Katherine awoke the next morning in her one bedroom loft and rolled out of bed for a long shower. She was exhausted. After getting back from dinner last night, she spent a multitude of hours trying to come up with a formula that could test her theory. She was stuck. And she hated it. After her shower she wrapped her hair in a tight bun and put her black glasses on. She grabbed a pair of black cargo pants and a green lantern t-shirt, threw her male small black sports coat on and left for the University. On her way in, flashes of the night before danced in her head. She laughed to herself thinking of Dr. Cooper. He's a funny character. She thought to herself. She had read many of his papers throughout the past few years and was actually very impressed by his work. She had made the comment on her first day out of defense. It's how she was. If she felt her own work was being discredited she retaliated by doing the same. She actually felt very embarrassed by her behavior upon their first interaction. Last night didn't help either… She promised herself to stop by his office today and apologize.
Sheldon stood in his office staring at a white board filled with equations. Drat. I'm stuck. He was so consumed by the equations scribbled across the board that he didn't even notice Katherine slip into the room. She stood in the doorway and he was finally brought out of his trance by her three concise knocks on the already opened door.
Sheldon jumped and stared at her for a moment before scoffing and turning back to his equations, "I'm busy."
Katherine smiled, "Don't mean to interrupt. I just came by to apologize."
Sheldon's interest was peaked. He turned, "I'm listening."
Katherine continued to smile, "I was very rude the past two encounters we've had. I'm here to offer an olive branch. Can we start over?" She extended her hand, "Hello, I'm Dr. Katherine Thrice. You can call me Katherine, or Starbuck, if you please."
Sheldon stared at her hand for a moment, "I don't like shaking people's hands unless I know they've just been disinfected."
Katherine lowered her hand and looked a bit hurt.
Sheldon looked down and shuffled a bit, "But all the same…hello. I am Dr. Sheldon Cooper and I won't call you Starbuck."
Katherine smiled at him, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Cooper. I look forward to our future encounters."
"As do I, Dr. Thrice. Now if you don't mind," he motioned to his white board.
"Right," she smiled and turned toward the door. "I'll see you at lunch, I suppose." And like that she was gone.
The week went by quietly. Katherine continued to eat lunch with Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj. She did enjoy their company and found Sheldon especially fascinating. He was a curious creature. She continued to be stuck in her work but she remained optimistic. She knew she'd have a break through soon; she could feel it. Soon enough Saturday rolled around and she found herself outside of Sheldon and Leonard's apartment building once again. She walked up to apartment 4B, right across the hall from the familiar apartment 4A, and knocked three concise times. A disheveled Penny swung the door open.
"Katherine! Are you early?" Penny said a bit out of breath.
"You said one o'clock," Katherine glanced down at her watch. One o'clock. She showed Penny her watch.
Penny smiled, reminded of Sheldon, "Right. Well, Bernadette had to go into work last minute so it'll just be the two of us. Come on in, give me like two minutes to get dressed."
Katherine entered the one bedroom apartment and tried hard not to cringe. There were clothes everywhere and it looked as if someone had ransacked the place while Penny was asleep.
"Sorry about the mess," Penny yelled from her bedroom.
"Oh, it's fine," Katherine shouted back, an obvious lie. Katherine stood right next to the front door. She hated a mess. She was a meticulous person and didn't want to delve into the apartment any further in fear she may lose a shoe among the clutter. Penny came out of her room wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a flower print top. Her hair had been pulled back into a poof and she had brushed on a light layer of makeup. She looked beautiful. It made Katherine feel a bit like a slob in her army green cargo pants and oversized black t-shirt, hair in her usual messy bun.
"Alright, all set," Penny smiled. "Let me just run across the hall and say bye to Leonard." Penny exited the apartment, Katherine close behind. They walked right into the apartment without knocking and found the boys perched on the couch watching the final season of "Battlestar Galactica". Katherine stood at the door and waited for Penny.
"We're heading to the dress shop now," Penny leaned down and gave Leonard a peck on the cheek. Katherine turned away; public displays of affection always made her feel uncomfortable. She stared contently at "Battlestar" instead.
"Well, have fun, guys," Leonard smiled.
"Yes, have a hoot in a hat," Sheldon said dryly. "Now if you don't mind I'm trying to watch the real Starbuck battle the cylon race."
Katherine smiled, "Hello to you too, Dr. Cooper."
"Yes, yes, pleasantries now get out," Sheldon snapped not taking his eyes off the TV.
"I think that's our cue to leave," Penny kissed Leonard once more and just like that, the two were gone.
"Here, try this, this, this, OH! And this one!" Penny piled dresses into Katherine's outstretched hands and pushed her into a dressing room. Katherine felt awkward. The dresses Penny had grabbed were a bit more revealing than she was used to wearing.
I'm here to make friends. Suck it up.
The first of the four dresses she slipped on was a bright yellow and "washed her out", as Penny had put it. The second was a bright pink and even Katherine had to admit it was ugly as sin. The third was something Katherine would have enjoyed wearing. It was black, floor length, and was not too low cut at all. It was modest and plain, a lot like herself. But Penny insisted she try on the last dress. It was a short, cherry red cocktail dress. It hugged Katherine's curves and dipped dangerously low in the front and back showing a lot of skin. Katherine felt extremely out of place in this outfit. She wanted to put her cargo pants back on but Penny insisted Katherine come out of the dressing room and show her. Katherine opened the door slowly and did not step out. She stood in the doorway so only Penny could see it, no one else. Katherine tugged at the bottom of the dress trying to magically lengthen it to no avail.
"Holy crap on a cracker!" Penny exclaimed. "You look incredible!"
"Really?" Katherine crossed her legs and continued to tug at the dress.
Penny's eyes suddenly lit up with a mischievous glint, "Katherine?"
"Yeah?" Katherine responded, not liking where this may be going.
"Do you have contacts?"
"Yes…"
"We're going to have a little girls night, tonight."
"Great," Katherine responded enthusiastically closing the dressing room door. Crap…
"You know, I don't understand why you're so rude to Katherine, Sheldon," Leonard said.
"Yeah, dude, she's pretty cool," Raj continued.
"And she's a total babe, am I right?" Howard snickered.
Sheldon rolled his eyes, "I'm merely acting accordingly to my feelings."
"You're merely being an ass," Leonard retorted.
Sheldon huffed, "Well how would you like me to act? All buddy-buddy? With someone who compared themselves to the Starbuck from the "Battlestar Galactica?" Please."
"She never compared herself to Starbuck," Raj defended. "She just said it was a nickname."
"Same difference," Sheldon said stubbornly.
"She's been nothing but pleasant toward you the past week," Leonard argued. "The least you could do is return the pleasantries."
Sheldon scoffed, "Fine." He paused, "But I won't be happy about it."
"I didn't think you would be," Leonard said rolling his eyes.
Suddenly, he heard his cell ringing. He glanced at the caller ID, "Oh it's Penny. Hey, how's it going?"
"Hey! Really good."
"That's great."
"Yeah, listen do you think you and the guys would be up for going out tonight? To like a bar/club type thing?"
"Uh…sure. What's the occasion?"
"You'll see! I love you, bye!" CLICK
"What was that all about?" Howard inquired.
"We're going out tonight!" Leonard replied happily.
"Oh good lord…" Sheldon muttered.
Katherine hadn't seen her reflection for about two and half hours now. The two drove to Katherine's apartment after each bought a dress from the new shop. Katherine, the red cocktail, much to her protest, and Penny, a short black mini skirt style dress with only one sleeve.
"Almost done," Penny muttered, her mouth gripping several bobby-pins.
"What time are we meeting the others?" Katherine inquired.
"In about an hour," Penny poked another bobby-pin into Katherine's head.
Katherine remained quiet, I must look ridiculous.
"There!" Penny exclaimed. "You're ready, now don't touch your hair or face while I get ready."
Katherine stood up and stared at herself in her floor length mirror, Wow.
"I'm not going," Sheldon protested.
"Sheldon, you're going. Now get dressed," Leonard argued. Raj and Howard had left a few hours ago to get ready and pick up Bernadette and they would be back soon.
"This is completely ludicrous," Sheldon retorted. "I don't drink. I don't dance. I don't like loud noises. I don't like being in close proximity to people who do any of those three things. And most importantly, I do not like Dr. Thrice."
"Sheldon!" Leonard shook his head.
Sheldon shrugged, "It's the truth."
"It's a social convention," Leonard blurted out. It was his go to excuse to get Sheldon to do things he normally never would.
"How so?" Sheldon crossed his arms.
"Katherine is new in town and it is our job to show her a night on the town," Leonard raised an eyebrow.
Sheldon was silent for a moment contemplating whether or not this was an acceptable answer, "Fine." And he marched off to his room.
"Wear your blazer!" Leonard cried after him, in which Sheldon replied by slamming his door.
"The party has arrived!" Howard came through the door, followed closely behind by Bernadette and Raj. Howard wore a tight pair of brown pants matched with a yellow turtle neck under a paisley shirt. Raj wore a pair of loose brown slacks and white t-shirt with a brown sports coat. Bernadette wore a modest knee length yellow summer dress with a white knitted sweater wrapped snuggly around her shoulders.
"Hey guys," Leonard smiled. He was dressed in dark brown slacks, a black shirt, and matching dark brown blazer. "Penny and Katherine should be here soon then we'll head out. Sheldon! You ready?" Sheldon emerged from his bedroom wearing a pair of black slacks, his famous Flash t-shirt, and black blazer.
He stared at them miserably, "Let's get this hell over with."
Just then Penny swung the door open, "Hey, guys!"
"Hey," Leonard gave her a peck on the cheek, "Where's Katherine?"
A smile spread across Penny's face, "You guys are gonna freak!" She turned and shouted into the hallway, "Katherine!"
Penny stepped aside and in her place stood Katherine, although it could have been a different person altogether by the looks of this woman. Katherine's hair, normally pulled back in a messy bun, hung loosely in a soft curl around her shoulders. Her brilliant blue eyes, which were normally hidden behind her thick black glasses, were dusted with a layer of black eyeliner and mascara. And her body! She was constantly in baggy cargo pants and t-shirts that the sight of her standing there in a tight red cocktail dress was breathtaking. The dress poofed at her waist and showed her long slender legs which were topped off by a pair of two inch black pumps. Penny had done a fantastic job. Katherine stood awkwardly, her hands clasped behind her back.
"Wow," Sheldon was the one to finally break the silence, causing everyone in the room to stare at him. He cleared his throat firmly, "You look lovely, Dr. Thrice."
Katherine smiled shyly, "As do you, Dr. Cooper."
The two locked eyes for a moment, a very fast moment, before Katherine clapped her hands together, "Shall we go?" And like that, the group was off.