Variation 1, Theme 1: Introduction

"Finally," Penny breathed, relieved. She had finished unpacking her last box, rendering her move officially complete. She smiled smugly to herself, making her way to the finally chilled refrigerator, pulling out a soda. The blonde plopped herself on the couch, looking around the foreign living room. Sip by sip her soda disappeared as she remembered.

She had gotten the call about two weeks prior that her Aunt Bunny had passed away. It was some kind of cancer that she didn't even know the woman had. Apparently, though, through some act of the gods, her aunt had seen fit to will Penny her house from her deathbed. Probably an attempt to "set her straight" and steer her away from her blossoming acting career, as the house was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It would definitely be a challenge to get rich and famous all the way out here, but Penny had already managed to line up another waitressing job (to her slight dismay), and intended to live in the residence while she flipped it. If all goes according to plan, she will sell the property and make a small fortune. Or so she thinks.

A knock came on the front door, and Penny groaned. Why do people always come to disturb you as soon as you sit down? She forced herself out of her chair, soda still in hand. When she pulled open the door, she saw a young man about her age standing on her front porch. He didn't look very happy, but judging by his slacked posture and his hands slung lazily into the deep pockets of his sagging jeans, it seemed to be his neutral expression.

"Um," Penny began, unsure. "Can I help you with something?" Her petite body was angled perfectly so that she could shut the door between them whenever she pleased, and she was prepared to do so if necessary. He almost looked kind of hood rat- very sketchy.

"Yeah, uh, sorry," he mumbled. His voice had a gruff edge to it, and Penny could tell he was a smoker, or at least used to be. "My name's Jesse, I live next door," he motioned with his head to the neighboring house. "I just, I saw you moving in. Wanted to let you know that if you need anything, I know town pretty well and all." He scratched the back of his neck, quite clearly hating himself for his little performance. Penny smirked, she couldn't help herself.

"Penny," she introduced herself. "Actually…" She glanced down at the soda in her hand, suddenly realizing how much she wished it was a beer. Against her better judgment, she asked, "You wouldn't know where the nearest liquor store is would you?" She bit her lip. Unfortunately, her neighbor was both friendly, and also kind of cute. Damn it.

"Do you wanna go? Together, I mean?" he asked, a little too excitedly. "I mean if you don't I totally get it, I'm like totally a stranger. I could try and give you directions I guess," he offered. He talked with his hands a lot, she realized.

"I'm actually total shit at directions," Penny admitted, and it was true. She had a hard enough time finding the house, and she was not ready for a similar venture. "But I wouldn't be opposed to you being my GPS I guess." She knew it was stupid and gullible, but she was in no position to pass up an opportunity for a friend.

"Yeah, great," he agreed with a crooked smile. "You can just come over and get me whenever you're ready-" he began, but she interrupted him.

"No, don't be stupid, come on in," she invited quickly, stepping aside to let her visitor in. "Excuse the mess, I was just trying to rid the place of cardboard," she lied. Penny almost always lived in chaos- something she meant to change with her arrival, but hadn't seemed to be able to so far.

"Don't even worry about it," Jesse brushed off her comment. "I could use a maid myself," he agreed, only half joking. He entered the house cautiously, not wanting his pretty new neighbor to think he was a creeper or a thief.

"I just gotta get my bag," she explained, glancing around quickly. Where had she put her purse? God only knows. Jesse couldn't help himself- he stole a quick glance as she bent down to look on the chairs surrounding the dining room table. This girl was gorgeous from every angle.

"Aha!" she proclaimed, snatching the bag off of her unmade bed. "Probably should've checked the bedroom first." She laughed nervously. "Ready?"

"Yep," he confirmed, walking back out the front where he had seen her park her little red car earlier. "Which one's yours?" he asked casually. No, he hadn't been watching earlier. That would be creepy.

Penny locked the door behind her as she exited the house, whirling around to the street quickly afterward. She unlocked her car with her remote, causing the headlights to flicker as an answer. He followed her to her car and hopped into the passenger seat. When the car rumbled to life, loud pop music began to pour from the speakers.

"Sorry," she apologized, half yelling, as she quickly muted the stereo. Jesse couldn't help but laugh. "Hey!" she squeaked defensively. "You better not be making fun of my jams," she narrowed her eyes, giving him a very small window of opportunity to recant.

"No, no! I just- That's awesome," he chuckled, shaking his head and putting up his hands in surrender. "I drive the same way," he complied.

"Whatever," Penny forgave. "Seatbelt on, bitch, I'm not looking for a ticket. I already got out of state plates," she instructed. Jessie looked her up and down as he grinned.

"I know you did not just say that," he chuckled, obeying her orders. Penny put the car in drive and they began to roll forward.

"Say what?" she asked, trying to remember her words. "Don't tell me you're too cool for seatbelts, I'm not trying to kill you," she mused. "Now where the hell am I going?"

"Turn left at this next light," he pointed as he instructed. He gave her apt directions, but as it turned out, the liquor store wasn't all that complicated to get to.

"Okay, so what's your poison?" Penny questioned, slamming her car door shut a bit too hard. "You know, back in California I was a bartender. I couldn't tell you how many grasshoppers I made," she laughed, thinking about her Indian friend Raj. Figures, he finally got over his social anxiety that required he be intoxicated to talk to her and she had to move away. Jesse held the door for her as they entered the shop as he pondered.

"Feels like a good night to spend with my good friend Jim… Unless I get a better offer," he teased. "You?" he complied.

"Wine," Penny answered definitely. "Ahh," she vocalized as she made her way over to a wall completely filled with wine bottles. "I think I'm in the mood for a blush wine tonight…" She picked up a bottle that was shaped like a cat. She smiled, remembering the stupid song she had to sing when her most neurotic friend got sick. You know you're homesick when you begin to miss Sheldon Cooper. Coolers. She needed coolers.

"Do I spy a wine-o?" he joked, grabbing a bottle of whiskey for himself off a nearby display. He nodded at his selection with approval.

"Hey now, I wouldn't go that far," she frowned, now juggling three four-packs of flavored beer. He took some of the liquor from her, helping her to the counter.

"Riiiiiight," he smirked, and Penny giggled.

"Okay… Only a little. But this is going to last me at least a week," she defended, shoving the rest of her purchase on the cashier's counter. The clerk looked Penny up and down skeptically before asking for her ID. She blushed slightly, before flashing the older woman her license. Jesse slipped his bottle on the counter as well.

"I got it," he offered, removing his wallet from his back pocket as the cashier supplied their total. Penny began to protest, but he was too quick for her.

"I will pay you back for this," she demanded, flustered by his gesture. The woman put their booze in a box and slid it over the counter to Jesse, who picked it up before Penny even got to think about it. He shook his head at her.

"You know, I'd much rather you invite me to your house warming party. Seems like the guest list is pretty exclusive." Penny popped her trunk from across the lot, determined to at least assist him in loading it. She thought for a moment before she answered.

"Yeah, okay," she agreed. "Fuck it. Nothing more pathetic than drinking alone in an empty house," she confirmed. She plopped into the driver's seat, making the small car bounce. Jessie slammed the trunk closed before joining her in the front.

Penny made her way back home with very minimal assistance from Jessie's GPS skills, to her delight. Jessie had grabbed their haul of alcohol and followed her to her front door. She unlocked it with ease, and gestured him to put their booze on her kitchen table. She began to transfer the liquor into her moderately bare refrigerator. Maybe she was a wine-o.

"Thanks again, by the way," she said gratefully, pulling out another soda and offering it to her new friend.

"No problem," he dismissed as he grabbed the beverage from her hand, immediately cracking it open. She took one for herself and began to drink it as well.

Apparently her situation hadn't turned out to be all bad… At least she had a pretty cool next door neighbor.