Is It A Date?

Sequel to Welcome Surprises

"Hello Dr. Cooper."

Sheldon looked up from the papers he was reviewing to see President Seibert standing over him. He looked around warily at the way everyone in the cafeteria was trying to pretend not to be watching.

"Hello." he replied. "How many I help you, President Seibert?"

"In two weeks there will be a presentation to donors from all the departments followed by a dinner. You will bring a date who isn't a family member, hooker, or robot. And wear a suit that isn't plaid." Seibert started to walk away but turned back quickly. "And try not to insult anyone by calling them idiots, morons or imbeciles."

Before Sheldon could process it all, Seibert was gone. Slowly, Sheldon stood and walked back to his office. He pulled out his phone and started to call Penny. She would know how to get out of this. He had just pushed call when he had an idea. Quickly he hung up.

Sheldon grabbed an eraser and wiped off one of his white boards. He began steadily writing symbols and equations that only made sense to him. His phone buzzed and he dropped a quick glance to it.

Need something sweetie?" He must not have hung up fast enough. He quickly tapped out a reply.

Yes. I will explain when you pick me up.

A moment later she sent him OK. CU later. ;)

Penny glanced at Sheldon several times as they drove home. He was fidgety and kept glancing at his phone. They walked up the stairs, each looking through their mail. Penny opened her door and Sheldon shut it behind them. Neither one even noticed this anymore. It was just the way things were. They always came to her apartment. In fact, other than sleeping, Sheldon rarely spent much time in his. Often Penny would come home to find him on her couch working on his laptop or watching tv.

Sheldon sat at the table while Penny put on a kettle of tea. He watched her move about the small kitchen carefully. Finally he cleared his throat, making her look over at him.

"Penny, I have a proposition to discuss with you." She walked over and sat down.

"A proposition? What kind?"

"Today I was informed by President Seibert that I must attend a function at the university. I will have to present a paper to represent the physics department to donors. There is also a formal dinner afterwards for the purpose of interacting with said donors. I am required to bring a date." Sheldon took a steadying breath. "I would be grateful if you would attend with me. In return I will purchase your dress and shoes. You will also need to help me find an appropriate suit as my plaid one has been deemed unsuitable by Seibert. Will you attend?"

He was gratified by how quickly she agreed. She didn't hesitate at all.

"Of course I will, Moon Pie. When is it so I can make sure I have the day off?" The kettle whistled and she stood to take it off the burner. He watched a she began gathering the necessary items for dinner. "It is in two weeks. Are you sure you do not mind?"

Penny smiled at him over her shoulder. "Of course I don't mind. It's what friends do, Sheldon. Now, go pick out a movie. Supper will be ready in 20 minutes."

Sheldon walked across the hall to collect a couple of dvds, his mind on the whiteboard he had worked on this afternoon. He was absolutely certain he was beginning to care about Penny in ways that had little to do with friendship and held more in common with biology and chemistry. He pulled out his phone again and pulled up the photo no one knew he had. Penny asleep on the couch beside him. Her head was laying on his shoulder. What he stared at though was the smile on his face as he looked at the lens. He looked wistful. He had not even realized he was attracted to her until he saw that smile. Now, a week later he had to admit, if only to himself, that he was definitely drawn to her. He had spent the last 6 days cataloging his reactions to her.

He did not just enjoy her company, he sought her out. He did not flinch when she touched him. Instead he always felt a small spark. He watched her lips when she spoke. He watched her eyes when he spoke. The night she fell asleep pointed away from him, he had reached over to draw her toward him. The man who had been hitting on her at work had made him angry. At Amanda's birthday party, Penny had teased him by snatching away the spun sugar Hellboy topper and then when he had opened his mouth to berate her, she had shoved it into his mouth. Her fingers had brushed his upper lip and his body had reacted by becoming semi-erect.

Now he just had to decide what to do. Did he ignore these feelings or did he act on them? He had no clues as to whether or not Penny was attracted to him. Maybe that was a good place to start. He would test the possibility of Penny being attracted to him. Then he would decide where to go from there.

He grabbed Star Trek : Wrath of Khan and went back over to her apartment. He watched her move about from the corner of his eye. How to test her reaction to him? He opened his laptop and googled 'signs of attraction in women'. He made sure to keep the screen away from Penny so she would not see what he was looking up. After a few minutes he had a plan.

He studied his whiteboard carefully. For 10 days he had been systematically adding new variables to his interactions with Penny. At first he had introduced compliments. Verifying she looked pleasant, commenting on how well a meal tasted, even once telling her that the sound of her voice was soothing after a long work day. That one had garnered the most response. Her eyes had widened and she had stammered out a soft thank you.

Next he began adjusting proximity. He would lean closer when they talked. At first this seemed to confuse her, but she quickly adjusted. She was startled when he began placing his hand on her back as they walked up the stairs. He pretended not to notice, and luckily she never asked him about it. She displayed no surprise at all when he first hugged her good night 4 days ago. Instead, she leaned into it for a second. He did not fail to notice the slight blush either.

The final component was vision. His research said women liked to be noticed, so he followed her every move with his eyes. Every movement she made, he would turn toward her, even if it was only her tucking her hair behind her ears. This she did ask about. It took absolutely all of his control to keep from twitching as he told her he had no idea what she meant. He was simple responding to her own movements. After a full day of suspicious looks from Penny he was about to abandon that notion when he suddenly noticed her walk as they descended the stairs for comic book night.

Sheldon knew very well how Penny moved her body. He had spent over a week studying her every reaction. So it was obvious almost from the beginning. She was swishing her hips. This was not Penny's usual bounce as she walked down stairs. This was a full on swish of her hips from side to side. When they reached the bottom of the stairs he saw her eyes dart towards him quickly. Then she nibbled her lower lip. Sheldon had a definite reaction now. She was trying to attract his attention! So, when he made sure his hand dipped a bit lower to her hips upon their return from Stuart's store, her pupils dilated and she almost missed a step.

In three days, Penny would be his escort to the presentation and dinner at the university. If all went according to plan, at the end of the night he and Penny would enter a new and different relationship.