Leonard and Penny drove along in silence for another bit, each deep in thought. Finally Leonard couldn't stand it any longer.
"Penny? I'm so, so sorry. If you only knew how disappointed in myself I am…." he began.
"Not as disappointed as I am in you," Penny snapped. "So tell me something: why did you wait two years to talk to me about this?"
"I…I was scared, I guess," Leonard stammered, turning even whiter.
"Scared of what?" Penny jeered.
"I don't know, scared that you'd be angry. Scared….scared that you would break up with me," he shuddered at the thought.
"So," she practically shouted, "you figured telling me two years later wouldn't make me angry? The fact that you've kept this a secret for two years would make it better? How can I trust you now? How can I ever trust you? What other secrets do you have from me?"
Penny was so furious she was practically pounding on the dashboard. Leonard looked absolutely stricken, totally lost. She sneaked a look at him and suddenly a wave of sympathy swept over her. After all, it was two years ago; he was drunk (she'd been drunk and stupid a lot, too); he had probably been lonely. But she couldn't let go of her anger quite yet, she was in the right and he was in the wrong. Chalk one up for her side….
"Penny, I'm so sorry, if I could only change the past…."
"Well, you can't. That's enough, I'm going to take a nap."
And Penny closed her eyes. As she did she took another look at Leonard. A tear was working its way down his cheek as he gripped the steering wheel ever more tightly and stared straight ahead. She could practically feel the desperation oozing from his pores. Again she felt sorry for him; but again she wanted to drive the point home.