Author's note: I gave a great amount of thought to the matter of publishing my one-shots before deciding on doing it. I really hope you enjoy.
I think some of them may not be directly related to the show as this one is, they usually are the result of my idle deliberations. Anyway, I'll be sure to contextualize the story a bit before.
The updates will be made monthly, with some extras along the way.
Last but not least, I apologize for any mispelling or grammar errors you may find - this story is not beta'd.
First chapter: Amy's point of view on first meeting Sheldon.
With a sight of anxiety, Amy stared at the laptop in front of her.
She still didn't want this - any of it - but it was the deal she made with her mother, and it could not be broken. Not by her, at least.
The screen was showing a dating website. Earlier that day, Amy had put all the needed data in order to find, in the words of the site, "the perfect match" for her.
That was pure silliness, and she knew it. She had been working on a paper disproving love at first sight and all that goofy stuff, for Christ's sake. All of it just existed in her books, and movies, and shows. Only in fiction.
She logged in, without a bit of excitement, and saw her profile. It was pretty straightforward: her name, her occupation, her hobbies. A picture of her from last Christmas – taken by her mother for that exact occasion (to put on her dating website), what bothered Amy quite a lot. Doesn't she think I'm able to take a picture by myself?
Her profile was a perfect summary of her, except the data on her profile didn't say how alone she felt, and had felt her whole life. Even though Amy did not believe she could actually find someone through the internet, a teeny tiny part of her hoped she would. Maybe not the love of her life, but someone who was worth spending time with. It didn't even have to be physical. Actually, she always made sure it was clear that physical attention was not a possibility. Her body was far too precious, besides the fact she feared to not be respected for her mind. So all she truly wanted was to find someone who would understand her. But that was not happening; that was not for her. She was destined to be a lonely wolf.
She blinked, her eyes heavy. She wasn't quite sleepy, but her excitement to do any of this was so null she felt numb. Just one of these to get me through the year, it is going to be fine. It's always been. Just another dumb, desperate man seeking for attention from literally anyone – why, she thought, would he come after her otherwise?
Amy didn't think she was ugly, but she did not think she was pretty either. What she was sure about, though, was about the fact her figure could be considered frumpy by social standards, what usually put men far away from her, which was fine. Honestly, why should she worry about her looks when there was a whole other world within science for her to explore?
With that thought, she resigned herself, taking a long, deep breath.
Paying more attention on the screen in front of her, she saw she already had a notification.
The perfect match for you was found.
Amy had goosebumps. And then asked herself why. She was waiting for this, wasn't she? The website was supposed to find a match for her, and she had been through all of this just enough times to not be nervous about it. Yet, there she was, her hands slightly trembling as she clicked to check whoever was this man.
The picture of a pale, handsome man popped up on her screen. Under the picture, it said "Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Theoretical Physicist at Caltech University" and then a really, really long text about his life and his hobbies. What the hell?
By all the information she had, one thing was sure: he loved to talk about himself.
But, well, she felt he was cute. Those things didn't matter to Amy, but she was surprised the website would match him with her.
Usually she wouldn't go on a date with the first person that appears to her. Yet, he seemed nice. Ok, a little narcissistic, albeit still nice enough to understand the reasons for that date and how she would not be giving her flower to him. Nor any of the things expected on first dates, such as hand holding, kissing, and all sorts of physical contact. That just wouldn't do.
Yes, someday, when she found the right person, she would have all of the smushy stuff. At least that's what the dreamy part of her brain thought; the analytical part, which was much more rational, reminded her that that would never happen. Still, Amy did not like the thought of sharing the slightest intimacy with someone she barely knew.
Putting the thought of her love life aside, she decided to get practical and send a message to that unknown man. If their date didn't go well, she still would make her part of the deal with her mother, which honestly was her main goal. So there was no reason why not to do this.
After some texting, they decided to meet the next day at 4:30pm. Something about that conversation was really bugging her, though. It seemed robotic, almost like someone was mocking her or so. Please, please, do not let this be a prank, she asked a divinity she didn't actually acknowledge the existence of.
When she went to bed later that night, she started to get anxious about the next day. Amy didn't know what to wear, or what to do with her hair, much less what she was going to say to Dr. Cooper. Should she call him Doctor? Probably. But if it was too formal? They were going on a date, nonetheless.
What is happening? Why am I worrying so much about all of this? She asked herself. It didn't make sense, that wasn't her.
And, with the image of the man in question behind her eyelids, Amy Farrah Fowler slept, wrapped in her questions.
4:26. No sight of the man Amy had spent the night thinking about. And the whole day until that. Her reaction was somehow so out of character that she was feeling lost. And the man didn't even bother to get in the coffee shop!
Of course, she was early. She decided to arrive ten minutes before the time they had agreed on, just to get settled to the place. She had never been there before, and barely knew that part of the city. It was a necessary effort to herself.
The clock in her hand marked every single second since she arrived. Fortunately, it did not check her pulse; otherwise, it would tell her how nervous she was, and she didn't want to know. That didn't make sense, it was an irrational fear. She knew the brain well enough to know which part of it was lighting up, but her feelings were too blurry and there was no reason why.
That is, until he entered through the door.
Her stomach did something she hadn't felt before. Ever. Like butterflies were flying inside it. And then she shocked her head to fade the thought away. She was thinking as a novelist, for crying out loud!
The man looked lost there. And then Amy realized he was not alone, there were two other men behind him.
I might as well go over there, she thought, it appears like he doesn't know what he is looking for.
"Excuse me, I'm Amy Farrah Fowler, you're Sheldon Cooper."
The man looked at her deeply, like he was apologizing for something. His eyes were so intense, in a shade of blue that could not be identified on the photograph.
"Hello, Amy Farrah Fowler." He said condescendingly. "I'm sorry to inform you that you've been taked in by unsupported mathematics, design to prey on the gullible and the lonely. Besides, I'm being blackmailed with a hidden dirty sock."
Amy listened to his speech, which was long enough for her to remember of his dating site profile. It was sort of dull, the way he seemed to go on and on about a topic, but she often found herself doing just the same, and a feeling of empathy washed over her. Still, she did not know what he was trying to say. Maybe he was trying to use urban language, thinking she would prefer that. Did he not pay attention to the factor that I am a doctor as well?
"If that's a slang, I'm unfamiliar with it. If it was literal, I share your aversion to soiled hosiery. In any case, I'm here because my mother and I have agreed that I will date at least once a year." She started the date as always: clarifying why they were there. It was always better like that, not giving any chance to other intentions.
"Interesting", Sheldon said. "My mother and I have the same agreement about church."
She thought it was sweet that he would do that to his mother. She knew how hard it could be to give into something you don't actually believe in just to make her progenitor happy. She was doing it right now, as a matter of fact.
"I don't object to the concept of a divinity, but I'm baffled by the notion of one that takes attendance."
"Then you may wanna avoid east Texas."
"Noted," she nodded. And then, trying not to show how nervous she was, she told him about the situation of their date. "Now, before this goes any further, you should now that all forms of physical contact, up to and including coitus, are off the table."
That was when everything started to get weird.
Every time she explained to a man that she did not want physical – or honestly any kind – contact, there would be an awkward silence followed by some shyness. The rest of the date would be a disaster and then they would go home and never speak to each other again.
But not this time. She actually could see a change in this Sheldon Cooper man, but it felt like he was somehow more comfortable with her. How was that even possible?
"May I buy you a beverage?" He asked her.
She nodded, and then just said "tepid water, please."
It was so strange that feeling between them now. Like some sort of recognition, as if they we're supposed to meet. She knew that was not possible according to science. It didn't make it the less real, though.
That sort of connection was weird. That feeling was weird. She was kind of embarrassed of him without any apparent reason, and could not look at him in the eye again, even if her life was dependent on it.
Sheldon Cooper asked for their water (turns out they were having the same thing) and waited. She felt his look on her more than once, but suddenly the walls of that place were too interesting for her to look back at him.
"Where do you work?" He asked her in the moment they grabbed the glasses of water and were headed to an empty table. She did not fail to notice his friends were still there.
"Weren't you suppose to know that?" She asked back, finally looking at his face again. "It's on my profile."
That was the whole purpose of that many personal information shared there, she thought. To avoid boring small talk.
"Oh" was his reaction. "I don't think I've made myself clear in the beginning."
She bent her head slightly, paying even more attention.
"You see, I did not want to be here."
Ouch. It didn't matter if that was the truth or not, but was it necessary to point it out so explicitly?
He kept going as if what he said was not that important, though.
"As I said before, I was blackmailed with a hidden dirty sock to come here. Actually, my friends over there were the ones to set up a dating account on my behalf. I myself have no interest in such goofy stuff" he took a long sip of water. "Hence the fact that I barely know anything about you."
Amy did not know if she should be offended by his statement or flattered.
"As you already know, I'm Amy Farrah Fowler. I have a PhD in Neurobiology and work with research at UCLA."
"Oh, I am sorry for causing you so much discomfort" he said, looking truly regretful. Finally, Amy thought, an apology for what he said. "If I knew before hand, I would've called you Doctor Fowler."
Amy tried not to sound disappointed – there was no reason for such. He, much like her, did not look like the kind that apologized.
"It's fine. I did not call you Doctor Cooper either."
"Oh. I assume that is reasonable. I do not object for us to forgo our titles in every day conversation," he said, with the tiniest hint of a smile.
"Neither do I," Amy agreed, enjoying the way Sheldon insinuated there would be more conversation.
And there was, indeed.
Thank you for reading. Please consider leaving a review if you liked it. :)