Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Thanks to ciachick711 for the beta!
Spoilers for The Job
"I'm sorry, what was the question?"
Ken clears his throat politely. "What do you think the future holds?"
Pam likes Ken. Because he's the director of the documentary he always conducts the talking head interviews himself. He's very patient and he has a kind voice when he asks her questions, even the incredibly intrusive ones she'd rather not answer.
"Oh. Right." Pam laughs nervously, then hates herself for doing it on camera. She knows she should say something, but seriously, what is she supposed to say now? She's dying to turn around and look through the window behind her, to see if she can see Jim. For all she knows he's watching her right now. Her stomach gives a little lurch at the thought and she bites her lip to keep from grinning like an idiot.
"So, I guess that was a surprise," Ken says after it becomes obvious Pam isn't going to volunteer anything else.
"What?" She's having a really hard time concentrating on the interview and she just can't seem to sit still.
"Jim asking you out. It was surprising."
"Yeah, it kinda was." She's grinning again but she can't help it.
"Why do you think he did it?"
She shifts uncomfortably in her chair. "Um... I'm not sure--"
"I mean, why now?"
Pam doesn't think she's ever hated being on camera more than she does at this very moment. It's like her brain froze up after Jim said the words "it's a date," and now she can't even form a coherent sentence.
"Pam?" Ken prompts gently.
"Yeah?"
"Why do you think Jim decided to ask you out just now?" he repeats.
"Well... I don't really... I mean, I'm not sure that's something I..." She falters and looks at him pleadingly.
"Would you like to stop the interview?" he asks.
"Yes, please!" she says, jumping up from her chair.
Ken is merciful. This is why Pam likes him. Impulsively, she gives him a hug and smiles when his face goes beet red. Which makes her think of Dwight because, of course, beets. Only she doesn't want to be thinking about Dwight right now because Jim is on the on the other side of the door. Jim who just asked her out. On a date!
She takes a deep breath and tries to feign an expression of calm and self-assurance before she opens the door and steps out of the conference room.
Jim's leaning back in his chair talking to Michael, who's perched himself awkwardly on the corner of Jim's desk. They both glance over when Pam opens the door and she feels her heart stop. Then Jim breaks into a smile and her heart starts beating again, double time.
"Pamalot! Look who's back from Spamalot." Michael leans over and nudges Jim proudly. "Pamalot, Spamalot."
"Yeah." Jim nods indulgently at Michael and then throws Pam an eyeroll when he looks away.
"How was your interview?" Pam asks, trying to sound like everything's completely normal. Only nothing is normal and it feels crazy to be standing here making small talk in front of Michael after Jim just asked her out on a date.
"Good," Jim says. "I mean, I guess it went well enough." He shrugs as though it doesn't matter.
"That's our Brave Sir Jim, always self-depreciating," Michael says. "But really, now that the top candidate--me--has removed himself from consideration, who else are they gonna to give it to?" He attempts to chuck Jim on the shoulder, misses, and hits the edge of the chair instead.
"Karen," Dwight interjects. "They could offer the job to Karen. I would. She's professional and a sharp dresser."
"Don't forget the appearance of intelligence," Jim says. "I hear that's what employers are really looking for nowadays."
Pam feels a sudden stab of guilt at the mention of Karen, who is nowhere to be seen. Did she come back to Scranton with Jim? Did they break up? God, she hopes they broke up. And then she feels bad, because that doesn't seem like the kind of thing a nice person would hope for.
"I hope she does get the job," Jim says, his eyes meeting Pam's. "I think she'd be great for it."
There are approximately eleven hundred questions that Pam is dying to ask Jim right now, only she can't. Not in front of Michael and Dwight and the rest of the office. She tries to read Jim's expression for some hint of... anything, but he's wearing his deadpan face and she can't even decide if that's good or bad.
So she just stands there awkwardly, looking at Jim. He looks back at her, but he's not smiling anymore and neither is she.
The main phone rings, giving her an excuse to hurry back to her desk. After she transfers the call to Kelly's extension she checks the voicemail. There's only one, but she continues to doodle on the message pad, pretending to write down several long and very complicated messages so she doesn't have to look up at Jim.
Michael hangs around for an interminable amount of time, talking to Jim and Dwight about his favorite Broadway musical, Starlight Express. After a near-disastrous attempt to demonstrate some of the "roller-ography" in the big finale, Michael finally goes back to his office to "work."
Approximately 30 seconds later, an IM window pops open on Pam's computer.
Jim Halpert: Hi.
Pam Beesly: Hi yourself.
Jim Halpert: Is 7:00 OK for dinner?
Pam Beesly: Great! What should I wear?
Jim Halpert: A snorkel mask and a pair of patent leather thigh boots.
Pam Beesly: So we're going to dinner as Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman?
Pam Beesly: Followed by snorkeling?
Jim Halpert: Damn you Beesly! You've sussed out my big surprise.
Jim Halpert: Now I'll have to come up with a new plan.
Pam Beesly: Too bad. You would have made a nice Richard Gere.
Jim Halpert: Forget the snorkel mask. Bring the thigh boots.
Pam Beesly: Where's Karen?
Jim Halpert: New York.
Pam Beesly: ...
Pam Beesly: Elaborate, please.
Jim Halpert: Staying with friends for the weekend.
Pam Beesly: Did you two break up?
Jim Halpert: Yes.
Pam Beesly: I'm sorry.
Jim Halpert: I hope not, because I broke up with her to be with you.
Pam Beesly: <3
Jim Halpert: Wow, you're really 14 aren't you?
Pam Beesly: FIFTEEN and 3 months, I'll have you know.
Jim Halpert: Now I'm nervous the To Catch a Predator guy is going to bust us.
Pam Beesly: Don't worry, I have a really good fake I.D.
Jim Halpert: <3