Chapter 10
Thanks again to ShAmy4evr for editing this chapter MULTIPLE Times! She is the best. She always catches when I give Sheldon Three hands. Opps.
Now... about that date...
Amy searched through her closet for what seemed like hours looking for the right outfit for her ONE date with Sheldon. Just one date! She kept repeating to herself.
Beige skirt? Nah, too plain. Jean skirt? Too tight. Corduroy skirt? Too noisy. She was about to give up when she found a dress she had bought years ago. Her jean dress. Not jeans, but close enough, she mused. It was her favorite dress, but she had never cared enough about other dates to wear it, not that she was making any special effort for this one, it just had not been worn for a while and she felt it needed an outing. Amy put it on with the flowered blouse she had been wearing the first time she had met him. She was humming as she put on her eye shadow and adding the peach lip gloss as the final touches she stopped and looked in the mirror staring at her own reflection trying not to hear her mother's voice droning on about her nose, her chin, her squinty eyes. Amy stuck out her tongue at the woman in the mirror and told the voice to shut up.
Her bravado evaporated as she saw that she was looking better than she'd seen herself in an age and it scared the hell out of her. Hope is a powerful drug when you've avoided it for so long, and Amy didn't want to allow it in for something that would risk the new found joy of intellectual friendship. She had always wanted a friend that she could relate to and she had that now. She told herself that she didn't want anything more. Just a date. One date… That's all. Get it out of the way so that he can see, then we can be friends. Just friends… Her mantra was as well-honed as was her shield.
Her concentration was suddenly broken by a repetitive triple knock at the door. She rushed to the door and held the handle, letting out two breaths to steady her nerves before she opened it. It wasn't enough.
Standing in her doorway was Sheldon Cooper with a grin that could melt iron, and blue eyes that caused Amy to forget her shielded mantra in a nanosecond. He was dressed in fitted black slacks, a royal blue dress shirt that hugged his torso like a glove, and that same skinny black tie that screamed 2001. He looked dapper and confident holding a bouquet of flowers for Amy like a magician pulling a rabbit out of his hat.
Amy's heart skipped a beat. Little did she know how much magic it had taken to get him there.
He had spent the rest of Saturday night after leaving Amy's, researching how to have a proper date. He had swallowed all the advice like a prescription, and intended to follow it to the letter.
Sunday morning had come much too soon for Sheldon and in a panic he had rung his new friends at 6 AM in to help him with his first date and they had all answered the call, as soon as they had a few extra hours sleep.
Raj's shopping trip helped, as did Howard's advice on kissing although Sheldon declined the use of the kissing machine for practice. He'd do just fine, without the use of mechanical devices, he hoped…
Now he stood in front of Amy as nervous as a whore in church, as his momma used to say. He tried to keep calm, but he was sweating through the button down shirt that Raj had made him buy. Though Sheldon had drawn the line at the tie that Raj had picked, describing it as an out and out assault on the senses. He'd stick to black, thank you. Having made his purchases, Raj had dropped him off at his apartment so that he could shower and change. Sheldon had never spent so much time on his hair before. He had felt like his sister Missy getting ready for prom. It had to be perfect, he thought. The whole thing had to be perfect.
He had asked Leonard to chauffer him. He couldn't drive, but he could at least ensure that she did not have to pick him up for their first date. The list he had found on the "perfect date" suggested that women liked it when their dates picked them up. Sheldon could kick himself for not having listened better to the driving instructions that number Five and Two had given, but there was no way he would get behind the wheel of car. Not yet, anyway.
And now there she was standing in the doorway with a small grin as she chewed on her lip. She was wearing a jean dress and the flowered pink blouse he remembered from their first meeting. She looked radiant, he thought, unable to take his eyes from her, almost forgetting to give her the flowers he had bought.
Sheldon thought flowers were a waste and had originally wanted to get her some kind of plant that would produce something useful, but the internet was clear on this subject, flowers were a must have. He had spent most of the afternoon looking for the flawless flowers, until Leonard had finally told him to just get SOMETHING, as being late was NOT on the list of the perfect date.
As Sheldon handed Amy the bouquet of mixed flowers, a smile bloomed on her face like the flowers in her hand. He let out a relieved sigh. One thing down from the list.
"You… got me flowers?" She could not stop grinning, "I've never received flowers…"
Sheldon bit his lip and looked down, "Well, now you have." Sheldon pointed at the bouquet, "This one here, that is for grace, this one's for dignity." Sheldon rattled off all the flower's meanings while Amy listened in awe.
"Oh… that's amazing." Amy still couldn't believe she had received flowers from a man. These weren't the center pieces of the numerous weddings she had attended, or the sympathy flowers from her mother when she had had a failed date. These were real flowers from a real man.
Sheldon continued, "These here are for luck and success."
Amy was confused by the choice, "Really?"
Sheldon curled side of mouth to a smile, "I had to hedge my bets. Oh, this one's for beauty, then spirit and strength of character." Sheldon had handpicked the flowers based on Amy's qualities, but the florist was none too pleased with his choices as they weren't an aesthetically pleasing balance for the juxtaposition of texture verses color. Sheldon could care less what the overpaid flower hawker said, especially as it now looked like Amy was thrilled.
"Oh you have my favorite! Lilac! I love lilac. What does that stand for?"
"First love." Sheldon shyly smiled, and said quickly, "Hm you should put them in water before we go. Oh, and we should go, Leonard's waitin' with the engine running."
Amy walked to her kitchen, "Leonard? Do we have a chaperone?" She grabbed a vase she had bought on a whim and then thought she'd never use and filled it with water to arrange the flowers.
"Nah, a chauffeur!" Sheldon was so pleased with himself he rocked back on his heels.
Amy let out a short laugh, "How the heck did you talk him into that?"
Sheldon beamed, "I got friends now. That's what they do!" Sheldon's elation at having new friends was insuppressible.
Sheldon continued to smile, "Besides, I didn't want you to drive on our first date."
"Only date. This is a one-time thing, Sheldon..." Amy said her declaration while placing the flowers in the vase not aware of her own smile as her hands danced over the soft petals.
"Oh sure, you made that clear." Sheldon picked a white flower up from the counter and handed it to Amy, "Doncha forget this one. It's a Star of Bethlehem. It's for hope." Sheldon gave her a sweet smile.
"It's beautiful." Amy really couldn't believe it as she looked down and lifted the flower to her face trying to hide her smile. The little voice told her, Just one date, Amy. Don't get suckered in by a flower.
Amy quickly placed the flower in the vase and collected her purse. "Sheldon, I can drive. It's no problem. Tell Leonard we will be fine on our own."
Sheldon whined and slumped down, "But Amy! BroTastic69 on the forum said and I quote, "Chicks like it when you pick them up." I know I already lifted you up when we did that exercise bar, but I'm pretty sure he meant for the date! And you don't have jeans... so..."
Amy shook her head with a giggle, "I don't know if I would take dating advice from a guy whose user name is BroTastic, we'll be fine."
"I won't lose points?" Sheldon held the door for her as they exited the building.
"No, no scoring system." Amy nodded her head to Leonard, who looked bored. "More time for us to talk."
"Good point. Then I can give you a proper good night without Leonard gawkin'" Sheldon's smug smile dropped quickly when he saw Amy stiffen up.
She glared at him, "All forms of physical contact…"
Sheldon nodded, "Right right… Off the table." Amy walked over to her car as Sheldon rushed over to Leonard and gave him a reprieve till after the date.
"Good luck Sheldon, call me when you're done. I'll come back."
Sheldon patted the doorframe of the car with a smile, "Thanks, Leonard. You're a good friend." He almost left, but then turned back to add, "Oh and Penny starts work at five tonight." Sheldon continued to smile as he watched Leonard tear off toward the Cheesecake Factory. Then he hurried back, and got into the car with Amy who was already in the driver seat. "So, ready to go?"
"Sure, where are we going?" Amy put the car in drive.
"Lindygroove dance hall on Euclid Avenue."
Amy put the car back in park and turned to look at Sheldon, "Let me get this straight. I tell you all forms of physical contact are verboten, and you are going to take me dancing?"
Sheldon looked suddenly worried, "Can't ya dance?"
"Of course I can dance, that's not the point!" Amy took a deep breath, and tried to say calmly, "There is a lot of touching in dancing, Sheldon."
Sheldon waved his hand dismissively, "Ah yes, but it is the social convention to be in physical contact during dancin', it is not some sweaty love fest. You can't fight social convention, Amy." Sheldon looked at his watch, "Better hurry up, the East Coast Swing starts at 7." Sheldon looked over and smiled. Amy tried her best to play cross, but it was a lost cause, secretly she was elated. She loved to dance and would do so at every wedding she attended, with or without a partner.
Sunday night was swing night at the Lindygroove, at least it had been 15 years ago when Sheldon and his sister used to go. Missy had insisted that Sheldon resume the dance lessons his mother had started for them, so she had found the closest dance hall to CalTech and had made Sheldon go. Missy had hoped that he would meet a girl there, but the crowd was mostly over 50 and they just thought that Sheldon was a sweet boy with a mean move called the Texas Tommy. Sheldon was light on his feet, and the twins enjoyed many a Sunday dancing away. That was until one evening when Missy was nine months pregnant and her waters broke while she was doing the Fox Trot.
As they entered the great hall they heard an unfamiliar beat. It seemed that the Lindygroove Sunday night swing had been changed to Latin. "Oh Amy… I thought it would be Swing!" Sheldon looked vexed till he saw Amy's face light up when she heard the song.
"Oh a Cumbia! Let's go!" Forgotten was her resolve on no physical contact or her concerns over Sheldon. She grabbed Sheldon's hand and pulled him to the floor. For at least six songs, including a Samba, Cha Cha and Merengue, Amy didn't stop nor did Sheldon.
The music was so fast that Sheldon barely had a chance to feel her next to his body, but just the feel of her soft hand in his, the breeze off her hair when he gave her a twirl or the touch of her hand on his shoulder brought a smile to Sheldon that would not abate.
"Where did you learn to dance, Sheldon? You are amazing." Amy wondered.
"Well, thank you, so are you!" Sheldon replied as he snaked Amy around his arms and brought her back to his chest for a brief moment, "My mother insisted that Missy and I learn, though Missy had a lot more lessons later..." He twirled her around again so fast that she let out a squeal of delight. "See? Not all forms of physical contact are repellant."
"Yes, you're right. Especially when your partner is so good at Salsa!" Amy spun again unable to hold in her glee.
After a few more songs, Amy needed a drink, as did Sheldon. They were both panting, and a little sweaty, but after a few minutes rest and a couple bottles of grape nehi, they were ready to go again. However the music beat had changed, and the tempo slowed. The lights were dimmed to showcase the disco ball reflecting flickering little sparks of light over the dance floor. Amy recognized the music and the dance, it was a bolero; a slow sensual dance with lots of twists and turns. Amy was just about to ask for another beverage when Sheldon grabbed her hand, and just as she had done to him, led her to the floor.
He stopped for a moment before he positioned his hands on the small of her back and shoulder. Amy had her head down, but Sheldon's pause caused her to look up at his face. She could see him take a deep breath through his nose, and suck slightly on his lower lip. His eyes were fixed on hers. Amy wasn't sure if it was the lighting but his pupils were as dark as midnight.
Sheldon pulled her closer to his chest and felt her torso fuse with his. It was only for a moment, but it was enough. Amy draped her arm on his shoulder, and with the other, held onto his bicep. He was solid, like touching a warm steel rod. As soon as Sheldon felt her hand, he started to move, and guide her through the dance.
He twisted her arms around him, under his arms, and leaned into her body. Each move was slow, methodical and Sheldon never broke eye contact unless he was next to her, guiding his hand down the side of her body, while he leaned into her neck. It was part of the dance, after all, but not to the extent that Sheldon exaggerated the movement. Amy was too enraptured to complain, too lost in his blue eyes to protest. The shield she wore around her heart was being stripped away by the each move, every step, till she felt naked around him. For Amy, it was a dance of wills: Her resolve to ignore her feelings, and her hope that it would never end.
As the song ended, Sheldon dipped her down in front of him, then pulled her up slowly so that she was now completely fused with his body and so close to his face, that it would take only a brief step forward to have their lips meet. Amy took a step back.
"You are… um… very good at Bolero, Sheldon." Amy pulled her hands off Sheldon's shoulders and clasped them tightly hoping that her blush was hidden by the dim lights.
"Oh… I thought that was a Samba." He winked at her and took her hand to lead her off the floor. The crowd was clearing away and a bubbly woman, around 60 came to the middle of the floor with a microphone and an overly enthusiastic open mouthed smile.
"Well… we have some wonderful dancers here tonight, don't we folks? Give yourselves a big round of applause! Good Job!"
Amy and Sheldon clapped slowly then stopped as the woman continued, "Now we have a special treat! Our very own Vera. You all know VERA! Anyway, she's learned a new sexy little dance she liked to call Lambada! And she is here to teach you all! Come on here and line up on each side of the dance floor!"
The room lined up by couples. Amy and Sheldon looked at each other nervously and Sheldon asked, "What is Lambada?"
"I don't know. Maybe some Greek thing?"
"Well… it's got the word Lamb in it, that can't be good." Sheldon stopped talking when a woman older than his Meemaw, but half the size came between the line of couples.
Vera had a voice that sounded as if she smoked over three packs a day and washed it down with a fifth of Jack Daniels. Based off her baggy blood shot eyes and reddened face, it looked like she had started on that fifth of whiskey a little early tonight, "Okay folks, the key to this dance is EMOTION! You have to feel your partner's moves, react to their subtle changes and most importantly, keep those hips movin!"
Vera grabbed a middle aged man who looked less than thrilled. "My son, Clark and I will demonstrate the basics." Vera and her son took a traditional dance stance, except for one glaring difference, their legs were scissored together. However the stance was not the worst part about seeing mother and son fused together at their private areas, it was the hip gyrations that followed that would make a stripper blush.
Sheldon's eyes shot wide and he looked at Amy for her reaction. Sickened, but intrigued seemed to be her expression, but he could not be sure till he heard her laugh as she watched the mother/son duo gyrate against each other.
Amy mouthed to Sheldon, hiding a giggle, "I'm scared!"
Sheldon snickered and mouthed back to Amy, "ME TOO!"
Though Sheldon was all for physical contact with Amy, after all he had chosen dancing specifically as a first date in order to circumvent her rules on the subject. However, Sheldon worried how he would be able to hide any arousal given that their bodies would soon be as close as lovers, with clothes on of course.
"Okay folks! Now you try it! Go on now, don't be shy! Clark was shy the first few times, but he likes Lambada now, don't ya honey?"
Amy could hear Clark whisper, "I really don't, mother."
Amy stood her ground and waited to see what Sheldon would do. He approached her like a feral cat, eyeing her movement for any indication he should run. Once he was near her, they tried to mirror the stance.
"Um.. I think this is right." Sheldon, whose bravado with the Bolero was replaced with dismay over this new dance, moved closer, put his leg between Amy's and leaned into her body. He wrapped his arm around the small of her back, so that he could guide her movements. Amy inclined her hips toward him, so their bodies were almost fused together. It didn't seem as if there was one inch of her that was not touching Sheldon. They weren't quite glued like Vera and her son, but it was close enough for Sheldon. The couple rocked their hips a few times to get the rhythm, but then the music started and a new rhythm was found.
Each beat caused Sheldon to inch a little closer to Amy, and wrap his arm further around her waist. Amy held onto his shoulders, but she was more fascinated with his hips that were grinding against hers. The music led them further together and soon, they found their own rhythm. They were bonded at the waist down, rocking their hips to the side and with every other beat, against each other.
Amy's mouth gapped open as Sheldon pulled her flush with chest. She looked up at him and curled her hand around his neck to feel his skin under her hand. His was face was glowing, and he was almost panting, but holding it in by licking his lips. His eyes roamed over her face, plotting the course he would like to kiss and taste her. He moved his head to the side of her, dipping his face into her neck. Amy arched her neck to the side so that he had more room. The intense feeling of his hot breath against her neck was only over shadowed by the feather touch of his lips gliding up her nerve. He continued to grind against her, stopping the erotic action only because the song had ended. He turned his head and looked at Amy, allowing his lips to glide over the skin of her cheek before he pulled away. She was breathless, her mouth still gapped open but with the darkest eyes he'd ever seen. He slowly peeled himself off her letting his hand on her hip be the last touch.
Amy pulled away and tried to gain some composure. She brushed her hair off her face and looked at the instructor, "Well, um… how did we do?"
"Oh honey, you're doing just fine. Now, ready to switch partners?" The instructor yelled out, "Okay class, end of the line shift one partner down, and let's work on the hip gyrations.
Sheldon watched in horror as a Korean businessman approached, eyeing Amy like a steak. He looked back to Amy who was staring at Sheldon's would be dance partner: A buxom red haired lady whose outfit was three sizes too small, and 25 years too young for her fake boobs.
He sucked in the side of cheek and said, "Nope… Not happening." He grabbed Amy's hand and pulled her off the floor, "Okay, that's enough dancin' for today." Amy scurried off happily in tow.
The ride back to Amy's apartment was quiet, neither of them able think of what to say following the erotic dance they had just shared. Amy was on autopilot driving as she tried to find bits of the armor she had left on the dance floor. Eventually she was fully cloaked with a shiny new shield around her heart against her bête noire, the hope for love. Unfortunately for Amy, the shield was structurally unstable when in close proximity to Sheldon Cooper.
It was only as they approached Glendale that she realized that the dance hall was mere blocks from where he lived. The date would have been over by now if she had just taken him home. She was furious with herself for being so careless and blamed it on the distracting aroma of his pheromones filling the car's interior and the faint memory of his lips on her neck. "Oh my god, I should have taken you home! I'm such and idiot!"
Sheldon, who had said nothing about the drive to Amy's house, since that was where he wanted to be, just shook his head and replied, "Idiot? Patently untrue. Besides I had already arranged for Leonard to pick me up and really what kind of Southern Gentleman would I be if I didn't walk you to your door?" Sheldon gave Amy a sweet smile, but just received a glare in return.
Amy pulled into the parking space of her apartment building and turned off the engine. "Well, thank you, but I can take care of myself! I have for years, Alone!"
"I have too, but what's the fun in that?" Sheldon reached out to hold her hand as he had done all evening, but Amy pulled it quickly away. "Need I remind you what you said again about bein' alone, Amy?" Sheldon's mirth only succeeded in angering her further.
Amy slammed the car door, furious that Sheldon was blatantly flirting with her. What game was he playing? He should have known she was not interested. Or trying not to be, and he wasn't making it easy. One heated dance, and the man thinks she had forgotten her own rules. One date… Just friends.
Sheldon walked her to her apartment and they rode the elevator in silence. As they exited on Amy's floor, she turned around to see his smiling face, "See? Not so bad for a first date? So what about this idea of another one…"
Amy stormed toward her door, fumbling in her purse for the keys. In order to cut off his petition she used her practiced line, "Thank you for the pleasant evening, Sheldon. I appreciate your participation in this tedious outdated social ritual." She didn't bother to turn around to say it.
Sheldon furrowed his brow and cocked his head, "Amy, I didn't think it was tedious, was it? I mean that last dance was a little crazy, sure." Sheldon touched her arm so she'd turn, but she kept her head turned toward her door, and her eyes down to avoid seeing his, and said quietly, "I'm sorry Sheldon, but I just don't think this is going to work out."
Sheldon looked wounded, "Why not? We had fun tonight, you gotta admit."
"I did, and I would go dancing again, but as a friend. JUST a friend. I'm sorry…" Amy looked for something to say to end the date. She used a line she had heard before, but then it had been directed toward her, "I'm sorry… but.. I um… have no attraction to you."
Sheldon swallowed, "I see."
Amy chewed her lip and said, "I hope you understand."
Sheldon nodded his head as he sucked in his bottom lip, "Oh I understand, alright."
"Oh good, so if there is nothing else..." Amy started to open her door, but Sheldon cut her off.
"I strongly disagree."
Amy spun around and said, "Excuse me?"
"You have a premise. That you have no attraction to me. I have evidence that contradicts that premise, ergo I strongly disagree."
Amy growled back, "It's not a premise, it's my feelings!"
Sheldon glared back at her, "Hey, if you want to play this the pragmatic way, let's do it. You state you have no attraction to me, prove it."
Amy threw up her hands, "How the devil would I do that?"
Sheldon drew in a breath and said, "An experiment."
Amy crossed her arms and leaned against her door, "Purpose?"
"To prove you have no attraction to me or I to you."
"Parameters?"
"You allow me to kiss you good night. One kiss only. After one kiss, you will realize that you have feelings that you don't want to admit. Your biological reaction will convince your stubborn mind."
"You would just be playing off the cascade of brain hormones, like dopamine, oxytocin. That would occur anyway!" Amy stomped her foot in frustration, but Sheldon was steadfast.
"Nope, not always. Not every kiss warrants that response. 60% of women have stated they have ended a relationship over a bad kiss. So, if you have a poor reaction, you'll know it. Kissing has been well documented in research as a mate-assessment device"
Amy closed her eyes and shook her head, "This is silly. One kiss won't prove anything!"
Sheldon cocked his head down and lowered his tone, "Put up or shut up, lady."
Amy popped her eyes open and glared at him, "Hypothesis?"
"If after one kiss..." Sheldon moved closer to her, closing the gap between them, "…you and I have no visible and emotional reaction to it then we will agree to only be friends and maintain, as you say a relationship of the mind."
"Then you'd give up on this…" Amy swallowed as he inched closer. She could smell his scent again, talc and those delicious pheromones. She swallowed and tried not to look him in the eye. She was focused on his neck peeking out from his collar that was flexing with his deep swallows. She closed her eyes and said, "Then you will agree…this whole thing between us is nothing. We would be purely platonic."
He reached up and gently touched her chin to tilt her face so she would look at him. Amy kept her eyes closed, but put her hands on his chest. She didn't push him away, but she didn't draw him near.
"Purely." Sheldon added, "However, if there is a reaction and we do feel something, then you will give this relationship a chance and not ignore your feelings. My hypothesis is that you will feel something."
Amy drew in a few breathes for strength, "Just one…" Amy opened her eyes and watched his lips. They were inches from hers. "Just one?"
"Only one. That's all. Nothing more. You determine the results, Amy. You tell me." He placed his hands on her hips and rubbed his thumb gently against her bone. Amy shifted slightly toward the touch.
Sheldon moved his mouth toward hers so close that the tender skin of his lips was dancing on the surface of hers. He could feel her jagged breath on his mouth. "Just one." As he spoke, Amy felt his lips move slightly over hers.
She could barely speak, but her lips mouthed the word and Sheldon understood by their touch alone, "Okay," and Sheldon pressed against her.
Sheldon had never kissed or been kissed before, other than his nephew's cute chubby wrists, his mother's sweet assurances when he was young, or his sister's good bye. This kiss was like no other.
For the first few seconds he didn't move, he just adjusted to the feeling. But this didn't take long and quickly he was moving his mouth over hers, slightly opening his lips and then positioning. He relocated his hands up to her waist and pulled her closer. Amy tried to take a breath, and Sheldon opened his mouth as well, mirroring her actions. He sucked on her bottom lip as his hand slid up her waist to her back. He pulled her into him, and tilted his head the opposite direction to taste her from the new angle. His lips never left contact.
Amy kept her hand on his chest. She had expected the kiss to last a second or two, and after 15, she started to stiffen. She closed her hand around his shirt and was about to push him away, but Sheldon shifted his mouth around hers and instead she grasped the fabric and pulled him toward her. Her hands moved up his chest to the back of his neck, and weaved into his hairline.
He pressed against her further, not wanting this to end as his mouth gapped open for a gasp of air the same time as Amy, but that just gave him more fuel to keep going. He sucked on her lip, tasted the sweet texture by running his tongue slowly over the surface of her. Amy drew in a breath through her nose and felt every muscle melt. She could hear a moan in her ears: Her own.
Sheldon wrapped his hands further around her back and as the last movement of their kiss drew to close, he held her against his body for one moment more, in case it was the last.
Sheldon pulled away from Amy letting his lips dance once more on her bottom lip. Then he backed away and drew in a long breath. Amy's eyes remained closed for a few seconds more. She blinked them open and swallowed.
Amy said breathless, "That was one kiss?"
Sheldon gave her a coy lopsided grin and shrugged his shoulders, "Well," he brushed back his hair, "We didn't specify the parameters. Quantity, but not duration."
"An oversight, to be sure…" Amy was still gathering her thoughts and breath.
They did not speak for a moment, then gathering his courage, Sheldon's voice shook a little as he asked, "Conclusion?" He locked his jaw waiting for an answer.
Amy wanted to say it failed. She wanted to dart into her apartment and never emerge, but as she looked into Sheldon's eyes. The little voice crept in. This time, it has a new tone, and message. Just once more.
Amy locked eyes with Sheldon and with a quivering lower lip said quietly, "Your hypothesis is correct."
Sheldon released the air in his lungs. He wasn't sure what to do next, but Amy helped him. She grabbed Sheldon by the shoulders and embraced him. She reached up and whispered in his ear, "I'm… so scared."
Sheldon wrapped his arms around her, holding her as tightly as he could. He bent his head down and whispered back, "Me too."
Having texted Leonard, Sheldon was a in a near trance as he stood outside Amy's apartment building waiting for his lift home.
As Leonard looked at Sheldon's slightly messed up hair, and dazed look, he almost didn't have to ask. "I take it went well, Sheldon?"
Leonard had to chuckle at this new friend and his starry eyed look. Leonard had the same feeling of butterflies brewing in his gut. Sheldon's tidbit about Penny had been spot on and he had spent the evening camped out in her section. Either it had been a slow night at the Cheesecake Factory, or Penny had tables that she ignored, because the two talked for hours.
"Oh yes…wonderful, Leonard…" Sheldon's smile was delicate but permanent. He licked his lips to see if he could taste her again. Grape Nehi…
"Good for you Sheldon. I'm happy for you." Leonard started the car and asked casually, "So when is the next date?"
Sheldon looked over in shock to Leonard as he remembered the wisdom of BroTastic69's sage advice. "Always get a confirmation on the next date, bro, before you end the last one. Lock em in, dude."
Sheldon could kick himself that he hadn't got the second date lined up. Then he also remembered that he had not come up with some excuse to have Amy pick him up tomorrow for work.
"Ah well… shit."
A/N: Phew! First date down! Boy, he had to work for that one huh? Hope the next one is better! I think a shopping trip is in order, doncha ya folks! BrotTastic agrees! *wink