"How would it feel if a Vice President is walking the branch, acting like a vampire, ready to suck blood out of their top salesman." This made me very much want to see what pranks corporate Jim would've pulled.

For the record: I say keep going with this. Writing muscles are like any other, they get stronger with exercise, and I'd be interested to see what you come up with either way!

This does feel like it could be an ending point for this story, however it also feels like they still have so much more to unpack. Pam is flush with Fancy New Beesly energy and Jim is finally being honest with himself and with her. Though it also feels like he's still holding back a bit here. I would love to read how they continue to open up to each other. Jim may have loathed the all-night conversations Karen put him through. I get the feeling his thoughts would be different with Pam. The woman he really wants to be with.

All that being said I'm glad they are having these conversations. As much fun as jumping right into the lovey dovey stuff is, to really heal the wounds of their past, they would need a lot of heart to heart conversations like this. You're doing a great job at writing them too.

It does feel like they're in a really good space here so that's a lot of fun to read. Very much feels like Jim has listened to her and he's back. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Nice work.

The title for the chapter seems fine. You're talking about those things so it fits.

I get the feeling that last chapter when Pam said "I can't," she didn't quite realize the effect those two words would have on Jim. Fortunately she's not only pretty quick on the uptake but can also still read Jim enough to see she needed to clarify.

Jim's moment of panic though made complete sense. It's only their first date after all and all the feelings from the past are still there.

However more and more they're discovering they can move past the loneliness and pain. Especially since they've found they can make plans together now. Nice work

Author's Response:

Yeah i felt that too warrior4. They both have been through a lot in past year and I am sure there are some emotional triggers that'll keep surfacing time to time, because you don't just "get over" the hurt. You work on them. 

Thanks for the feedback.  

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You really get a clear sense of just how hard the previous year was on them here. That there are so many things that are reminding them of past heartache. Yet, there's still laughter, fun, and desire coming out more and more. They still have baggage to unpack for sure, but their friendship is already re-blooming and it's wonderful to read.

Jim not really knowing what to expect from her seems to ring true as well. Pam has been this unapproachable thing for so long. The last time he tried flying that high, his wings melted and he crashed into the sea. Makes sense he'd be a bit more guarded now. But they're also now in a much different place. Maybe his wings won't melt this time around.

Nice job to bring that all out.

Author's Response:

Thanks Warrior4 for that. It's such a pleasure to read your feedback. I feel like one of those mediocre writers, whose work is enhanced with the way it has been described and interpreted than just the work itself. I agree to everything you said. When someone is burned so bad, I am sure there are reservation and hesitations before one is ready to jump again. 

I am working on getting their friendship repaired. It would be a slow journey though before we seem them giggling on screen.  

Nice work here. There's still a lot of unresolved tension that's for sure. The signs of Karen's presence for example. However the subtext of Jim wanting to be back to who he really is was great to read.

I get that it's a little hard for them to get their footing again. It's been a hard year for both and their relationship has been strained. Makes sense that it'll take some time to get back to where they once were. However it also looks like they've got all the time in the world for it too.

Author's Response: Thank you warrior4. You are so wonderful and amazing. You ensure that you give me feedback on every chapter I post and I am grateful for that. 

I thought you did well here finding organic little moments for their past to come up. Feels realistic that she wouldn't so much stop and let the memories wash over her as much as various moments in the process would end up recalling different times she'd thought about this night.

I thought the Snoopy sheets were a nice detail - good mixture of comic and exploring the sexual tension between them. And Pam not *quite* being able to manage her shoes is VERY Pam Beesly.

Author's Response: Thank you for your time and review. I project myself in "Pam" and have had my own share of klutz experiences of heels, so this one came from that. I am glad you liked my little moments of flashbacks where they both still get stuck in Past and then try to center back to present. I am the worst person in writing anything sexual but you guys have been extremely supportive with whatever subtle stuff I could come up with. 

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So great that you updated this story. Can’t wait to read more.
Of course I needed a visual of Pam’s clothes, but the link doesn’t work 🤷🏻r05;a92;a039; I’ll just use my imagination

Author's Response:

I am so sorry about the stupid link. I don't understand why it is not working. It is such a nice picture of Jenna so I was really hoping I could share that with everyone. I am gonna figure that out though :)

I am glad you liked the update. Thank you !!

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You packed a lot into that first paragraph. It said a lot that despite coming back, and even with a girlfriend, he'd still not fully unpacked, not sure after a half a year if he planned to stay. But to stay somewhere you have to be somewhere and up until tonight he wasn't really there.

Now you scared me by having his take a rest, but he got his s cond wind and what a sweet description, his whistling. And I like how you bring up the bit amount the money and what she had to accept as part of her choices.

The next chapter will be nice to see - keep it up. You've got a sweet story going here even with the angst in their past. The more you write, the more you find your voice.

Author's Response: That's such a nice way to put across, to stay somewhere you have to be there and he still wasn't, at least not until now. I am so glad you picked on little things I did there. It is such a compliment when writers like yourself, acknowledge work of some beginner like me. Thank you so much !!

It's angsty, but there's also more than a little hope shining through. They've both been through the wringer this year so it makes sense there would still be some underlying hesitation. Especially with his mini-montage of how everything has gone to this point.

It's been almost a year and Jim still hasn't unpack from the move back. I can see that. On the outside he puts on a mask of confidence, but there in private he's still reeling from everything.

Though the future is looking up that's for sure. Nice job.

Author's Response:

Thank you for the support. I was sort of taking a risk, stating that a person could stay packed 6 months in, but I have done that  Being in a place which didn't feel like home, I was pretty much living out of a suitcase myself. I do agree that despite of his cool exterior, he did have some insecurities which only surfaced on few occasions , especially after Casino Night, he became better at pretending. 

So I went to read this chapter and wrote those last two reviews without remembering I'd already reviewed those chapter. I'm sure you're really upset about getting more reviews.

Anyway, again a good look into her mindset. The scroll through previous texts would yeah trigger some memories. Especially if one of the last one's was the unanswered text after Diwalli. However she's in a better mental place now. And also Jim does text her back. It's delightful to see how such a seemingly simple thing could improve her mood so much. Nice job.

Can't wait to see your version of their date.

Author's Response:

Oh Not at all. I am glad you reviewed my chapters again. More the merrier. :)

Thank you for saying that about the text thing. I thought a lot about how to get the text thing simple yet meaningful, your words helped me feel so pleased that it did get through somewhere in my chapter. Keep the love coming :) 

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Good peak into his mind here. I'm sure there were a lot of feelings bouncing around in his head during that day. He's fresh off his break-up with Karen and it's just after asking Pam out. So it really fits he's still a little confused. Nice way to get all that together.

Author's Response:

Thanks Warrior. I always felt that Jim won't be a complete jerk to just jump from Karen to Pam without a second glance or conflicted feelings. I feel that's part of the reason he didn't go after Pam right after her Beach speech. Life is not as simple as be changed by just words, there are actions to follow and consequences to face. 

Once again thank you for encouragement. Needs all of it from someone so great !! 

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True fact: Jim and Karen would've lasted one week maximum if Jim had been at his old desk. And Pam knows it.

Author's Response: Yeah I have to say that I agree with  that. Old habits die hard, especially the ones cultivated over years filled with flirting and jellybeans a86;a039;