Roy watched his coworkers from afar as he finished the last of his morning coffee. They all had copies of the paper and were simply buzzing with excitement, and it made him wonder what was so interesting that even the foreman was slacking off and engaging in the gossip.
He got out of his truck, grabbing his hardhat from the passenger’s seat, and took a deep sigh. He hadn’t shown up to work all last week, instead, drinking himself into a stupor for the better part of it. Darryl had come over to his place a few times to try and snap him out of his funk, but he had been unsuccessful. Sometimes he just made Roy madder, and one time Roy had gotten so out of control that he tried to hit him.
Looking back at the past week, Roy realized he needed to apologize for being such a jackass. There was no reason for him to get so upset about Pam since he knew it was just temporary, and there was especially no reason to hurt a friend who was just trying to help.
He walked up to his coworkers with a soft smile and immediately the jabbering stopped. He looked toward Darryl for a signal as to what was going on—after all, he was still the only one who knew about the break up—but for some reason Darryl wouldn’t make eye contact with him.
“What’s up guys? How was everyone’s weekend?” Roy asked his coworkers cheerfully, hoping someone would clue him in, but the circle of construction workers remained eerily silent.
“Ohh, I see what’s going on here,” Roy shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded his head slowly. “Darryl filled you all in on my split with Pam. Well don’t worry about it, guys. I mean, I was a mess last week, but I’m doing alright now. And I know she’ll come back like she always does—”
“Actually,” Darryl looked up at his friend with hesitancy. “I don’t know about that, man.”
“What, you talked to her or something?”
Everyone in the circle exchanged an uneasy glance, and then Madge took a deep sigh and handed him her newspaper.
“I’m sorry man,” Darryl said, his voice subdued.
Roy took a moment to glance over the entire page, trying to figure out what they were talking about. He looked at all the photos accompanying the article, and seemed confused as to why his friends were discussing an art show and rich people. Then he caught the familiar face of his girlfriend and his eyes widened in shock. There she was, hanging all over her neighbor and his sports idol, and looking downright overjoyed about it.
Then his eyes drifted to the caption below, and as he read, he could feel his veins constricting in rage.
“‘His girlfriend’?” Roy said through clenched teeth.
No one could think of a response to his question, even though they all knew it was rhetorical. Instead, there were mumblings of excuses and halfhearted apologies.
He then began to quickly skim the article, hoping for some kind of an explanation, and what he found angered him even more. “This picture was taken the night before she broke up with me…”
Again, his observations were met with an uneasy silence, and instantly Roy knew what they had all been gossiping about.
“That bitch!!” he roared, throwing his hardhat into the dirt and storming off. As the rest of his coworkers watched him stomp away, Darryl ran after is friend and caught up with him at his truck.
“Man, just calm down, okay?”
“Don’t you tell me to calm down! She cheated on me!! And I’ve had plenty of chances to cheat on her these past five years, but did I? No! I totally could’ve, and I didn’t!—”
“But look, that could be a typo or something—”
“A typo my ass! And how the hell did she manage to get him?! She may act all high and mighty, but I know where she comes from, and she’s nowhere near good enough for this guy—”
“I know, man.”
“It’s bull crap! I mean, look at him!” Roy held out the newspaper and shook it in Darryl’s face. “What the hell has she turned him into?! He missed the Sixers game for this?! Someone needs to knock some sense into him—”
“Roy—”
“Or…” Roy suddenly became lost in thought as he sat down in the driver’s side of his truck and stared at the paper. “Someone needs to knock the wind out of him.”
“What are you talking about?” Darryl asked cautiously.
“It takes two people for stuff like this to happen… No reason all the blame should be on her…”
“Roy. This is nonsense,” Darryl put his hand on Roy’s shoulder. “It’s foolishness. I bet if you just ask her to come clean—”
“No. No man. It’s way past that. She had her chance to come clean a week ago, when I asked her if there was someone else. She said no… She lied! Lied to my face! So now, I get the privilege of beating the crap out of her little ‘secret boyfriend’.”
In one fell swoop, Roy slammed the car door and peeled out of the parking space. Darryl could only watch in dread as Roy drove away from the construction site, knowing nothing would stop him from getting the revenge he wanted.
… … …
“Okay, this is your last chance,” Jim teased as he locked his door. “You really don’t have to go to the game with me if you want to.”
“Are you kidding?” Pam replied, locking her own door and walking down the hallway with him. “You have been hyping this up for a week. How could I possibly not go?”
He gave her a smirk as they descended the stairs and exited the rowhouse, “Well, I just don’t want it to be boring for you is all…”
“No way. I can’t wait to see you in action,” she beamed up at him, and he responded by taking a gentle hold of her hand. This was the first basketball game after his new contract took effect, and Pam would be his first guest. While Michael had teased him mercilessly about it, he was excited to be taking Pam. Even if she didn’t understand all the strategies and specifics of the game itself, she would at least be entertained by the antics Jim had to be put through.
They walked the short couple of blocks to Alma de Cuba, the restaurant he had assured her he’d take her to the “next time” they went out on a date, and were seated on the second floor near the window. They were excited to have a perfect view of Walnut Street; it reminded them of their terrace, where they now spent their nights people-watching, and they had fun joking about the passers-by until their waitress came to take their order.
“Welcome to Alma de Cuba. My name is Nancy, and I’ll be taking care of you this evening,” she said with a bright smile. “Oh, my goodness! You’re the good luck charm!”
“Guilty,” Jim said with an embarrassed smile.
“My father loves you,” she gushed. “He’s hoping you’ll help out during the Eagles’ season.”
He shrugged as Pam watched on in amusement, and told Nancy, “I’ll try.”
She took their order and brought them drinks, and soon the conversation had settled into the playful back and forth of witty banter:
“I’m not saying you should contact the Dalai Lama or anything,” Pam grinned. “But if people can, in fact, rub your belly for good luck, you might just be the answer to the Tibetan people’s prayers.”
Jim returned an equally flirtatious smile, “I think we should take my luck on the road. Do an international tour and stuff…”
“Exactly! Five dollars to rub your belly, ten dollars for a high-five…”
“The sports lull of July and August is coming up, we could do it then,” he told her as Nancy brought out their dinner. “Although, I haven’t actually won any championships for anyone yet…”
Pam gave him a light shrug as she took a bite, “Well, the Sixers are already in the finals, right?”
“Game one is tonight,” he said, taking a sip of his beer.
“Well after you help them win the championship, we will definitely start planning your world tour.” They smiled at each other and continued to eat, and soon enough, it was time for the grand finale of their dinner: Nancy brought out Alma de Cuba’s infamous chocolate cigar dessert and lit the accompanying book of “matches” with a flourish.
“Thank you, thank you,” she smiled as Jim and Pam lightly applauded her presentation. “Anything for Philly’s cutest couple.” She winked at Pam subtly, who was blushing, and left them to their dessert.
It was surreal for Pam to think of her and Jim as a couple. On the one hand, she felt completely comfortable with him, like she had been with him her whole life and it was natural for things to be moving so quickly. But she did have to remind herself that they had only been dating a week or so. Things were still so new, she couldn't help but worry if they were moving too fast.
But as he ate his half of the chocolate cigar and joked with her about the people passing by on the street below, she knew that this pace was right for them. Every smile, every glance made her feel more secure in their relationship, and made her trust in him grow.
“Ready to go?” Jim asked as he signed the bill. “I think I’d be in big trouble if we’re late for the game.”
She smiled at him softly and laughed a bit in excitement, “Definitely. Let’s go.”
They made their way outside and grabbed a taxi to the Wachovia Complex, entering through the VIP gate. Pam was impressed with the way all the attendants and guards treated Jim with such respect, but when she met Todd Packer, her enthusiasm dwindled.
“Well well, Halpert! Tall, queer, handsome as ever—and who is this? Definitely not your mommy…” he licked his lips and looked Pam up and down, making her feel nauseated.
“Um, I’m his date…” she told him hesitantly, then found the confidence to tell him, “We’re together.”
“Oh sure,” Packer replied, brushing her off. “What happened Halpert, get scared straight?”
As the two watched him double over in laughter, Pam couldn’t help but look up a Jim, a terrified expression on her face that people like this actually existed in the world. Jim could only shrug in response, knowing he was familiar with at least two of them.
“So, can we get this over with?” Jim asked, impatient.
“Yeah, yeah, alright,” Packer said, signaling to two attendants to join them. “Now, Dennis here will be taking Jimmy to the players’ entrance. And Didi, if you can handle it sweet cheeks, you’re taking Pam to section 124, row B, seat 3. Can you remember all that?”
The attendant, who was about Pam's age, sighed exasperatedly, but quickly nodded at her superior. She then gave Pam a soft smile, reassuring her she was friendly, as Packer went on about how incompetent women were.
“I’ll see you out there,” Jim told her as Packer signaled to them that they had to go. He gave her a short yet affectionate kiss, and she watched on as Dennis and Packer led him away.
“Ready to go?” Didi asked cheerfully.
“Sure,” Pam answered, as Didi pointed the way.
“It’s so romantic that he’s taking you to a game,” she gushed as they walked down the long corridor. “I mean, I try to be romantic by just calling my husband at work, and here you are supporting him as he goes through this pretty humiliating show…”
“Why is it so humiliating?”
“Oh, you’ve never seen it?” Didi asked, shocked. Pam could only shrug, and so Didi explained: “Well, they introduce him after the starting lineup, indicating that he’s the most important one, and then he has to run out onto the court and high-five all the players. And, since its the finals, there are even pyrotechnics!”
“Wow.”
“But, after watching this routine for a while, us attendants can tell he doesn't like it much. It’s just gotten bigger and more embarrassing over the past few months, and now that it’s the finals, it’s just crazy.”
Pam knitted her brows together, “Yeah, he doesn’t like it when people make a big deal out of him…”
“Yeah… But I bet it’ll be nice to have you there,” she said with a smile as they entered the arena. “Kind of comforting to have someone you care about in the crowd, you know?”
“Yeah…” Pam smiled to herself as they found her seat. Sure enough, they were seated right behind the home bench, perfect for last-minute luck-spreading.
“Now, if you need anything, just raise your hand and someone will come help you,” she informed her.
“Thanks,” she graciously told the attendant. She wasn't just thanking Didi for showing her to her seat, but also her insight as well. It made her all the more confident that this was what she wanted in a relationship.
Soon the pre-game intro began, and just as Didi had told her, Jim was the last one out, jogging onto the court as music blasted from the speakers and small fireworks lit up the arena. He waved to everyone, an embarrassed expression on his face, and then joined the starting lineup as all the players high-fived him. Reggie Evans took a little extra luck by tousling his hair, and Andre Iguodala even smacked him on the ass on his way off the court. By the time Jim took his seat next to Pam, he looked mortified.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that,” he told her as he gave her a peck on the cheek. “The high-fives are fine, but I wish the manhandling would stop.”
Pam giggled, “Well, how many other people can say they’ve gotten smacked on the butt by Andre Iguodala?”
“Not very many Pam. That is quite a privilege,” he retorted, causing a veritable smile-fest between the two of them.
… … …
It was well into the fourth quarter, and things were getting intense. The Sixers had a slight lead on their opponent, the L.A. Lakers, but their defense was starting to wane.
“Willie!” Maurice Cheeks, the head coach, called to his guard. “Get in there, but first go get yourself some luck!”
He pointed toward Jim, who was looking worn out from having to be so active in the game, and Willie Green nodded obediently. He leaned over his chair as Jim stood up, and they exchanged a small smile and a lackluster high-five.
“Who’s the girl?” Willie asked as he motioned to Pam, who was looking up at the both of them.
“Oh,” Jim’s face suddenly brightened. “This is my girlfriend, Pam.”
She smiled at the mention that they were an item, and then heard Willie say, “Well she must be lucky too then. Show me whatcha got, girl.” He held his hand up and she gave it a smack, almost her entire hand fitting inside his palm, and then they heard Maurice yelling.
“Willie! What are you doing, son? Get out there!”
“Later guys,” Willie said as he ran out onto the court, and Jim made sure to nudge Pam’s side as they sat back down.
“So you think you’re lucky too?” he asked her playfully.
“Yeah. I think I am,” she beamed as they watched Willie victoriously prevent Kobe Bryant from making a three-pointer. Despite the rousing cheers all around them, Pam found herself lightly resting her head on Jim’s shoulder, snuggling into him tenderly. And when he responded by kissing the top of her head, she couldn’t help but close her eyes and savor the moment. Even if she wasn’t actually lucky in sports, she was definitely lucky in love.
… … …
“What a game,” Pam said as they walked along Penn’s Landing, the area along the waterfront of the Delaware River. The game had ended well over an hour ago, with the Sixers winning by a tremendous amount, but neither Jim nor Pam really wanted the night to end. Penn’s Landing was a perfect place to prolong a date, so when she suggested they go there, he had immediately agreed.
“Seriously,” Jim replied, “I never thought our defense would be able to shut them down like that.”
She looked up at him with a grin and teased, “It must be because you’re so lucky.”
“It must be because you’re so lucky,” he made his rebuttal with a soft squeeze of her hand. He looked down at her as they walked along the riverfront, the glow of the streetlights dancing in her eyes, and suddenly he felt overcome with joy. Memories of their first few times hanging out together flashed in his mind, reminding him of a time when he never thought he even had a chance with her, and it made him all the more appreciative of what they had now.
With these thoughts racing through his head, Jim quickly stopped in his tracks and pulled Pam in for a deep and passionate kiss, his hands cradling her cheeks softly. She was startled, at first, by the abruptness of it all, but as soon as his lips touched hers, she immediately melted into his embrace and delighted in being swept up into a kiss.
As they parted, she immediately realized that they had shared their first real kiss in public. The thought of it made her face turn red and made her cover her mouth to hide her smile, and she looked at him in a way that asked him what possibly overcame him to make him want to kiss her like that so openly.
“So, I was thinking about the next next time we go to dinner…” he started in as they began to walk down the riverfront again, also slightly self-conscious about their affectionate display. “How does Italian food sound?”
“Okay, that sounds good,” she said ecstatically, chewing on her bottom lip and getting lost in her thoughts. Even though he had told her he had been thinking about future dinner plans, she couldn’t help but wonder if Italian food was what really made him stop and kiss her so passionately. She sincerely doubted it.
… … …
“Thanks for tonight,” Pam said as they walked through the parking lot of their building. “I had a lot of fun.”
“I’m really glad,” he replied. “Does this mean you’ll bring your luck to game two?”
“Definitely.”
“Good.” They smiled at each other, and Jim began to fish his keys out of his pocket when he felt Pam stop unexpectedly and heard her breath hitch. He turned to her to see what was wrong, but she had her eyes fixated on what was in front of her, so he squinted his eyes at the back door of the rowhouse.
Sure enough, sitting in the shadow of the stairway was a dark and shrouded figure. Jim couldn’t tell who it was from this far away, but after looking at the panic in her face again, he knew she could tell exactly who is was.
She took a step forward as the figure got off of the ground, grunting as he hoisted himself up, and she asked, her voice quivering: “…Roy?”
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's another chapter!! Now, I know I was the one who actually wrote it, but this chapter totally does not even begin to belong to me. First, EmilyHalpert was totally clutch and pulled out a super-fast beta without use of her own computer!! I can't even describe how appreciative I am of that. Secondly, my ladies in Philly, NanReg and iwantphillyjim, were absolutely essential to this chapter specifically, and so I threw in a little tribute to the two of them because of it. Lastly, Little Comment was really encouraging and and patient when she was helping me with my timeline woes. She is awesome. In short, if you review this chapter, give a shout-out to all of them, cause they deserve it way more than I do.
Enjoy!!
Enjoy!!
Chapter End Notes:
I have links galore for this chapter!!
Where they ate: http://www.almadecubarestaurant.com/
The chocolate cigar: http://www.celebritykitchensinc.com/photogallery/013_13.JPG
Where they first kissed in public (only, imagine it at nighttime): http://71.216.153.108/PennsLandng.gif
Hope all those links work!
Where they ate: http://www.almadecubarestaurant.com/
The chocolate cigar: http://www.celebritykitchensinc.com/photogallery/013_13.JPG
Where they first kissed in public (only, imagine it at nighttime): http://71.216.153.108/PennsLandng.gif
Hope all those links work!
