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dallonm-archive · 3 years

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[image description: a cropped image of a pink sky. on the right hand side is a bunch of darker pink clouds. Just left of the centre is a full moon. In the centre, in a white serif font reads "writing update" /end id]

july writing update

Hi friends! This writing update is me pretending I did Camp Nano and didn't kinda give up a week in! I had a proper goal and everything, but a lot of things got in the way that I'm not gonna talk about here because I already ranted about it in another update I'm drafting rn. Lets just say it's Disability Pride Month and being not neurotypical or able bodied in writing communities and their inherent focus on productivity is Hard.

But I did get some writing done and wanted to do a little Camp wrap up post regardless. And I'm doing it now because I'm cancelling the last week of July for some rest/self care and I do not want to think about writing for that time and if I write a tumblr post about July Nano being over my brain will think it's actually over <3 I will probably do updates like these for most months tho! Depends on how much I write lol! This one is not too long (by my standards) and has some Revelations, Revelations, Life Cycle of Massive Stars, Nocturne for the Holy and a new wip idea 👁️

excerpts under the cut!

general taglist ; ask to be + or - ; i only have one! ; @childhoodlovers @svpphicwrites @abiandwriting @kowlazovdi @avi-why @ryns-ramblings @kitblogsthings @bijouxs @bookphobe @moonhungers @alicewestwater @bookpacking @shaelinwrites @onlyganymede @theelectricfactory @write-like-babs @oceancold @sidhewrites @wolf-oak @oasis-of-you @coffeeandcalligraphy @cecilsstorycorner @howdywrites @keira-is-writing @flip-phones @piyawrites @avakrahn @goose-books @finch-goes-write @ziyin @aphaimaniis @isherwoodj @laughtracksonata

I'm also editing this in to say I only just realised that July is my writeblr birthday month and that is very weird to me! A year and a couple days ago I impulsively turned an old blog into a place to document writing for me and ended up meeting people who now mean the world to me and my writing blossoming in a way I never thought it would. And the funny part is it doesn't feel like it's been a year, ever since I joined it's just felt like life has Always been this way and I cannot fathom that it hasn't. I'm sappy bc it's 4am lol but ultimately the friends I made (you know who you are) and the community I found is what retaught me the value of writing and helped me unlearn toxic ideas and whilst the last year was tough I wish I could tell July 2020 Dallon (who did not realise he was Dallon yet </3) what July 2021 would look like.

revelations, revelations ;

Oh the absolute state of affairs with this book rn. Nothing bad but I don't know when I'm gonna update y'all because sometimes I do not know where to start when talking about this wip lol! Currently on a break with it (but also my thesis work is on late 20th century queer lit/history rn so am ever really free of RR? <3) but had a lot of fun with it at the end of June/start of July. Anyway here's Dorothy finally revealing more of herself to me after a year. Dorothy as a character is like, I truly believe she is capable of killing a man but the story she is in just does not allow that so I am trying to grow her unhinged side a little bit in other ways bc I know she has it in her but I also really cannot deal with the plot repercussions of her actually killing a man! I'm sorry Dotty but this'll have to do!

(cw for groping/a man being creepy as hell, death/funeral mention, drug mention, drowning imagery kinda)

There’s too much to tell Felix. That his sister lives on the fringe of Castro and has attended three funerals since September; that it’s January 11th and she’s already attended one this year. That his sister drives through sunsets and imagines parties: the amber dusk, warm mosaic tiles, platters of Greek salad skewers and shrimp tostadas, and sometimes Jolie joins her and they share a blunt on the hill. That his sister bought an aquamarine body-length dress for six bucks in a thrift store sale bin, so when her and Jolie broke up for the second time, she waltzed into a sunset party, locked arms with a CEO’s son and gave him a fake number and plucked strawberries out of champagne and blended so well nobody noticed when she left. That during the summer of ’83, his sister walked a neighbour’s Golden Retriever on Wednesdays, and on the sixth Wednesday he gave her a wad of tens with one hand and palmed the back of her neck with the other, so she walked his dog to the beach and stole another hundred from his wallet. That his sister bombed an interview for a Nursing school and didn’t get home until night and missed their monthly call, and Jolie heard the phone ring and didn’t take a message, so his sister snuck into the CEO’s son’s villa and floated in the centre of their heated pool like a cloud. A pause, a breath, an Opheliean threat.

life cycle of massive stars ;

Switched to LCOMS this month because I was burnt out with RR and it made such the difference! I really love working on two novels at once because it keeps me consistently creative but also both of these books are so different so its always refreshing to bounce back into one from another. I have a whole update in the drafts rn for this so keeping this part brief but still love this book, still the best thing that has ever happened to me, me and this book will have a glorious summer wedding etc etc. These excerpts are from chapters that summarise the first semester of each character's first year and have to say it. has been Very Fun to get into the mindset of Freshers Melodrama. Here's Junie having a crisis and an unhealthy relationship with her hetero flatmate :( (alcohol cw for both excerpts)

In October you are drinking double espresso and trying to breathe normally in lectures and you are trying to figure out your favourite colour because Fleur asked and you stumbled out an answer (Purple, I think. Violet? Lavender? Indigo?) and it didn’t match hers (I like yellow. I like sunlight). You buy mugs from IKEA to paint you paint cats and fireworks and constellations and moon phases and daisies. You try to scratch paint stains off your desk. You do laundry at 2am. In October you colour code your notes with pastel highlighters. You go to the library at 3am. You paint your nails sunlight and hate it. You finish an essay that’s due in December. You knock on Fleur’s door at 8am so she makes her 9am. You wear off the shoulder tops and you let a girl dab glitter on your collarbones and you are watching Fleur kiss a boy from the neighbouring hall. You bite your sunlight nails. You break the handle off your IKEA constellation mug. You leave your keys in a lecture hall and stand at the reception for forty minutes waiting for them to realise that the keys on the desk have the moon chain you mentioned - or, you are waiting to say it yourself. You are watching the rain trail down your window. In October you get a halo headband tangled in your hair you are sipping a vampire themed cocktail that tastes like acetone you rip your heels off and you go home early and do laundry at 2am and you are waiting for the courage to tell Fleur you don’t like clubbing - or, you are waiting for her to ask where you are. In October you are many things / a good student a dancer a painter an angel a big sister an alarm clock you are nocturnal and a lucid dreamer and confused about your sexuality / and it’s still October but it’s not because it’s November now and you are still Junie but not because you don’t know who Junie is. It’s November, it’s September October November December. It’s 2016 2017 2018 2019. You are fragments and you don’t know if you are a kaleidoscope or shattered glass.

And here's first year Tomas being like I Moved Countries For University And All I Got Was Homesickness And A Crush On My Flatmate And Resurging Autistic Symptoms And This Lousy T Shirt (cw: vomit mention, injection mention, parental death mention)

Kristen is seven months younger and five inches taller than you. He’s the last flatmate you met and the only one you talk to beyond kitchen greetings and passive aggressive texts about dirty dishes. He is too quiet and too loud and not the type of person you befriend. The first night, he lost Ring of Fire and downed the concoction of Echo Falls, Dark Fruits, Jack Daniels and coke, vodka and lemonade alongside a cigarette and said he’d let God figure out the rest. He held your hair back when you threw up amaretto and held onto your knee when you first self-injected testosterone. He taught you Yorkshire dialect and you pretended to understand the Yorkshire dialect. He told you he got diagnosed at four and you told him you didn’t get past the first assessment but sometimes you flick the bathroom light on and it’s fire: the orange on the orange towel is louder, the white on the white tiles are louder, the colours and light and sink and showerhead are prickly and all you can do is blink and breathe until it fizzles out. You reminded him to take his meds and asked if you were weak for wanting to drop out and hop on the first Eurostar to Rotterdam. He reminded you to take off your binder and asked if he was robotic for not grieving his mother. You spent inky nights on the kitchen floor, counting the dead flies in the lights and scooping crumbly coconut ice cream out of a maker you got for half price in TK Maxx. You spent dusk-dusted afternoons at the global street food markets, at the vegan markets. Spent student loans on raspberry lemonade in recycled cups, veggie burgers in beetroot buns, got him hooked on poffertjes and advocaat and could’ve cried when the vendor spoke to you in Dutch. Sometimes you didn’t buy anything. Just liked hovering at stalls ambered with fairy lights, writing down Etsy stores on your notes app; just liked Kristen’s impulse to trek forty minutes into the city for a market he didn’t know existed until five minutes before; just liked how he always invited only you, cancelling your other plans last minute, the feeling of being ambushed; just liked how he stopped to take photos of dogs and the sunset; just liked how he looked haloed under lampposts waiting for Ubers, golden on golden.

This is also nearing creative nonfiction because Sheffield truly is a haven for just. vegan markets and cafes lol! I experimented with veganism there and never struggled to find something and at this point I call myself a fake vegan because it's too easy to be vegan in Sheffield and too difficult to be vegan in my actual hometown. And the global street food markets!!! SO GOOD! I miss pre pandemic days

nocturne for the holy ;

Giving her a little shout out because she does exist actually! I've figured out a really good system for working on two novels at a time, so my plan is maybe to start properly on this after I finish either RR or LCOMS. Idk I got 3 novels to pick from haha oops! I did do some free drafting back in April though and found it recently and I Like It! And I edited it so it counts as Something I Did This Month :) Also have decided that I loathe this working title <3 Okay see you with an update for this novel in like a year, sorry for the absolute zero context for this excerpt hehe

The morning I was due back, I hadn’t yet decided that this would be my last visit. I wandered between rooms like an overstayed guest, like I didn’t know which crockery lived in which cabinet and which bedroom had the best view of the overlapped hills. Dad would wake for his run in an hour, plastered to his twenty-year-old routine. Mum would pretend to be asleep until breakfast. Until then, it was myself and the house, hazed by sleepy sunrise. Downstairs. The peeling paisley wallpaper in the lounge, the lilies in the middle of the kitchen table, the vases of candy floss pink peonies wilting on every windowsill, the desolate double swing-set in the garden. The mist-clogged mornings. I stood outside in my dressing-gown until my fingertips felt numb. Upstairs. The sage coloured bathroom. The bathtub I’d laze in with my clothes on and no water because it was the quietest room in the house. The dusty dance trophies on the top of my wardrobe. Wine-flushed Jeanette in my teenage bedroom. The stale grey mum painted my teenage bedroom after I moved out. Minus their room, I stalked the layout of the house three times before settling back into bed - teenage Nora’s bed. Nora who cared for peonies and pushed her brother on the swing set and flung her ceramic ballerina at the wall and jogged with her father and collected wine bottles and acorns and kisses from girls who were supposed to visit for dance practice. Before I left, I’d have cycled each room another three times. And in every room he was there, hovered in the corner like black mould.

love this update bc it's like i've got my third person, my second person, my first person! collecting all the POVs like chaos emeralds :)

eulogy for our burnings ;

-looks away-

girl help I did it AGAIN!!!! Apparently Camp Nano is just the perfect time for me to get novel ideas. I made this post specifically to talk a bit about this because I have no idea when I'll draft it but it's certainly not soon. This is not me trying to doubt my own skill but I feel like I am not in the place I'd like to be as a writer to tackle this project with the zest it needs, however I am v excited by the prospect of it! Don't know how I feel about the working title bc I'm like "that doesn't sound right but I don't know enough about this wip to dispute it" but the only purpose my working titles serve is to sound pretty lol! But here's the tea:

1991, UK.

2nd person present + past. Very flexible form. I can't decipher how yet but I'm feeling interviews, newspaper articles, receipts, grocery store lists weaved with actual narrative, that kinda vibe.

Best summary is we follow our nameless narrator, a stealth trans man, as he becomes unhealthily obsessed with a man who "hires" him to photograph the buildings he burns

Very,,, isolated? Minimal settings, minimal characters, minimal prose etc. Almost claustrophobic

There's basically only two characters and they are probably the most morally deplorable, indefensible characters I've created which just means most of you are gonna LOVE this /lh I do too I do too

Only comp title I can give is it has the vibes/tone of Boy Parts by Eliza Clark (just with none of the nsfw content lol if you've read the book you know what I'm talking about) (also that book is great for morally deplorable women protagonists but omg look up the content warnings because it caught me off guard! enjoyed it tho gave it 4 stars)

The pinterest board is the best visualisation of the Vibes also follow me on pinterest lol

And that's all I've got today! A bigger Life Cycle of Massive Stars update coming in the next few weeks. Might do a proper intro post for Eulogy For Our Burnings but idk!!! It's a surprise :) Thank you for reading this far!

#also i have LOTS to catch up on so if u tagged me in anything im gonna do a big queue of rb's soon!#promise im not ignoring anybody!#just barely functioning <3 #atlastracking #writing update #revelations revelations #life cycle of massive stars #nocturne for the holy #eulogy for our burnings

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gifted-burnout-archive · 4 years

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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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do-lvn · 5 years

Text

Hey there, Grayson

SUMMARY: Grayson and (Y/N) were best friends since second grade, they grew and so did their love.

based off ‘hey there, Delilah.’ By plain white t’s :)

15, you were fifteen when you realized that you were in love with Grayson. It was a simple day, a normal one to be exact, it was spent at the Dolan household. Being only 7 when you had met Ethan and Grayson, it made you all inseparable. So days at their house was nothing new. Once when your parents left for a business trip you ended up staying with them for a whole month. And even though you all had been inseparable, there was something that you and Grayson had and with being so little, was something you couldn’t quite wrap your head around just yet. So as a young one you ignored it, but when you all were huddled in a blanket outside by the fire it hit you hard. You turned to look at Grayson who was smiling at some absurd joke Ethan had just told and you felt your heart slow down, as you watched him laugh.

You felt your chest tighten and your heart started pounding as it felt like a truck was running straight through you. He took notice of someone's gaze and turned to meet eyes with you, sending you a shy smile and ducking his head further into the blanket, because whether or not he would admit it everyone knew you were truly the only girl who would drive Grayson crazy.

Yet you didn't know that, because when you hit the age 16, Grayson confessed his love for you on - only - the second date. He couldn't help it. He had taken you to the beach to watch the sun go down, simple, yet you loved every second of it. That's when he looked over at you and said it. “(Y/N), I'm in love with you.” your heart only swelled as you pulled him into a bone crushing hug. All the current events shocking you nonetheless.

Then 4OU happened and you were thrilled when Grayson invited you to join, both him and Ethan agreeing it wouldn’t be as fun without their best friend. So you had begged your mom to go and when she finally said yes, you were quickly packing your bags for months on the road. You even had Grayson on the phone not believing you were actually able to go. “I know, it’s crazy. I didn't think she was going to give in.” he chuckled at that, “me neither but I'm not complaining like my girlfriend gets to go on tour with me.” you felt your stomach start doing flips at the title. His girlfriend.

17, was the age Grayson broke your heart, along with his. His career had a huge take off after tour and his manager had insisted they move to Los Angeles for better business when you found out the news your heart shattered, it was just the beginning of your junior year. “It’s best if we break up, angel. You still have school and things will be hard.” you nodded, he knew you understood and you couldn't hold him back making videos was something he enjoyed and you weren't about to be another person telling Grayson he couldn't do it. “Don’t forget about me, okay?” you ask while wiping a tear from his cheek, he laughs and pulls you into a quick kiss. “I couldn’t even if I tried, I love you.” you smile and hug him tighter.

Even though you were sad, and so was Grayson no doubt. You both knew how big the situation was and it was an opportunity they couldn't pass up, so with one last hug and a quick peck he was out the door.

19 - PRESENT DAY

“Ethan! You bitch ass.” Grayson groaned as he watched Ethan take a quick shot at him. He quickly dropped his headset, “Fuck you, I was about to get victory royale.” Ethan snickers, “so? I wanted to win.” Grayson turned around in his chair and threw the nearest pillow at Ethan. “Hey! Don’t be a sore loser.” Grayson sighed, “whatever, I'm going to finish editing the video.”

Ethan didn’t bother to pry his eyes away from the screen, just stuck up a hand and waved Grayson off. He made his way back to his bedroom and flopped onto his mattress, life was good, but there was something missing that even though Grayson couldn’t quite figure out exactly what it was, he knew he would find out soon.

Very soon.

“(Y/N), please be a dear and set these on the table for me.” Your mom was having a dinner party for her co-workers, one you weren’t invited too “I don’t get why I’m helping when you're not even letting me join!” you said jokingly. “I’ll have your father send you a plate straight to your room, sound good?” you set down the last plate and place a hand on your chin, “hmm not sure, I will say yes only if I get a cherry cola.”

She smiles, “I’ll do you one better, this was supposed to be a surprise but Lisa is coming along with the twins, they finally came around the time you were here, so I'll have your father bring you Grayson, k?” you feel your heart stop and your smile get wider, “sounds perfect.”

Seeing Grayson for the first time in 2 years had your heart racing. You had talked here and there over the years but nothing recent with you being so busy with college, so it was now winter break and you were happy that you were finally having a nice breather away from all the exams. You were going on to your second year and it was nice, college was looking way better than high school.

“So mom, she’s going into her second year right?” Lisa laughed at Grayson's nervousness, “yes gray, and calm down, you know her, she’s still the same bubbly girl she was three years ago.” he nodded. “Right right, would've been nice if Ethan joined.” she nodded, “yeah, a nice reunion.” he looked down, “yeah.”

When the door got pulled open, revealing your mother. Grayson’s nerves got bad he was thinking nothing but the worse. That maybe you would be mad at him for not talking to you recently. But he was wrong and it was just panic. “Nice to see you gray, (Y/N)’s upstairs, you know the way.” she shooed him off and continued to conversate with Lisa.

He took a look at your stairs and let all the memories you two had come back to him, it made him feel better knowing that you guys didn't end on a bad note, he took one last deep breath before knocking on your door. When he did you were quick to hop up. It had been three years since you had seen gray in person and you didn’t know how to feel, or how he looked.

The door opened and gray smiled, “hey.” he didn’t say anything back just quickly pulled you into a hug. “I missed you so much, how are you? How’s school? Tell me everything.” you smile and close your door.

“I'm going into my second year of college, only 2 more left after that. I'm good, just busy. Schools so stressful and on top of that my job is irritating. But i'm managing, how about you, how are you?” he casually shrugged, “good, things have been good. I've just been busy with filming and meetings and stuff like that.” you smile.

“Im happy your good. Hows ethan?” he laughed. “Good, still dramatic as fuck.” this time you both shared a laugh. “I really did miss you (Y/N). just things aren't the same without you.” you look down.

“ i miss you guys too, i think about you all the time gray. Wish we didn’t drift like we did, but we could fix that. If you want.” he smiled. “Would love that, now tell me what’s college like?”

You laugh. “Well…” he let your voice fade as he admired you, a lot had changed, your hair was shorter and lighter, your eyes brighter than before and lips plumper. “And other than frat parties every weekend it just stress. I don't go to parties though not my thing.” he nodded. “Never has been.”

The night went on and you fully forgot about all the guests your mom had downstairs, your whole focus on how life was for gray in l.a. He even mentioned the new house him and ethan had, “you should come to visit when your on break, again.” you smile. “I could, i have spring break next.” he smiled. “Really, that’s perfect, me and e can show you around l.a.” you laugh. “Sounds like a plan.”

You both ended up at the park, a childhood spot. You pointed to the slide that over the years became old and damaged. “Remember when we pushed ethan down the slide and he landed on his face.” he chuckled, “and we got into so much trouble, yeah i think i remember. My mom took away my ipod.” you laugh and look over at the old tire swing. “Our first kiss was on that tire swing, then right after you fell off.” you felt your cheeks heat up at the memory. “Gosh don't remind me, that was so embarrassing.” he chuckled. “It was cute, your cheeks were so red, you looked like a tomato, hey kind of like you do right now.” you playfully smack his shoulder, he only smiles and looks down.

“It’s kind of crazy to remember where i was only three years ago and now look at me.” you laugh, “i know, when did you start working out?” it was his turn to playfully push you. “I've always worked out, don't be rude.” you put your hands up in defense, “okay, okay.”

The last encounter was better than before, “it was amazing to see you, keep in touch okay?” you nod. “Of course, i miss you already.” he pulls you into a quick hug. “Hey two more years and then your done and i'll be waiting for you.” you pull him closer. “Yeah, i’ll see you soon, gray.” he squeezed tighter and placed a kiss to your forehead. “Goodnight, (Y/N).”

“G’night gray.”

You were currently at home finishing up an assignment when your phone started ringing, to occupied with work you didnt even bother to see the name. “Hey there, (Y/N).” you smile at the voice.

“Hey there, grayson.”

- THE END

#grayson dolan #grayson dolan imagine

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