Pam married Roy, but Jim's return to Scranton complicates the life she thought she wanted.
10 “I was wondering…if you wanted to get coffee later. With me. Please.”
Her last word warbled ever so slightly and was filled with enough fear that Jim knew her asking took more guts than he figured she was capable of.
"Okay."
THANK YOU, PETTY. I have to go to class, but seriously, I'm on tenterhooks. Love this story so much! -CH
I love this story. I lack original thoughts at 3 AM, but know again and again how much I'm enjoying this. Wonderful work! --CH
10 Oh, Petty, I'm so glad to see an update on this one! I just took a wicked exam, and this was the perfect treat with which to unwind. The fumbled awkwardness of "the Christmas gift" was wonderfully executed; you're doing great work here! --CH
9 Petty--Hoorah for a new chapter from you! I was just about to settle in and start studying for an exam, but I saw the update and decided Aristotle could wait. What a wonderful installment! I love the tension you've been building with each new chapter, but I'm starting to wonder now how you're going to wrap this up when the time comes. It's interesting that Jim is still with Karen even though gooey-fun pre-CN Jam flirtations are back in full swing. You've got me on the edge of my seat here, and I was pulled in from the first few words of the chapter. I will say, nay, declare, that I bristled when Karen tried on a southern accent; as a Tennesseean, I almost felt my stomach turn when I imagined her using our drawl, and then to add insult to injury, you made her love "Gone with the Wind!" That's my all time favorite movie, but I tell you what, Petty, thinking Karen loved it almost ruined the 21 years I've loved it. Haha--But no worries, because before I could register my upset you start adding on the angst and drama with that wonderful break room scene. I love the way you explored three of the corners to the love-parallelogram you've established in this story, and I continue to be on the edge of my seat waiting for more. Keep it up, my friend! --CH
Jim is feeling insecure and could use a little reassurance from Pam.
A oneshot in two parts.
Spoilers for Local Ad
Thanks as always to WildBerryJam, Best Beta Alive!
8 I really liked this, Sharipep. You touched on a lot of the themes I was hoping we'd be seeing now if the strike wasn't still happening. Jim's evolution and devolution after finally getting Pam, FNB coming into her own, the tension between the woman Jim fell in love with and the woman she is today, the list goes on and on. You've done a wonderful job here. I also liked the exploration of Angry!Jim. We only got a peak at him in "Branch Wars" (his face when Dwight threw the phone out the window was really the only thing I liked about that ep), and after reading this story, I know that I want to see more of him.
So bravo, and keep up the great work! -CH
This was so charming, Lovefool! I love Jim and Pam's few-and-far-between shared THs, so this was a real treat. You did a great job with their banter, and the secondary characters were captured beautifully. I hope there's a follow-up to this; like the documentary crew and office folk, I REALLY want to know how he proposed!
Well done! --CH
10 dundiefromgod--You know I always enjoy your scripts, and this is no exception. I was so hopeful to see "Dinner Party," so this does not disappoint. Keep up the great worK!!! --CH
Author's Response: I really appreciate your support, I'm a big fan of your work, so its nice to hear from you. It definitely is a challenge to write something that you know is already written, and apparently amazing...but I'll try to do my best. Thanks for the kind words and review Becky215.
10 nqllisi--This was GREAT!! I love fics that look at Jan, but more than those I love it when they look at Michael and Jan together. I'm wild about this clever format you've used here, and I'm still laughing about this:
9: Number of times Jan has asked him this week if he still loves her now that she is so fat. After the first time, he knows the right answer.
Fabulous! --CH
"Now, as Pam begins the tale, Jake and Cynthia don't tell her that when they hear her stories, they always imagine their parents as the main characters. . ."
Athena-I always enjoy the stuff you've written on this site, and this is no exception. I'm also glad someone else joins me on "Team Jake" (I swear, if and when they DO have a kid, he will be named Jake. LOL). I can't wait to see what you'll come up with next. It's a real treat to watch your talent unfold, and you always keep us on the edges of our seats with your prose. Wonderful work here!! -CH
You were wrong about the sex. Not about how great it would be, no, but how you would stop being consumed with thoughts of her 24 hours a day once you could be with her.
CH Story Hour: A few days ago, a prompt on the MTT boards asked us to recommend/list our top five favorite stories, so I was looking at my measly favorites list on my MTT account. I only have a few stories favorited, and four authors (you're one of them), and I remember thinking, "CH, what's the point of this favorites list if you aren't gonna add to it?"
This story reaffirmed my answer. I have that list to separate the best from the rest. You've slain me, sweetpea. I'm dead. I hope you're happy. :-)
Seriously, though. Guh. Wonderful job, and I'm proud to count you as one of my faves on MTT! --CH
Good grief, CH, I have no words, because I, too, am now dead. Your review made this a murder-suicide. I hope you're happy. ;)
Well, maybe I have a couple words. My favorite story list is pretty meager, too, but Song of Myself is on it and will always rank in my top 5, no matter how long we're all here, cranking out fanfic. I've told you (and everyone else in the circle) more than once that 11:59 was the story that made me register for an account, so, see? You brought all this on yourself! I can't thank you enough for giving me that inspiration and for being so, so encouraging. Virtual hug, tiny Dundie, and a big, fat margarita for you. You're so awesome.
Ski--This is really interesting. I've read a few post-"The Fight" stories, but almost all of them feature bright-&-sunny Pam the next day. I like the tension you established between them, and you've also done a great job with Jim's inner-monologue. Keep up the good work, and I'm looking forward to more! -CH
Author's Response: Thanks so much, Becky. That\'s high praise coming from the author of a story as brilliant as \'All Inclusive\'! I\'m having a problem, though. I\'ve been trying to edit the chapter (I totally forgot that \'The Fight\' takes place on Friday!) and my changes don\'t get saved. Any advice?
9 I like this, Azlin, though I hate that he deleted her number. I think Ryan and Kelly are my new Jim and Pam when it comes to having a couple to root for; I LOVE Kelly with him, and I love how she pulls him off his high-horse with every syllable from her tongue. You did a great job showing the push-pull of emotions here, but I have a sincere hope that she texts him (thus reminding him of her number) the minute the backlight on his phone fades to dark.
Wonderful work, and I'd love to see more! --CH
Annakovsky--After reading your LJ and thumbing through this story, I'm finally discovering all the "Philadelphia Story" tie-ins. At first I thought it was just the fabulous chapter titles, but now i can see it in the actual story. I have to say I'm hoping Tracy springs for George in this situation, but that's only because I'm an impossible Jam-fan. You've written a good Dexter Ryan here, though, and I'm enjoying the story! --CH (aka cah215)
Author's Response: Isn't TPS fun? I love that movie. Hee, I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Thanks for reading!
A phone call interrupts their Valentine's Day date.
nqllisi--I was so excited to see a new story from you, but my first thought was, "What!? 266 words!? Ugh."
That was before I read them. And this is just wonderful, really. I love the little details you've slipped into their conversation, moments that make it seem real and casual and oh-so them, and then the twist at the ending to make it perfect. You've done a great job here; I loved it! -CH
Two days after the Booze Cruise...what might've happened if Jim had confessed sooner.10 I love you...and this is gonna be amazing.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I say to myself every time I see you've started a new story and/or updated an ongoing one. I love the way you write, and I love the way you love these characters, because it just SHOWS in every single word you put into these stories. Bravo, my friend, and I can hardly wait for the next installment! --CH
10 girl7--I love this so much. It is everything that fic should be, but then you practically wrote the how-to manual of Office fic, so it's no surprise. I love that you always surprise me in your stories--while I know you're great with angst and steam and whatnot, now you come out and show me you're fabulous with ensemble too! I'm sure it's in your other stories (and that it's wonderful), but for some reason it really stands out here.
Beautiful work, and of course I can't wait for more! -CH
Wow -- thank you so much, CH! I always find trying to write ensemble scenes incredibly daunting, because I worry about writing caricatures of the other characters sometimes. But it's always fun to give it a try, and heaven knows I had a blast writing this chapter.
Thanks so much for reviewing!
9 I love you, girl7. Amongst exams and end-of-the-semester stress, this chapter is a god-send. You're fabulous! -CH
Author's Response: I'm sure your end-of-semester stress is long gone, Becky (at least, I hope it is), but I love you, too. :o) So glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Oh, PuffingNoise, I'm loving this (as you know). Keep up the great work, and I can't wait for more!!
Author's Response: Thanks so much! It's always awesome when your betas review your published work even though they've alrready read it. :oD
I am still working on the last chapter and will definitely have you take another look at that when it's ready. But for now, I'm posting the first few chapoters which I am happy with. :o)
On a future Groundhog Day, Jim and Pam watch the movie Groundhog Day and discuss what days they'd like to repeat.
This is part of my series 'Holiday: Just One Day Out of Life'.
This was very cute, TLK! I'm enjoying this series a lot! It makes fun holidays even "funner," and it's great to see tie-ins to the holidays/celebrations we don't get to see on the show because of the strike. I'm already looking forward to Valentine's Day, and congrats again on a job well done! --CH
Author's Response:
I'm glad you liked it! It's not my usual style, probably. ;) A lot of the stories in this series will be much JAMmier than anything else I've done. I think Valentine's Day will surprise you, though -- it won't be a 'typical' Valentine's Day story. It will be super-fluffy though.
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, Becky215!"...the reason I left with Roy was because I couldn't leave with you..."
What a lovely way to sum that up! I think you're off to a nice start here, and I'm interested to see what's up next, especially since he was so callous with her here at the end. I might suggest you review the chapter one more time to make sure all the right words are capitalized; there were a few parts where that took me out of the moment.
But other than that, this is a solid start to an interesting story. I'll be keeping my eyes open for more updates! --CH
P.S. Have you thought about calling her?
Hands down, my favorite line of the story. It's scary how haunting it is, and I can only hope that he HAS thought about it. C'mon, GITC, a hint about who this fan is (even though we all know who it is), and don't be afraid to someday use the "roof scene" of "How Long" as a template for this story's conclusion. Heh. :D
--CH
Why do I think I know who the fan is?
And why oh why do I hope I'm not wrong?
Can't wait for more, my friend! --CH
10 Lovely, GITC, and I'm oh-so happy I was right in guessing the fan's identity (though I guess we all saw that coming). I really can't wait to see how these two end up together (assuming, and betting a lot of money, that they do, of course). Keep it up, my friend! -CH
GiTC, you hurt my soul. But it's okay. I'll always come back for more.
Loving this! -CH
You slay me, kiddo. I'm so glad Pam called him out on being a dick, and I can't wait to see what happens when she gets her own medicine. Great work, as usual!! --CH