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Jim’s Best Friend

Part Twenty Two - Talking Technology, 2/2

Word Count: +3.2K

Author’s Note: Agh, here it is! I was struggling to edit this chapter, get it just right, but I hope you like it! Bit of Jim x Reader fluff for you, not a lot of plot for this one, but Dinner Party is coming soon, but some more Y/N drama sooo... stay tuned.

Warning: none

For previous chapters, click here.

March, 2008.

"Today is the launch party, and I can say with a whole lot of certainty I don't actually want to stay late tonight." Y/N said to the camera, looking over at Jim, who was sat to her left, their hands brushing against each other. He smiled at her words, at her laugh.

"Ryan's party is happening tonight over conference call. And we were planning to appear for exactly 9 minutes and 32 seconds-" Jim began to laugh, Y/N practically bouncing in her seat.

"It's statistically the most comfortable point to leave a meeting." She exclaimed with pride. "Ever since I became receptionist, I started noting down reactions during meetings. 100% the best time to leave anything you don't want to be at is 9 minutes and 32 seconds in."

"Anyway. There's a movie marathon going on at the cineplex, we thought we could spend our night doing something that's actually fun." Jim nodded as he spoke, finally taking Y/N's hand in his and giving it a squeeze.

"Oh, meeting Jim's parents?" Y/N repeated the producer's question, going a little red in the face. "I think they like me, which is great. I don't know what I would do if they didn't." Jim rolled his eyes.

"They love her, just like I..." He trailed off, the pair both blushing. Jim quickly smiled to the team, leading Y/N out into the bullpen, the pair bursting into laughter as they left.

Tonight was the Launch Party for the website, and the past week had been constant prepping and planning on your part. While Angela had been in charge of the party itself, Ryan had brought you on as a languages assistant, as bizarre as it sounded, to make sure translations into other languages were fluent and accessible. You had checked everything out from top to bottom, the task taking up a lot of your evenings, and you were more than glad that you could now just focus on copying files and sending out emails, forwarding calls.

The day of the launch, you sat in the break room, Jim by your side, taking a chance to have a coffee and a catchup. Both you and Jim hadn't seen each other outside of work since the Saturday morning before, your extra hours mixing with something Jim was planning, though he wouldn't say what. Now, having officially signed off papers with Toby to make your relationship official, you could hold his hand in the office without fear of being caught.

"So, uh, I don't know how to tell you this..." Jim started, your face falling immediately. His usual playful tone wavered, his hand squeezed yours tighter. You couldn't help but expect bad news. "Dwight and Angela... They've been dating for like, eight months now." Jim stage whispered, taking a deep breath as he got it off his chest, his undeniable smile returning. And you had to laugh: a mixture of relief and the fact that Jim was totally off the mark. "Yeah, I was going to wait to tell you, but I've been holding back."

"Well, Pam told me otherwise." You responded, taking a drink of your coffee, a smirk on your lips. "Try two years... And they broke up."

"What? When? How?" Jim seemed astounded. "How could you not tell me?"

"You didn't tell me..." You retorted, biting your lip to hold back a giggle. "Before your barbeque, if you can believe. And, from what Pam has reported, it was all sorts of chaos. But, to sum it up, Dwight mercy killed Angela's cat."

"Dwight killed Sprinkles?"

"Dwight killed Sprinkles."

"Wow..." Jim muttered, running a hand through his hair. He had trimmed it again, even taken the time to style it that morning instead of his dashin Boy Charming look he usually went for. Before the pair of you could discuss more, Phyllis knocked on the break room door, and you removed your hand from Jim's, waving her in.

"Phyllis, you don't need to knock, it's the break room." You reminded the older coworker, who smiled and looked you over.

"Your new shoes are nice, Y/N." Phyllis complimented you, and you smiled. "Just so you know though, when a new client calls you can't just transfer them to Jim, there are other salepeople on the floor. You can't base everything off of your sex life." The insult came quick, and you did your best to keep the smile on your face, nodding and waving as she disappeared again, you and Jim sharing a look. It only took you a few more moments to finish your coffee, standing from your chair and dumping the cup in the trash.

"I should go, I have calls to transfer to everyone but you." You said with a nervous laugh, heading for the door before Jim quickly grabbed your hand, spinning you back to face him.

"Don't work too hard, ok? You deserve a break, the last thing you needed was Phyllis on your tail." Jim comforted you, giving your hand a final squeeze before you headed back out to the reception desk, taking your seat, calling back the first voicemail on the machine.

"Of course sir. I can transfer you to a salesperson now." You said after a few minutes on the phone, transferring the call straight to Phyllis, hoping it might get her off your back. By the smile on her face, you had managed to acheive the hoped for outcome.

"Y/N, my dear, sweet Y/N." A voice called to you, Michael stood at his office door, his eyes bloodshot from a distance. "Will you come in here?" He asked, and you quickly grabbed a notepad, used to Michael's ramblings. Last week he had asked you into a meeting to jot down a new casserole recipe. "That won't be needed." He said quickly, walking back to his desk, urging you to follow him. You walked into the office as Jim walked back out of the annex, you sending a shrug his way as you locked eyes.

"Michael, what can I assist with?" You asked, closing over the door and taking a seat. The tissue pile on his desk made it abundantly clear he had been upset. "What did Jan do?" you asked, leaning forward and holding out a hand, with Michael quickly took. Ever since he and Jan had gotten together again, which you often reminded yourself was because of Jan's boobjob, Michael's life had slowly spiralled downhill. He wasn't as happy as usual, he had even sold the Sebring, though he wouldn't say why. Jan wasn't in New York anymore, currently unemployed, and Michael was the sole income maker in that dreadful condo.

"I'm meant to be at this New York for this party tonight, VIP, exclusive, and Jan won't come with me. Said it was stupid..." Michael huffed, throwing a tantrum like a four-year old, causing you to sigh.

"What do you need me to do? Tell her you're in meetings all day?" You asked, and Michael shook his head.

"Would you come to the New York party with me? Be my plus one? I don't want to look like a loser." Michael begged, and you couldn't help but glance at the door. You had noticed the movie tickets on Jim's desk earlier, he had already gone to the toruble of buying them. You looked back at Michael and smiled, quickly standing up.

"Can I get back to you at lunch?" You asked, and Michael nodded, still looking sad. "Thanks, Michael." You smiled briefly, slipping out of the office and being met by Jim's smile, his chair turned to face you.

"No inappropriate conduct in the workplace." Dwight said in a drawl, his eyes not moving from his screen. It might have been the first time you had seen Dwight unshaven, his tie loose and his shirt buttoned wrong. Both you and Jim chose to ignore him.

"What happened in there?" Jim asked, and you took a seat on his desk.

"Michael needs a plus one for the New York party, asked me to go..." You said softly, Jim's hand coming to your leg, rubbing a circle on your thigh. "I think I have to cancel date night. Any chance you can get those tickets refunded?"

"This doesn't sound like taking work easy." Jim said with a smile, and you sighed. "No problem, we can go tomorrow." He assured you, the fax machine beeping and forcing you back to work. It was the last thing you wanted to do, but Jim sent you off with a pat on the leg and a lopsided grin, silently promising you it was alright that you went to New York.

You headed back to your desk, reading the fax from Corporate over quickly, waving Michael out of his office. He moved with little enthusiasm, taking three times the usual amount of time to get to your desk, and huffing as he stood across from you.

"Michael, the Corporate press release." You passed the fax over to your boss.

"The what?"

"I emailed you on Tuesday about it? Ryan wants you to share it with everyone." You reminded him, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile. "Also, I made sure I can go to New York tonight. I'll drive us." You added, hoping to lift his spirits a little.

"He wants me to share it, does he?" Michael asked, a small smile forming as he processed the information you gave him.

"Yes, he does."

"Mm... Ok." Michael sighed, turning to the rest of the office. "Attention Earthlings. I have some news." He started to make beeping noises, and you tried not to groan too loudly. "Ok. Today's the big day that I'm heading to New York to attend a party with sushi and important people. On an unrelated note, if anyone has an interesting anecdote that is not boring and easy to memorise, please drop by my office before I leave. Thank you."

"Whoops." Jim said, his eyes having scanned over the fax in Michael's hand as he spoke. "Was that really what Ryan wanted you to tell us?" He asked Michael, sending a wink your way as you replied with a grateful smile.

"And..." Michael glance at the note in hand quickly. "Today the Dunder Mifflin Infinity website officially launches. The comapny is projecting record high sales, and that by 6 o'clock, the website will be the new best salesman in the company." Michael finished, heading back for his office. "Wow, watch out Dwight."

"That's ridiculous." Dwight responded, monotone. "I'm not gonna be beaten by a website."

"Actually, it sounds like you are." Jim cut in, teasing his coworker.

"Really?" Like always, Dwight fell straight into the trap, getting defensive. "Cause Ryan says so?"

"That's from Ryan?" Kelly asked. "Does it mention if he's seeing anybody?" The last time Ryan had been in the office, Kelly had lied about being pregnant. It was fun to watch Ryan become flustered, you weren't going to lie.

"No, it doesn't. I'll find out tonight." Michael said quickly.

"Yes." Stanley rolled his eyes. "Please let us know." He said sarcastically, causing you to bite back a laugh.

"I can make more sales than a computer." Dwight announced, pulling attention back to his point. "In fact, I challenge that website to make more sales than me today."

"Waste of time..." Angela spoke up, her head in her files, drawing a frown from Dwight's expression.

"What's that, Pipsqueak?" Michael asked, taking a chance to taunt the petite woman. You weren't bothered by it, Angela had said more than enough about you to make you dislike her.

"Waste of time." She reapeated. "The website's going to win."

"You believe a computer can beat me?" Dwight looked genuinely hurt by the insinuation.

"I don't care, but yes."

"Well, I will prove you wrong."

"I don't care and you won't." The two ex-lovers went back and forth, and a text pinged through on your phone.

That's a healthy relationship right there... xx

Jim had texted, and you sent a playful glare his way, making him smile a little wider. The next thirty minutes focused on Andy and Dwight drawing up a plan of attack for Dwight to beat a computer, a computer, at selling paper, Jim taking every opportunity to wind them both up. Angela and Phyllis were focusing on set up for the satellite party, and you pretended your very hardest to look busy, so as to not get roped into anything. Angela and Dwight were both unpleasant to begin with, you didn't need any of it directed at you that day.

Jim came over to your desk just as the website went live, hands in pockets as he walked over to your desk, just as you finished up a call.

"What would you say if I told you we could pull a prank on Dwight and, at the same time, not be working?" Jim asked quietly, quickly adding on to it when your brow furrowed. "You need a chance to chill today, and if we can't do movies, this is a good alternative." He offered. With a smile like his, you could never say no, you knew that. He knew it too.

"Jim, he's just been dumped." You tried one last time to convince your boyfriend it might not be a good idea.

"Yeah, I'm aware of that. But's he's also being super anmoying, and I'm not a perfect person." A sudden air horn followed Jim's words, and your eyes widened.

"What do you have in mind?" You asked, Jim explaining the ruse to you while picking up a file, doing his best to be discreet. You quickly opened up the office's instant messenger system, signing in as 'DunMiff/sys'.

You had a few hours to kill before driving to New York, and the smile Jim gave you as he headed back to his desk, so proud of you both, it made the next few hours of torment seem a lot more fun.

You were kind of glad to leave the office early, even if it meant driving for two hours to New York, and bailing on date night with Jim. You both knew Michael needed to boost, and after Dwight had told you to fuck off in binary code, it seemed like a good idea to leave before it turned ugly.

You were leaving Pennsylvania as the ringing from the bear horn finally subsided from your ears, and glanced over to see Michael reading 'Green Eggs and Ham' by Dr Suess to your right.

"Have you read this?" Michael asked, and you nodded, keeping your eyes on the road.

"When I was four I did, yeah. It's a kids book." You replied, kind of confused why Michael had brought it with him.

"I got it for Ryan. I wanted to get him 'Oh The Places You'll Go' but they were sold out at Barnes and Noble."

"You realise the books are really, really not the same right?" You let out a little laugh, shaking your head. Michael was oblivious at the best of times, and you were quite glad that no-one else in the office was having to ecperience this conversation in your place.

As you finally left Pennsylvania, Michael suddenly blew two kisses into the air.

"It used to be one." You commented. "Whenever you left, you always have blown one before."

"One for me, one for Jan." Michael explained, and you nodded in understanding. "You know, you and Jim should come over for dinner sometime."

"Oh, uh, I don't know Michael."

"What about next Friday?"

"You know Jan and I sort of fell out..." You said honestly, and Michael decideed not to push the subject further. For the past year, Jan and your relationship had been rocky, and you, quite frankly, didn't like the way she treated Michael one bit. "Can you start giving me directions? Tell me where we're going?" You asked, changing the subject. It seemed to be a good idea, Michael perking back up as he read out the information from a printed sheet of paper.

"I can tell you right now, and shall, my good friend. It's a club called Chatroom, and there's a password to get in, which is actually 'password', so..." Michael nodded as he read along, and you let out a sigh, quickly pulling off at the next turn off. "What are you doing?"

"Are there 'w's before the name of the club, Michael?" You asked, pulling into the rest stop and parking the car.

"Yes, why?"

"It's an invitation to the online party..." You said, pulling out your phone to call Jim.

"But... I need to call Ryan." Michael decided, stepping out of the car. You quickly dialled jim's number, glancing at the time. If you were lucky, you might be able to make that movie marathon still.

"Well, hello. What do I owe the pleasure? Aren't you driving?" Jim asked, and you let out a strained laugh.

"It was an invite to the online party, Michael is shouting down his phone to Ryan now... I have a feeling I'll be back in Scranton by the time that satellite party starts, and I really need something fun tonight." You confessed, finally agreeing with Jim. This whole launch had done nothing but stress you out. The dashboard clock hit 6 o'clock.

"I still have the tickets for the movies, and a surprise for when you get back." Jim assured, and you smiled.

"Hey, how did Dwight do?" You asked, and Jim took a moment.

"He won..." The disbelief was real, and it made you smile. Jim always made you smile.

"Is Angela getting on at him?"

"A little."

"Does he look sad?"

"Yeah."

"AI systems are fair players Jim... He needs to be congratulated." You instructed, saying a quick goodbye as Michael got back into the car. "Everything good?"

"Back to Scranton... I have a party to upstage." Michael declared, and you sped off back west, trying to hold onto the idea of a movie date with Jim instead of focusing on Michael's rage-driven ramblings about Ryan.

By the time you got back to Scranton, it was maybe fifty minutes or so until the party began. Michael began marching around, ordering Angela about to make the Scranton brnach party better than the New York corporate one, but by this point you were tired, so mentally exhausted from extra work and the nonsense of the day that you began collecting your stuff, just desperate to get out of the office.

"So, I know you said that you leave 9 minutes and 32 seconds into a party, but is there any chance I could convince you to leave 46 minutes and 13 seconds before one instead?" Jim came up to your desk, placing the movie tickets in front of you. "We could get Alferdo's beforehand, make a proper night of it?" He offered, and Michael seemed to have overheard.

"What are you two lovebirds talking about?" Michael asked, and you and Jim shared a look, rather desperate to not be roped into staying.

"You should order Alfredo's for tonight." You blurted out quickly, and Jim nodded in agreement.

"Alfredo's, huh? Interesting..." Michael muttered, jogging back to his office.

"Go now?" Jim asked, walking to his desk and picking up his shoulder bag.

"Now." You agreed, the pair of you grabbing coats and heading out the door before anyone could call you out on it.

By Monday, the pair of you would be filled in by Andy and Kelly on everything you missed: from Michael's speech calling out Ryan to the abduction of the pizza delivery kid, followed by Andy serenading Angela and Michael heading to New York after all with Dwight. In truth, you couldn't care less.

You spent that launch party night eating good pizza, Alfredo's Pizza Café, and catching a Indiana Jones marathon at the movies with Jim... Followed by other events you would rather keep private for now.

Truth was, Jim knew how to make you happy, and he had proved himself time and time again. It was why you knew you loved him.

Tags: @imsuperawkward @poppirocks @rosie2801 @onceuponahuntersrealm @aziggya @suitelifeofafangirl @legendaryoafhairdozonk

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