9

POOR JIM.  Oh goodness.  This is so good, and so in character, and it just fills in so many gaps as to why Jim is so physically and emotionally exhausted, and as to why Karen is so confused and frustrated.  I really, really liked this.

9

Even as she takes his hand and steps forward she can feel herself sliding backwards. 

Yes

Right now, in this moment she doesn't care.  It's been so long and he's been so distant and more than anything right now she simply wants to feel wanted.

And yes

In this moment, it's not perfect but somehow it's enough. 

And triple yes.  I wish I could say that I can't understand what's going on inside of Pam's head, but unfortunately I can because I've been there.  And the way you described all of the doubt and the questioning and the wondering what she's doing...all just so amazingly dead-on, every single one.  And honestly, at this point, I feel like Pam still has a lot of supporters of her decision.  Well, maybe not supporters, but I think a lot of us get where she was at in the situation, and probably would've done the same as she did. 

This is brilliantly written, xoxoxo.

10

Whoa.  This is pretty amazing.  You said A LOT in so few words and Jim and Pam's conversation at the end gave me chills.  Beautiful!

10

I actually read this yesterday right before I left work but I didn't have time to leave a review.  Let me just say that number two made me love Jim Halpert about 100 times more than I already do.

I have to say that number three is the one that I like the best, even though it's the shortest, Dwight and Jim are my favorite. But they all were so amazing and I love all of it!

10

Oh, beautiful!  What I love about the way you've written this is that every line is just so completely human.  Every little uncomfortable part just bit into me in the best way. 

She stumbles through what she needs him to hear - because practicing the speech never works - her arms cross her abdomen and hands grasp her sides. The porch light halos his hair; she's thankful he's backlit, because the shuttered expression hurts and seeing it fully would end her.

I had to quote that whole part because it just gave me shivers.  So, so wonderful!

10

This is completely beautiful, and I love stories that are in second person narrative. 

You hope to God that today isn't someday, and promise yourself that if she makes it through this you will paint her a picture of this, these taillights glowing in the falling dusk, the bright orange-red against the soft purple sky and the dark of the trees alongside the road.

You don't realize that you've turned off at a rest stop until Jim has opened your door and unbuckled your seatbelt, turning you towards him and cradling you gently against his chest as you sob. He strokes your hair, letting you cry, and the gentle scent of his detergent fills your nose.

The images of these two parts are so lovely and heartbreaking that I teared up over both of them, and since I was reading this at work, I really had to hide it! 

Just amazing and brilliant. 

10

Oh, I love this!  It's clever and cute.  Plus, I especially liked the end and I so hope that she does take a chance!

Author's Response: She needs to bet on herself. Go all in, as it were. Thank you so much!

10

I LOVED THIS.  The last one just made my heart break for Karen a little bit, and I adore stories that paint her in a sympathetic way.  I know that everyone keeps repeating the "turn right," but it really is such a great line, and the way she's willing him to go home instead of going to Pam (which she knows he's going to do) is just so sad and the whole story just rings so true to me.  Fabulous job!

10

Oh my goodness!  Not only is this beautiful and sweet and insanely hot, it's just so true to the characters and it feels so real.  The way that Pam is so unsure of herself and slides into his bed and he doesn't move, but she stays...it just felt so much like her!

Also, it always seems in fic that Jim is so powerless against Pam when she makes her move, but here, I could totally feel his uncertainty and his struggle to keep his pride.  And the story wasn't even from his POV, so it's just amazing and brilliant the way you did that. 

This is definitely getting favorited.  :)

Oooh, I am so glad that I finally have the chance to read this!  I love the way that this is set up so far, with Jim all bitter towards Pam and Michael and Dwight wanting to protect her from Roy...this is all so great.  I love the image of Ryan offering Pam his earbud (and listening to Arcade Fire!  He so would!) and Pam sleeping on his shoulder.  Fantastic job so far and I'm looking forward to reading the rest!  :)

10

Oh, I LOVE this!  I adore the way Jim is being such a jerkoff and yet so jealous at the same time.  I like how Karen's trying to make the best of everything, and Pam and Ryan are SO CUTE.  Seriously, when they were giving out secrets about each other, I almost died of the cuteness.  It's awesome the way you still have Ryan as such an ass (because that's what I love about him, he's really just like 9/10 of the guys I know in real life) but in a FUN way, and the way he's softening towards and looking after Pam is so different than a normal characterization of Ryan.  Because who is to say what he would do?  Ryan's not a sweet guy.  It's possible he'd cheat on Kelly, and I would love it if he and Pam hooked up once.  So, yeah.  Screw Jim, go Ryan!  :)

Author's Response: What a GREAT review! Seriously, you rock for writing this, because some people are really hating on the Pam/Ryan dynamic, but I think that they could be just adorable given the right situation :) The secret part was so fun to write!  I'm trying to write them like two people who have just kind of suddenly discovered that they could actually have things in common, because for me that's always an exciting thing (even if its not a romantic kinda thing).  Can't wait to hear what you think of the next chapter!

10

I actually read this last night and I tried to put together a proper sentence so that I could review this, but it just wasn't happening.  So, I think I'm ready now.

OMG.  This is so good I can't even handle it.  First of all, I cheered when Pam left the closet and that she was in a hurry to do so.  I felt bad because Ryan wouldn't look at her after that, and we never really see Ryan visibly...care?  Or something? 

And the scene in Pam's cabin still has me in a permanent state of askdjfa;ksljdf;kas.  The kiss made my stomach all twisty and I have to agree on this part being SO AWESOME:

And its not Roy’s callused fingers that are on her skin, or Jim’s chapped lips on hers, and she isn’t lost in that drunken, lonely haze that she was in with that guy from Ryan’s business school. His lips are soft in the way that Jim’s couldn’t be, and his eyes are blue in the way that Roy’s just weren’t.

because, yes.  It's just so true.  And the hallway make-out?  Oh.  My.  God.  He couldn't wait!!!  I love it!  And Jim walking through them and saying "mind if I get by" like a bitter jerk.  I NEED to know what Jim and Ryan's talk was about!

I can't wait for more!  This is so good, and I don't miss Jim and Pam at all.  I'd say I was extremely glad that you are sticking with Pam/Ryan, but that would be the understatement of the year.  Please, more making out soon. 

10

Oh, wow. This is excellent.  You've gotten Pam's fear and panic towards being pregnant so perfectly.   

She looked over the boxes with wide eyes, overwhelmed by all the choices. Words like clear and easy were jumping out at her and she had no idea what to do because this was the furthest thing from clear or easy that she had ever done.

That's a fabulous line.  So painful and frightening.  Not the line itself, but the image I get of poor Pam in the aisle looking at pregnancy tests.

Oh, and it turns out I am in fact knocked up. I’m scared to death and have no idea what to do.

Please advise.


Pam

Ha.  It's funny, but it's not, because she's terrified and it's not to the point where it's fully hit her yet.  So, she's at that awful stage of imaging scenarios in her mind because she just doesn't know what to think.

Amazing job with this!