Hello

You found out when you were washing your hands in the bathroom, thinking about what movie Jim and you would watch for your movie night tonight for your weekly friend date, of course it wasn’t really ever a date. Not when Jim had been harboring secret feelings for Pam for years.

Kelly came out of the stall next to you and you look up at her through the mirror, throwing a little smile her way. “How’s it going, Kelly?” you ask her as she joins you at the sink and you grab a towel. A lot of people, you’ve learned, don’t like Kelly’s gossip but you’ve never really minded watching the girl go on about things that make her happy.

Although today, you were starting to mind just a little bit.

“Oh my god, Y/N! Did you hear about Jim and Pam?” Kelly begins and your interest, as well as your nerves, are piqued. “Wouldn’t Pam and Jim just make the cutest couple? I mean I can’t believe he’s been in love with her this whole time. Isn’t that insane?”

Your face drops. You feel like you’re about to expel that lunch you had a few hours ago as you urge Kelly to explain what the hell she’s talking about and why Jim and Pam would be a cute couple and how she could possibly think Jim was still in love with Pam. You knew years ago, when Jim first started work at Dunder Mifflin a few months before you were hired, he liked her but once he found out about Roy, Jim’s feelings faded to nothing, or so you thought. “Wait, Kell. What are you talking about?”

She looks at you like you were crazy. “Jim likes Pam.”

“Jim likes Pam?” You repeat, your fears creeping up on you. “How do- How do you know?”

“Michael said so.” She shrugs, reaching for the paper towels before furrowing her brows at you. “You’re his best friend, you haven’t noticed?”

“No!” You say quickly before wincing at the level of pure distress you were feeling. “Well, I-I mean-“

“Oh! You won’t believe what I saw on tv last night!” Kelly changes the topic faster than you could fully take in the news.

It was news, completely new and unknown to you because how the hell did you not realize Jim had still been crushing on Pam? Maybe if you hadn’t believed he was over her then you would’ve seen it, but you did think he was over her. That was the only reason you let yourself fall in love with him because you thought you might’ve had a chance. But now, you know you never did because Jim had been longing for Pam all while you longed for him.

Kelly finally let you get back to your desk after her long talk about… actually, you had pretty much zoned out after learning about the rumor.

You retreat back to the bullpen but quickly wished Kelly had just talked a minute longer. The camera man was the first thing you saw as he turns the camera to you but just as quick, turns it to Jim. Kevin was standing at Jim’s desk to talk and Pam walks past them. It would have been fine if Jim hadn’t glanced at her to smile and if Kevin hadn’t shot him a thumbs up and whispered a “nice”. You take a deep breath and slide into your desk, gain the attention of the camera again as it moves to include you in frame. Jim sits up and smiles when you arrive and Kevin leaves him alone. Dwight doesn’t even look up from his computer.

“17 minutes and 34 seconds.” He says and you furrow your brows and look to Jim who is just as confused.

“I’m sorry?” You tell him.

“You were gone for 17 minutes and 34 seconds.”

You focus on the camera next to Dwights head and blink in irritation to it before focusing on Dwight. “Did you time me using the bathroom again? Dwight, we’ve talked about this!”

“What were you doing in there?” He finally looks at you and you turn to Jim for help. He was smiling at you while leaning on his hand and you gesture to Dwight. Jim shakes his head and mouths a “you got this” and you narrow your eyes playfully at him, sticking your tongue out.

“For your information, not that it’s any of your business, but I was talking to Kelly.” He presses his lips together before finally returning back to his work and you roll your eyes, waking your own computer back up. It dings before you were even ready and you sigh, worried that you would actually have to do something pertaining to your job but Jim’s name pops up in your messages and you throw him a look to see him smirking at his computer after absolutely noticing the reluctance in your face to do your job.

What are we eating tonight?

The message said and you think for a moment before shrugging.

Alfredo’s?

You type and get a grin from Jim before adding another thought.

You can bring it over and tell me all about this rumor about you that’s going around the office.

Jim grew confused at your message, shooting a glance to the camera focused on all your desks. He went to ask what you were talking about but before you could read the question, Michael pulls you into his office.

The camera crew follows you and you hold the door open for the camera man to enter and fall into the corner. Immediately you notice Michael’s hair, instead of the normal sleeked back hair that Michael usually wore, it was pulled in front and framing his face weirdly, it almost looked like how Jim styled his hair. But Jim’s looks way better than… this. “What’s up, Michael?” You fall into the chair across from his desk.

Michael plays with the stack of paper in front of him before running a hand over his hair again and you resist the chuckle that wants to escape. “I need you to do me a favor. It’s a very important favor and I am very busy today and this afternoon which is why I can’t do it myself-“

“What’s the favor, Michael?” You cut him off with an amused grin.

“I need you to pick up my dry cleaning.”

You collapse in your chair. “Can’t Ryan do it?” You complain, gesturing back to the man in the bullpen.

“I already asked him!”

“What did he say?”

Michael picks up one of the toys on his desk and avoids looking at you. “He said no.” He mutters and you press your lips together in the cameras direction, the camera picking up your expression perfectly. “Look,” Michael gains your attention back as he trusts a card in your direction, “this is the address, just bring it to work tomorrow morning.”

You nab the paper and read over the address. “Michael, this is across town! I have plans tonight, I can’t pick up your dry cleaning.”

“Oh right, you and Jim have your date tonight.” He raises his brows at the camera multiple times and smiles and you wait until he’s done.

“It’s not a date.” You tell him and Michael nods in “agreement” but you can tell he’s not listening. “Fine, I’ll get your laundry but I get to get off work,” You glance to the clock, “45 minutes early. Which is now.”

Michael makes a sound of detest, falling back in his seat and spinning around before nodding and sticking his hand out. “Deal.” He agrees and you smile and shake his hand.

—-

Once you were inside Michael’s office, Jim watches through the window before heading towards the kitchen, seeing Pam pouring herself a cup of coffee. “Hey.” He calls out to her when he doesn’t see anyone else in the room. She looks at him and finishes her coffee pouring with a smile.

“Hey.”

He pauses for a second before carrying on. “Have you heard a rumor about me today?” He questions with a small laugh, his nerves over what it could be getting the better of him.

Pam sips her coffee as a smile grows on her face. “Oh, you mean the one about how you’re in love with me?”

Jim laughs, shoving his hands in his pockets and thinks she joking. Pam doesn’t laugh. Jim’s laughs stop. “Wait, you’re serious?” He stands up straighter, his eyes blowing wide and Pam nods, her smile never leaving. Jim runs a hand through his hair. “You know I’m not, right?” He clarifies.

Pam sets her coffee down and grabs his arm gently. “I know you’re in love with Y/N, don’t worry about that. What you should worry about it is when you’re planning on telling her.”

Jim groans, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms. “It’s not that easy.”

“Why not?”

“Because she thinks I’m in love with you.” He presses his lips together and leans his head back on the cupboards behind him. “I’m going to have to tell her, aren’t I?”

“Yes.” Pam blurts out, her eyes widening and Jim raises a brow at her. “I’m sorry but you two are perfect together and you really do need to tell her.” She picks her coffee back up and starts to head out the door as Jim follows. “Oh! You can tell her tonight when you guys have your weekly night in.” She smiles at him.

Jim takes a deep breath and nods, already thinking about the possibility of screwing up the friendship he’s built with you. Pam sees his nerves and sighs gently at him. “She likes you too, Jim. Don’t worry.”

They leave the kitchen and the first thing Jim notices is you aren’t at your desk and with a glance towards Michael’s office, he realizes you aren’t there either. He furrows his brows as he walks back to his desk. “Where’s Y/N?” He asks Dwight who is typing away on his computer.

“Gone.” Dwight says and Jim waits, thinking there might be more to his knowledge of where you are but he says nothing, only picking up his phone to make a call.

Jim looks between him and the camera before mumbling “alright” and heading to Michael’s office. He knocks on the door and when Michael’s head perks up, he enters. “Hey, Mike.”

“Jimbo!” Michael smiles at the man and the camera that follows him. “What can I do you for?” He asks and taps his fingers against the wood of his desk.

Jim sits down in the chair you previously occupied. “Where uh, where did Y/N go?”

“Oh, I sent her on a very important mission. In fact, some might call it a life or death mission.”

Jim looks at the man and the tiny smirk he’s wearing and narrows his eyes. “You sent her to get your laundry again, didn’t you?”

Michael’s face falters a little as he clears his throat. “Yes.” He plays with a toy close to him to avoid looking up to a nodding Jim and the camera capturing his predictable actions perfectly. “Well is that all you wanted to know?”

Jim shifts in his seat, peering over his shoulder to double check that he closed the door before leaning closer. “Actually, I wanted to know if you knew anything about the rumor of Pam and I going around the office.”

Michael sucks in a breath and does his best to hide his knowledge. “What rumor would that be?”

Jim could see right through him. “Michael.” He sighs and Michael drops the act, letting out a loud groan that had caught a few people’s attention from outside the office. When he was finished, Jim ran a hand over his face. “What happened, Michael?”

“I, oh, just, um, I know I was trying to,” Michael stumbles over his words, “you know, the expense reports, and then,” he groans, “God, Toby, you know he just… I know. I’m just, I just hope that,” Michael starts to sob, his words coming out all choked together as Jim sighs, unsure what to say. “I just hope that this doesn’t affect our friendship! Stupid, this is so stupid.”

Jim tries to calm him a little. “Woah, it’s okay. It’s okay, it’s gonna be fine.” He begins and Michael nods fast, happy his slip up didn’t cost the “deep” friendship he is building with Jim. “I just, I gotta ask, how did Pam get brought up instead of Y/N?” Jim asks, distinctly remembering how he was so worried Michael would let slip how Jim told him he was in love with you on that booze cruise that he had to beg Michael to keep his secret at Hooters for lunch.

Michael groans and begins telling Jim a long story which all Jim cared to listen for was when Michael let it slip Jim is in love with someone with someone he works closely with and Kelly happened a glance over to the kitchen to see Jim and Pam talking and laughing through the door’s window and guessed it was Pam, all just after you had just got up to use the restroom.

Jim didn’t stay in Michael’s office for much longer, only listening to Michael apologize for a couple more minutes before he was back in his seat, burying his head in his hands. Pam watched him with worry until he finally looks up and meets her eye and picks his phone up, punching in your number. Pam’s brows furrow.

“What are you going to say?” She mouths and Jim shrugs, but her concern is quickly gone as Jim slumps at the sound of your voicemail and he hangs up.

“Probably for the best.” He mouths to Pam and she nods briefly before her phone rings and she answers it, leaving Jim to think about what he could possibly say to you tonight.

—-

When it was time for Jim to come over after work, you were already in your sweats, Michael’s dry cleaning hanging on your door and a few cans of grape soda in your fridge waiting for Jim to get his ass over. He called you earlier and you didn’t see it until after work would’ve been over so you called him back on his cell, but he didn’t answer. You texted him as well, but he never answered. Part of you was worried he would bail on tonight for some reason, but he hasn’t done so yet.

Finally, your front door opened and Jim’s head pops through the doorway, followed closely by pizza and you jump off your couch to meet him halfway before throwing your arms around him in a hug.

“God, you took forever.” You groan and Jim chuckles in your ear as he pulls away.

“Yeah that tends to happen when you actually stay at work the whole day.” You narrow your eyes at his smirk and stick your tongue out.

“You’re just jealous I got off early.” You say and Jim nods.

“Yes, very much so.” He says through chuckles and you take the pizza from his hands, opening it up and smelling the sweet, sweet smell of the melted cheese and your favorite toppings.

“Oh my god. This smells so good. Jim Halpert, I could kiss you!” You don’t pay attention to your words until your back is turned from Jim and you scrunch your face out of embarrassment, cursing yourself in your head and silently screaming, “he’s in love with Pam!”

Jim clears his throat, burying his hands in his pockets as he rocks on his heels. “Um, hey!” He calls out to you after you start to walk away and you glance over your shoulder. He only pulls his hand out of his pocket to scratch his neck before plunging it back in. “I uh, I wanted to talk to you about that rumor you heard?”

You hum, remembering the one piece of information that has been on your mind the entire day. “Can you tell me about it later? Maybe after we’ve eaten a few slices of pizza and yelled at every character in whatever movie we choose?” You laugh lightly but Jim doesn’t, he only hesitates before nodding and follows you to the couch.

20 minutes and 3 slices, that’s how far into the movie and how many pizza slices you and Jim ate together before Jim pauses the movie. You glance at him from across the couch, a place you don’t normally sit in but did so tonight, the night you realize Jim and you could be nothing more than friends.

“What’s up?” You whisper, keeping your gaze on the pizza slice sitting on your plate with a couple bites taken out of it. Jim doesn’t say anything and you have to look up.

His face was barely lit up by the pause screen on your movie but his eyes still stare straight into yours. “I think we need to talk about that rumor.” Jim’s whispers match your level and you gulp before nodding. Even Jim could tell something was different with the two of you. You turn on the couch to face him and he does the same, bringing the two of you awfully close until you decide to lean back on the arm of the couch. Jim notices and sighs. “I know what you heard today around the office, but I just want you know-“

“Jim.” You put a hand on his leg, leaning forward and finally bringing yourself closer to him. “It’s okay.”

Jim, focused far too much on how you finally wanted to be close to him, could only be confused. “What?”

You force a smile. “It’s okay. I already know you’re in love with-“

“You.” Jim blurts out before you could say Pams name and you freeze. Your hand’s grip tightens and Jim slips his hand in place of his leg, returning your squeeze with one of his own. “Y/N, I’m in love with you.”

The first thought of you mishearing him slips from your mind because he said it again. He was in love with you. Not Pam, but you.

“Jim Halpert, I could kiss you.” You say again and Jim’s smile breaks through his face. “Okay wait,” you break the moment and knot your brows. “How come I heard you had feelings for Pam?”

Jim chuckles nervously. “Michael.” He says and you roll your eyes.

“Oh, say no more.” You tell him, slumping against the couch with a small smile on your face. Jim chuckles at your reaction, earning a wide smile from you. “Hey Jim?” You whisper and he hums a yes. “I’m in love with you too.” You say through your smile and Jim doesn’t hold back. As soon as the words cross your lips, Jim launches forward. His hand finds the side of your face, cupping it gently as he brings his lips to yours. When he grabs your waist with his free hand, you let him pull you toward him, your arms falling on his shoulders and hands running through the ends of his hairs.

When Jim kisses you like that, there’s no doubt in your mind that you were the one he was in love with.

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