A very interesting flashback to be sure. Pam's firmly in denial about a lot of things. Like how her relationship with Roy is still any good or how she doesn't have a friendship with Jim. At least sober Pam is starting to figure out that being with Roy isn't really a good thing anymore. Drunk Pam is more open to seeing that under quite a few layers Jim is actually a pretty good guy. Being willing to go out and bring people to Micheal's party, heading off Jan, coming out to make sure Pam's ok. Nice work. Also good on Pam for rejecting Ryan.

Nice work.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

Yeah, with Roy, we know it doesn't end well for them but I think Pam knows the red flags are there but is still holding on to some hope that they'll be able to save their relationship since she doesn't know what life is like without him by her side.

With Jim, yeah I think Pam does see that he's a really nice guy underneath all that douchebaggery, although it always seems to be with the help of some liquid courage, lol.

Ryan was definitely the funniest bit. I just remembered the 'she's not like other girls' trope and I really wanted him to think he's some kind of bad boy that can get any girl that he wants, which led to him getting rejected by two girls in one night. 

When I first started reading this story, I always thought P was the one making the deal with the devil (a.k.a. Jim). Now I’m wondering if it’s not the other way around. Pam is great at pretending to be Jim’s girlfriend, too good. And poor Jim seems to be smitten but doesn’t know what to do about it. I’m loving this story so far! Can’t wait to read more.
Oh! And I agree that Cathy is better in small doses. I love reading Jim and Pam getting along

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

That's actually a really good insight. Jim may be the "devil" but he seems to be unaware of what he got himself into.

Pam really is a natural so I wonder how much of it is really just "acting"? Are there actual feelings involved? We'll see!

1

So Pam's been on two dates now. One real date and one fake date. However it feels like the real Pam was there on the fake date. Not that a fake Pam was on the real date, but a more authentic version of Pam was sitting at that table with Jim, Rissa, and Nick.

Feels like a better version of Jim too. More along the lines of the canon character we know and love and less of the Mr Cool Guy persona he's got going on here. Especially when he and Pam are back at his apartment.

His TED talk, was very sweet. Just the kind of encouragement she needed. The image of them asleep like that though was very nice too.

Also really like how now she has an opening to get out of Scranton and endear herself more to the Halpert clan. I have to wonder when she'll realize why it's so easy to fake a relationship with Jim considering she's about halfway in a real romantic relationship with him already.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

The thing with Pam is she doesn't really have to think when she's with Jim so everything comes naturally to her. Unlike with Danny, because of Jim's help, she tries to approach him more methodically.

Jim, I think, has much more to give than he lets on. Even I'm curious to see how his character will progress.

The two of them are definitely straddling on a very thin line. We'll see how long it'll take before they actually do something about it. 

Nice take on this episode but set in this world. Jan's jealousy was interesting to see. Pam feels very much like her canon self in this episode. Almost defending herself when put on the spot. Knowing in her head what she should say, but fear holding her back from actually saying the words. I do apprciate the fact we got the actual fight between Roy and Pam. Seriousl that guy has issues. Not only in not supporting Pam, but always bringing Jim into things. Jan's not the only one with jealousy issues.

The friendship between Jim and Pam still seems to be growing though. Depsite the fact he is still going after just about any woman, it's Pam that he really cares about. Nice way to bring that out. Not to upset about a flashback only chapter. Should be kind of interesting to see how it'll tie into the present day story.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

 I really remember the Ben Franklin when Pam was a mess while trying to explain herself to Karen. That was kind of my inspiration for when Jan confronted her. Roy and Pam, God even I hated Roy while writing him. He's just a terrible fiancee and he's really insanely jealous of Jim (which I really intend to make obvious. There's no hiding that)

 Jim really does care about Pam and sometimes, I wonder if Pam can even truly see it. She can't be that dense right? 

poor Pam!

Author's Response: Thank you so much!

This keeps getting more interesting and complicated. The date with Danny was a success, but what’s up with the looks Jim and Pam are giving each other? Can’t wait to read more and find out. I’m really looking forward to Pam pretending you be Jim’s date at the wedding. Will the sparks fly?
Many jellybeans

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! 

The long looks really make you wonder what the hell these two are doing, right?  

At this rate (and my unfortunate obsession with flashbacks), the wedding seems like a long way to go. As far as sparks go.... we'll also have to see. lol

You're back! I was so excited to see an update to this :) And such a great chapter. I'm fascinated anything to do with Michael's movie and Goldenface and was so curious about the casting/audition process, so I love that you've included it here. Pam being put in charge of the auditions and everyone trying to make her break is genius. I also really love that you've included her kiss with Goldenface (and Jim teasing her for reading the stage directions outloud, lol). And then him leaving her grilled cheese sandwich 😍 It's a really nice twist on their first date on the show.

I've sort of said it before, but I appreciate you having the guts to make things genuinely be going well with Danny - I think it makes for a much more interesting and realistic story (I think I'm also just happy for Pam that she gets to go on a date with a guy she likes and it's not a disaster). But I really like the way you've included small hints that, even if Danny is the perfect guy, he's not Jim (Danny not noticing she's hungry when Jim does straight away, Jim basically third-wheeling their date - I loved her listing his rules throughout, btw - and then Jim's line: 'I'm not saying it's going to be a perfect journey, but wouldn't you rather get to experience it and do something that you truly wanted'). It's just really well done.

I'm also really enjoying the running gag of Jim's love for Anne Hathaway movies. The Intern making him cry and Pam's affection for him because of it is sweet and hilarious. And he framed her comic book cover!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! It's been (and actually is) a crazy few weeks. I really with I could just spend my days crafting stories but it's not meant to be.

The part where everyone was trying to make Pam break, I gathered from real life stories of Steve getting a kick out of making people laugh during scenes. 

Yeah, with Pam and Danny, as much as I hated it, their date had to go "perfect". Well, not 100% perfect. What kind of a guy doesn't even notice that their date barely touched their food.  So maybe Jim has a chance? I don't know *shrugs*

I like adding these little details with Jim since he's supposed to be the douche in this story but he still has to be likeable 

Okay, there are some AMAZING and creative remixes of canon here - you've got The Fire, you've got Office Olympics, you've got Michael's Birthday, you've got The Alliance, you've got the iconic head-on-the-shoulder-kiss-to-the-top-of-the-head - really fun stuff, and well done. I like the idea of them as this still very functional but passive-aggressive and sniping little team, and that they're still finding ways to play the same games.

I like the reference to Jim being a stuck high school jock - someone's working out some frustrations with other people on Jim. And there were some good notes of Jim's humanity here, comforting Kevin and knowing him well enough to know his favorite number and his favorite lunch. (I also really appreciate Pam seeing through his Bad Boy side... Jim really is Bug Bunny-ish.)

HE KNOWS HER FAVORITE TEA. And his Anne Hathaway movies. Please tell me that's going to be a running gag.

The Jim-Larissa dynamic was cute. And I am eager to watch the inevitable falling in love play itself out. You've laid the groundwork well!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! 

The remixes - Yeah, I piled a lot of S2 stuff there which makes sense since it's their will-they-or-won't-they phase. I really loved twisting them because Jim clearly annoys Pam more than anything but still manages to play along with his antics.

Oh the high school jock - definitely a projection towards someone else.

I loved the Jim and Kevin moment because Pam needed to see that there's more to him than meets the eye. And I think she's beginning to see that despite the way he is.

The Anne Hathaway movies, I just remembered how obsessed JK was with The Devil Wears Prada but I didn't want to make it into an Emily Blunt obsession. And I've watched more of Anne's movies so it'll be easier to work with.

I wonder how they'll fall in love though? 

1

You're really setting this up with some rom-com tropes you know that right? Firs the flashback. Nice way to bring in a bunch of situations from canon but adding twists. That was fun. It really felt like despite everything, Pam is someone Jim really cares about.

Larissa was a hoot and a half. Loved how she just steamrolled over everything like that. Great use of the character.

Again the feeling that despite some rough edges they do sincerly care about each other. Also feels like there are deeper feelings lying under the surface but they're both not quite willing to explore them...yet.

Kind of fun to see the conditions they set for the "fake dating." That should be fun going forward. "Dont fall in love with me." Right.

Nice job with this one.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

Yeah, all I need now is for Jim to turn out to be this secret billionaire no one knew about (???)

I honestly have been watching a lot of The Office to relieve me of my stress so the possible canon stuff to use was just endless. You'll probably see a lot of these moving forward.

Larissa, I definitely got the inspiration from The Devil Wears Prada, particularly Nigel's character which I found so hilarious since I turned Jim into an Anne Hathaway fan. She's probably someone people hate working with since she's so Type A and forward but Jim loves her for that.

Jim and Pam definitely care for each other. As to how they'll explore that, who knows?

"Don't fall in love with me" - definite trope. I just had to include it. 

Hehe, Pam and Jim’s digs at each other throughout the flashback were great: I also loved her throwing the ‘are you jealous’ back in his face in the present day. And her catching him and Katy in the supply closet! And the fact that she is both disgusted and just a little bit flustered.

Cathy taking over and getting Jim a boring present and cake, in contrast with how well Pam knows him, is a really nice touch. (As is the fact that Pam did actually get him a present!) I’m also really enjoying how you’re writing Danny in this - he seems like a nice guy who is genuinely interested in Pam, and it’s refreshing to have someone who is a) normal and b) into Pam as a contender for Jim. It definitely makes things more interesting.

And then Larissa at the end AND Jim pretending Pam is his girlfriend...I really can’t wait for the next chapter!

I’m also all out of jellybeans :(

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

Yeah, it's really a somewhat charming back and forth between the two of them. Jim mostly wins but I like it when Pam has her moments. The 'Are you jealous' in the present day was really awesome for me because Jim obviously wanted that painting.

With Cathy, I have already written 3 chapters where she is just insane. The funny thing is they're not even together and she still took charge of his birthday. 

With Danny, yeah, I was initially thinking of making him to be a "What the hell does Pam see in this guy?" type of character but I decided to make him into someone who genuinely likes Pam. Of course, even I'm rooting for Jim (and he's a douche here) so we'll see how it plays out.

Rissa and Duncan. That's going to be interesting to say the least. 

1

Ok, I was v excited when I discovered that I’ve got 3 chapters to catch up on this 😀 the flashback in this one is so sad - Pam goes from being so excited and happy to so disappointed, I also love the use of the engaged ain’t married line in a totally different context. (And Kelly’s names for the previous receptionists cracked me up, especially the Twilight reference). I loved that Pam and Jim have a whole routine with his one night stands, including her disapproving head shake. I’m also now intrigued about when she moved in next to him - was she there while she was living with Roy?

Cathy is the actual worst - although I really enjoyed the Ryan dialogue (including the ‘don’t interrupt’), this was him at his douchiest and it fits so well here for Cathy. Ugh and the video - poor Pam. I really like that Jim’s immediate reaction is to comfort/defend her (and maybe this is good if it’s the catalyst for him finally being done with Cathy?) I think Pam’s comment that he gets away with that behaviour and she doesn’t is pretty fair, even if it does lead to Jim leaving her alone :( I am very on board with things better from here haha, if only because I feel for both of them a lot in this chapter.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! And I'm really trying to find time to catch up with your latest story because I read the first chapter (and half of the second) and I was hooked!

I really hated doing the flashback because it does tarnish the relationship between Jim and Pam but without it, I don't really have a story to write sooooooo

Anything with Kelly, I really go to Twilight because I always think about the poster Jim gave to her. 

With them being neighbors, I can reveal that Pam and Roy were living elsewhere so Pam becomes Jim neighbor after they ended things.

With Cathy, I just really go all out. The bitchier, the better but what I can say is she definitely is a crazy ex-girlfriend.

I really wanted Pam's behavior to be justified somewhat here because at the end of it, it's her character that was getting tarnished. Jim really did get away with it scot free. 

1

So this one starts out as interesting. Pam distancing herself from Jim. After what she's learned I get it. She's engaged and has found out that Jim is probably just trying to get in her pants. Considering his reaction when she lets slip about his reputation, I wonder if he kinda forgot about all that and was truly trying to form a more canon style friendship. Her rejection of that made him continue to act in the Mr. Cool version of himself.

Moving past that I think it's really interesting to get more of Jim's perspective. Him thinking that his relationship with her was more older brother teasing the younger sister kind of thing. I also think there's something off about him. After four years you'd think he'd be well aware of his reputation by now. Yet it kind of feels like it's coming as a shock to him that he's perceived as a player by people. Maybe it's me but I'm having a hard time pinning him down. In his apartment he has nerdy things like a Captian America shield, pictures of his family, and wants a genuine friendship with Pam. Yet theres also this side of him that I've been calling Mr. Cool. Wiling to flirt with just about any attractive woman and has no qualms about one night stands. His revelation to Danny that no he doesn't sleep with clients and that it's Angela being judgemental Angela does cut through some of that. So it'll be interesting to see where we go from here.

Pam is also kind of fascinating here. I think it's telling that she feels dissapointed when it's Danny that shows up at her desk. Yeah there was attraction at first, but it feels like that's staring to wane a bit. I think it was good for Izzy to give her some good advice. She did tell Jim to leave her alone and he did. However now she also knows what she's missing. Someone who keeps her on her toes.

Ending things with them repairing a lot of the tension over the week seemed good. It wasn't quick, it took some time, and both of them had to do some soul searching. However now that they've mended some fences, I think it's telling that they seek each other out rather than anyone else. Nice writing to bring that out.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much!

I think with Jim, he's self aware but at the same time, he was hoping to form just a genuine friendship with Pam. And at the end of it, nobody really likes hearing the truth about themselves especially from someone they like. It's more like, "Okay, I know that but thanks for rubbing it in my face even further." 

I think the reason why it's hard to pin him down is because there really are two sides of him but he only has one side that he's explicitly showing to people. Even the ones in his room, it's really just Pam who sees him for who he is (or was). Well, we also have to assume other women have seen his room but let's just say they don't thoroughly examine it they was Pam does. 

Pam definitely misses Jim more than she realizes and is probably unaware of how big an impact he has on her. We'll see how that plays out.

 The six day timespan was hard to write but I really wanted it written that way so whoever was reading this could see the agony they were in while they were "apart"