INTERIM LOVER, ryan howard.

017 ⋮ branch closing

ㅤㅤㅤJan Levinson walked briskly through the front doors of the Scranton branch. It was the branch she hated the most, and surprisingly, it wasn't just because of Michael. But it was mostly because of Michael. Hopefully, this would be the last time she'd have to be in this office, and if she could help it, the last time she ever saw him.

Ryan could practically hear her grimace as she stepped into Michael's office, reluctant to have to see him first thing on a Monday. The town was dull and chaotic, and Ryan was beginning to understand Rachel's need to break away.

Again, he was thinking about her. No matter how much convinced himself that Kelly was all the attention he needed, it always came back to Rachel.

Jan stalked back out of the office, wordlessly and swiftly as she had entered. Then Michael hung around in his doorframe, observing the entire floor, wondering how the CFO could be so stupid.

—

DWIGHT
When you become close with someone, you can read their moods like a book. And right now, the title of Michael's book is, "Something Weird is Going On." Colon, "What Did Jan Say? The Michael Scott Story. By Michael Scott, with Dwight Schrute."

—

Karen typically avoided the break room when Rachel was there. Not that she had anything against the girl, there was an inexplicable uneasiness that she felt when they spoke, as if she had to pretend she was someone she wasn't.

"Hey, Karen."

Great. Now she had to talk to Little Miss Sunshine.

"Hey, Rachel." Her smile felt too broad, it hurt her cheeks.

There came a silence as the two of them waited for the other to say something. Finally, Karen gave in.

"Hey, um... did you hear about your friends in Pennsylvania?"

Perhaps it wasn't her place to say anything, Karen realised.

Rachel was acutely aware of the alarm going off in her head, the one that rang every time Michael began a joke. But she dismissed it reassuring herself that Karen's sense of humour was far more appropriate for the workplace.

"No, what about them?"

"Rumour has it that the Scranton Branch is—" Karen clicked her tongue, making a head-chopping gesture with her left hand. There was a pause before Rachel admitted that she didn't get the joke. "Oh, it's not a joke. I heard a rumour that the Scranton branch is shutting down."

At that exact moment, Andy walked into the break room, a hand on his hip. His face alone gave Rachel a headache, and every time he opened his mouth she had to physically fight the urge to punch him in the face.

"Sorry, did I hear that right? Scranton branch is closing?"

"Maybe."

"In your face," he grinned boyishly at Rachel, whose expression was unamused.

"Well, I work here now—"

"Mm, sucker!"

—

RACHEL
Andy Bernard... I dunno, I have no idea what is going on inside his head 99% of the time.