~73~73~73~
Amy is worried and sad. Things had been going so well. She had a boyfriend, a real life boyfriend, who was not only smart but sexy too! He called her, texted her and skyped her everyday. He took her to the zoo, the museum and came to visit her at work. He now held her hand without her having to ask, and was much much better at general affection.
So what had she done wrong? It didn't make sense. She had replayed in her head all the conversations they had had and she really couldn't think what she must have done to upset him. There was only once answer. She would call her Bestie, Penny would know what to do . Girls night!
The girls hadn't been together for a girls night in a while, Amy and Bernadette brought the wine, Penny supplied the snacks and make-up and together they giggled and played dress up and had fun. Only when they were well into bottle number 3 did the boys come up in conversation. Penny and Bernadette were sniggering about Leonard and Howard trying to outdo each other on date night . Amy just sat listening.
" Come on Ames", said Penny, slightly slurring her words" What has the great Dr Whack-a-doodle been up too, Give us the gossip!"
Amy sighed. "I don't know what he has been up to. He doesn't call, Skype or visit any more, he sometimes sends me a text but they all say the same thing ' Sorry Amy really busy, hope you are well, yours Dr Sheldon Cooper'
What have I done wrong?"
Penny and Bernadette looked shocked. "Amy, sweetie, Sheldon is an idiot! You haven't done anything wrong! Listen lets not turn this into a gloom fest, lets go out tomorrow grab the guys hit a club and force Dr Sheldon Cooper to his silly senses"
"I don't know guys," sighed Amy "he really is avoiding me. Maybe if you ask he will say yes?"
"Well I must admit I haven't seen him lately either, whenever I go see Leonard its just us, I hadn't really questioned it we have just made the most of it" said Penny winking.
"I will text Howie now. " said Bernadette whipping out her phone, Penny did the same and within seconds there was the pinging of replies as Howard assured them he would be delighted to accompany them and that Raj would be coming too. Leonard although not so exuberant was happy to see Penny all dressed up. He said when Sheldon returned home he would inform him of their plans and they would meet in 4A and go together.
~73~73~73~
When the girls arrive the next night Sheldon isn't there. Raj notices Amy's face fall and looks at Penny who also, noticing puts an arm round her shoulder.
"So where is Dr Whack-a-doodle?" she asks angrily
" Calm down Penny, says Leonard soothingly " I called and told him our plans last night as he was at work, in fact he was gone before me this morning, on the bus! But he said he had to finish so work with the lazer then would follow us down. I even checked and his black suit is gone so he wasn't just saying it!"
Amy relaxes and pulls away from Penny and say to Raj " well looks like you got yourself a date " and winks at him.
Raj half smiles and gulps down the rest of his beer.
The group head out to the club. None had been before but Howard said he heard someone at work talking about it and it was meant to be cool.
The group trooped in and headed straight for the bar. They had persuaded Raj to stay off the grasshoppers so he was drinking wine with the girls and Howard and Leonard were drinking beer. The club was busy but not packed so they were able to stand and see what was going on with out getting pushed around. Penny grabbed the girls and moved to the dance floor. Raj wanted to join them but was in the middle of a heated conversation with Howard.
The girls were having fun dancing and drinking and Amy, although concerned Sheldon hadn't arrived, resolved to forget about him and was delighted when Raj joined them on the dance floor. They were drawing lots of attention to themselves with Penny and Bernadette in short tight dresses and Amy in a not so tight but very flattering A line dress. Their general laughing was contagious and soon they had an audience and then a group of followers! Howard and Leonard watched quietly propping up the bar.
~73~73~73~
One man watching the new comers seemed particularly interested and watched Amy closely.
" I tell you its her! That is the girl I saw with Sheldon at the university!"
"No way! He wouldn't be interested in her when he had Em at home" winked one of the guys to Steve.
Steve turned to Howard "hey buddy are you with them over there" he asked nodding at Raj and the girls.
Howard puffed out his chest. "that fine filly in red is my wife " he said proudly "and yes we are all together."
"Are the other girls taken?"Asked Steve putting down his drink and moving as if to join the girls on the dance floor.
Leonard jumped in quick "yes they are taken!"
"ok buddy calm down " laughed Steve and moved away nodding to his group of friends.
Amy moves away from the group signalling she is going to get her drink. As she moves towards Howard and Leonard she pulls out her phone and seeing no messages decides she will take the initiative and texts Sheldon.
"Sheldon are you ok? Please say you are coming down I have a diet virgin cuba libre on ice for you here"
she presses send and frowns.
Raj moves to join Amy and asks if she is ok. She nods and tells him she hasn't heard from Sheldon. Raj checks his phone and sees he has 3 missed calls all from Sheldon. He moves to order another drink for Amy then excuses himself. Out of earshot Raj returns Sheldon's call.
"Hey Sheldon what is going on! Amy is getting upset you promised you would come!"
"Raj, which club are you at?"
Raj tells him the name of the club and hears Sheldon groan.
"Raj I cant meet you. That is the club I go to with Em. People know me there, you need to stay with Amy and make an excuse. Raj I cant be seen there!
Raj can hear the desperation in his friends voice but he is angry at Sheldon.
"Listen Sheldon you need to man up. Your girlfriend is here and she wants you with her. Sheldon... Sheldon... " but Sheldon has hung up.
Raj is angry and moves back to the bar and orders a drink. He moves back to stand with Amy and drinks the drink he had left there too. Amy is smiling and watching Penny and Bernadette flirt with some guys on the dance floor, she laughs out loud as Howard and Leonard move in to claim their women!
" Seriously can you believe those two" she chuckles at Raj.
He smiles shakes his head, takesher had and pulls her along to join the group.
Amy feels her phone vibrate and looks at her message while dancing. It is from Sheldon "so sorry problem at work cant get away yet" her face falls. She leans over and shows Raj. He shakes his head grabs her hand and spins her round. "Screw him" yells Raj over the music. Amy smiles and takes a deep breath. She realises she has good friends around her and this is what she has always wanted. Sheldon will wait until tomorrow.
~73~73~73~
Meanwhile Sheldon is in a sweat. He knows he needs to do something but if he walks in and Em is there he will have more than a few questions to ask. He decides to do as Raj suggested and 'man up'. Taking out his phone he dials a number and waits.
"Hello?
"Em?"
"Sheldon!"
"Hello. Sorry its so late, I have been at work. Are you at home?"
"Yes. Why where you at work? I thought you were a teacher?"
"No, I told you I am a physicist. Listen I know I should have called before. Is everything ok? Are you ok?"
"Yes Sheldon I am fine. I have a hospital appointment next week but I am fine it is just routine." Em hesitates "Do you want to come?"
Sheldon shudders "Err I don't thin that is a good idea. I am sorry Em I have behaved badly. I have been selfish, I have lots of things to straighten out. I will call you next week to see how you got on."
Sheldon disconnects the call and puts down his phone his hand shaking. Good lord the woman really did not know him at all. There is no way he could go to the hospital with her, he could barely function enough to call her. What a mess. But he had achieved his aim. Know he knew Em was at home he would go collect Amy from the club take her home and hope Raj had kept her safe.
Picking up his phone again he sends Amy a quick text. "have just finished, I am really tired, how about I come collect you and we go back to my apartment and watch Dr Who and relax?"
as he hits send Sheldon hopes Amy is not too drunk and giddy and doesn't want to make him dance and show him off.
Amy is positively giddy when she gets Sheldon's text and showing Raj and Penny skips off to the bar to order that virgin cuba libre for her man and a large wine for herself. She is so happy even the thought of Dr Who doesn't upset her!
~73~73~73~
Having changed into his suit pants at work and leaving his clothes and bag in his office Sheldon catches a cab to the club. He is seriously twitchy as he arrives. Using a cab, no cab pants over his suit, leaving his clothes and belongings at work! What on earth had become of him! Taking a deep breath Sheldon enters the now packed club and scanned the dance floor. Seeing Penny trying to dance with Leonard, Sheldon shook his head and turned to the bar. He saw Amy first smiling and laughing with Raj, but right behind them stood Steve! Could this day not get any worse thought Sheldon as he made his way slowly towards Amy. As she turned at the tap on her shoulder Amy squealed and threw herself into a startled Sheldon's arms. "Oh Sheldon thank you for coming. Look I have your virgin cuba libre here! Let me go get Penny and the others."
With that she darted off before Sheldon could stop her. Sheldon wiped his hand down his face and leant towards Raj. " I need to get her out of here now . The gentleman behind you knows me and this could get very awkward" Raj nodded and picking up his drink moved with Sheldon to the edge of the dance floor to intercept the others.
"Shelly!" shouted Penny as she jumped at him.
"Penny please! I have had a really long day and all I want to do is take Amy back to the apartment and to watch Dr Who"
"oh come on Moonpie dance first" said penny tugging at Sheldon and Amy. Amy grinned. Sheldon frowned. "I don't dance!" he grumbled and looked pleadingly at Amy, who took pity on him in her relief to know he was still talking to her.
She dropped Penny's hand, grabbed Sheldon and said "Ill call you tomorrow Bestie I need to get my man home and pamper him" Penny sniggered and watched a thrilled Amy drag Sheldon out the door.
~73~73~73~
Watching from his position at the bar, Steve takes out his phone and calls Carmen
" You will never guess what you have missed tonight " he says, filling her in briefly. His mouth slowly drops open as he listens to Carmen's response.
"Shit! Well well well... it appears Dr Cooper has some secrets he wants to keep" Steve hangs up the phone turns and watches the group of friends on the dance floor.
~73~73~73~