She had on her cutest work outfit: a dark purple short sleeved sweater with a black pencil skirt and she even put on a pair of cute high heels. She definitely wanted him to notice her today.
He knew it was her birthday, and she expected him to look at her more than usual. As she walked down the hall, she peered into his empty office. I’m sure he’ll come down to my desk once he gets here… Right?
She sat down at her desk and began doing some menial computer work. No one else knew it was her birthday, and it made her excited. Like she and Jim had a little bond, if only for the day.
Lunch came around, and she still hadn’t seen him. She deliberately walked past his office twice as many times as she needed to, but he never seemed to be there. “Grace, is anyone out sick today?”
“Yeah, actually, Jim called in and said he wasn’t feeling well. Why?”
She wanted to cry. Just sit on the floor like a 6 year old and bawl her eyes out. “Just wondering. Thanks, Grace.” She walked back down the hall to her desk, and stayed there until 5:13.
Pam spent the evening alone in her apartment. She told her art school friends that she had other plans, and they could celebrate another night. She microwaved leftover pizza and watched Keith Olbermann. When her watch ticked to 12:00, she turned off the TV and laid down on the couch. Best birthday ever.
Her alarm didn’t go off the next morning. She woke up at 10:49 when Grace called to see if everything was alright. She scrambled to get ready and run to the office. When she burst into the waiting room, Jim was standing at reception. He turned around, stunned, and looked at her.
She was wearing her ugly khaki skirt and one of her old button-up shirts, and her hair was in a horribly messy ponytail. “Um… good morning. Sorry I’m so late.” She tried to unwrinkle her shirt for the thousandth time as she walked through the glass doors.
Once at her desk, she put her head down. Of course, the day I try to look good for him, doesn’t show up. And then when I come in looking like crap, he’s right there to greet me with a smirk. My life is just perfect.
Her thoughts were disrupted by a cracking voice. “Uh, Pam?”
She looked up. He was looking right at her, with a nervous look on his face. She raised her eyebrows, confused. “Hey… Sorry I missed your birthday. I hope it was a good one.”
“Yeah, great actually. Thanks.” She knew she was a terrible liar, but she couldn’t bear to tell him how lonely she’d been, and how she’d imagined him taking her out to dinner, telling her she looked beautiful, and telling her he loved her again.
“Well, I’m glad.” He retrieved a small box from his jacket pocket and placed it on her desk. “Happy birthday, Beesly.” He touched her shoulder, sending shivers down her spine, then turned around and walked back to his office.
Anxious, she didn’t even think before she ripped open the red wrapping paper. (He’d picked it because it reminded him of her Christmas sweater, and her lips, and everything else sweet about her.) She got the paper off, and realized it was one of those old school cardboard jewelry boxes. Oh my god, what could possibly be in here?!
She slid the top off the box, and found a yogurt lid medal, gold side up. She lifted it out of the box and laid it on her desk next to her keyboard. Then she saw a note had been under it. She picked it up and unfolded it.
Pam,
I want you to know that this is hard for me to write. Never in a million years did I think I’d have to deal with this again. But I do, and I think it’s a good thing. I’ve loved you for so long, Pam. So long that I don’t know how to be your friend anymore. And I’ve been a jerk, I know that. I shouldn’t treat you like we’re strangers, but I can’t handle seeing you and knowing you’re living this amazing life and you only want me in it as someone you talk to about paper, and your relationship problems. So I need you to tell me one thing. I need you to tell me if you love me, and if you want to be with me. If you do, then our lives could be perfect. But if you don’t, I have to pretend like I don’t know you. I can’t look at you and think of everything we’ve been through and feel nothing. I have to make you someone I have no past with.
Wow, that sounded harsh and lame. But it’s the truth. I need your answer. Please come talk to me, because I’ve been missing you more than you know.
Love,
Jim
“Oh my god. Oh. My. GOD.” She didn’t realize she was speaking aloud until people started to look at her. She quickly came up with a cover up and nervously said, “Oh... This cat video on YouTube is SO funny! I’ll send you all the link.” Once they all rolled their eyes and turned back to their computers, she folded the note back up, placed it and the medal back in the box, and tucked the box into her desk drawer. Then she discreetly jumped up and almost ran down the hall to his office. She knocked quietly, and, without looking, he murmured a “Come in.”
She hesitantly opened the door. His office smelled like him, and she closed her eyes to inhale. When she opened them, he was staring, wide-eyed, at her. He gulped.
“Hi, Jim.”
“Hey, Pam. Um… you’re not wearing your present…”
She felt the awkwardness in the air, and hoped the next thing she’d say could eliminate it. “I know. I thought the other part of the present was more important. Jim…”
But he interrupted. “Pam, you don’t have to say anything. I shouldn’t’ve written that note. It was silly, demanding, and awkward. I’m sorry, please just forget it.”
“No, Jim. It wasn’t silly.” She took two steps toward him, and he stood up to walk around to the front of his desk. “It was… exactly what I needed to hear from you. Instead, I got to read it. Jim, I need to hear you say it. Please.”
He stepped toward her, looked down into her eyes, and said, “Pam, I am so in love with you. I have been since the day I met you, and I always will be.”
She melted. She felt like a puddle on the floor of his high-rise office, and yet she felt like she was flying a million miles above the building. She took a deep breath. “I love you too. God, it feels good to say that. It feels SO good. I love you, Jim!” She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he kissed her tenderly.
Knowing that they were in an office with a glass door, they quickly pulled apart. “Hey, why don’t we go out for a… business lunch? On Dunder Mifflin.” He smiled at her.
She took his hand into hers, and smiled back up at him. “That sounds great. A lot of things sound great today.”
Author's Chapter Notes:
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.
shelleykrasinski is the author of 1 other stories.
This story is a favorite of 3 members. Members who liked Reunited, and it feels so... awkward. also liked 761 other stories.
