"Oh my god."

"Holy crap."

"That's so sad sweetie."

Silence.

In order, those were Leonard's, Raj's, Penny's and Howard's reactions to what Sheldon had just said. The guys were clustered around the door; listening in. Penny was still on the couch, staring at the sad man next to her. Sheldon was staring at his lap, at a picture Penny had just noticed. It was tiny, most likely torn from one of those photo booth strips. In in, a teenage Sheldon and a girl sat in the booth, Sheldon grinning humanely at the camera while the girl, who Penny deduced to be Amy, stared up at the boy next to her with pure adoration in her eyes.

"You were in love?" Penny asked and he nodded.

In the doorway, Raj and Howard turned to Leonard, who shrugged and mouthed 'I didn't know about her'. They then turned back to Sheldon and Penny.

"I did love Amy, but there is no point in pursuing a romantic relationship. After all, she chose someone else."

"No!" Penny involuntarily shrieked. Sheldon stared at her as if she were the crazy person in the room. "Sheldon, is letting her get away really the answer?"

"Why not?"

"Because…you love her. Isn't that enough?" All Sheldon did was stare at the picture. A happy couple, frozen at eighteen years old in the tiny square. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Can I start from the beginning? I don't want you to only know a part of the story. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense."

"Sure." Penny had no idea that the beginning went back to the previous decade, to a hot Texas summer where no one knew what would happen next.

Xxx

Their first kiss had been an accident. One of those kisses you don't plan, as it just happens. Something slightly awkward yet wonderful because of the promise it holds.

It had happened on the Fourth of July, about a month after they met. Unlike the rest of his family, Sheldon had stayed in that night. His parents were at a party, his younger brother, David, was at a friend's and Missy was at a party with some friends. Sheldon settled in the living room with some Star Trek movies and popcorn. He had a peaceful evening planned.

Ten minutes to nine, the doorbell rang. Thinking it was a family member, Sheldon got up to answer it. It wasn't a family member. For a second, he didn't recognize Amy. She was wearing a red sundress, her hair pulled into a ponytail and her face covered in makeup. Dark makeup circled her green eyes, making him think of a raccoon. Later, he would hear Missy say that she had been a family party.

"Yes?" Sheldon asked when he recovered his senses.

"I left my book here," Amy said a sotto voice. Something seemed a bit off about her. "May I get it?"

"As Missy enjoys reminding me, it's a free country," Sheldon muttered and let her in. They both went into the living room, Sheldon sitting on the couch and Amy crawling under it. After a few minutes, the book (American Psycho) was produced and she stood. But she didn't leave. For a few moments she stood there, staring at him.

"I have never seen you smile," she announced.

"Excuse me?" Sheldon asked.

"You don't smile. It's disconcerting," Amy tugged at her ponytail. "Are you really human?"

"I beg your pardon?" Sheldon was a bit offended, as one should be when their humanity is questioned.

"Most people laugh, cry or smile. You're like a Macy's mannequin. It's…unusual in this day and age." Amy smiled to show that there were no malice in her words. She turned to leave.

There was a chain reaction at work that moment. The combination of several glasses of wine and unfamiliar high heels made Amy stumble. Sheldon grabbed her wrist and rather than go left and hit the carpet, she was yanked to her right and fell on Sheldon. He let go of her wrist, and she sagged into him. Neither moved to get the other away from them. Amy put her hands on the couch and twisted herself into a push-up position above Sheldon. The next few seconds were a blur.

However it happened, less than a minute after she had fallen onto him, Sheldon found himself tasting red wine and salt. It confused him until he opened his eyes to see Amy pressing her lips to his. His own mouth seemed to move of its own accord, not caring what his mind was saying. The bittersweet taste of wine overwhelmed his senses and he grabbed her hips to keep her steady. Her hands fell to his shoulders, her dress' hem riding up.

Sheldon tore his mouth from hers to take a few gulps of air, hands still in position. His heart was racing and he could almost feel the blood rushing through his veins. Nothing Sheldon had experienced in his 16 years could be compared to this. It seemed like seconds later, they were at it again. He now lay on top of her, cupping the back of her head with his hand. She moaned into his mouth and he opened his, breathing air into hers. Something warm and wet slipped into his mouth. He knew what this was called, but for the life of him he couldn't remember what. So he went along, copying her action and placing a hand on a bared thigh.

"I gotta go back," Amy was able to whisper when she tore her mouth from his. "My mother is waiting for me."

"Okay," Sheldon said and rolled off her. She stood, straightening her dress and fixing her hair. There was lipstick smeared around her mouth and her eyeliner was running to the corner of her face. "I'll see you later."

It was only after she left did Sheldon notice she had left her book again. He picked it up. Maybe he could return it tomorrow.