Raj woke up stretching his legs and arms in the plush king sized bed.
Hmmm, he thought, my bed feels extra cozy this morning.
He slowly opened one eye to unfamiliar surroundings. Suddenly the previous night came rushing back to him all at once. After dancing non-stop with the beauty in the yellow dress for 2 hours, they found a secluded corner and began making out. Not wanting to be a complete cad, Raj suggested they get a room at the Marriott up the street. She agreed and they quickly exited the club. Kissing and groping the entire way, only stopping long enough to check-in and get up to the room, they immediately fell into bed for one of the most passionate, thrilling, and sexually satisfying nights Raj had ever spent.
He rolled over to greet his bed partner only to find her side empty. Then he noticed the note on the nightstand next to him. It was scrawled in barely legible handwriting, and he it took him a few minutes to understand what it said.
R – Had a great time last night. Had to get to work but give me a call sometime.
-KS
p.s., left some money for my half of the room
He glanced over at the nightstand and noticed two crisp $50 bills on it. Raj slowly got dressed and prepared to leave shoving the money in his pocket. It was when he was walking out the door that he realized that he neither knew the beauty's name or phone number.
Feeling dejected and slightly used, he headed home.
"O.M.G. Amy, dat ass!" Penny loudly announced.
"Ohhhh…baby got back!" Bernadette's tiny voice chimed in.
Blushing furiously, Amy looked back at her two closest friends seated in the waiting area of the dressing room in the clothing boutique Penny insisted they come in while out for frozen yogurt. Though her wardrobe had begun improving slightly, once Penny found out Amy had never owned a pair of jeans she had drug them all into the shop.
Perusing herself in the 3 way mirror Amy took a moment to really appreciate how the dark blue skinny jeans hugged her body perfectly. Turning sideways, she noticed that her posterior did look rather admirable. A lovely smile broke out on her face.
"You know what? I think I will take them!"
"Yay sweetie! Now we need to get a couple more pairs, some cute tops, some shoes…", Penny rattled on.
By the time she finished she had spent just over $700. Amy didn't think she'd ever spent that much on all of her clothing combined in her whole life. Most of her clothing was inherited after her great-aunt Sylvia passed away 10 years ago. Aside from the cat urine smell she had to wash out of some of them, they were perfectly fine and generally comfortable.
She never had girlfriends to shop with, or a boyfriend to look good for. Quite honestly she just didn't have much joy in her live period, but now that she did she wanted so much for her outward appearance to reflect that.
As they were exiting the store Amy spotted a salon across the courtyard.
"You know what ladies? I believe I would like this expedition to continue over there." she said nodding in the direction of the salon.
Bernadette and Penny squealed with excitement at the prospect of this and latched arms with Amy shuffling her over there before she changed her mind.
Two hours later (plus mani/pedi's for Penny and Bernadette while they waited), and Amy was done. In addition to getting her hair done, she also had a facial and makeup session. She got dressed into one of her new outfits in the restroom and stepped into the waiting area with a flourish.
Penny began, "Holy…"
"…shit", Bernadette finished.
"So, I'm guessing I look pretty darn good?"
Her friends nodded silently, mouths agape. Their previously fashion-challenged friend stood before them with her brown hair, now a rich chestnut shade, cut in a wavy bob that rested just below her shoulders. Her smooth skin now had a peachy glow to it with makeup that made her hazel eyes pop. The jeans wear back accompanied with an emerald green silk button up blouse and dark brown riding boots. She looked 10 years younger and was positively radiant.
"Wow," Bernadette said softly "Amy you look amazing."
"Yeah" Penny said "And it's not just the clothing. You are sparkling."
"I have never been so happy guys" Amy said. "Between you guys and Leonard, my career is thriving…"she faltered as her eyes welled up with tears.
"Noooooo…don't you dare!" Penny exclaimed. "You know if you start crying, then Little Miss Hormones over here will start, and then obviously I will too, and I have date with Sheldon tonight so I can't go with puffy hung over eyes – that's for the next morning."
They all laughed breaking the emotional tension and then gathered their items to head home.
Sheldon paced back and forth in the living room of his apartment. He and Penny were going out to dinner shortly and Sheldon was a nervous wreck.
He was going to ask Penny to be his wife tonight.
Always the perfectionist, Sheldon had everything planned down to the last detail. First, they would head down to Chartreuse for a lovely dinner. The restaurant had exceeded his expectations on many levels and he know it would be a delicious meal. Next, he would have her drive them to the marina for a moonlit stroll. He would point out various significant constellations to her ending in showing her Andromeda and telling her of the tale in which Perseus immediately fell in love with her upon rescuing her from the sea monster. He would then get down on one knee and let her know that although he may not have rescued her from a sea monster, like Perseus, he was smitten from first sight and ask for her hand in marriage.
It would be perfect.
Now he just needed to get his nerves under control. He checked himself in the mirror, smoothed his hair down one last time, took a deep breath, and walked across the hall to Penny's apartment.
Knock, knock, knock
"Penny"
Knock, knock, knock
"Penny"
Knock, knock, knock
"Penny"
The door to 4B swung open to reveal his fair lady. Her hair was parted on the side and pulled into a low bun. She wore a wine colored halter sheath dress with a (extremely) plunging back, and matching heels. She smiled and Sheldon felt his heart flutter.
"Ready love?" she asked.
"Yes, absolutely." He replied firmly, and took her arm leading her down the stairs.
