The New York City Conundrum
Chapter 1
A smile spread across Penny's face as she sat next to Leonard on the couch in Apartment 4A. Her head was resting against his shoulder as the two of them were watching a movie together.
" You ok Penny?", Leonard asked as he stared at his girlfriend while scratching the bridge of his nose.
" Yeah I'm fine Leonard. I'm just enjoying spending some time with you.", Penny said as she looked up at her boyfriend and blinked her eyes.
" Me too.", Leonard said but just as the two lovers were settling back into the couch turning their attention back to the movie, they were suddenly interrupted by shouting and screaming coming from Apartment 4B across the hall.
" Oh for God sakes!", Leonard interjected as he slapped himself in the head with the palm of his hand.
" What the hell is going on over there?!", Penny asked as she looked at the front door.
" I don't know. Either Sheldon and Amy are fighting or some crazy bastard broke in.", Leonard said as he scratched the back of his head.
" Well let's go see which it is.", Penny said as she stood up from the couch.
" Sure what the hell.", Leonard said as he stood up as well and followed Penny out into the hallway. They made their way across the hall pressing their ears against the door of 4B to listen to what was going. What they heard was their two friends fighting with each other over a collaboration project they were working on together.
" You know what Sheldon, I'm done being patient with you! You are the most shallow, self-centered person I've ever met!"
" Well if that's the way you feel Amy, then I declare our relationship terminated immediately!"
" Well that's fine with me! Get the hell out!"
" Fine! As you wish! Sign here!"
Penny and Leonard continued to stand there outside the door listening until they heard Sheldon's footsteps approaching the door. They backed up a couple feet as Sheldon came out with some of his belongings. His tan-colored windbreaker jacket was on over his red Flash shirt and his messenger bag was slung over his shoulder. He angrily slammed the door shut and turned around to see Penny and Leonard standing in the middle of the hallway staring at him.
" Oh, hello Penny. Hello Leonard.", Sheldon said as he looked at his two friends.
" Ok what did you do this time Dr. Whack-A-Doodle?", Penny asked as she crossed her arms in front of her, narrowing her eyes at him.
" Yeah, buddy. Is everything ok?", Leonard asked his best friend.
" No everything is not ok! Amy got upset with me for trying to control our entire project and as a result we have terminated our relationship agreement!", Sheldon said.
" What?! That's ridiculous Sheldon! You go apologize to her right now before you make me go all Junior Rodeo on your a**!", Penny hissed at her physicist friend.
" I have nothing to apologize for Penny! My mind is made up and I do not wish to stand here longer than necessary engaged in idle chitchat! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find another place to live! Goodbye!", Sheldon said as he began walking away toward the stairs.
" Wait, Amy kicked you out?!", Leonard asked in complete shock as he stared at Sheldon. Penny looked at him as well.
" Yes Leonard! Considering the fact that we're no longer in a relationship, this action was the most appropriate! Goodbye!", Sheldon said as he turned on his heel and walked down the stairs. Penny ran into her former apartment to comfort her sobbing best friend while Leonard just stood in the middle of the hallway still staring after his best friend who had already disappeared down the stairwell.
" What the hell is happening?!", Leonard shrieked to himself as he continued standing there with a look of confusion on his face.
As Sheldon walked the streets of Pasadena, he ended up at the first place that he could think of: Howard and Bernadette's house.
Knock knock knock! " Howard and Bernadette!"
Knock knock knock! " Howard and Bernadette!"
Knock knock knock! " Howard and Bernadette!"
Howard and Bernadette answered the door to see Sheldon standing there with an emotionless stare.
" Hi Sheldon!", Bernadette said with a smile on her face as she stood next to her husband.
" Hello.", Sheldon said as he stood there unsure of what to say next.
" What are you doing here?", Howard asked as he narrowed his eyes at his friend with a look of suspicion on his face.
" I need another place to live. Amy and I have just terminated our relationship agreement.", Sheldon said.
" What?! What happened?!", Bernadette asked as she stared at him.
" Yeah, did you two get into a fight or something?", Howard asked.
" Indeed. Amy got upset with me for trying to control our entire collaboration project.", Sheldon said as he nodded his head.
" Are you freaking kidding me? Is this a bazinga?", Howard asked.
" I'm afraid not. Which brings me to the question of can I please stay here?", Sheldon said.
" Hell no!", Howard interjected as he crossed his arms in front of him.
" And why not?", Sheldon asked.
" Because the last time you stayed here you wouldn't shut up even after I gave you a handful of my mom's Valium!", Howard pointed out.
" Well what do you expect me to do?", Sheldon asked.
" I don't know! Figure it out!", Howard shot back but as he proceeded to shut the door in Sheldon's face Bernadette hissed, " HOWIE!"
" What?!", Howard interjected as he stared at his wife.
" Sheldon's got to go somewhere! What's he supposed to do?! Putz around Pasadena until he gets himself into trouble?!", Bernadette hissed.
" Well I don't care what he does Bernie, as long as he doesn't stay here and annoy the hell out of us!", Howard shot back.
" He's our friend, suck it up! If he gets too annoying, then we'll kick him out!", Bernadette quietly hissed under her breath.
" I can hear you!", Sheldon said.
" Fine, you can stay Sheldon.", Howard said with a defeated sigh as he rolled his eyes.
" Thank you.", Sheldon said as he entered the house.
" Why is Sheldon...?", Stuart began to ask but his friends interrupted him by saying, " Don't even ask."
One week later, Sheldon found himself back out on the street after he annoyed the living hell out of Howard, Bernadette and Stuart. Still searching for a place to stay, he decided to go to Raj's apartment. He explained the situation to Raj and was invited in. But the very next day Raj kicked him out after he wouldn't shut his condescending mouth yet again. This forced Sheldon to go back to his former apartment building and ask Penny and Leonard if he could stay with them.
" No!", Penny and Leonard flat out told him.
" Oh come on, why not?!", Sheldon asked.
" Sheldon I've formerly lived with you for several years and I'm kind of tired of it. You may be my best friend but you're sometimes very irritating to be around.", Leonard said.
" Just make up with Amy and go back to your apartment!", Penny hissed.
" I have no interest in doing so Penny. Amy doesn't want me there anymore so I have to respect her wishes. And as I said to you last week, I have nothing to apologize for. I would very much like to take this moment of solitude to focus more on my work without any annoying distractions.", Sheldon said.
" Well where the hell do you think you're going to go Sheldon Cooper?!", Penny hissed.
" That's Dr. Sheldon Cooper and that's none of your concern.", Sheldon said.
" Well we sure as hell hope you figure that out buddy.", Leonard said.
" Thank you. Goodbye.", Sheldon said as he left. Once Leonard shut the door, Penny asked, " Did we just make the right decision?"
" Sheldon needs to learn how to find his own way in life Penny. He's a grown man.", Leonard said as he walked over to his desk and sat down.
" I sure hope he figures something out.", Penny said as she bit her lip.
" Yeah me too.", Leonard said as he started working on his laptop.
Knock knock!
" Come in.", Penny said.
" Hi bestie.", Amy sadly said as she walked in.
" Hey Ames, you ok?", Penny asked.
" Not really, Sheldon really hurt me. I never want to see his face again.", Amy sadly said as she slumped down in Leonard's armchair.
" Well lucky for you, he just left.", Leonard said.
" Did he say where he was going? Not that I even care.", Amy sadly asked.
" No, he didn't. He just… left.", Leonard said.
" He's such a condescending jerk!", Amy cried as she buried her face into her hands.
" Oh Amy.", Penny said as she wrapped her arms around her best friend and began to shed a few tears herself.
Meanwhile, as Sheldon was roaming the streets he thought about going back to Texas to be with his family but decided against it. He didn't really feel like being scolded by his mother or being teased by his twin sister Missy and older brother Georgie so he thought of his only option left and that was to leave Pasadena on the rails of the railroad to see where they would take him. He first stopped by Caltech and turned in his resignation before heading to the train station.
Several days later when he finally got off the train, he found himself in one of the busiest cities in the nation: New York City. As Sheldon was walking through the streets people were rushing every which way either talking on a cell phone or nearly knocking others over. Sheldon was bumped into several times which nearly made him drop his stuff.
' Good Lord! Where did I just get off at?! This city is obnoxious! Perhaps I should have just gone back to Texas!', Sheldon thought in his head as he continued walking. But just as he rounded a corner, he was suddenly kicked in the head which made him drop his belongings as he tumbled to the ground landing on his back with a hard thud.
' Oh dear! Someone's trying to attack me! Where is my registered firearm?!', Sheldon thought as he began trying to search for his messenger bag but before he could even do anything his attacker pressed his foot into his stomach forcing Sheldon to look up at him. Sheldon's eyes widened in fear as he saw a man that looked about his age, light-colored skin, blue eyes, and dirty blonde hair. He was wearing a ridiculous outfit as in he had on a black formal jacket and pink and blue booty shorts. He was pointing Sheldon's pistol at him.
" Looking for this, you idiot?!", the man maliciously said as an evil smirk spread across his face.
" You give that back right now this instant! And I'm not an idiot, I have a genius IQ of 187!", Sheldon screamed.
" Yeah, I don't think so! You look like a stupid dork that's just waiting for me to put him out of his misery!", the man evilly sneered as he inched the pistol closer to Sheldon's head placing a finger on the trigger.
" Say goodbye to your pathetic life!", the man sadistically said with an evil smirk.
" Oh dear!", Sheldon frightenly exclaimed as he braced himself for the end but it never came. Instead, him and the other man were suddenly blasted into the street after the other man had been hit by a vortex resembling a tornado. Sheldon had no idea who created it but he could tell that the other man knew exactly who did it and could see that he wasn't happy.
" Why that little demon!", the man angrily hissed under his breath. The last thing that Sheldon heard before he blacked out was a young girl's voice shouting, " Leave him alone Twister! Go away!"
When Sheldon came to he found himself lying on something soft which was most likely a couch in an unfamiliar living room. His anxiety began to rise when he suddenly looked around and saw nothing familiar to him.
" Oh dear Lord! I've been kidnapped! I got to get out of here!", Sheldon screamed as he proceeded to jump up off the couch but was stopped by that same girl's voice saying, " Shh, it's ok! Calm down! Nobody's gonna hurt you!"
" Who are you and what am I doing here?!", Sheldon demanded in fear as he stared at a beautiful young caucasian girl that looked about 18 years old, had blue eyes, and had straight dark brown hair with a thick blue streak in it that was separated into two pigtails. She was wearing a gray t-shirt with emojis on it, a blue cardigan with pink flowers, and blue jean shorts.
" Meghann Rose Brissette. I found you laying in the street unconscious so I brought you back to my house.", Meghann said.
" You touched my person?!", Sheldon interjected as he stared at her.
" Well you were hurt and I wasn't just going to leave you like that.", Meghann said.
" How dare you! You have no idea who I am and yet you brought me into your house! Haven't your parents taught you anything about Stranger Safety?!", Sheldon angrily demanded.
" Look, you wouldn't have been alive if it weren't for me saving your life! You're right, I don't know you, but, I'm not the type of person to just leave someone battered and helpless! You should be grateful that you're alive, even if it was because of a complete stranger!", Meghann shot back feeling somewhat hurt. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
' Oh hell! She's about to cry! What do I do now?!', Sheldon thought as he stared at the teen in front of him. He began to feel a little bit guilty about shouting at her like that. Remembering what his Meemaw always told him about being a gentleman and not wanting to see this girl cry, he did something that he rarely ever did. He sighed and said, " There there, I'm sorry for yelling at you like that. Please don't start crying."
" No I'm sorry. I didn't realize that it was such a big deal to you.", Meghann sadly said as she began wiping away the tears that were threatening to come down her face.
" Well it is. I prefer little to no physical human contact upon my person. I do not wish to contract some horrible disease that could potentially jeopardize my health and my life. I'm extremely germophobic.", Sheldon said.
" I realize that now that I just got that reaction from you, but, please just let me help you.", Meghann said.
" I prefer not to be fondled with by you again please.", Sheldon said.
" No it's ok, I won't hurt you. Just please lay back down before you end up injuring yourself even further.", Meghann said.
" Alright, if you insist. But if I get sick because of this, I'm blaming you.", Sheldon said as Meghann assisted him in lying back down on the couch.
" That's fine with me. I'll be right back, don't move.", Meghann said as she walked out of the living room and into the bathroom. She came back moments later carrying a first aid kit. As Meghann gently tended to Sheldon's wounds she said, " So, I told you my name, but, you never told me yours."
" Well, if you must know and it seems that you must, I'm Dr. Sheldon Cooper.", Sheldon said.
" Nice to meet you. You're a doctor?", Meghann asked.
" I'm a theoretical physicist.", Sheldon said.
" That's a science doctor, isn't it?", Meghann asked.
" That's correct. I also have a genius IQ of 187.", Sheldon said as he slowly nodded his head.
" Interesting.", Meghann said. Then she asked, " How did you end up here in New York City?"
" Well, as much as I would rather not say I guess I shall tell you. I was living in an apartment with my girlfriend in Pasadena, but, we got into a big fight over a collaboration project that we were working on together to which resulted in the two of us terminating our relationship. I went around asking my friends if I could stay with them but they just tossed me around like a hot potato sack so therefore I thought about going back to Texas to be with my family, but, decided not to fearing that I would probably just be scolded by my mother or teased by my siblings. Anyway, I decided to just leave Pasadena so I resigned from my place of work at Caltech, got on a train, and well now here I am.", Sheldon said.
" Oh my god that's horrible. I'm so sorry that things didn't work out with your girlfriend. I'm sure you'll find someone else.", Meghann sadly said.
" That's alright, I would much rather like to take advantage of this moment of solitude to focus more on my work.", Sheldon said.
" Seems fair to me.", Meghann said. Then she asked, " Who was this woman that you were dating?"
" Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. She was a neurobiologist.", Sheldon said.
" Oh that's really pretty.", Meghann said.
" Thank you. Meghann, as much as I would rather not be engaged in this conversation, I would like to ask you one thing.", Sheldon said.
" What's that?", Meghann asked.
" Who was that man that so viciously attacked me?", Sheldon asked.
" He's… he's my enemy. His name's Twister.", Meghann said.
" Does this guy have a last name?", Sheldon asked.
" He does, but, it's so ridiculous that he doesn't want people knowing it. Although, he will shout it out every once in a while when he gets very angry.", Meghann said.
" Interesting, well what is it?", Sheldon asked.
" His last name is Giddeon.", Meghann said.
" Twister Giddeon?", Sheldon asked raising an eyebrow at her. Meghann nodded her head as a smirk threatened to spread across her face.
" Well then you're right, that is the most ridiculous last name that I've ever heard.", Sheldon said.
" I know!", Meghann said as she began to laugh.
" Yes, and while we're on the subject of ridiculous nuptials, what is up with that ridiculous outfit he's wearing?! That man clearly has no fashion sense!", Sheldon asked.
" I know! No one really knows! He's always been wearing that ridiculous getup! He says it gives him a good villain vibe to his diabolical personality!", Meghann laughed.
" Well that's just the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.", Sheldon said as he tried to sit up but was stopped halfway by Meghann's gentle hand pressing againat his chest.
" Woah woah woah, where do you think you're going?!", Meghann exclaimed.
" I was attempting to sit up.", Sheldon said.
" No no no, I don't think so Dr. Cooper. I think you should take a nap now. You look like you've barely slept in several days.", Meghann said as she gently pushed him back down.
" I've been on a train traveling from Pasadena worrying about all the potential hazards that could befallen me if I had fallen asleep.", Sheldon said.
" Well you're at my house now and you're going to need to build up your strength again. So close your eyes, shut your mouth, and go to sleep.", Meghann said.
" But I don't want to take a nap.", Sheldon said.
" Well tough rocks pal. I'm caring for your wounds so I say it's nap time. You can either listen to what I say or I'll knock you out with a big sleeping pill. It's your choice.", Meghann said as she pulled out a container of sleeping pills from the first aid kit.
" I think I'll just take a nap.", Sheldon said with a defeated sigh before falling asleep.
" That's what I thought. I'll check on you later after I explain the situation to my parents.", Meghann said as she put the container away before leaving the living room. She went into her bedroom, picked up her cell phone, and called her parents who were at work. Her mother wasn't too happy about it but decided to let it go unlike her father who flipped his lid. He was very angry at his daughter for bringing a complete stranger into their house. He told her that it was the most irresponsible thing that she could have done and that she could have been seriously hurt. She told him that she did deserve everything she was getting but that he should just trust her judgement and explained her reasoning behind it. He eventually calmed down and agreed to her wishes.
Two hours later, Meghann walked back into the living room carrying a tea cup just as Sheldon began waking up from his nap.
" Oh good you're up. I made you some tea.", Meghann said as she helped him sit up and handed him the cup.
" Thank you.", Sheldon said as he began to drink it.
" No problem. Did you have a good nap?", Meghann asked.
" Yes I did.", Sheldon said as he drank his tea.
" Good. Listen, I talked to my parents about the situation and although they weren't happy about it they surprisingly eventually calmed down. My dad is letting me offer you the spare bed in my bedroom.", Meghann said.
" Oh, well thank you for the offer Meghann, but, I'm afraid that I must decline.", Sheldon said.
" And why's that?", Meghann asked.
" Because I don't know you and you're a teenager.", Sheldon said.
" That's true, but, I'm actually very mature for my age. I'm 18 and I have a boyfriend.", Meghann said.
" Yes, well, I'm not so sure if your boyfriend would appreciate a grown man sleeping in the same room with his girlfriend. Whatever his name is.", Sheldon said.
" His name's Journey Blaker and he won't mind as long as I tell him that I took you in because you're essentially homeless and I'm just taking care of you.", Meghann said.
" Well, I suppose that statement could work.", Sheldon said.
" So you'll stay?", Meghann asked.
" Yes, I will stay on the condition that you let me write up a Roommate Agreement that establishes some ground rules between the two of us, giving us a mutual understanding about what is to be expected of the other person.", Sheldon said.
" Deal. I'll start moving your stuff into my room.", Meghann said as she carefully picked up Sheldon's belongings.
" Alright but please be careful with them. I do not wish to have some of my possessions being broken.", Sheldon said.
" You got it Dr. Cooper.", Meghann said as she carefully carried Sheldon's stuff out of the living room and up the stairs to her bedroom. She then carefully set down the physicist's belongings by the spare bed in her room. Meghann then walked back downstairs and was immediately presented with a Roommate Agreement written up by Sheldon. They discussed it with each other before signing it.
" Welcome to your new home Dr. Cooper.", Meghann said with a soft smile.
" Thank you Meghann.", Sheldon said as he returned an awkward smile back.
Aww, it seems that Sheldon has awkwardly made a new little friend! What do you think will happen with these two? Do you think they will get along or will Meghann become annoyed with him and kick him out like his friends did? Let me know in the comments. To be continued…