' expression in his eyes, and Pam couldn't do much more than grin. It was kind of fun silently torturing him like this.

Allen excused himself to go to the bathroom, and got up from the table. Pam couldn't help but feel a little glad, and she breathed a slightly audible sigh of relief. She needed a moment to collect herself.

"Omigod!" Kelly suddenly squealed, making both Pam and Ryan to jump. "Is that girl wearing genuine Duluxiana?!?" she pointed over to a young woman who had just walked in, wearing a pair of ridiculous spandex-looking silver pants. "I have to ask where she got them!" and without another word she hopped up and scurried toward where the woman was standing, like she was some big-shot celebrity and Kelly was one of her washed-up fans.

Ryan grabbed his napkin the moment Kelly ran away and spit out all of the fries into it. "Yech," he mumbled thickly, wrapping up the spew and tossing it onto his plate.

Pam looked away, giggling and squeamish, "Ew, God! Why did you have to do that in front of me??"

Ryan smiled, looking slightly ashamed, "Sorry." he snickered, looking down.

They both sat there, silent. There was a small, awkward pause for about ten seconds before Ryan broke it:

"I really hate ketchup."

That comment was so random, yet on topic, Pam couldn't help but start cracking up. He snapped and started cracking up too. They both couldn't stop laughing; hunched over, head bowed, barely able to breathe as they giggled so uncontrollably it hurt. Tears were streaming down Pam's and Ryan's cheeks and smiles were stretched tightly across their faces before they calmed down enough to finally stop laughing a minute or two later.

They gave a few last titters before Pam wiped the tears from her eyes, "Oh, God..." she mumbled, grinning. "I'm sorry. I'm usually not this obnoxiously loud when I laugh..."

"I like listening to you laugh." Ryan blurted suddenly; sincerely.

Pam smiled, but it faded ever so slightly as she continued to look at Ryan. Ryan looked back; a little nervous, as if he had said something wrong. The stare was strong, sending her heart into fits of erratic thumps. They were silent again, but this time, the pause wasn't awkward. It wasn't even remotely uncomfortable. Pam knew as she stared into his big blue eyes: the silence was just there.

It was nice.

"So what'd I miss?" someone from her left said suddenly, and Pam turned to see that Allen was back. The spell was broken.

Pam smiled politely, "Nothing much." she glanced back at Ryan, smiling. "Just Ryan telling me how much he loves ketchup."

Ryan smiled back, his blue eyes sparkling.

Kelly appeared suddenly by them too, mumbling something about "fashion police", and they all got up to leave. Pam said a polite goodbye to Allen, and Kelly and Ryan were outside by their car, leaving for the day. At that moment, neither Pam nor Ryan were thinking about their significant other.

***

Pam came in to work the next day to find a ketchup packet lying on her keyboard. She smiled as she picked it up, knowing who had intentionally put it there. She would have laughed if it didn't remind her of another inside joke from a salesman who had once given her flutters much like the ones she was experiencing now.

***

Step 13: Check