The break-up between Leonard and Priya was never really mentionned explicitly, we never got to see the reaction of the gang (especially Penny) to this news. I wanted to fill in the blanks and write about what we didn't get to see in the show. So basically, it's my take on what could have happened between 5 x 07 and 5 x 08. I hope you'll like it :)
Chapter 1 : What Just Happened ?
Leonard closed his laptop and took off his glasses. "I don't believe this..." All this time, he was worried about being unfaithful to Priya, he chose to stop things with Alice because he just couldn't cheat on his girlfriend, and he felt really bad about what he did – even if it was only kissing. And now what ? He found out that Priya not only cheated, but on the top of it, she didn't feel any regret or guilt ! Suddenly, Leonard heard a big nose and saw the cussions flying. "WHAT THE HELL... ?", he thought, his heart beating fast, breathing hard. When he realized it was Sheldon, he didn't understand right away. He was still confused by what had just happened with Priya, and now this...
"Bazinga punk ! Now we're even !", said Sheldon. That's when Leonard got it, in his mind : "Oh yeah, the pranks... What a crazy guy..." As Sheldon rearranged the couch, Leonard snapped out of it and yelled : "YOU'RE A TOTAL FREAK, YOU KNOW THAT !? I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M STAYING FRIEND WITH YOU !" Sheldon defended himself, calmly : "I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested... Besides, you're just angry because you lost. Good night... loser !". Sheldon made a L on his forehead and went to the bathroom to wash all the painting on his face, and Leonard yelled again : "I HOPE YOU'LL SLEEP BADLY AND HAVE A LOT OF NIGHTMARES ! CRAZY GUY !"
He then crashed on the couch, sighing. He was angry and he didn't know who he was the maddest at : Priya for cheating on him, Sheldon for his prank at a very bad time, or himself. Himself, with his bad decisions : first wanting to sleep with Alice, then confessing to Alice about his girlfriend, and finally telling everything to Priya... who didn't even care, since she was busy sleeping with her ex-boyfriend ! "What an idiot I am...", thought Leonard, his hands covering his eyes.
In her apartment, Penny heard a first yelling. It was like an animal, but it sounded human and came from across the hall. Weird. What was going on with these two again ? She then recognized Leonard's voice and heard him calling Sheldon crazy. He sounded unhappy and furious. It was unusual : ordinary, Leonard was very patient with Sheldon. Something must have happened. Curious, Penny decided to stop washing the dishes and headed to apartment 4A. She knocked and waited, but no one answered. "Leonard, are you okay ? I'm worried... with all the yellings I heard...".
On his couch, Leonard heard a knock, but he didn't want to see anyone, he didn't want to move, he didn't want to talk. He didn't even have the strength to tell to the person on the other side of the door : "Go away". He didn't know who it was and he didn't even want to know. He just didn't care. All he had in mind was Priya's betrayl.
Then, he heard Penny's voice. So soft, so nice, and she sounded concerned. He couldn't resist, not to her. Yet, he still didn't want to get up, so he just said in a low voice : "Come in...". He didn't look at her when she entered the room, he let his hands fall along his body, but kept his eyes, open, glued to the ceiling. He felt Penny hesitated before sitting next to him on the couch. She hadn't said a thing yet, but Leonard hadn't notice, he was totally lost in his thoughts. 'How Priya could have done something like that to me ? And, more important, how can she be so cool about it ?! Like it's not a big deal !'
Penny heard a hurt voice from the living room. Leonard's voice : "Come in...". She opened the door and found Leonard on the couch, on Sheldon's spot. Was that the problem ? The spot ? Weird, why would Leonard fight for that with Sheldon, after all these years ? Penny was confused and unsure of what to do : Leonard didn't speak, didn't look at her. She slowly closed the door and sat on the couch, studying Leonard's face. If he sounded mad earlier, now he didn't seem angry anymore, he just seemed... depressed ? Was she seeing right ?
She put her left hand on Leonard's right thigh, trying to catch his attention, but nothing happened, he still seemed in a totally different place. Penny softly said his name : "Leonard...". She paused, not knowing what she should say. She wanted to ask him if he was okay, but it was obviously not the case. He was distraught.
She tried to guess, even though she was almost sure she was wrong : "Is it because of something Sheldon did ?" Leonard let a long sigh slip away. The situation wasn't comfortable : Penny was his dear friend, but she was also an old girlfriend. Leonard shook slightly his head, still looking at the ceiling, and finally spoke in a broken voice : "Sheldon scared the hell out of me. But that's not him I'm mad at..." He was cut off by a : "Well said my friend ! Good night !". They haven't seen Sheldon going out of the bathroom, he was speaking from the hall, and then went to his bedroom.
"He's gone", Penny stated, to encourage Leonard to talk. Leonard threw his arms in the air, like he didn't know how to say what he had to tell her, and finally admitted : "Priya cheated on me."
To Be Continued...