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Starting out with Roy. That's one helluva backstory you've given him. How I read it is that now as an adult he's got a bit of a hero complex to him. He has to be strong, thus everyone needs to be strong too. If what he sees isn't strong it's his duty to whisk them away to a better place. It give a really good insight into his character. However his approach is of course flawed. Pam doesn't need to be rescued. If he really paid attention to her, he'd realize that. She's very happy where she is even if it's not big and exciting. Setting up what feels like a very interesting conflict there.

Speaking of Pam, part of me is starting to think she's seeing Jim as more than just a friend. Singer goes right to him when the dog snarls at any other guy. Good boy Singer, have another good boy treat. When she's in a tough spot the first person she turns to is Jim. Then they have the kind of evening she DOES dream about. Not hot air balloons or fancy dinners. Just an easy time with pizza on the porch. Feels like she gets another glimpse of the life she really wants. One that's full of love, is steady, and warm. Hopefully soon she realizes that all she wants is right there, she just has to reach out and take it.

Jim is also great here. He's just there for her. The fact he's not trying to impress her with a big gesture feels a lot more impressive for her than any extravagant date she might go on. He spends time listening to her, letting her talk about what she wants, not what he is trying to impress on her. It's the slow easy way that I really feel will ultimatly win her heart. He may feel inadaquate, but what he's doing is speaking her laungauge more than anything.

Back to Pam real quck. The last line is what is making me think she's seeing Jim as more than a friend. She's trying to deny it, but it really feels that she can't help but have feelings for him. Her heart knows what it wants (as does her dog) but her brain is in the way. But there may be a few cracks forming in her mental wall. Looking foward to see if those cracks get any bigger. Great chapter.

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UGH these two. I love their friendship and I love how they talk to each other about Mark and everything else. I also need Pam to listen to her DOG. Something is up with Roy and we all know it, Singer included.

I just really love this little world you have put them in and basically I just want to be friends with them and live by them and have Jim fix my car, okay?!

This is a brutal start for Jim here. You can't blame him for feeling worried about his place in her life right now - it's hard not to notice that she's gotten a boyfriend and apparently moved on from him. (Although perhaps that tells you something about their relationship?)

It's nice to see Pam having a fully rational reason why she's willing to keep giving things a go with Roy in spite of their not connecting that well - and it's *very* nice to see that Pam is definitely aware that there are some issues here. The locket thing could be perfectly benign, but given his weird comments about it earlier it doesn't really feel that way.

Kelly is the worst kind of Kelly in this story, and yet I'm worried about her.

Interested to see where we're headed with the red flag of Darryl's issues with Roy.

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Considering that I’m guessing we might ultimately see Roy more as “bonkers” than “guy who goes for what he wants”, it’s interesting to see this chapter play out – the lines between romantic lead tropes and stalking behavior are not as clear as they should be. Stupid society.

Also on the same lines, I liked the choice to give us Roy’s inner monologue here – not something you normally get in this type of story. We get to see HIS perspective on his overwhelming behavior – that he’s aware he’s maybe a little too much, and that it’s coming from a place of insecurity that produces a certain amount of obsessive re-analysis of what he’s been doing. You’ve made him feel like a serious option for Pam here, complete with some crucial pieces of shared history.

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Hmm, why is Pam so thrilled he won't kiss her? Is it because she really loves Jim? I hope that's the case because the dog and I are both on the same page here that something is off with Roy.

Loved the update!

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This is a fun trip through the early stages of Pam's post-Mark dating life. The Toby date in particular sounds an awful lot like what a date between them in canon would be, too.

It's fascinating seeing a thoughtful, attentive, funny Roy, without the glaring red flags right out front - it feels almost like we're getting a look at him like Pam saw him in high school.

This is one hell of a journey Pam has been through to get here - it's been a roller coaster of a life. I think introducing this before bringing in much about Jim helps gives us a sense that this is about Pam's journey and not just about her relationship with her late husband's best friend.

The ending with Danny tweaking Jim about the date was funny - I would have loved to watch Timothy Olyphant and John Krasinski play that scene out.

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This version of Roy gives off such a weird vibe. I have no clue what his deal is yet, but I know I don’t like it... Jim’s conversation with Daryl was all sorts of ominous too.
Dwight is a delight! Of course it needs to be perfectly centered.
For a second there you had me going & I thought Jim had really taken Kelly on a date...

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I loved reading this chapter! Even though I know the story, I found myself wondering what was going to happen next. You've done such an amazing job putting the characters in the story in a way that keeps things interesting. I love Kelly in the story, especially. "Lame Is" LOL! And I really like how you're taking us through what Pam is thinking. Roy doesn't rock her boat. That is an excellent way of putting it. Oh, Pam, I just need you to get with Jim already! I think he just might rock your boat... ;)

I’m with Jim - Roy is giving me a bad feeling too, & it’s not just because he’s dating Pam (although, maybe it mostly is...)

“Cobra is a guy with leather jackets who rides motorcycles and occasionally breaks the law. Ryan is a guy who works in an office and still lives with his mom.” This had me cackling. How perfect.

“But if I were you, I’d make it a good one, and I wouldn’t waste too much time coming up with it” This is the most brotherly advice ever - just make it good & make it quick, with no actual ideas. Oh boy...

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What a wonderful introduction. Mark was a wonderful guy urging Pam to continue living. Friends haven't been that lucky.

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Girl. There was so much I loved about this chapter.

I felt like this line was so representative of season 1-2 Jim. "He knew he was going to have a hell of a time trying to be happy for her as long as Roy was by her side." Like UGH. He's got it so bad for her. And I like/hate the fact that Pam seems to genuinely like Roy, even if she's a little hesitant. It feels very true to canon.

I loved the whole Cobra/Ryan thing. That made me laugh out loud. And the Kelly/Roy dynamic really intrigues me. We never got any of that in canon, but I could kind of see it happen, actually.

The part with the locket makes me a little suspicious of Roy. But that's the goal, right?

Can't wait for more!

So happy to see this story updated!
I can’t wait to see a more confident Jim, actually going after what he wants! :)

Also, I don’t know if it’s just me, but I think Roy’s name was put as Richard a few times in this... in Poor Richards and then when Roy visits Pam at work. If I’m wrong, sorry! But thought you’d want to know :)

Author's Response: Yeah, I had messed up a couple of times, but I fixed it, so it should all be good now! Thank you so much for letting me know though! Since I'm basing this off of the book, I have the book beside me for reference and sometimes I slip up lol. But thank you for reading! I'm so glad you are enjoying it!!