He'd just set the Dundie down when he saw the back of his head in the closet by the front door. The Assistant to the Regional Manager was unaware of an intruder in his virtual apartment.

Oh crap. Crap. Crap. Crap.

A quick survey of the sparse apartment revealed one open window.

He must have flown in through it. Crafty. Ok, he's distracted. Run for it.

His heart was racing. He'd gotten this far without getting caught. Philly Jim, complete with guitar made it to the window ledge outside and carefully edged himself out of Dwight's line of vision.

Ok. This is not that big of an improvement. Can I kill myself in this game? I'm only two floors up, maybe I'll end up spending a week in Second Life hospital after my tibias shoot out my knee caps. Uh... what to do now?

Jim sat back in his desk chair and slurped on a beer. Second Life had become a nightly ritual of late. At first he just wanted to freak out Dwight, shoot him with paint balls and leave cryptic messages from the CIA on the walls but in the last few weeks it had been taking up more of his time.

It was the nights he found the most difficult. With no roommate and no close friends nearby, the ache in his chest from that one night in May kept him up at night. He thought moving would help but he just missed her more.

Natalia Penn: Don't jump!

Someone's talking to me. Natalia, sexy name. Maybe she can help me down. Steal a fire engine or something.

Philly Jim: I need help.

Natalia Penn: What can I do?

Nice. I just need to get to the door.

Philly Jim: I need you to get this guy out of his apartment so I can get down. Can I actually kill myself in this game?

Natalia Penn: No idea, this is my first time. What's the guy's name?

Philly Jim: Dwight Schrute

Natalia Penn: Am I aiding and abetting something?

Jim snorted a little laugh at her comment.

Philly Jim: Only the forces of good. I wasn't stealing anything, I was giving him something.

A dundie of all things. Pam would think that was hilarious. Why can't I stop thinking about her every damn second. Concentrate Jim, this is what you do to not think about her.

Natalia Penn: Is it a bomb?

Ha, she's kinda funny. Sort of thing Pam would have said. Dammit! Stop thinking about her. For crying out loud, tonight is worse than ever.

Philly Jim: That would have been awesome but no, I gave him a trophy.

Natalia Penn: Will you tell me what's going on if I do this? Sounds interesting and I have an evening to kill.

Human interaction that's not about paper? Hmm...

Philly Jim: Sure, I've got no life of which to speak of.

Natalia Penn: Ok, hold tight, keep yourself amused with your guitar unless that's only there for the chicks ;)

She winked at me. She's busted me on the guitar.

Philly Jim: Totally there for the chicks ;-)

With that she walked away. Her bright red hair disappeared into the building and Jim tilted the camera view so he could see the front door. Within a minute she was there.

She's an artist. Maybe that's making me think of Pam more. It's nice to talk to someone, I thought only odd people populated these places but I guess I'm here and so not everyone is insane. I am stuck on a ledge though. She seems nice enough and willing to help. Might be nice to continue to chat.

Jim snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Dwight dart past Natalia. He slipped inside and got to the door where flame-haired Natalia was waiting for him.

Philly Jim: Thanks, I owe you one.

Natalia Penn: Shall we go somewhere and chat?

Philly Jim: Follow me, there's a lake just up the road with some benches.

I guess we don't actually need to go somewhere to sit, it's not like my legs are getting tired. This is weird, maybe Dwight can teach me some online etiquette. That actually sounds like it has potential for pranking.

They arrived at the benches and sat looking over the lake. Other people were walking by, someone was flying a kite.

Natalia Penn: So what did you put in his apartment?

Philly Jim: Well technically it's called a Dundie.

Natalia Penn: What's a Dundie?

How to explain the inner workings of Michael Scott's mind.

Philly Jim: Something my old boss used to do, he'd give really weird awards like 'Don't Go In There' for one guy who made the bathroom *ahem* uninhabitable for a while or for wearing the Whitest Sneakers.

You just had to mention her award didn't you. Can't help yourself.

Natalia Penn: So what was Dwight's award for?

Oh so many options. Best mustard coloured shirt. Best hider in a box. Most annoying desk mate. Brightest beet stained teeth. But I had to use this piece of information if I couldn't share it with...

Philly Jim: Ok, this isn't a reflection on where I work but it was Most Unlikely Guy to Buy a Hooker.

Natalia Penn: That guy! How do you know?

Philly Jim: I was at a conference and I got into his room and there was a naked woman on his bed. It had to be a hooker.

Natalia Penn: Maybe he has a girlfriend.

Yeah right.

Philly Jim: He'd brag if he had a girlfriend. It was a hooker, I'm sure of it.

Natalia Penn: So what kind of conference was this?

Ugh. Paper. Again.

Philly Jim: Paper. A whole conference dedicated to paper and office supplies. I know, adrenaline filled stuff.

Natalia Penn: I guess writing is more your thing?

Why'd I make that so public? A moment of weakness. A silly dream. I'm a paper salesman. That's it. Laugh it off.

Philly Jim: More of a fantasy thing. How about you? Are you a real life artist or aspiring assistant to the regional manager?

Natalia Penn: I'm a receptionist.

You have to be kidding me. God if only you were her.

Philly Jim: A receptionist and wannabe artist? Wow, I've had terrible luck with that.

Natalia Penn: Maybe your luck is due for a change?

Philly Jim: It would be nice. Been a rough few months.

Why am I talking about this? I guess I've not spoken to anyone recently. Not like I've made friends here that I can share the most gut wrenching and soul destroying moment of my life with.

Natalia Penn: Must be going around. Is that why you're here?

Sounds like I'm not the only person using this to escape.

Philly Jim: Yeah. I used to work with Dwight, I found out he was on Second Life from a casual mention in an email and here I am. I think it's been a bit of an escape. I moved a couple of months ago and I haven't really settled. Why are you here?

Natalia Penn: I'm lonely in the evenings. I just got out of a long term relationship.

I was right. It is the loneliness that gets me too. But I'm not talking about that. At least I feel a little less alone right now.

Philly Jim: I'm sorry to hear that. I guess we both need a second life right now.

Natalia Penn: I'm working on the real one. I'm taking some art classes.

Pam. Wonder if she's taking classes.

Philly Jim: Nice.

Natalia Penn: Have you thought about taking writing classes? You might meet some people.

You mean actually do something than just coast along and make jokes in a dead end job that bores me silly? Yeah, sounds like something I might do. Getting out of bed is difficult right now.

Philly Jim: Yeah, maybe. I don't know, I'm horrendously anti-social.

Natalia Penn: You're talking to me.

Philly Jim: You did help me off a ledge. What did you tell Dwight to get him out so fast?

Natalia Penn: That a search party was being formed to find a mysterious group of cyber thieves.

Wow. Seriously wow. This Natalia girl has him spot on. Does she know Dwight? Wait, this was her first day. Maybe Dwight gave her a clue to what he was like, Jesus, that was perfect.

Philly Jim: You have no idea how perfect that story is, just absolutely perfect.

Natalia Penn: I have a good idea.

What does that mean?

Philly Jim: How so?

Natalia Penn: He reminded me of someone I know.

Fair enough.

Philly Jim: There's more than one Dwight in the world? Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?

Natalia Penn: That and me actually having something to do on a Friday night.

Philly Jim: Well I'll probably be here but if I arrange to meet you I'll be hastening the end of the world... tough choice.

Natalia Penn: Maybe you're worth risking the world for?

O-kay... that's a little scary. What do I type back to that? Make a joke? Maybe she thinks I'm flirting with her? I guess we were bantering a bit just then. Crap, I haven't written anything.

Natalia Penn: Sorry, I just reread that, little intense, sorry.

Give her a chance. Who else are you going to talk to until you can't stay awake any longer? It's passing the time. What else are you going to do tonight?

Philly Jim: That's ok.

Natalia Penn: I'm kinda missing someone at the moment, someone I wish I'd risked the world for.

Philly Jim: Your ex?

Natalia Penn: Nope. There were a lot of reasons to end that. I miss someone else. It took me a while to see what he did and now he's gone.

Well I certainly know the feeling of missing someone. I risked the world and now I'm in a crappy apartment in Stamford two states from home and she's somewhere, I don't what she's doing. Stupid thing is, I'd still do it all again. Maybe there's hope for Natalia. She seems nice.

Philly Jim: Is it too late?

Natalia Penn: I think so, I don't know.

Philly Jim: If you aren't sure why not try? It didn't work out well for me but I'm glad I know, I'll never wonder what would have happened if I hadn't told her.

She doesn't love me. Well, she couldn't love me. Come on, don't think about that. You can't keep doing this.

Natalia Penn: She was stupid for turning you down.

Yeah.

Philly Jim: I like to think so. She left the guy she was with at the time too. Turns out she didn't want either of us.

Natalia Penn: If she turned up on your doorstep saying she wanted to be with you, would you go for it?

In a heartbeat. Always. Every night I picture it. It's the reason I'm here in this stupid game. It's the reason I can't remember the last good night's sleep I ever had.

Philly Jim: I don't want to think about that, it'll never happen.

Natalia Penn: I think I'll take your advice. I'll tell him how I feel.

Philly Jim: I hope it works out for you and that he's worth it.

Natalia Penn: He's worth it.

Philly Jim: Good luck, let me know how it goes. I could do with a happy ending.

Natalia Penn: I'm going to see him now.

Philly Jim: Seriously? Well go get him!

Natalia Penn: He lives a couple of states away but I just really need to see him, I hope he doesn't go to bed too early.

Wonder if she'll remember me if they get together? A random late night conversation brought together by Dwight Schrute. Pam would love this story.

Philly Jim: Quit talking to me and go! I hope you don't need this second life after tonight. Keep up with the art too.

Natalia Penn: Look up those classes, it's the baby steps that got me through.

Not the worst idea in the world. Maybe. Maybe.

Philly Jim: I will. See you Nat.

Natalia Penn: See you Jim.

Strange night. Wonder if we'll ever speak again?