AN - don't own, blah blah. Please excuse any random paragraph breaks. Or other mistakes for that matter. Unbetaed, I'll go over things and make a cover at a later date. And yes, I do like cake.
Penny rolls over on her bed, her head pounding. The sushi last night was good, the sake great and the karaoke was probably a mistake.
She turns off the blaring alarm and gets out of bed. Shower, a quick greasy breakfast and then off to find a cheap new tv to replace the one that jackass kept. That brings back more guilt over last nights debacle, and Penny cringes.
She wonders if free sushi was enough repayment and decides to stop by 4A to get a read on their moods before leaving.
Dressed in pink shorts and a comfy fitted t, she locks her front door, walks the short hall to her brainy neighbors' door and knocks loudly.
"Oh, hello Penny, Leonard isn't here." Sheldon says as soon as he opens the door.
She's caught off guard and stumbles past the real reason she knocked, "That's fine, I was just checking in, seeing if any else woke up with a hangover."
"Wolowitz no doubt is currently feeling the effects, which would serve him right for choosing to sing those awful songs. Leonard didn't mention it on his way out the door, and I can only assume Rajesh feels as well as I since neither of us tried that fermented rice drink you three were so fond of."
She was impressed by how prompt the delivery of his run down was, and, while still processing it, she quickly followed up with, "So you're good?"
He let a little sigh and said "Yes, I'm "good"." She could practically see the implied air quotes.
"Well, great." Penny starts to walk away, but thinks better of it and turns to ask, "I'm going to Big Box Electronics, any interest in coming along?"
His face lights up, "Well I do have my eye on a new Xbox, and maybe the latest Halo. Let me get my bag." He disappears into the apartment and Penny questioningly mutters "he wants a halo?" under her breath.
The irritating ride over ("Did you know your check engine light is on?") is negated when he lets her in on the secret that you can actually negotiate at this store and he's surprisingly good at it. More of a "I will annoy you until I get my way" technique then anything else but it works. He gets everything he wanted under his predetermined budget, and Penny learns that Halo is a shoot 'em up game you play on an Xbox. Also he annoys the sales clerk into giving Penny an outrageously good price on a shiny flat screen.
He doesn't say a word about the check engine light on the way home, choosing instead to list the differences between this version of Halo and it's predecessors. She doesn't mind, because she's distracted by thoughts of how her new tv is better then that old lousy one, and the jerk that has it. And, oh! She's going to need a new entertainment center. More shopping!
"Hey, sweetie, I'm thinking of going to that Swedish home furniture place next, do you wanna come too?"
"Hmm, well I do want to play with my new toy, but on the other hand I would enjoy a couple of their zesty meatballs. ... Penny, was that a snort of laughter?" ~
Penny and Sheldon shuffle up the stairs, his arms full of flat screen tv, hers loaded up with bags containing his gaming stuff and her random decor things, pillows, picture frames and a new duvet cover.
"You can just set it by the door, I can manage." She drops everything else, except his stuff, which she hands to him when he's done what she asked. Without realizing it she walks him to his door and smiles up at him. "Thanks for being my partner in crime today."
He looks aghast, "Crime?! Were you stealing things when I wasn't looking?" He looks around like cops are going to appear at any moment.
She can't help but giggle, "No, it's just a saying..." she decides to go for the cheap laugh "... Although that price I paid for my TV could be considered a steal."
He returns to normal, calm Sheldon and for a second she thinks he isn't going to acknowledge her terrible joke, and then he lets out a breathy little laugh and she can't help but giggle again. "Good night."
He responds the same before locking the door behind him.
She stares at the pile of stuff in front of her door and that morning's headache comes roaring back.