1. This Man He Talked to Me - One Republic by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 9] 12 (5245 words)

The song that sparked it all was Future Looks Good– it was a stretch to make it about Jam but that was the challenge in writing this.

Woke up starin' at this, starin' at this empty room
Looked at thousand different pictures that your mother took of you
You see I had this crazy dream last night, this man he talked to me
He told me everything that's good and bad about my history

But he said that you are, you are the future
He said that you are, you are the future
And the future looks good

This story unfolds slowly and not always in a linear timeline. While writing I felt the need to refer to a timeline to keep it all straight in my head – but DJC helped with the timeline. Still pay heed to the date tags to help understand the order of events.

2. Feels like there's oceans between me and you once again - Seafret by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 6] 6 (5342 words)

First of all thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far. It really makes my day to read all your thoughts and know you are enjoying.

It seems like you're all still with me in the order of events. Hopefully it won't get too confusing with this next chapter that starts on the day of the crazy dream and then backtracks twice to earlier events.

This title song is on my Jam playlist because of Boredhswf’s amazing Pam and Jim montage. Her talents go beyond her amazing writing. Check out her video.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tn6VHlHJFo

I wish I was worth

What I know you deserve

You know I'd rather drown

Than to go on without you

But you're pulling me down

3. We keep this love in a photograph - Ed Sheeran by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 6] 4 (2462 words)

OK  -this should tell you a little something about how this chapter opens. 

Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing makes us feel alive

We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen, still

So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet

You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home 

(My apologies to someone who knows who she is)

4. Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt you But ain't nobody love you like I do- Ed Sheeran by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 5] 4 (1795 words)

I’m doubling up on Ed Sheeran – but imagine it coming from Pam. (Double apologies to same person)

Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt you
But ain't nobody love you like I do
Promise that I will not take it personal, baby
If you're movin' on with someone new

'Cause baby you look happier, you do
My friends told me one day I'll feel it too
And until then I'll smile to hide the truth
But I know I was happier with you

Sat in the corner of the room
Everything's reminding me of you
Nursing an empty bottle
And telling myself you're happier, aren't you? 

5. Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me -Bee Gees by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 4] 4 (4504 words)

This chapter was a tough one to find the right song.

In the end I went with this oldie by the Bee Gees

I started a joke which started the whole world crying

But I didn't see that the joke was on me oh no

I started to cry which started the whole world laughing

Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me

6. Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 5] 1 (1590 words)

Don't be angry, don't be sad
Don't sit cryin' over good times you had
There's a girl, right next to you
And she's just waiting for something to do

And there's a rose, in the fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with

Remember the story is unfolding in a non-linear fashion and by the time Jim has had his crazy dream this day has already occurred – the call at the end, too. But this chapter will add a little more perspective and knowledge to what’s already transpired.

7. The Greatest Show- the Greatest Showman ensemble by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 7] 1 (5349 words)

I was in the middle of writing this chapter when on a run this song popped up and with endorphins raging and the chapter on my mind, this song took on a whole new meaning but WOW did it fit. The Greatest Show – the show, lets say that refers to the documentary being filmed and yeah, I know this song is really about the circus, but isn’t a circus an apt description of the Scranton office.  But when you hear the words, they take can a whole other meaning. See for yourself…

Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for (whoa)
Been searching in the dark, your sweat soaking through the floor (whoa)
And buried in your bones there's an ache that you can't ignore
Taking your breath, stealing your mind
And all that was real is left behind

Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at ya
It's only this moment, don't care what comes after
Your fever dream, can't you see it getting closer
Just surrender 'cause you feel the feeling taking over
It's fire, it's freedom, it's flooding open
It's a preacher in the pulpit and your blind devotion
There's something breaking at the brick of every wall it's holding
All that you know, so tell me do you wanna go?

It's everything you ever want
It's everything you ever need
And it's here right in front of you
This is where you wanna be 

Now of course I do like to take some liberties when it comes to the meanings of song lyrics - as this whole fic is based on one that might not make anyone else but me think of Pam and Jim, but isn't that the fun? 

8. Future Looks Good (Reprise) - One Republic by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 5] 1 (5206 words)

Remember this song, the one that inspired the whole story - well I had to make these lines fit too

Oh, call me any time that every time you're losin' it
And tell me anyone and everyone who makes you feel like shit

Because you know anybody, everybody else can lie
But honey I won't see you with a broken set of eyes

SO this story has been largely written for a long, long time. Just in need of some finessing before each chapter post. Around the time I first wrote it, back a lot of months ago now, after the OL where they talked about Flex Time – NML put up a plot bunny to have Jim doing the flex time at reception. This is a bit of twist on that, it’s not Jim at the desk, but I think even better- for this story at least.

9. I feel like for the first time in a long time I am not afraid -Ben Rector by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 4] 3 (1509 words)

I feel like new sunglasses, like a brand new pair of jeans
I feel like taking chances, I feel a lot like seventeen…

I feel like a young John Cusack, like making big mistakes
I feel like for the first time in a long time I am not afraid
I feel like a kid, never thought it'd feel like this

Like when I close my eyes and don't even care if anyone sees me dancing
Like I can fly, and don't even think of touching the ground
Like a heartbeat skip, like an open page
Like a one way trip on an aeroplane
It's the way that I feel when I'm with you, brand new.

I know this is a different universe that ATGIG and Another First Date but it’s my universe so why not have them converge so we can visit a familiar place and face to those in the know.