Chapter 7- Under A Spell
Author's Note- Hey everybody! Thanks so much to everybody who reviewed last chapter! You guys are really nice and it still shocks me that people are actually reading my writing. Crentist, I will start one of the stories soon, probably in two weeks. Is that okay? I was thinking of doing Denying Myself…what do you think? Alright, everyone, this is where the real story begins! Jim and Pam are now fifteen and sophomores in high school! Okay, here's the chapter, enjoy!
Pam Beesly was waiting on the gym's bleachers for Jim to come out of the locker room. The varsity basketball team's practice had just ended and for the past two weeks, Pam would watch Jim practice and then walk home with him, like usual. Pam looked up from her sketchbook; the first players were emerging from the locker room. She wasn't the only one who waited for a player, there were cheerleaders, supportive girlfriends, and of course, freshman girls ogling some of the star players. Roy Anderson, not one of the best players but not one of the worst, seemed to be walking towards Pam. He stopped in front of her expectantly, as if Pam knew what he wanted. When she didn't react, Roy hopped up on the bleachers, and sat next to her.
"Hi," Roy said, running a hand through his brown hair and letting it stay up in spikes. Roy smelled like Axe and was dressed in his letterman jacket, his usual attire that made girls swoon.
"Hi," Pam replied, shyly, wondering what he wanted. Roy was one of the most popular kids in their grade and usually wouldn't even take a second glance at someone like Pam. Jim and Pam weren't popular but they weren't losers either, just regular teenagers.
"So, Pam, why are you waiting at our practices for?" Roy asked, his soft brown eyes shining in the light.
"Uh, just waiting for Jim," Pam said, glancing at the door. Jim still hadn't arrived yet.
"Oh, okay. You're not going out with Halpert, are you?" Roy asked disgust in his voice at the mention of Jim's name. It was well-known that Roy was jealous of Jim, for he was one of the best players on the team, even as a sophomore.
"No, no. We're just friends," Pam answered, calmly. She was used to this question by now; after all they'd been getting asked that for ten years.
"Good, good. I was wondering," Roy started, glancing deep into Pam's emerald green eyes and making her insides melt, unknowingly. "Would you like to go to a party this weekend? It's at Sam's house; his parents are going to be out of town."
"With you?" Pam asked, just to make sure this wasn't some sort of sick prank.
"No, with Santa Claus," Roy responded, chuckling. "Of course with you, you know, like as my date."
"Yeah, of course, I'd love to," Pam replied quickly, surprising herself. Pam wondered what had gotten into her. Jim and her used to joke about the girls who fell under Roy's spell so quickly and now, she had just become one.
"Great. Do you want a ride home? My Mustang's in the parking lot," Roy offered, sincerely. Pam was truly amazed, she couldn't believe that just minutes ago, Pam would've still considered Roy to be a huge jerk. Pam was starting to think that maybe she and Jim had been wrong about Roy all along.
"Yeah, sure," Pam replied, quickly shoving her sketchbook in her backpack. She followed Roy out the gym's double doors just as Jim bounded out of the locker room.
Jim watched Pam walk out with Roy, wondering what had just happened. "Hey, Mark, where's Pam going?" Jim asked, still staring at the doors.
Jim's friend looked at him strangely. "I don't know, somewhere with Roy. I think he likes her, I heard him talking about her during practice," Mark replied, taking a swig of Gatorade.
"What? Roy liking Pam? He only dates cheerleaders, there has to be a mistake. Plus, he's not even Pam's type!" Jim rambled, bewildered.
"Whoa, there, buddy. I think you like Pam," Mark sing-songed.
"No, I don't. It's just weird of her to get up and leave with him, like, without even letting me know," Jim said, calmly.
"Oh, come on. Enough with all the best friend crap, you obviously love her," Mark replied, grinning.
"Shut up, Mark, you know I don't. It's different with her," Jim retorted, honestly. Jim was beginning to wonder if deep down somewhere he did harbor secret feelings for his best friend.
"Aww, that's adorable," Mark cooed, laughing. Jim slugged him in the arm as they made their way into the parking lot. The pair noticed Pam getting into Roy's Mustang; they glanced at each other timidly. Jim knew this wasn't good. It wasn't good at all.
Pam was working on her science homework late at night, when it came. Her usual good night call from Jim on their walkie-talkies that they'd been using since her seventh birthday. Pam always looked forward to the hearing the voice on the other end, it was soothing in a way, spilling all her troubles to Jim after a rough day or just talking about the most random things, it didn't matter as long as they were talking.
"Hi Beesly," Jim said into the walkie-talkie.
"Hey Jim, sorry I couldn't walk home with you. I, uh, got a ride with Roy," Pam replied, uneasily. She told Jim everything but somehow she didn't want to tell him about the party she would be attending. It just would feel wrong, even if she didn't have feelings for Jim.
"Oh yeah, I saw." There was a twinge of disappointment and sadness in his voice and Pam noticed.
"Uh, I'm, uh, going to be getting rides with him to and from school this week," Pam admitted, the words spilling from her mouth.
"Oh, okay. Are you two like dating? Because, I just don't think you're right for him. I mean, just last week, we would've laughed about you falling under the spell of Roy," Jim asked, nervously. He didn't want Pam to go out with Roy. It wouldn't be right. Jim knew he didn't own Pam but he just wanted to protect her.
"I'm not under his spell, Jim. I guess we might be like going out or something. He asked me to a party on Saturday. I think we misread him Jim, he was really nice to me," Pam replied, defending her new-found boyfriend. There was a muffled noise on the other end before Jim replied.
"Oh, uh, well that's cool I guess. I just, I just don't want you to get hurt, I honestly don't think Roy's the nicest guy." Jim waited for Pam's response and could almost feel the hesitation on her end.
"That's not really fair of you, Jim. You're judging him based on our middle school years. And I wasn't really asking for your opinion," Pam said, harsher than she meant for it to sound. "I'm sorry, Jim. That came out wrong, of course I value your opinion."
"It's fine, I shouldn't have said that in the first place. I'll still be able to hang out with you right?" Jim asked, just to make sure. If Roy Anderson thought he was going to steal Jim's best friend, well, he was wrong.
"Of course, you're not getting rid of me that easily," Pam replied, laughing. Just like that, they were back to their usual cheerful banter. After about an hour, they said good bye. Pam turned off the light and eagerly awaited the morning. It wasn't exactly every morning that the quarterback came to pick you up to go to school, after all.
So what did you think? I hoped the beginning of the 'real story' was all that it was cracked up to be, sorry if I disappointed anyone. I'll try to update within a few days, now that the story's actually taking off. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter! Please review, I love to hear what you think!
