Disclaiming the obvious.

[2 Weeks and 1 day until the school dance.]***

An… Acceptable Thursday

"Grandma? Brit and I are going out for a few hours! Do you need anything?"

"Where are you two going?"

"To 'Scapa'. It's the Italian restaurant that's downtown."

"Alright, just be back by 9:oo – and no fooling around…" Sheldon's grandmother continued on telling them to take things slow – go easy – don't rush anything – etc.. etc..

"We know grandma, we know. We won't be out late."

Though they meant to leave by 6:30, Sheldon and Brit didn't even get to leave the house until 7:15 because of a safety speech that was forced upon them. It was a good thing that the restaurant wasn't formal because Sheldon would have had one hell of a time looking for something upscale casual to wear. Brit, as usual, had found a nice red dress to accent her black eyes and put her hair in a bun while letting a few curly locks fall on either side of her face. Sheldon felt slightly ashamed that the only nice outfit he could muster up was a white dress shirt with the regular jeans – both slightly baggy. And, of course, Captain had to tag along too. Sheldon decided to give him a little bow-tie.

Sheldon took control of the situation, trying to act as a proper boyfriend, and; opened the car door for her, helped her in, closed the door so she was snug inside, and then took the wheel and drove them downtown to the restaurant. Nothing more to say other than; Sheldon and Brit shared a lovely evening together – with Captain, who had his dinner ordered by Sheldon - in a private booth. At the end of dinner, Sheldon pleaded with Brit to pay for the meal. Yet his request was denied and he left 'Scapa', not paying a dime.

"You should have let me pay. I would have done so – the boyfriend should always pay for the meal."

"Sheldon. I have plenty of money to spare. My cousin and I own a private jet for God's sake! I think I can pay for a dinner every once in a while." Brit responded, hugging Sheldon's right arm as they made their way back to his car.

"That's not a good reason. People will think that I am just in the relationship for the money!" Sheldon stopped in mid step – making Brit and Captain stop with him.

"That's not a good come-back either," Brit retorted with her lips curling upwards, "This is the first time I've paid for anything!"

"…Still…" Sheldon was definitely loosing this round – Captain felt Sheldon's uncertainty and raised his head to make Sheldon pet him.

"Do you think that we can go see Twilight when it comes out?" Brit asked, hopefully.

"Do we really have to go see that?! Have you seen who's playing Edward? I would have never chosen that actor." Sheldon replied, "It's going to do the book no justice!" They continued towards the car…

"Yeah – but I'm curious to see what they did with it!" Sheldon should have known Brit wouldn't give up so easily, "And besides, it's my turn to choose where we go, remember?"

"Afterwards, can we go see a movie I want to go see?" Sheldon pleaded – Twilight was not on his 'must-see' list.

"Hmm – which movie?" Brit put a finger to her lips as if in thought as she leaned against the hood to Sheldon's jet-black car.

"Journey to the center of the Earth!" Sheldon was beaming by now as he clasped his hands in joy.

Captain barked at the idea. That's right, Captain gets to go to the movie theatre too, Brit thought. If Sheldon was going to go into an attack, Captain would have to be there to warn them. But then again, Sheldon hadn't had one for quite a while. "Maaaaaybe… I think I might need some encouragement, though." Poor Sheldon, the hopeless romantic of the two, could not give up a chance to give her a light kiss. He brushed his lips across her cheek and hoped for the best. "Horrible," Brit said. "I didn't get to feel any emotion in that at all!" She leaned on her left arm more, making her shoulder rise as the other lowered and her spaghetti strap slipped from her right shoulder.

Sheldon vacillated. He couldn't help it; he always did. Maybe she'll put away. It's a joke. What if our relationship doesn't last much longer – or at all? Then I would just be making a fool of myself. THEN she'll be talking to her friends about me. What if I do something wrong and she gets mad?!... All would ride through his thoughts through every peck, every hug, and every moment of contact her had with Brit. It wasn't a bad feeling – it was only emotional block. "Stop hesitating!" Brit ordered, she would get angry if he took too long. He usually did.

Brit leaned back up again, raising her hands towards her lover's face. She cradled his head with her hands then cupped his chin tenderly – bringing him into a light, gentle kiss. She kissed him normally for a few moments until she brought her tongue to lick his bottom lip. Not being able to help her desire or more contact she pressed closer to the boy; not everyone participating wanted more contact…

"I – I – I'm sorry." Sheldon apologized.

He pulled away immediately. His eyes tried to avoid contact with hers at all costs… "It's alright." Brit responded cheerlessly – yet she endeavored not to appear offended as to make the other depressed as well. The awkward silence undoubtedly followed and caused slight tension between the two until Sheldon finally helped her into the car. He opened the car door while holding out a hand to assist her into the vehicle and began to drive Brit towards her mansion. The trip was just as the one towards the restaurant had been – except that it had started out in complete silence. The only thing that had their connection return was the overactive Captain running about in the cramped car.

"Captain! Get off Brit! Bad Captain!" Sheldon hollered as Brit laughed at his overreaction.

Their conversation grew as the drive continued and then died down as they neared Brit's residence. Sheldon got out of the car to walk Brit towards the door; the awkward silence returned.

"So, I will see you tomorrow at school?" Sheldon asked hopefully… and yet he looked so guilty.

"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow then! We can't go out after school tomorrow, though. I have exams in Chemistry on Friday. And -" Sheldon smiled.

"If we were to get together to study – nothing would get done." He finished for her.

They both gave out a small chuckle which Brit and Sheldon ended in a charming peck on the lips. After he made sure that she made it inside alright, Sheldon headed back and reentered his car to drive back home. Captain, lying down in the back seat, let out a low growl. The dog got up and sniffed Sheldon's face a bit, gave him a lick or two, and then back away to prepare himself to bark as loudly and as pompously as he could. "I guess I better get home quick then…" Sheldon thought out loud. He had to rush home before something he would regret happened. Captain barked the 10 minutes it took to get Sheldon home. As soon as Sheldon was able to open the door to his car and exit the vehicle, he collapsed onto the ground with a thud and a concerned barking dog ran up to the door to retrieve help.

THURSDAY

"Brad! Wait up!" Jenny cried out towards her best friend.

"I have to ask – what did you mean when you said that I was only rejected once?"

"I meant that you were only let down by one guy. Ever." Brad responded, lightly.

"But I was rejected by the Silver Shell and Sheldon! That counts as two people! Well, one robot and one person – but still, two people!"

"Jenny -" Brad began, "- did you ever consider the fact that Sheldon has never been present the same time the Silver Shell has been? …And that Sheldon is 'best friends' with the Silver Shell? Come on! Even I noticed that!"

Jenny tried to make the connection. "Are you saying that Sheldon – Mr. Geek-Of-The-School – is the coolest, handsomest robot EVER?!"

"No – just implying it." Brad smiled.

"I don't believe you…" Jenny said lightly – yet she was in deep thought to harden her tone as she thought back…to…

"How did someone like you meet someone like him?"Jenny asked.

"Oh – uh – um – he – uh… saved me! Yeah! Saved me from… drowning!" Sheldon replied hurriedly.

"You're the best swimmer I know!" Brad replied, smiling.

"But why would Sheldon make a robot outer-shell to fight with me?"

"OH YEAH! It was when I didn't know how to swim!"

"So this was a long time ago?" Jenny asked.

"No.. NO! I had – uh – amnesia!"

Sheldon rambled for a few more minutes with Brad, Jenny honestly could not understand a word they were both saying… "IT WAS AN AMNESIA CONVENTION!"

"How about we just ask the Silver Shell himself? HEY SILVER SHELL!"

"OH GUYS! I gotta go!!!" Sheldon ran off in the opposite direction he was walking in…

Jenny hadn't seen Sheldon the rest of the day – she had seen the Silver Shell. He brushed off his first meeting with Sheldon as well. Could… that… mean…? "Why would Sheldon try to impress me with a robot that I think is another person when he really wants my attention?! That makes no sense, Brad." Jenny snapped back.

"How would I know – ask him?" Brad suggested as he turned to go to class.

If Jenny had turned to go to class at that moment, she wouldn't have been able to turn to see Sheldon entering the building after them. Luckily for her, and unfortunately for Sheldon, Jenny caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye. "Sheldon!" Jenny cried, "Sheldon, wait a second! I have to talk to you!" Sheldon, as he came in with Captain, turned to see Jenny. "Hi Jenny!" Sheldon exclaimed, his usual stupid grin spread across and Jenny cringed.

"Hey Sheldon, I have a question to ask you." His expression turned dismal – Captain growled a bit and he had to whack the dog's ears a bit to calm him down.

"Ok, what do you need?" He asked.

"Are you – the Silver Shell?"

"Excuse me?!" Sheldon stuttered, that was one of the last things he had expected to hear from her.

"Brad told me that Tuck told him that he found out that you were the Silver Shell while we were talking on the sidewalk near school!" Jenny stated.

Sheldon took a moment. He was undone. How could he possibly get out of this one? He laughed, "Jenny, it sounds like you're just on a telephone line. First hearing from Tuck, then from Brad… whatever was the real message probably got lost somewhere… And Tuck? Do you really think that you can trust whatever he says? How old is he anyways?! You know how little kids are in having adventures and making up stories… I think maybe this is one of those… misunderstandings."

"… Yeah… Maybe…" Jenny reconsidered her accusations.

"So – Yeah. I'll see you after class – er, school, then?" Sheldon asked.

"Uh, no sorry. I promised Brad that I would go with him to the Arcade along with a few other people…" She excused herself.

"Oh – Alright. Um, Brit and I are going to go and see Twilight this weekend. Do you want to come along? You can bring Brad and – and the rest of the people Brit hangs around with are coming too… You can bring people along too if you want…" Sheldon stuttered.

"So, is Brit officially your 'girlfriend' now?" Jenny countered the question with one of her own.

"Um… uh…" RIIING!

The bell. Thank God. "I'll see you later Jenny!" Sheldon ran off to the Math hall, leaving Jenny wishing she had followed him to get the response to her question. Her rooted feet had her late for class – and gave her a detention slip.

Sheldon, as usual, met up with Brit after school. She, as usual, was in the center of a crowd of people along with her cousin Tiff. He waited patiently – awkwardly – at the outer rim of the group and tried not to attract any attention what-so-ever. Captain stayed right at his side as Sheldon began to tip on his toes and reel back on his heels a bit to keep his mind occupied. "Sheldon, my dear! What are you doing all the way over there?! Why don't you come over here and join us?" A voice that was more than familiar called to Sheldon.

Uh-oh. There were faces. Why were there so many faces turning his way? "I – I, uh… " Oh God Brit! What have you done?! I can't… I can't go over there. I don't fit there. I don't belo –. "Are you alright Sheldon? Captain seems upset." Sheldon followed Brit's question by looking down at Captain, who had been tugging on his hoody's sleeve for the past few minutes.

"Oh – yeah. Um, I better… get going... uh, bye?" Sheldon began to smile and wave awkwardly as he tried to make his escape.

Brit let him go. She wasn't dense like her cousin Tiff who said stridently, "Gawd! What's his problem?! You sure that's the guy you're going to the dance with, Brit?" The eyes that had been following Sheldon's escape route turned back towards Brit. Yet it didn't take Brit too long to respond to the new attention that was given to her. Of course she was used to the spotlight, so snippy replies always came naturally to her.

"His problem, dear cousin, is that he had a stroke, that gave him type 3 epilepsy, and now that dog needs to tail-gate him around to make sure that he survives the seizures he endures on a daily basis. And yes, that is the 'guy' I'm going to the dance with. Forgive me, my dear cousin, if I'm not going out with a 'guy' who obsesses over his leather shoes." (from the episode where Jenny goes out with Don and he cries over his shoes… direct reference) She turned her back on them slightly and waved her right hand in their direction as if excusing them and began to go off and join Sheldon to walk home from school.

Sheldon had stopped walking and had turned to see Brit's rebuttal, at which he was thoroughly embarrassed. He expected some of the others to fight back, but Brit grabbed his arm to direct him away from the oncoming traffic of the students leaving the building. "Why'd you do that?!" Sheldon asked, Brit couldn't understand – he sounded angry.

She turned to face him slightly and inquired, "Wh- what? Honestly, Sheldon, I was sticking up for you!" She let go of his arm with a certain force that indicated frustration.

"I don't want anyone to stick up for me!" Sheldon continued walking – yet he also made sure that Brit would continue following him to continue the conversation.

"You were leaving, Sheldon! You were going to let them say things about you! You were just going to let them walk all over you – ?"

Sheldon stayed silent and just sighed as he continued walking forward. He knew – he really knew – that Brit was right, but he just couldn't do it.

Brit turned her head slightly towards Sheldon with a stoic face and analyzed him for the first time in a while. His cheeks were sunken in and eyes were worn with sleepless nights. Clothes were tattered and seemed to be worn for the third time that week as they hung on his weak frame. He tried so hard to please everyone yet when it came to himself… it seemed that he was at the bottom of his own list.

Sheldon was a host. He had wanted to pay for her lunch, he had driven her to school, he had cooked her dinner for the past few nights, and he had offered to take her to her friend's to go shopping later... This was not all – Sheldon also lived alone with his grandmother who also needed chronic assistance. Brit had seen that from the past few nights she had spent at Sheldon's home doing homework. His grandmother no longer could stand without wobbling and could no longer go outside the house. Bedridden, she was forced to depend on the only other person in the home. Sheldon was just too busy caring for everyone else around him that he couldn't find anytime for himself anymore. Brit turned her head away – Sheldon put everyone else before him and in this, he 'wasn't important enough to defend'. Brit remembered when Jenny had been taken over by that rich-brat-of-a-child a few Christmases ago…

She had bragged about how she knew Jenny was nothing more than a destructive machine – Sheldon had been her rival in this. He believed in Jenny, he made a fool of himself, and he didn't care if he wasn't rewarded in the end…

…and he wasn't.

He would wear himself down to please the person he loved, worshiped, and didn't worry that he was running himself ragged. Jenny didn't deserve Sheldon – he cared too much for her and she did not give anything in return for his efforts. Brit was used to being adored and praised – yet Sheldon didn't give her that in the beginning. This was what interested her. So loyal, so understanding, so willing to please; and yet she couldn't gain any of it. Something changed, she didn't know when or how, but something changed and he became her provider, her host…

Yet he still didn't give up Jenny, this much was clear. During the day, whenever Jenny needed something or some sort of assistance, Sheldon was always there just as he had been before – in addition to Brit and his grandmother.

"Tomorrow's Friday," Sheldon started. "Do you want to go see a movie or something? I thought that you really wanted to go see Twilight."

When Brit didn't answer, but continued to stare into him, he turned to catch her analyzing gaze. It must have spooked him because he jumped lightly in shock which snapped Brit out of her trance. "What are you doing?" He asked softly. Was something wrong with his voice? Was he going to be alright?

This game they were all playing was killing off a player – the only participant who really deserved to win in the first place.

A/N. I know I'm making a habit of this and I know people HATE Author's Notes BUT. I wanna say thank you! for the comments and reviews! I was so worried that I'd be that one story with 18 chapters and no reviews. But I AM REALLY SORRY that it took me soooo long to write this chapter… I got some of your messages (please don't hate me. D:)

Review, Review, Review!!!