Date: April 24, 2022 08:19 pm Title: Chapter 16 - Overdue
“And you can’t be that lonely. Not in a day. What do you usually do over the weekends?” “Count the hours until it’s time to go back in and see everyone again.” That was just sad. - I TOLD YOU MICHAEL WAS A HUFFLEPUFF.
So why couldn’t she stop picturing Jim’s face? - Because it's Jim -insert smirk face here-
I love that ending with Stanley, Max! WOW the things the DM crew miss because they're too fixated on their own lives, huh....
Author's Response:
Em,
I'm just so thrilled you have been catching up with this fic.
Thank you for all the reviews so far. I always have a soft spot for Michael because as wrong as he can be, it comes from a place of loneliness and a desire to fit in. He has a heart, a good one, but doesn't always think. Not sure that he's all Hufflepuff but certainly has a lot of HP in him.
Thanks for reading a dropping reviews all along the way. It means a lot and I appreciate it.
Date: April 16, 2022 08:34 am Title: Chapter 16 - Overdue
“If she were honest, most of the time the new knowledge filled her with an overwhelming happiness, a reassurance the bond she shared with him was not one-sided, and a stirring in her body as she more than once woke up in the middle of the night having dreamt about kissing him on the boat, by his desk at the office, and in the bed she sat on when she discovered his yearbook at the party he threw some weeks back before the holidays.”
Yessss. Her inner dialogue her was fabulous.
“But this woman, he could swear it was Pam, sensed it when that almost electric stirring he felt whenever she was near began to buzz through his body.”
This was so good and this close call was *chef’s kiss* perfect.
Great chapter!
Author's Response:
Funny, this chapter had been a filler chapter in the first draft and through a whole bunch of rewrites and layering it grew to be one that had a lot of important pieces and one I was proud of.
That you appreciated the inner dialogue and this close call made me even prouder. Thanks for the validating review. Always love to hear your thoughts.
1 [Report This]Date: February 19, 2022 01:41 am Title: Chapter 16 - Overdue
I really liked this chapter a lot!
Love all the close brushes they’ve had with Jim and Stanley, and almost with Pam herself if Jim hadn’t of stepped in!
“ It was more that Pam hated to be that person who didn’t do what was expected of her and kept something long past the due date.” I loved this line. I think this goes a long way to explain why Pam was still with Roy - because it was expected of her.
Looking forward to more!
Author's Response:
Thanks so much MrsK...
Yup that's season 2 Pam.
There were a lot of telling lines sprinkled through this chapter but this was a big one.
Thanks again for the review. :)
Date: February 18, 2022 09:58 am Title: Chapter 16 - Overdue
Yay! Jam!
I really liked this chapter, Pam having some great introspection here now without Michael to distract her so much.
I loved Michael's list of library books, amazing. And the way you interweaved Jim into this segment and thinking he sees Pam was really well done.
*It wasn’t unusual for her belly to protest its emptiness with boisterous gurgling. In fact, Jim liked to tease her he knew it was time to take a lunch break when the noises floating over from reception began to sound like a Mack truck driving through the office.
“Wow, Pam. What is happening in there? I mean, that one noisy stomach. I heard of your gut telling you something but does is have to yell like that. What could it possibly be saying?”*
This was so good. Favorite part.
And oh, Stanley. Really cool way to introduce his affair, and give him a great excuse not to see his co-workers.
Great chapter!
Author's Response:
I made some changes to this chapter to address a particular request so I'm thrilled you liked it.
I'm also glad you liked that part and line - in that I noticed the typo and could go back and fix it. Especially since...no never mind.
Now you (my timeline/canon guru) might have picked up this couldn't be Cynthia since she was his nurse after stress relief. My personal head-canon is she was not his first affair - he had this brief dalliance first and it didn't last but kind of opened the door.
Thanks as always for the review and support and keeping me on my timeline toes.
Date: February 17, 2022 06:32 pm Title: Chapter 16 - Overdue
So there's some very interesting things going on here. Feels like Pam's introspection about Jim is starting to become more clear. Especially with the way her dreams are going. Why are you dreaming about Jim rather than Roy? Still she's trying hard to cover it all up. Thinking things like their just work-couples and the like. Yet more and more, there's more thoughts of Jim and fewer of Roy bouncing around. At least that's what it feels like to me.
Past Jim doing a favor for Past Pam was all sorts of cute. Especially considering that's something Future Pam would have loved to have done for her. Because it shows that someone pays attention and cares to do something without being told.
Now there's something else here going on that's beginning to become more clear. I've got a feeling there's more to Randal and Gabby than meets the eye. First of all Randal is aware of the possibility of time travel. Likewise Gabby seems pleased as punch that Pam is heading off to the library. Then there's the whole Pam can't find the book moment right as Jim is walking out. He sees her, doesn't quite believe it's her but he did see her. My faith in coincidences doesn't run quite that high. Something is clearly afoot and I can't wait to find out what it is.
Author's Response:
I could elaborate on what you are thinking but where would be the fun in that.
All I'll say is there is a lot more than meets the eye on so much of what is in this story and all will come to light! But it's going to be a while until then so thanks for keeping with it.
And big thanks for the review.
Date: February 17, 2022 06:24 pm Title: Chapter 16 - Overdue
YAY for some Jam time! Glad to see Pam is working some stuff through here. I am 100% on board with the idea that some of these things would have been how Pam rationalized their relationship - the comparison to Stanley and Phyllis seems apt. Feels like maybe she can really use this period to get her head on straight and think about WHY she's feeling what she's feeling, even after Roy picked the date. Before it's too late...
Honestly, that's my new time travel plan. Just go back two weeks and spend them at the library. Easy enough to avoid getting caught (present characters excluded), plenty to do, probably all the facilities you might need. On the other hand, returning an overdue library book on time is also exactly how I'd catch myself having gone back into the past. So this might need some more thought.
"It was more that Pam hated to be that person who didn’t do what was expected of her and kept something long past the due date." Yep. That's Pam to a T right there.
"But knowing Roy wouldn’t even know where the local library was, she knew it was best she leave it behind." There are like three different reasons to dump him in this paragraph alone. Just let Pam read, man! I'm glad he got pepper sprayed for a whole new reason. And then Jim took the book back! Heart eyes.
"“Count the hours until it’s time to go back in and see everyone again.”" Oh. Michael. Please come here and let me give you a hug. Him wanting to attend story hour was great.
LOVE Pam saving herself from being caught by Jim here. The two Beeslys working together! And Stanley, as always, just not caring enough about his surroundings to know what's going on.
Liked this chapter a lot!
Author's Response:
I read this review twice just so I could chuckle a the line -Just let Pam read, man!
I love the library -in case you can't tell. Haven't done much visiting lately (reading and writing too much fan fic).
I do appreciate your hug for Michael - it is sad right - like until Jan I'm pretty sure that is what he did every weekend (maybe sometimes after Jan too). Oh and did you catch the TWSS (it wasn't written in but you should have been thinking it after one line).
Glad you liked it - it got a little long but there was a lot to pack in.
TY for the read and review.