“So…” Jim said leaning over the reception desk after taking a jellybean from its container. “You ready for tonight?”

“Just make sure that you don’t.” Jim said, giving her a quick wink before grabbing another jellybean and heading back to his desk.

Pam watched him over the top of her desk for a moment before turning back to her computer. The past few months Pam had spent most of her works days split between playing Free Cell and talking to Jim about pranks they could play on Dwight. She had decided that it could be okay being Jim’s friend. He was such a nice guy and made her laugh. The conversation was usually kept light, but it was on the rare occasions that it crossed into something more personal that made Pam realize just how important he was becoming to her. She still had yet to meet…or even see Lauren. She had talked to her on the phone a few times, but it was only to take messages if Jim wasn’t at his desk. She had been pleasant enough, but Pam still found it a bit strange that with as much time as she spent talking to Jim he had only talked about her a handful of times. Pam knew that she worked for a hotel and that they had met in high school, but that was about it. She decided not to push the issue, thinking that maybe Jim just preferred to keep his work life separate from his home life and since she was technically a “work” friend he was under no obligation to share that stuff with her.

Pam’s most recent Free Cell streak was interrupted by Michael coming out of his office and walking up to her desk.

“Pam-a-lama ding dong…” he said loudly. “Since tonight is your first Dundie awards, I feel that it is my duty as your boss/friend to take you on a tour of past Dundie winners.” He motioned for Pam to follow him and then headed towards Jim’s desk. “Here we have Fat-Jim Halpert. Hey Jim, why don’t you show Pam your Dundie awards.”

“Oh I can’t.” Jim said turning in his chair to look at Michael. “I keep them hidden so that I don’t get cocky.”

“Oh great idea…” Michael said clapping Jim on the back as he moved on to Dwight. Jim glanced at Pam and she smiled smugly before turning back to Michael.

“I keep my Dundies in a display case above my bed.” Dwight was saying to Michael. Pam heard Jim scoff softly behind her and she had to cover her mouth with her hand so Dwight couldn’t see the huge smile on her face. Luckily Dwight’s comment provided Michael with enough of a distraction that she was able to slip back to her desk. Unfortunately, twenty minutes later Michael was back at her desk with a large box full of unlabeled video tapes. Pam was hoping that if she ignored him he would just go away, but he just pushed it closer and closer to her until she looked up from her computer and asked, “Can I help you with something Michael?”

“Okay….” Pam interrupted. “It’s fine. I’ll do it.”

Pam looked into the box at the stacks of video tapes and rolled her eyes before grasping the box and heading towards the conference room. Halfway through the third tape Pam looked up to see Jim standing in the doorway, clutching a can of Coke in his hand.

“Here…” he said handing the can to her. “Thought you could use a break.”

“Thanks…” Pam said taking the can from him. “So this is the Dundies huh?”

“Yep.” Jim said looking toward the TV. “Oh this one is the best one. Michael does his Michael Jackson impression and then Kevin sits in front of the camera for the rest of the night.”

“You’ve seen these?” Pam asked, opening her soda.

“Wow…” Pam said. “This is quite the extravaganza.”

“It’s Michael. Would you expect anything else?” He said and then quickly turned to look out the door as his phone started to ring. “See you later?”

“Yeah…thanks.” She said holding up the soda can. He smiled and then walked back to his desk.

Fortunately Michael told everyone they could leave half an hour early in order to ensure that they would be relaxed and ready to “party”. Jim was on the phone when Pam grabbed her coat from the rack. He looked up and waved slightly before turning back to his call.

The Dundies were to start at six and Pam was glad for the chance to run home and freshen up. She changed her shirt and put on some perfume and even added a little lip gloss, though she wasn’t quite sure why she was trying so hard. She ended up getting to the restaurant ten minutes early and so she sat in her car listening to the radio until she saw Michael and Dwight pull up and walk into the building carrying two huge boxes. She waited until she saw Phyllis, Oscar and Kevin all pull into the parking lot. She climbed out of her car and followed them inside. By ten after six the whole office and a lot of the warehouse crew had shown up, but Jim was nowhere to be seen. Dwight was checking the volume control on his keyboard and Michael had somehow convinced the manager to let him back in the waiter station for costume changes.

Pam was sitting at a table with Phyllis when Pam saw Jim walk in through the door of the restaurant. Pam could see someone with dark hair standing behind him and so she straightened up a little to try and see who it was. Jim caught her eye and waved as he made his way towards the table. A girl with long dark hair was behind him and Pam’s breath hitched slightly. She was beautiful, tall and thin. Just the type of girl that had always intimidated Pam and just the type of girl that she assumed Jim would go for. Then her heart fluttered when she saw the girl wave and then sit down at the bar, kissing a blonde guy firmly on the lips. Then Jim was in front of her and she tore her eyes away from the couple at the bar, overly relieved that the girl wasn’t Lauren.

“Hi Jim.” Phyllis said. “Where’s Lauren?”

Pam dared to glance up at him when she heard the question. Jim’s eyes darted towards her and then back to Phyllis. She sensed a twinge of displeasure in his voice as he said, “Oh…um…she had some things to finish at work. She might stop by later.”

“Well that’s too bad.” Phyllis said cheerily. “I was looking forward to seeing her again. Well then you’ll have to sit with us.”

“Sure. Thanks.” Jim said, the familiar smile crossing his face as he pulled off his coat and sat down in the chair next to Pam. “Have I missed Michael’s intro yet?”

“Nope…but Dwight is playing the cue music…so I assume it will be soon.” Phyllis laughed. “Let me get you guys a drink…on me. We’ll probably need it.”

Pam’s head jerked slightly as Jim nudged her with his elbow. “Ready for this?”

“I’m a fast learner.” Pam smiled as the waiter set a pitcher of beer and three mugs on the table. She quickly grabbed one hoping that it would help settle the nerves that were bubbling in her stomach.

The Dundies progressed just like Pam had seen in the videos. Michael made a series of jokes that would not be considered appropriate in any setting. She had finished her whole beer and hadn’t even realized that she had poured herself another mug full. She was halfway through it when Michael started handing out the Dundie awards. She was starting to feel slightly buzzed which made her laugh loudly as Michael awarded Ryan the temp with the hottest in the office Dundie and Angela the accountant with the ‘tight ass award’. Her buzz was momentarily killed when she heard Michael say, “This next award goes to everyone’s favorite salesman…who also happens to have a very hot fiancé. The ‘How did he bag her?’ award goes to Jim Halpert.” Pam looked at Jim and look that flashed across his face made her heart drop. He pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows at her and then stood up and made his way towards Michael.

“Where is your hot little fiancé?” Michael asked as Jim took the Dundie from him.

Jim didn’t answer, just clapped Michael on the shoulder and then sat back down next to Pam. She looked worriedly at him and it was almost as if he could sense it because he leaned in close enough for her to smell the spicy scent of his aftershave and whispered, “He’s loosing his touch. This is the second year in a row that I’ve gotten this award.”

His tone was light and she could tell he was joking, but there was a slight, almost sad look in his eyes. She lifted up her mug and said, “Well here’s to being unoriginal.”

Jim smiled, clinked his glass with hers and turned his attention back to Michael. The rest of the Dundies past by in a haze. Pam couldn’t help but wonder what the story was with Jim and Lauren. From what she knew of him Jim was an amazing guy. He was funny and nice and a gentleman. She remembered how sweet she thought it was when she saw Jim hold open the door for people or the time he walked Phyllis to her car with his umbrella when it started down pouring. What kind of woman would be crazy enough to let a guy like him sit here by himself? The feel of a hand on her shoulder broke her out of her trance.

“You okay?” Jim asked softly.

“Oh yeah! I am fantastic!” Pam said. Even though she was a more than a little drunk she could tell that she was overcompensating by speaking too enthusiastically. Her voice sounded really loud and she winced slightly. She looked around noticing that people had started to clear out. “Oh! It’s over! I missed it! Ah…bummer.” She tried to stand up off her stool and ended up slipping and falling to the floor.

“Whoa!” Jim exclaimed as she slipped down. His hand shot out and grasped hers. “Are you okay?” he said pulling her back to her feet.

“Oh yes! I am great!” she said smoothing her skirt.

“There is no way that you can drive like this.” Jim said. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”

“Yes…I am. And you’re drunk. Come on.” He grabbed her coat and purse and handed them to her. Then he placed one hand lightly on her elbow as he guided her out of the restaurant and towards his car. Even in her slightly inebriated state she could feel the warmth of his hand on her arm and she could feel a flush steal across her face.

The ride to her house was quiet, the silence broken only by the faint sound of the radio and Pam’s occasional “turn here”. When he pulled up in front of her apartment he quickly hopped out of the car and hurried to her door to open it. He helped her out and she couldn’t help think that he must do this for Lauren all the time. He helped her to her door and as he turned to walk away she stopped him by throwing her arms around his neck and pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

“Thank you…” she said softly before unlocking the door and disappearing inside, leaving a stunned Jim standing on her front step.