#1 The first date of Pam and Jim.

After her interview with the videographer, Pam went back to her desk. She wanted to look at Jim so bad, but felt herself flustered at the thought. She was afraid that if she met his eyes, he would change his mind and cancel the date. It seemed too good to be true. Luckily, Jim was in Michael’s office for an hour. When he exited he came to her desk and leaned over the edge.

“I am gonna cut out early. Is 7:00 okay to pick you up?” He asked, smiling down at her.

Pam looked up and blushed, “7:00 sounds fine to me.”

“Okay, see you then. I need your new address and phone number.” He said

Pam grabbed a pencil, knocking over her pencil cup and grabbed some paper. “Oh, yeah, here you go.”

Jim took the paper and smiled down at her; he tapped the edge of the desk and waved slightly as he walked out the door. Pam watched him go.

Pam looked at the clock. It was 3:30. She would only have a few hours after work to get ready for the date. She approached Michael’s office and tapped on the door. She had prepared a “female problem” reason to leave early. Michael always gave permission for those because he didn’t want to hear any details. He beckoned her in the door. He was sitting at his desk and seemed to have a gray tinge to his face. He looked very dour and in thought. As soon as she said the words “female problem” Michael made a face and said “sure, go home”

Pam said goodbye to those close to her desk, forwarded the calls to Dwight’s phone just to annoy him. She could hear Kelly and Ryan yelling at each other in the back annex. Sounded like Ryan was breaking up with Kelly. She would have had sympathy, but Kelly had just earlier called her “patheticville.” So she shrugged it off. She grabbed her purse and left.

As Pam was driving home, her mind was muddled between what she would wear on the date, how she would wear her hair, and some questions of why. What had happened to Karen, to the job in New York? It seems like so much needed to be explained. She hoped that this evening they could get through it quickly and not have to spend the whole evening rehashing bad things.

When she got home, Pam searched her closet. She found the red, silk blouse she had bought on the Internet. It had been a little provocative and Creed had leered at her when she put it on. But now seemed the right time to wear it. She laid out a silk black knee length black skirt and a pair of black strappy sandals. Because it was warm out, she opted to go without stocking. She spent a few minutes perusing through a drawer of granny panties until she found a nice burgundy silk pantie and bra set that Roy had bought her 2 years ago. She had only wore it once before. She wondered for a second if it was right to wear silk underwear that Roy had bought her. Then she shrugged it off. She was sure that Roy wore things she bought him on his dates now.

Pam took a hot shower and spent almost an hour blow drying her hair to a silky sheen of auburn. The highlights she had put in last week were still fresh and gave her hair extra shine. She put a little more make-up on than usual and then sprits on some cologne. It was the same cologne that she had worn to the office once and Jim had complimented.

At 6:50 pm, Pam sat fully dressed and ready for her date. Butterflies were starting to fill her stomach and she considered taking a small drink of wine for courage. The doorbell rung before she could make up her mind. She opened the door and Jim stood there. He looked at her and gave a dazzling smile. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and khaki slacks. His newly cut hair was slightly damp and he smelled of a faint musky scent.

Jim had had his own issues with getting ready. He had gone home, to be greeted by a nasty message from Karen on his answering machine. She was demanding that he bring her things from his apartment to work on Monday. This consisisted of a florescent green Victoria Secret ensemble that he had found rather tacky, and a toothbrush. After that Karen started back tracking and said that if he wanted to talk, to call her. He cancelled the message and forced the issue from his mind. He wanted to focus on Pam right now. He had been waiting 3 years for this date and didn’t want to screw it up.

On the way to pick up Pam, Jim wrestled with the thought of whether he should bring her flowers or something. Realizing that it was probably too soon and it would be a rather cheesy move, he decided not. He had thought about Anna Bella’s, because it was a romantic atmosphere, but he had taken Karen there 2 weeks prior and it would seem wrong. Besides he wanted this date to be fun and no pressure. He didn’t want to scare Pam off by coming on too strong. He laughed at this thought. He had already told this girl he was in love with her and now he was worried about coming on too strong. He decided to follow Pam’s pace.

When Pam opened the door, she looked simply beautiful. He smiled and said such before he could think. She blushed and looked down a little shyly. He noticed that she had a small flower wreath on the front of her door. Nervously, he cracked a joke about how he hadn’t had a thing to wear and Pam laughed. She got her small purse and turned to lock her door.

They walked out to Jim’s car and he held her door open. Once inside the automobile, he asked what kind of food she would like to have for dinner. She had no real ideas, so when Jim suggested a nice steak place, she agreed and they headed there. The sun was just starting to go down and there was a soft gloaming in the air. They spoke small talk until they got to the restaurant.

Jim and Pam were seated at their table. The waiter got their order and brought them both a glass of red wine. Jim told her about what had happened to Jan at the corporate office. Pam was between horror and laughter as she heard about Jan’s meltdown. Maybe it was the combination of the empty stomach and the wine, but Pam started to relax. Jim sat back and looked at her, “I cannot believe we are here.”

Pam looked seriously for a moment, gathering her bravery and said, “I was curious about that. Jim, what happened with Karen? This would not exactly set well with her.”

Jim looked down for a second and thought of how to tell her. “I was sitting in the interview with David. Everything was fine, I thought. Then, I opened the file and that note you placed in it fell out.”

Pam, looking a little embarrassed said, “Oh, God, I am so sorry, did he see it?”

“No, that is okay. But at that moment he had asked me where I wanted to be in 10 years. It made me think. I looked at his office and the skyline past him. It just didn’t make much sense and I didn’t know how to tell him that this was not exactly where I saw myself. I mean, maybe later in life I can say it. But at that moment I realized that it was Karen I was thinking about and how this is all she wanted, and that it wasn’t me. I realized that you were still in my mind somewhere and that Karen was not gonna be able to make you go away. I tried and I am sorry, but after Casino Night I had to realign my thinking. I tried to make it work with Karen, but I was only fooling her and myself.”

Pam looked closely at him, she could see it was difficult for him to say, she said, “Jim, it’s okay; you don’t owe me an explanation.”

“But I want to give you one.” Jim said meaningfully, “I told David that I thought Karen was a better candidate for the job. I left and called Karen. She had been lunching with some friends. I met her at Central Park and I told her that it was just not gonna work. She was angry and then started crying. All I could do was stand there and wish I were miles away. She settled down and called one of her friends to pick her up. I offered to drive her home, but honestly the thought of the 3 hour trip in the car with her was horrible, so I was glad when she said that she would get a friend to bring her back.”

Pam reached over and placed her hand on his. “Well, now that we got that over, let’s put it aside and enjoy our evening.”

Jim smiled and caressed her hand slowly, “Okay, so anyway how was the day with Dwight in charge.”

Pam laughed and started telling him about Dwight and Andy’s siege. She told him about her temporary positions as Secret Assistant to the Manager and about Dwight taking over the role of Manager and Assistant Manager. But the time the steaks arrived, they were both laughing so hard, they almost coughed up their drinks.

They enjoyed the dinner and then took a stroll downtown Scranton. The streetlights lent an air of mystery to the evening. Jim held her hand as they walked. The talked for almost 2 hours. Then Jim, tired from the long, emotional day drove her home.

Pam hated to leave the date. She didn’t quite know what to do now. This intimate territory was so unfamiliar to her with Jim. He drove her home and walked her to her door.

Jim pulled her towards him and said softly, “I know I have kissed you before, but I want to pretend that this is the first time.”

Pam out of breath could barely say yes, her chest was beating so hard. Jim leaned over and kissed her softly. Pam put her hands up and placed her fingers in Jim’s hair pulling him in. The kissed deepened and Pam felt herself falling back and leaning against the wall. She was aware of his body and its reaction and it excited her further. He tasted of wine and the smell of Pam’s skin was very intoxicating. Jim was pressed up to her, and he suddenly, broke the kiss to come up for air.

“Jeez” He said out of breathe, “Pam, it is a good thing that you didn’t kiss me like that on Casino Night, I do believe I would have challenged Roy for a duel or something.”

Pam, eyes glazed over and breathing heavily tried to think straight. His first instinct was to pull this man into her apartment. This was Jim! She decided that she had waited long enough. 3 years is a good time, even if it would be the wrong decision, she wanted him now! She knew she was using no common sense when she next spoke.

“Jim, do you want to come in?” Pam said breathless, hesitantly, almost unsure. She looked into his eyes and they were hooded, either by passion or fatigue she could decide.
Jim looked down at her. Her face and mouth had been very hot. She had the glassy eyed look of a drunken woman, but he knew she had only drunk one glass hours ago. Her blouse had ridden slightly down and her cleavage was heaving as she breathed. He was extremely aroused, embarrassed by his own body’s reaction and knew that he really wanted to go into her apartment with her. But, he forced himself to hold back.

“Pam, every inch, and I mean, every inch of my body wants to go through that door and never leave. I meant what I said to you on Casino Night. But as nerdy as it sounds, I want to take it slow with you. “He hesitated trying to say it right, “Any other woman, I would have probably gone. But not you. I want us to make this work and not rush.” He had to force himself away from her because her hip against him was driving him crazy and he might change his mind. He leaned in and gave her a slow sensual kiss and let her go.

“No work tomorrow. How about I pick you up and we do something together.” He said throatily.

“You mean catch a baseball game or go to the lake?” she said smiling

“Or we could catch those fantastic sales at the outlet mall.” He laughed.

“Sure thing,” she said and she inserted the key in the lock and opened the door, “Sure I can’t change your mind?Jim grimaced, “Be gone you temptress, a man has only so much control! I am gonna go home and take an ice bath.”

Pam slid into the door and closed it leaning against it with a large smile on her face.

Jim walked slowly and awkwardly to his car, focusing his attention towards it, and forcing himself not to turn around, but smiling a dazzling smile.