Amy was mad. She had been having the time of her life up until Sheldon was so rude to her former colleague and his son. From the moment she arrived at the party, everyone had been so nice to her. Telling her how wonderful she looked and where had she been hiding all these years, etc.
Amy wasn't usually the center of attention (at least not for a good reason) and didn't quite know what to think of all this fawning over her. After a while though, she just accepted it and began to enjoy it.
She was surprised when she ran into Steve here. She had known that his ex-wife and son lived in California but she never thought she would run into him again especially after their last encounter. She was also surprised to see him dressed as Thor even though she always thought he kind of looked like the superhero she once read about with Penny and Bernadette. And she was pleasantly surprised that he was still nice to her as always. She wondered if he would angry with her given the way they left things last summer. She was happy to see that he wasn't.
What she wasn't happy about was how her husband had treated him earlier. And his poor son who practically worshiped Sheldon. Amy remembered how Steve would talk about Will's love of theoretical physics and Sheldon's work. Poor kid. Amy looked back at Steve.
It seems Bert and Steve were discussing Steve's research on coral microbial ecology. Bert's date "Wilma" looked bored out of her mind and started to make small talk with Amy. Geez, this one is even worse than the last one, Amy thought.
She remembered Bert's last girlfriend who was only with him for the money he won as a fellowship winner. Where does he find them? she wondered. Just because he likes rocks doesn't mean his girlfriends have to be as dumb as them. Amy had enough and politely excused herself to go talk to Penny.
It looked like Penny was having a good time. She was getting a lot of attention from men too, especially the comic book store regulars. It's like they were finally able to work up the nerve to talk with her or something and she was enjoying getting to know them. Either that or she was relying on her long-lost acting chops to make it seem like she was enjoying it.
"Hey Ames" said Penny when she saw her. "So, are you in enjoying being me tonight?" she asked with a big grin.
Amy smiled. "I am. And how about you being me tonight?
"Actually, other than being too warm in all these clothes, it's pretty great! Seriously though Amy, how do you wear all these layers?" she said fanning herself.
Amy just shrugged. Penny wouldn't understand, she thought. When you don't have the best self-esteem due to being picked on by bullies for many years, hiding is kind of your "go-to-move." Hiding in layers of clothing just feels natural.
"Who's the guy dressed like Thor?" Penny asked. "I saw you on his arm awhile ago" Penny raised an eyebrow. "He's hot. How do you know him?"
"Oh, um..." Amy hesitated. She let out a breath. "That's Steve. He's the marine biologist that I met when I was at Princeton last summer" Amy said.
"Oh my gosh!" Penny said. "That's the Steve you told me about?"
Amy just nodded.
"The Steve that asked you to dinner?"
Amy nodded again.
"The Steve that kissed you?"
Amy put her head down, but nodded.
"Wow Ames" Penny said. "You did not say he looked like that! What is he doing here? I thought he lived in New Jersey."
"He does. But his ex-wife lives here with their son and he is visiting. He's also thinking about moving here to work in our biology department at Caltech. His son's going to attend next fall."
"Well, did Sheldon meet him?" asked Penny.
Amy nodded again.
"And how did that go?" Penny asked with a somber look.
"Not so good" Amy said. "They made introductions and shook hands but Sheldon wouldn't talk to him or his son. I guess it could have been worse."
"Yeah, it could have" Penny said. "I have to say, I'm surprised. Not talking seems pretty civil behavior from Sheldon given what that guy did."
Amy started fidgeting and looking around.
"Ames" Penny said. "You did tell Sheldon about what happened when you got back last summer didn't you?"
"Well" Amy said. "Not exactly."
"What!" Penny shouted. The other party guests near them stopped what they were doing and looked at Penny and Amy.
"Um, she just ruined the Avengers movie spoiler for me" Penny lied quickly.
There was a collective "oh" and then everyone went back to what they were doing.
Penny pulled Amy aside. "Amy" she whispered. "I thought you had decided to tell Sheldon about the kiss. We talked about this. He had been kissed by that Ramona girl and then you had been kissed by this Steve. It was no one's fault. You were both innocent in the matter."
"I know, I know" said Amy. "But you know how Sheldon overreacts to everything! I just didn't think it was a good idea to tell him about it."
"But he told you about Ramona" said Penny.
"He did. But he had to continue working with her. I was leaving Princeton. It's different" she said.
"Really, and what about now that "Thor" might be working at Caltech?"
Amy didn't say anything.
Penny looked closely at her. Amy looked embarrassed. Penny already knew she was by the whole situation, but she also had another look. Guilt. Why would Amy look so guilty? She said she was an innocent participate in the kiss. Was it the fact she kept the kiss a secret or is there more to it?
"Look Ames, I know better than anyone what keeping a secret like that can do to a relationship. Leonard kept that kiss he had with a coworker on the North Sea a secret from me for years and it really hurt when I found out." Penny said sadly. "It wasn't so much the kiss as the fact that he hid it from me for so long. And that he worked with her too."
"Penny. I get it" Amy said. "I do. I'm really sorry, I remember how hard it was for you when you found out but that's kind of my point. Why would I want to hurt Sheldon like that when that kiss happened a year ago and meant absolutely nothing?"
"Look Amy. I understand what you're saying, I really do, but Sheldon really doesn't care for dishonesty. Actually it's one of his very few good qualities" Penny joked.
Amy didn't respond. Normally, she would defend Sheldon from Penny's dig at him. What's up? Penny thought. Maybe...Penny wondered. Maybe there is more to her encounter with this guy.
"And" Penny added carefully 'if this Steve guy really is going to move here and work with you, you need to be careful."
"What do you mean?" asked Amy.
"Look, I know he was the one that kissed you but you two obviously had a connection and enjoyed spending time together. You don't want there to be any confusion about your feelings, okay" Penny said with all seriousness.
Amy looked at Penny who was dressed like her in her stripped cardigan and skirt with her glasses perched on the tip of her nose. Amy smiled, "Ok, bestie. When did you get to be so wise?" she asked. "Must be those glasses" she joked.
"Come on" Penny said grabbing her arm. "Introduce me to your Norse god." And they walked arm in arm towards "Fred" and "Thor".
Leonard was actually having a good time at this party. It had been a couple of hours and he'd had some good laughs at Sheldon's expense in his effort to be in character for the evening. But as he looked over at Sheldon, who was quietly standing in the corner, he didn't think he was being quiet to stay in character. Leonard walked over to him careful to avoid walking into any walls. He never was able to see very well in contact lenses.
"Hey, Sheldon" Leonard said. Sheldon didn't answer him. "Sheldon?"
"Oh, sorry" Sheldon said. "What?"
Sheldon was very distracted. He could not stop watching Amy and how she was so different tonight from her normal self. Not just her appearance but everything about her. She was so worried about coming tonight dressed as Penny. She thought everyone would make fun of her but now, she was like a social butterfly. Floating and flitting from one person to the next.
It reminded him of their wedding reception when she and he went from table to table greeting their guests. That was different though because even though he was hesitant to be social, she held his hand the entire time and they did it together. Now though, she did not seem to give him a single thought all night. She was too busy spending all of her time with "Dr. Thor", he frowned.
Leonard said that Amy could handle herself with a bunch of comic book store losers but this guy did not seem like a loser to Sheldon. He was a marine biologist, a doctor who worked at Princeton. He was tall, smart and looked like a god. Amy seemed enamored with this guy. He thought she only felt that way about him. It shook him to the core.
"Sheldon" Leonard repeated. "What's wrong? You look sick" he said with a worried look.
"I am not sick" Sheldon said firmly. "I am…I am…"Sheldon hesitated. "Honestly, I am not sure what I am. I guess I am just feeling out of sorts tonight. It must be all of these layers. Excuse me" he said as he walked away.
Leonard watched Sheldon walk away from Amy's direction towards the food table. He saw Amy watching Sheldon and frowning. Okay, he thought that's it. Something's going on and if anyone knows what it is, it's my lovely wife, he thought as he went to find Penny.
