I think I am.. [Jim Halpert x OG female character <3]

chapter 3 !!

Jim's POV:

I watched anxiously as Elle rushed out of the breakroom towards her boyfriend, my eyebrows furrowed with confusion.

"What is she doing?" Erin asked looking in my direction.

"I- I don't know.. I didn't even know she had a boyfriend, she never mentioned it to me" I pouted. "Did she mention it to you?" I pointed out the door.

"No." Erin shook her head, causing my eyebrows to furrow even further, due to their obvious closeness.

I headed out the door as everyone else followed me loosely behind towards the door to the hallway. I paused for a moment, wondering if eavesdropping was the right thing to do, but by the time I'd come to my senses and decided against it, Dwight and Erin had their ears to the door with Michael creeping up to it as well. I held my hands to my face as I sauntered up to them.

"What are they saying?" Michael asked.

"Shhhhh." Erin hushed him quickly.

"It seems as if Elle is being confronted by her apparent other half referred to as "Oliver" for not making his lunch this morning." Dwight replied, always ready to serve Michael.
"Rookie mistake." Dwight tutted, rolling his eyes.

I slapped him hard on the shoulder, not even thinking about it, he looked up at me, offended.

"What?" Dwight questioned bucking his head. "It's not like she's your girlfriend."

My mouth went dry for a moment at his words.
"Yeah I- I know! But she's still my friend Dwight!" I exclaimed, clearing my throat maybe a bit too loudly for the current situation. I was quick to defend myself, but I wasn't sure why.

"Will you guys be quiet?" Kevin asked shamelessly, having now joined us at the door.

We heard the elevator ping, and some heavy breathing from the other side of the door. Erin peeked through the blinds and motioned for us all to retreat back to our respective desks, meaning Elle was on her way back in. Michael was the first to ditch us, running like a cartoon back to his office and slamming the door. Dwight was next, sauntering over to accounting which left me and Erin. I was panicked for a second, worried about Elle and feeling badly about eavesdropping, that I barely had enough reaction time to follow Erin back to the break room. I rushed over to reception for god knows what reason, scrambling to pop a jelly bean from the dispenser on the glassy desk into my mouth.

My nose scrunched as I realised I'd hastily picked a flavour I harshly disliked as Elle came back in, trying to hide her puffy eyes.

"Is- is everything okay Elle?" I asked her, worry pasted across my face.

"Yeah.. I'm fine." She nodded quietly, forcing a smile. I didn't want to pry any further as she wandered slowly back into the break room back to the company of Erin, whom I hoped would be able to get something out of her.

I sighed noticeably loudly, making Oscar and Andy look up from their work as I slumped down into my creaking chair at my desk, the thick mesh feeling sticky on my arms. I covered my face with my hands, rubbing my eyes aggressively, coming to realise how little sleep I'd had over the past few nights when I felt someone slap down on my shoulders.

"Sup Tuna?" Andy asked, trying his best to be cool.

"Oh. Hey Andy" I replied drearily, not really wanting to engage in conversation with anyone except Elle. I pushed the thought out of my mind and chatted with Andy for a minute or so, when Elle came back through to reception, sitting down and picking up some papers.

"Hey I'll catch up with you later man?" I cut across Andy, not really waiting for a reply before I quickly got back up and walked over to Elle.

I started tapping my hands on my leg as I walked over, trying not to seem as though I'd also been eavesdropping on her previous encounter.

"Hey... is everything okay?" I look down at her desk, papers scattered everywhere among figures and stationary.

She's clearly trying to avoid eye contact with me, before she clears her throat.
"I'm fine. Thanks."

"Listen" I start off.. "I get it if you'd rather not say anything, and I don't want to assume- but, I'm just worried about you, and I want you to know I'm here for you.. I know it sounds cheesy, but.. yeah." I trail off.

Elle didn't say a word, almost as if there was a frog in her throat, threatening to spill all her secrets if she opened her mouth.

"Thank you Jim." She said quietly, before turning around to mess with the copier. Her hands fiddling with anything she could find.

I sighed before walking back to my desk and sat down. I'd done all my work.. what was I meant to do now? I needed a distraction. As quickly as I sat down, I got back up, grabbed my jacket off my chair and walked to Michael's office.

"I'm heading out for 30 minutes Michael."

He didn't look away from his computer screen but gave me a silent thumbs up and carried on scrolling on his mouse.

I tapped the doorframe, closed the door and put my jacket over my shoulders as I walked