1

Holy shit. (Listen, if they can swear, so can I.)

You have nailed this dialogue between Ryan and Jim. It's perfect. I hear their voices so easily that it kind of scares me.

Did I laugh out loud when Jim tried to walk through the door? You bet.

2006 Pam made me so sad. 2007 Pam is considerably happier and I'm here for this almost as much as Ryan is.

"“Such a fucking buzzkill,” Ryan is mumbling to himself as they make their way back down the stairs and toward the front door. “Yeah, I’m a real prude like that.”" I'm still giggling over this. Seriously, have I mentioned how well you got down their voices?

Hey, I may not like the direction in which this is headed, but hot damn, do I approve of how we're getting there by way of Kelly, a pink Bugatti, and Taylor Swift.

Author's Response: I mean, YOU know why those two have the tension they have. I actually had a lot of fun writing the two of them. I knew I'd get approval from you on music choice. :D

1

I gotta say, your author's notes at the beginning of this chapter make me feel GREAT about what I'm about to read.

2015 Jim clearly prefers a beard. Same, honestly.

2015 Jim is also kind of a dillhole. I blame Gabe. Poor Darryl. And Dwight. And ugh, Angela. Nope, don't like that.

Can you hear me screaming "Jesus Jim, get off your damn phone?" because I did, like 18 times. Pam doesn't deserve this. The kids don't deserve this. I don't deserve this.

Get. Home. Jim.

What's it like, being too emotionally invested in the fictional lives of fictional characters? I have no idea, ask someone else.

Author's Response:

I had to have SOME warning. Otherwise the entire fandom would be ready to kick me out! 

Hehe, I make no apologies for including the beard. Not one apology. Although, yeah, it doesn't make him any less of a dillhole. 

Oh, so YOU were the voice screaming in my head when I wrote that. Makes more sense now... 

1

This morning as I was driving to work I had to brake suddenly at a red light and my purse went flying upside down into that unknown spot between the passenger seat and the door and the sound it made, and the sound *I* made well, they weren’t pretty or subtle. But it *did* remind me that I needed to come review this :)

It’s SO good. I love getting to see inside Pam’s headc especially set during those early seasons when the confusion and conflict were so strong. And the casual banter when they’re sitting on his couch and Jim’s trying to play it cool and Pam’s trying to figure things out — ugh, as I said, it’s so good.

Welcome to the site :)

I will come back later and leave proper reviews for this story, but I just wanted to let you know that I read it just now while waiting in the longest drive thru line ever at Krispy Kreme and I’ve loved every second of it. I’ll go into specifics when I’m not, you know, waiting for doughnuts but the dialogue and the premise and the use of Isabel... I love it all, a lot! :)

1

“Politely said she liked it” Yeah, that’s how I remember that conversation going as well.

I mean, CAN I just copy and paste everything word for word and say that I love it all, because I. Love. It. All. I’m about to get all shouty and absurd the caps lock.

First off, we have Dave and Curly Sue and I never want Creed to change. Of course he’s an Uber driver.

I would have a lot more to say about the Katy Incident (fortune cookies, ‘weird and random question, my ass!) but listen, in this flashback, Pam IS WEARING OVERALLS AND A BLACK AND WHITE STRIPED BODYSUIT. And Jim has sex hair. And he’s shirtless. So yeah, Katy who? Except, I laughed a lot when Jim didn’t refer to her as his girlfriend. Sorry not sorry, Katy.

Brb, taking a minute to appreciate just the idea of Jim’s v-cut muscle. I promise I love him for his brain too BUT PRESENT DAY JIM IS WEARING A SUIT AND RED SWEATER AND ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME? It’s fine. Everything is fine.

But it’s not, DC, it’s not fine because he ordered his pizza with half of it having her preferred toppings. And he bought her special beer. And I’m dying seven different ways in this chapter and it’s Not Just Beer, Pam.

“We ‘accidentally’ made out a few times.” Stop it. STOP IT RIGHT NOW. What the fuck happened in May?

RUIN THE FRIENDSHIP, GUYS. RUIN. IT.

So yeah. I like this.

Author's Response:

So? You like it? You won't try and return it?

The bodysuit has been there since the very first time you said, "I wonder how many fics will include a bodysuit after that SuT episode." 

But, yea! And Happy Birthday! 

1

Danny was a distraction from Jim’s rejection. Okay. Totally fine here. Nothing to see.

I love how not sorry they are about all of the bad dates they’re throwing at each other. And the tension here? God, it’s so subtle but it’s present and can they just bang already?

“show me his banjo” got me good.

But then there was the line “Just me. Wondering.” And that got me in a whole other way and FINE, I LIKE KAREN HERE.

And then the lovely silence we’re all enjoying along with those two idiots is broken by Jim’s news and hey - this isn’t what I mean when I say ruin their friendship, DC.

Where’d you learn to leave things on a cliffhanger like that?

Author's Response:

"FINE, I LIKE KAREN HERE" mic drop, calling it done, this is all I needed. Bahahaha!

Where'd I learn..? From YOU, dude! I learned it from YOU! 

So that entire first paragraph - man, these 2 love finding excuses to hang out with each other, don’t they? No wonder neither of them can keep a boy/girlfriend.

Dwight doesn’t even speak in this story and he’s like, my 4th favorite character. I bet his party wear was the best. Also - Ghosts on the premises. Amazing. Let’s keep him far, far away from Pam’s pipes though. Ew.

Let’s talk about what happened in Jim’s bedroom, yeah? DC - Is this whole thing ALL PAM’S FAULT? Okay, not 100% her fault because come on Jim, man up a little here and Say Something but nooooo. No. No, no, no. What was the end of that “I can’t” sentence going to be?! She is Mistinterpreting Things and I hate this but I love you but THIS IS REAL BAD in the best of ways and I have Many Complicated Feelings and Jim’s sad puppy dog faces are going to kill me. Just so you know. Kill me dead.

But then like, you throw in a sweat-soaked, post-run Jim and Iike Pam, I’m kind of okay again. For now.

“You look like shit.” “You don’t.” JIM. PAM. How do you not see that he is so stupid in love with you and he WANTS TO RUIN THIS FRIENDSHIP AS MUCH AS YOU DO BUT YOU KEEP TELLING HIM YOU’LL ALWAYS BE FRIENDS AND HE DOESNT WANT TO HEAR THAT.

Pam turned down a coffee date that could have changed her life in favor of the farmers market and well, I hope the strawberries were worth it.

But then there’s this ending. This perfectly written, perfect execution of a choreographed moment that these two have been dancing together for so long and they’re slow to warm up to each other but I’m just really glad he was able to get back into her apartment. Since he’s there, maybe Jim could check out her pipes. Put that in the lease agreement.

I have a vulnerability hangover from reading this.

p.s. Sorry for all the shouting.

Author's Response:

I mean, do YOU think it's Pam's fault? 

Oh my god, "maybe Jim could check out her pipes" made me laugh out loud. A lot.

I love all the shouting. Keep it up! 

1

*puts Ruin the Friendship on repeat and hits play* Let's do this.

Sigh.

I just.

What? How? Just.. how did you do this so perfectly from start to finish? (How DO cameras work?)

I mean, we start out with a bang. Literally. But also, with Pam thinking of apology flowers for Katy and I just love this more than you'll ever know.

And they wake up, and they're, you know, naked, but they're still them and the banter is on point and oh, early morning Jim is a new instant favorite what with the voice and the shenanigans during important work phone calls.

I don't even know what to say about this phone call with Jan because it's all brilliant. Gabe is a creepy maintenance guy. Jan is making it all about her. Pam is distracted. Have I told you how good you are at repurposing characters into better versions of themselves? And did I wake my neighbors up at midnight when I was first reading this and cackling loudly at the idea of sending Katy a peace lily? Yes, yes I did.

Oh hey, I lied. 4AM Jim is my new favorite. *shrugs*

"Tender lovemaking and feverish fucking." Yes please. But again, how are you so good at writing such beautiful phrases? "White dresses and shared vacations and family holidays." ITS WHAT THEY DESERVE.

"There’s an emptiness that hangs in the room in his absence, leaving me uncertain about how to reconcile that now-desperate need for him to be right here. I drop my face against the pillow he used, inhaling the scent he’s left in my bed sheets. My mind floats to minutes ago, his head pressed back against this pillow, his neck vulnerable and exposed, my name falling desperately and rhythmically from his lips." Jesus. This is so good I remember this feeling and you describe it so perfectly.

Karen's utterances on the phone of "oh my fucking god" and "jesus fucking christ." It's fine. Karen is me and it's cool. And I love so hard that Pam wants to have just this weekend for her and Jim before sharing it with everyone else. Again, it's what they deserve. Oh! And Jim has the same weekend plans and I'm melting because they're so cute and this is the best.

"“With the number of times our Lord and Savior had his name taken in vain, one would have thought you two were having a spiritual revival rather than indulging in sins of the flesh. Your moral turpitude and disregard for the rules is the type of deviant behavior that leads to complete and utter anarchy. I will not have the downfall of society on my shoulders so that you two can treat Dwi — Mr. Schrute’s property like some 1970s swingers’ love nest.”" I mean - this is just brilliant. Seriously, your Angela is on point and its amazing and you just always have to keep writing things.

Hey, let's talk about what happens in Jim's kitchen. Let's talk about how the night before, he cleaned his kitchen and brought out his Pam things to amp himself up to confront her with pizza and I am fangirling so hard over this entire scenario that it's almost like I'm too obsessed with these people from a tv show.

The sketch. The picture. The fortune slip. I can't. There isn't anything I can say that actually tells you how good all of this is because it's perfect and sweet, and "this is when I realized everyone else knew I was in love with you except for you," and damn, it is DUSTY in here because my eyes are super watery right now.

I kind of wish I was a part of this brunch scene, because well, brunch is great but this friend group is even better and it's such a perfect end-cap to the story. I know we aren't obsessing over Jim's BDE or anything of the sort, but like, he has it and Idris Elba has it and Kanye doesn't and I forever love you for this description of it and I'm stealing it to use in my everyday conversations.

You had to do it, didn't you? You had to add another scene in which Karen is the best best friend a girl could have and she's all supportive and great and "He's it for you" and I'm CRYING AGAIN because Karen is so happy for them but she's still going to tease Jim over Call of Duty and his ears and whatever...you win. Team Karen.

That last line made me cry a third time. DC, they did it. They finally did it. THEY RUINED THE FRIENDSHIP and it's perfect and beautiful and lovely and I'm running out of adjectives but like, you know this is now my favorite thing you've ever written, right? Because it is. And I'm so, so sad that's it done.

Would you believe me if I said I have another birthday coming up next month and would like another fic from you for it? Because I'm willing to do that - age another year right away - if that's what it takes.

Okay. So, I'm going to get a little over-dramatic and serious for a minute. I just need to you to know that I am so proud of you for writing this story. I know there were a few parts that forced you out of your comfort zone (hi, this entire last chapter? Girl, I hate to break it to you but guess what? You can write smut. You can write glorious, fantastic, GOOD smut and well, now that I know this, I can't ever not remind you of it.) And just - you took these two idiots and their dumb friends and you spun this magical and beautiful story start to finish and it's so good, and I've read it too many times and I'm going to keep reading it and begging for sequels and prequels, and that's your warning on that.

What I'm trying to say is that I really, really hope you loved writing it as much as I loved reading it. Because it's a whole lot.

Author's Response:

See, just, I mean this review warms my heart so much. Thank you for that. I love hearing your favorite moments (so many of them were my favorite writing moments) and I just had So Much Fun writing it. And, you know, it was all for you so that means even more. 😂

But also: 4AM Jim is Definitely my fave too, I’m so glad you understand Pam’s Katy-guilt, and thank you thank you thank you for that little fortune slip nudge. It made ALL the difference to this ending.  

1

Jenna!! First of all, Slow Dancing... is one of favorite songs so by title alone, I was pretty sure this was going to be great. And it’s so great!

Loved the line about Karen being too focused on work to connect with him - that’s such a good way of explaining it. And the “the fire is shooting at us” paragraph? Ugh. Love that too.

Okay, so I loved all of it - right down to greeting card aisle and that very last line. You realize you’re going to have to write more stories now, yes? Okay good. :)

Author's Response: Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! I love your stories so I’m so very estactic that you’ve now read my first attempt at contributing to this lovely community. You’ve really just made my day :) 

1

Madi! I really love this one.

You nailed the struggles and desperation and sadness of season 9’ for these two so well.

I think my favorite moment was when Pam broke down even harder when Jim got in the shower with her because being that close to him made her miss him even more. It’s such a real and powerful moment, and the way you wrote it is absolutely lovely.

And, don’t get me wrong - the whole shower sex scene is a great time, but that last paragraph - specifically the first sentence of it - with him all soft smiles and her gentle nudges... ugh Madi, that’s now became one of my favorite fanfic lines I’ve seen written that I wished I wrote because it’s just so perfectly them.

Great job with this!

1

So, I read this something like 3 or 4 times today while I was supposed to be working; I thought it was that great. Then again, I'm a sucker for angst when it's written really well and I mean, who doesn't love a great desk make out session?

Seriously, this is heartbreaking in the best of ways, but I love how you went through the episode and filled in some blanks and wrote something so plausible and real and did I mention the making out on the desk scene? More of THAT, please.

Also, this: "Until now. She wasn’t forceful. Oh no. Being forceful with Pam meant backing her into a corner, and when Pam felt like she was backed into a corner, she would completely shut down." If that doesn't describe Pam so perfectly...

I don't know if this was your first JAM fanfic, or just the first one you're posting, but I really hope you share more with us!

Author's Response: Sorry this took me like years to reply to, but yes, this is my first JAM fic. I'm so happy you enjoy angst, because I tend to write a LOT of it haha.

"Had he experienced any of this at any point? Did he miss her at all? Were there times that he missed her so much that it was hard to breathe?" Oh wow. This is so heartbreaking... poor Pam!

And the moment at Diwali where she considers Michael's proposal brave -- ugh, this is so good on so many levels and I never really thought of it until now, but it makes sense that Pam would be envious of Michael's impulsiveness in this moment. So great!

But hey. Listen. CD. What did drunk Jim type into his phone?? Did he send it?? Who did he send it to??

I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Author's Response: Coley, it's weird how you can watch an episode dozens of times and it's not until like the 20th time that you see something different, or through a different lens. Maybe it's because I am writing fic for JAM now that made me see that scene in a completely different way, but I kinda like it and also lends itself to Pam's growth through season three. Anyway, thank you so much for reading it and for your wonderful feedback! Next chapter has a lot of familiar dialogue, but definitely steers off toward AU land.