〔𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 ; 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦〕
〔𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.〕

⋆

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT THAT Michael was to host a Casino Night in the warehouse. He continuously hyped up the event for the past couple of months, especially since all the money being gambled was going to go to a charity of everyone's choice. 

♡

"I'm actually excited for this casino thing tonight. I love playing poker and roulette, and the money's going to a good cause too." Willow said to the cameras.

♡

Willow and Jim stood over at reception engaged in conversation with Pam. The door to the office opened; Dwight walking in wearing a tuxedo. Willow felt her eyes widen a bit.

"Excuse me. How long is the wait for a table for two?" Jim teased.

"I would never, ever serve you. Not in a million, billion years." Dwight responded.

"You look nice, Dwight." Willow said.

"Thank you. This tux actually belonged to my grandfather. He was buried in it, so family heirloom." Dwight nodded and walked over to his desk. 

Eventually the Halperts returned back to their desks as Pam's fiancé Roy came in.

"We have to pay for our own drinks? That's lame." Roy exclaimed.

"Come on, it'll be fun, and besides, I'm a roulette expert." Pam replied.

"Impossible. Roulette is not a game of skill, it is a game of chance." Dwight interjected.

"I can always kind of win at roulette." Jim said.

"Oh really? How would you do that?"

"Mind control."

"You can't be serious," Dwight scoffed, turning to Willow. "Is he serious?"

"Ever since I was a little kid, like, eight or nine, I could sort of control things with my mind." 

"The first thing he did was slide my dolls off the shelf, trust me he can do it." Willow added, smirking at Jim.

"I don't believe you. Continue." Dwight said.

"It was just little thing, you know, like I could make something shake, or I could make a marble fall off the counter, or push Willow's dolls off the shelf. You know, just little things." Jim continued.

"That's ridiculous. You know what? Uh... Why don't you move that coat rack? Excuse me, everyone! Attention in the office, please. Jim is about to prove his telekinetic powers and he needs absolute silence. Go ahead." Dwight declared. 

"Okay, I'll try." Jim held up his hand and started to move it slightly back and forth. The coat rack began shifting back and forth, mirroring Jim's hand movements. Pam turned to Jim, stunned. The cameras panned over to Dwight, who sat there in disbelief.

♡

Pam held up the bottom of an umbrella, revealing a hook-shaped handle. Willow gave a thumbs-up.

♡

"Okay, everybody. Tonight's event is to benefit the Boy Scouts of America." Michael exclaimed as he walked out of his office and to the reception desk. 

"Again? We do that every year." Oscar complained.

"Well, they need our money. They don't have cookies like the Girl Scouts."

"It'd be nice to do something for people who are actually suffering."

"Well, Oscar, if you don't like it, then you should concentrate on winning. Because the person at the end of the evening with the highest chip count will receive $500 to donate to the charity of their choice. And they will get a mini-fridge compliments of Vance Refrigeration." 

"Yes!" Dwight cheered.

"So get your charities in to Pam. I, for example, am playing for Comic Relief." Michael explained.

"That doesn't exist anymore." Jim said.

"Comedy is very much alive, as are homeless people." 

"No, they stopped making that show." Pam commented.

"Well, then, they need our money more than ever."

♡

"I'll probably choose the ASPCA. I've donated to them before, and I love animals. Maybe I should get a dog..." Willow trailed off."

♡

"Oh, and another fun thing. We, at the end of the night, are going to give the check to an actual group of Boy Scouts. Right, Toby? We're gonna-" Michael continued.

"Actually, I didn't think it was appropriate to invite children since it's, you know, there's gambling and alcohol, and it's in our dangerous warehouse and it's a school night... And, you know, Hooters is catering. You know, is that enough? Should I keep going?" Toby explained. Michael fell silent, looking over at Toby with utmost annoyance.

"Why are you the way that you are? Honestly, every time I try to do something fun or exciting, you make it not... that way. I hate so much about the things that you choose to be." 

"Wow." Willow mouthed to Jim. 

"Okay, you know what? I will not donate my winnings to Comic Relief, since apparently it doesn't exist. I am going to donate to 'Afghanistanis' with AIDS."

"Afganistanis?"

"I think you mean the aid to Afghanistan." Jim corrected.

"No, I mean Afghanistanis with AIDS." Michael said.

"Afgani." Phyllis chimed in.

"What?"

"Afgani."

"That's a dog."

"No, that's Afgan."

"That's a shawl."

"Wait, canine AIDS?" Dwight asked.

"No, humans with AIDS."

"Who has AIDS?" Creed asked.

"Guys, the 'Afghanistananies.'" Jim said.

"Okay, you know what? No. No. AIDS is not funny. Believe me, I have tried." Michael shouted. Willow face-palmed and rolled her eyes, trying to get some work done.

♡

The work day ended as slowly as it began. Taking a stretch, Willow left her desk and walked over to reception to meet Pam. The two were going to go to Pam's after work so Willow could borrow a nice dress for Casino Night (and maybe to look nice for a certain someone). 

"Do you want to take a ride with Roy and I? We're gonna come back here anyway, you could leave your car here." Pam suggested. 

"Um, sure." Willow responded, slightly grimacing at the idea of being in the car with Roy, two times no less.

"Great! Roy's in the car right now, let's go."

"Okay!" Willow waved goodbye to Jim and Dwight before following Pam out of the office.

The car ride to Pam and Roy's apartment was mostly filled with awkward silence. Occasionally the engaged couple would ask each other about throwaway things, but Willow remained silent in the backseat of the pickup truck. 

After the three arrived at the apartment, Pam excitedly dragged Willow into her and Roy's shared bedroom and in front of the closet. Opening the closet, many different dresses hung on clothing hangers. Willow set her eyes on a sleek, red dress and took it off the rack.

"Oh my God, I love this one! Is it okay if I wear it?" Willow asked.

"Of course! You'd look great in it." Pam replied. Willow smiled as she bent down to pick up a pair of black pumps she thought would go great with the dress. Pam took a holographic purple dress and laid it on her bed.

Both women changed into their respected outfits and began doing their makeup in the bathroom. Willow contemplated telling Pam about Dwight as she applied red lipstick onto herself. 

"Hey Pam, did you know I like Dwight?" Willow said nonchalantly. Pam lightly slammed her palms on the counter and turned to the brunette.

"You like who?" Pam questioned.

"Dwight."

"No way."

"Yeah. That's why I chose this dress."

"I can't... Dwight?"

"Yes!"

"You do know he's with Angela, right?"

"I do. I hate it. But it's okay."

"Damn, I'm kind of rooting for you two now."

"Thanks. Jim'll faint if I tell him." Willow laughed as she began brushing her hair. Pam giggled as she put earrings in.

♡

Willow was having the time of her life at the moment. She just won two games of Roulette and was now at the Craps table, cheering Dwight on.

"Give me the dice!" Dwight shouted. 

"Come on!" Willow cheered, looking over to him. He looked up to her and gave her a small smile as the rest of the employees continued cheering him on. Willow's smile soon faltered as she saw Angela walk over to Dwight.

"Good evening, Dwight. What is this?" the blonde asked rather loudly.

"Evening, Angela. This is craps. I need to roll an eight. If I do, everyone wins." Dwight answered.

"Then roll an eight."

"Thank you, Angela."

"Good luck, Dwight." 

Willow scoffed to herself as Dwight threw the dice onto the table. The crowd erupted into cheers as the dice added to an eight. 

"Yeah!" Dwight exclaimed as he leaned down to kiss Angela on the cheek, earning a slap from her. Willow felt her heart sink to her stomach at the sight. Anger and rage burned inside her, fighting back tears of anger as the game continued.

"Give me the dice!" Dwight and Willow called out at the same time. Looking over at each other, Willow gave Dwight a glare as she snatched the dice off of the table.

♡

Willow walked over to the bar and ordered a mojito for herself. She quickly downed it as Jim and Pam sat on both sides of her.

"Guess who just gave me all of his money?" Pam giggled. 

"He's not the best at poker, back on Valentine's day he gave me and two of our friends fifty bucks. Each." Willow replied, smirking. 

"It wasn't poker this time! It was blackjack..." Jim whined as he ordered himself a beer. 

"You're a dumbass." Willow giggled. She ordered herself a second mojito and quickly took a sip.

"Willow, don't you have an enlightening love life?" Pam teased as she stole a sip of Jim's beer.

"I'm gonna kill you Pam, my God." Willow hissed, taking another swig of her drink.

"Enlightening love life?" Jim asked, putting up air quotes.

"Um, not really much is happening-"

"Willow likes Dwight!" Pam exclaimed.

"Shut up, he'll hear!" Willow whined, blushing.

"Dwight?" Jim snickered.

"Okay fine, yeah. I like him. Don't you dare say a thing, I'll kill both of you."

"I..." Jim looked into a camera as he finished his beer.

"And I want to say something to him. Tonight." Willow declared.

"What?!" Jim and Pam exclaimed together.

"Yeah. Yeah! Screw Angela." Willow slurred, the alcohol from the mojitos already sort of getting to her.

"Why Dwight though..." Jim muttered. Willow smacked him on the arm, giggling in embarrassment. 

♡

Later in the night, after winning a game of poker against Kevin, Phyllis and Bob Vance (Vance Refrigeration), Willow decided to step out to take a breather. As much as she adored the event as a whole (secretly praising Michael for pulling it off), the brunette needed some time alone just to relax and think. 

She exited the warehouse and walked toward the back of the building. On her way over, she looked over by the dumpster and saw a taller figure, wearing a familiar tuxedo.

"Dwight?" Willow called out, quickening her pace toward him. He turned around, laying his eyes on her.

"Oh, hello Willow." Dwight said. 

"Nice night." 

"Yes." There was a pause. Willow looked into the sky and took a deep breath.

"Can I say something?" Willow asked.

"Okay."

"Um... I know you're in a relationship. And I know that it's crazy for me to feel like this about you and I know the outcome but..." Willow cut herself off, taking another deep breath. Dwight looked down at her, giving her his undivided attention.

"But what?" 

"I like you. And not as a friend. Well, yeah as a friend. But also... more. Like in a... romantic sort of way. And I doubt you feel the same since you're with Angela, but I just had to say something." Willow blurted out. 

Again, there was silence.

Dwight let out a small gasp at the sudden confession. His mind was going a mile a minute in an attempt to process what just happened. 

"Willow, I-" he was cut off by Willow grabbing his face and smashing her lips onto his. She felt her heart skip a beat as she tried to deepen the kiss. She felt him kiss back for a fraction of a second before feeling herself being pushed off of him.

Looking up at Dwight with tears in her eyes, Willow accepted his rejection and ran away from the spot. She felt hot tears stream down her face as she ran farther away from him. Unlocking her car, Willow stepped into the backseat and laid there, finally letting out a loud cry she held inside the whole night. 

One sob turned to many. Willow slid her pumps off her feet and brought her legs to her chest as she continued to cry. Months of emotion spilled out of her like a knocked over glass of water. She sat up and put her hands over her face, slowly calming herself down. 

She felt absolutely broken and pathetic.

After about an hour (which felt like twenty to Willow), she heard a knock on the car window. She wiped her eyes onto a nearby sweater as she rolled down the window, revealing Jim.

"Oh, hi." she said, sniffling. 

"Oh my God, Willow." Jim opened the door and engulfed his little sister into a hug. She broke down in tears again as she hugged him tight. 

"Why did I do that?!" Willow wailed as Jim closed the door. 

"Shh, hey, it's okay." Jim comforted, his voice breaking a bit. Willow broke the hug, seeing her brother was crying a bit himself. 

"Oh my God, what happened?"

"We kissed, and she's still gonna marry him."

"Jim..." Willow wrapped her arms around his torso.

"I'll be okay. And you'll be okay." Jim said, rubbing her back in comfort.

"Wow. Two heartbroken Halperts, huh?" Jim joked. Willow nodded a bit, relishing in the silence of broken hearts and comfort.

Nothing was going to be fine for Willow. But, she had to move on.

♡

━━━━STARRY SPEAKS!
aaaand here's act one! i hope
you guys enjoyed the fic so
far! the tea is just starting to
boil and i can't wait for you
to read act two! lots of love
for you all xoxo <33