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“But Jim’s life is not a romantic comedy. He is not Hugh Grant or Colin Firth or whatever stammering, awkward English dude women find charming these days. There is no music swelling to tell him the moment is right. The lighting is the same harsh fluorescent it always is. There’s not even the camera crew there, trying so desperately to not attract attention to themselves he can tell they think something big is happening.

And perhaps most importantly, if he’s wrong, there will be no cut to black. Jim will have to live with the fallout.”

Wow, wow, wow. I loved all of this.

I really like your insights into Jim during this timeframe. Acknowledging complaining to Toby was actually mean (it was!) but he understands he’s running out of time.

Love the use of holidays in this story!

Author's Response: I'm glad you liked it! I'm always a little bit leery of fictional characters talking about how they're not fictional characters, but I think with them it kind of works because they are very much supposed to be real people living a small, real sort of life.

I think Jim is in a genuine tailspin in the late stages of Season 2, torn between taking a risk and accepting that everything is already over, and I'm glad you feel like I captured that.

Thank you! And thank you for reviewing!

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So this one was fun. Jim not really being able to do Pam's job does seem to track. I get the feeling that everyone at DM has at least been training on how to answer the phone and transfer calls, but it's been a while for Jim so he's kinda stuck.

I'm thinking that where Pam calls Jim Snoopy is a refernce to another fic. Maybe one from Max? Couldn't tell you the other one.

Nice way for them to make nice with Stanley. Yes, that would be the way to get back onto his good side.

Jim finding that sketch of the hands holding was sweet and little bitter at the same time. Cleary he'd reconginize their hands together, but Pam's drawn hand still has her engagment ring on. So yes she likes him, but she's still got that ring on. It tracks for where they are at this point of their relationship though so well done in that regard.

Nice job.

Author's Response: I read... somewhere in a fic once a line about the Dunder Mifflin phone system being absurdly complicated, which has always stuck in my head. (And now I have to go look it up... it's BigTunette's On Hiatus). So that was more the inspiration to that. Although this version makes sense too. And I'm sure Jim wouldn't have been too eager to pay attention to the training, since after all, he can ask Pam follow up questions.

You got one of them! New Year's in New Jersey... of course it's Pam that's Snoopy, but you can't have everything. The other one maaaaaay be too subtle.

It's my personal opinion that Stanley had actually forgiven them and was back to his usual level of grumpiness... but don't tell Jim and Pam that.

Here's something that I definitely didn't intend but HAD thought of after I wrote it... it's probably not clear to Jim WHAT he saw. He just got a glimpse of clutching hands. Did he notice one of them was clearly not Roy's? Or is he going home tonight wondering what he saw, if he saw what he thinks he saw, or if it's just a sign that it's never going to happen? I do think you hit the nail on the head with Pam... who's clearly thinking about their hands together more, but is nowhere close to imagining that ring off.

Thank you, and thank you for taking the time to review!

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"He’d hurt her a little on Valentine’s Day, and while it hadn’t been the point, he’d kind of liked knowing he could. He wishes he doesn’t know that he’d liked that." Ooooooof.

This encapsulated the feeling of season 2 so well it hurt. Especially Jim slowly realizing it's all slipping through his fingers and something is going to change in their relationship whether he likes it or not. Well done, friend! Loved this one.

Author's Response: Being in love, especially unrequited love, and especially unrequited love with a friend, does not always bring out the best in us. I've always taken Valentine's Day more or less as what the show implies, that this is Jim post-Boys and Girls making an attempt to accept his fate and set up boundaries... but I imagine he would have kind of liked knowing that she cares enough about him that he has the capacity to hurt her. Glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to review.

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How you can turn this colorful, happy, sugary day into this story is just brilliant. From the beginning, with the note and disclaimer - I thought we were in for a happy little tale of colorful fun- once into the first few paragraphs I knew it would be more than that and knew exactly where in the timeline we were (yeah, I didn't notice the date was right there in the chapter title).

Love the peek of what's on the monitor - great way to make us feel the excitement (as if the dialogue that comes next wasn't enough). Great way to bring out his being put on the spot to always be clever - but well - I like like even when he is stressing about it he always comes through (reminds me of someone I know who came through on some very important holidays).

Have to mention your portrayal of Michael here while not a big part is spot on.

The next bit was so wonderfully written - comparing to movie scenes and bringing in the instances of why she knew (ice skating, big trips) but his doubt of how it all would go down holding him back - the line no cut to black may have been one of my favorite.

The nod to Larissa - check. The nods to Valentines' day episode - check. The nod to conflict resolution - check.

The whole idea of being worried that it might ruin the friendship but could friendship be enough (braid bracelets -check) really does resonate with me.

Ugh and how does the colorful, sugary holiday fic end with such an angsty good line? However, like jelly beans -too much sugar can make you feel sick - so this was the perfect ending. 

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So this was great. The addition of the graphic from the first time this was posted to the re-post was a welcome addition. Really leaning into S2 JAM bittersweetness with this one. I mean it's all there. It's fun, funny, sweet, JAMMY, angsty. Pam pretty much knowing what she's doing to both of them by denying her feelings. Jim hoping for any and every shred of attention he can get from her. How it seems he wants to turn away, but there's no way he can.

But they still have so much fun together and it's both slowly killing them even if they can't say it. Great job bringing all that out.

Author's Response: Glad you liked it! (And sorry about your first review disappearing. I have technical issues, and NLM had to teach me how to tie my shoes to make this work.) Yeah, I really wanted to capture that late-Season 2 vibe where they're really doing a fair amount of damage to each other and can't quite figure out how to stop here, I'm glad that came through, and that the sweetness and fun of it didn't get overwhelmed by the angst. Thank you so much for taking the time to review (twice)!

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Ugh, the hell with Italian Food, I'll forever wish the line was "I'm in love with grilled cheese" now!

Also, if you're not coating the outside of the bread with mayo, you're not living your best life.

Author's Response: Ah, but this way, we get TWO different references to fall back on! And more things to reference are better. You are the second person to reference slathering the outside with mayo... I did not realize that was a thing.

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So, when do you reveal that you used to write for the show? Is there a National Stop Lying to Your Friends Day?

But for real, I always love your cold opens and "scripts" and this one definitely did not disappoint. Expect harassment if you don't update this regularly.

(And I know I will probably get flack for this, but sometimes that plastic, fake, American cheese makes the best grilled cheese, if nothing but for nostalgia's sake.)

Author's Response: Yeah, it's February 30th. (Seriously, as noted earlier... y'all realize the trick to this is Jenna and John are doing 90% of the work?) I appreciate the warning, and I'm glad you liked it. No flack from me - I'm with Jim, I think nostalgia is a big part of what makes a grilled cheese a grilled cheese. (When I was little, I used to demand my mother not make me a grilled cheese, but a 'boy cheese,' which is a fond family anecdote we tell to this day and also a stunning statement about gender roles and how young we absorb them.)

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Awww. Grilled Cheese is Pam’s Italian food. Gave me the feels!

Well done Max and co. for getting Darjeeling to do this/these - nice work!

Author's Response: Oh, sure. Reward peer pressure. This is why our schools are such a mess. Glad you liked it!

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This made me so happy! I honestly don’t know how you manage to write in a way that captures the feel of the show so perfectly, down to the beats and the little things like Pam realising the camera’s still on her, and Jim’s all business (I mean I’m struggling to explain it just in this review). I can 100% see Jim getting way too serious about this - the comparison to Dwight’s Mussolini impression is amazing - and then Pam making him a grilled cheese, and him putting her note in his pocket next to her heart, is just so incredibly sweet. I also loved Dwight’s intervention, hehe. And then the callback to the Italian food line at the end! I’m fully on board for one of these for every single holiday.

I think we make grilled cheeses slightly differently in the UK. We actually…grill the cheese 😏

Author's Response: It's far too many rewatches... and also, writing in script format where you all kind of just imagine how well the actual actors would've played it instead of me having to describe it for you. (#KrasinskiAndFischerAreMyCoPilots) I do really like Pam making him the sandwich though... we really deserved a role reversed Italian food moment. You GRILL the CHEESE? For a grilled cheese sandwich??? You know what? I'm *GLAD* we had a revolution. Y'all can keep your grilling and your monarchy and all your extra u's.

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This is SO cute. I love how important grilled cheese is to the both of them (and the idea that it's the first thing a kid learns to cook is so Jim to me).

OK, my secret? Slather the outside of sourdough bread with mayo, then coat the outsides in grated parmesan cheese. You'll thank me.

Author's Response: I mean, there has to be *some* level of backstory to him choosing to make Pam a grilled cheese, right? And it is easy to make for yourself. I have to admit, I have never heard of that recipe and feel obliged to try it now.

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I usually stick with the classic. Butter two pieces of bread. Add a slice of chedder and a slice of colby jack. Grill on a pan set on medium heat on the stove. Wait till golden brown on one side and repeat for the second side. Hope you don't set off the smoke detectors and send your two year old running away in terror...again. Dip in cream of tomato soup and call it good.

Anyway, this was a wonderful extension of that blurb you put on Discord. Great way to fill it out and who doesn't love Jim and Pam making goo-goo eyes at each other. Tons of fun with this one.

Author's Response: See, I'm with you on most of this, but I am aghast at the idea of mixing cheeses. They're different flavors for a reason, darn it. Ah, well. It's probably good that your two year old is learning to be afraid of smoke, maybe? Really glad you enjoyed it, and thanks as always for reviewing!

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So this is going to be a daily thing, right? For every obscure holiday to ever exist? Because I need that. I also need you to make an office reboot with all of these scripts you come up with. Please and thank you. (I also did not have grilled cheese for lunch and am ashamed.)

Author's Response: Yes, eventually this will be 365 chapters, covering every day and every conceivable minor event. This is my solemn pledge. Please do not hold me to it. I cannot imagine writing something with, like, a plot.