It had been almost a year since Sheldon left Pasadena by train. At first all his friends talk to him by phone to find out when he would return even though he had made it clear that he did not want to communicate with anyone.
Amy had been the only one who heeded his wishes and did not talk to him on the phone even once. A part of him was happy because he was glad to see that as always his girlfriend fulfilled his wishes but another part of him was disappointed every time he received a call and saw that it was not Amy who called.
As the weeks passed, his friends' calls became more sporadic until finally, three months after he left, they stopped calling. Sheldon was glad of that and dedicated himself to continue touring the country by train.
And now, almost a year later, Sheldon was ready to go back and face any change that appeared in his life.
He thought about calling Leonard to pick him up at the train station, but he would surely notify everyone else and they would want to make a big party to celebrate his return and now he was a different person and was more open to the idea that It was not such a bad idea as he had thought but he was very tired from the long trip so the only thing he wanted at that moment was to get home and sleep in his own bed.
An hour later he entered his building and began to climb the stairs. He was on the second floor when suddenly he saw the elevator doors open and a couple came out of them.
-When ... when they repaired the elevator? - Sheldon asked surprised as he thought he would never see that elevator work again.
-They repaired a few months ago- said the young woman before entering her apartment.
Sheldon touched the button to call the elevator, the doors opened and he went inside. It had been so many years since he last used that elevator that, if he had no eidetic memory, he would not even remember it.
Once he was on the fourth floor, he left the elevator and walked to his apartment, took the key out of his pants pocket and opened the door ... or at least he tried, since apparently they had changed the lock in his absence. So he walk towards his neighbor's apartment
"Penny," he said, touching three times as usual.
"Who is it ?" Asked a young woman with black hair, looking confused at Sheldon.
"Where is Penny?" Without waiting for an invitation, he entered the apartment.
- You can't enter someone's house without his authorization - the young lady started to get upset - If you doesn't leave at this moment I'll call the police - she said taking out her cell phone from the back pocket of her pants.
-It's okay to call the police and I'll tell him you are in my neighbor's apartment.
-This apartment is mine.
-Of course not, Penny lives here.
-Penny no longer lives here.
"What?" Sheldon looked bewildered. "finally she realized she had no future as an actress and returned to Nebraska?
-The first part is true, she leave her carrer as actress but she don't return to Nebraska. She lives here in the apartment opposite with her husband.
- Leonard and Penny got married?
- Yes, two months ago. It was a beautiful ceremony, "said the calmer girl, since apparently it had all been a confusion." Are you friends with them? " -Sheldon who was still trying to understand everything just nodded- And why didn't I see you at the wedding?
-I was ... I was traveling and I just came back- the girl was watching him for a few seconds and Sheldon felt uncomfortable. -What are you look at me?
-You are Sheldon, right?
-How do you know my name?
-Penny told me about you. You used to be Leonard's roomate and you left a long time ago.
- It seems that you get along well with her.
-Yes and with the rest of the group. They invited me to dinner with them the first day I arrive here and have spent a lot of time with them since then.
-Then I guess you know Amy.
-Of course, she is very smart and funny.
-And ... how ... how is she?
-Very well, although lately I hardly see it anymore.
-Why? Is she sick?
-No. She's fine. Just that now he spends a lot of time with ... "the young woman was silent." Well, I think you'd better talk to her. "
-That's what I'll do. I'll go to the university to see everyone- Sheldon grabbed his suitcase and turned around.
-If you want you can leave your luggage here. I guess you'll be back with Leonard- Sheldon wasn't sure he wanted to leave his luggage with that woman he had just met but he didn't want to be carrying it everywhere.
-Fine ... but don't touch anything -said looking at her with distrust.
-Don't worry. You'll find it just as you left it. "Sheldon nodded. He turned and walked down the stairs, forgetting that the elevator was already fixed.
When he arrived in Caltech several people stared at him, but he kept walking as if nothing happened. It was almost lunchtime so he guess the boys would be in the cafeteria and he wasn't wrong. The three seemed very busy that neither noticed their presence until he was in front of them.
-Sheldon? -asked Leonard surprised to see him- When did you return?
"A couple of hours ago," he said, hoping his friends would get up to hugg him but apparently none had the intention to do so.
"I thought we'd never see you again," commented Howard.
"That would have pleased you, right?" Sheldon said haughtily since it was not the welcome he expected. "I'm sorry I disappointed you." He look at Leonard. "By the way, thank you for letting me know you changed the lock on our apartment.
"Penny moved in with me shortly after you left and she lost the keys, so we changed the lock. And I don't told you because in case you forgot ... you made it very clear that you didn't want to talk to us.
-You still must have ...
- What Sheldon? Call you every day so you can ignore our calls? "He raised his voice a little.
-Leonard- Raj warn him since everyone was watching.
-Well, give me your keys so I can go to the apartment and ...
-No
-Why not?
-You no longer live there.
-What?
-You stopped paying rent a year ago and now the apartment belongs to Penny and me.
-Did you take my apartment? - Sheldon shouted and everyone turned to see.
"We'll talk about this later," Leonard said, picking up his things from the table.
- Where the hell are you going?
-There are people who do have to work.
-Can you believe what Leonard did to me? -He look at Howard and Raj who were still at the table- You have to help me ...
-Leonard did nothing wrong, Sheldon.
-Do you stand on his side? Sure, what you could expect from a simple engineer that ...
"Look, Sheldon, I know you're probably having a difficult day, but I'm not going to let you try to humiliate me for being ... like you say a simple engineer. So if you want help you should look elsewhere.
"If you don't want me to treat you like what you are, you should do a PhD and ..." Howard didn't keep listening and left the cafeteria.
- You will also be on the side of Wolowitz and Leonard?
-Sheldon ... you left almost a year ago. You never called or even worried about us. Did you really think that everything would stay the same and that we would welcome you with open arms? "Raj didn't wait for Sheldon to respond and also left the cafeteria.
-how rude they are-said Sheldon watching as Raj disappeared down the hall-But this didn't stay like that. The girls will have to help me- she started walking aimlessly while thinking about how he would fix the situation in his apartment.
He was lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize that there was a group of people in front of him and he ended up crashing with someone.
-I'm sorry-Sheldon apologized.
"Don't worry, Dr. Cooper," said a boy who must have been a graduate student.
-What are all these people doing here? -He asked with a little curiosity since there were around twenty more people.
-I'm interviewing them to choose the best two to work with Dr. Wolowitz.
- Who is Dr. Wolowitz?
- Your friend Howard Wolowitz.
"Yes, sure," Sheldon taunted. "As if Howard could get a Ph.D.
-It's true Dr. Cooper ... I think he's in the office, you can go and see it by yourself.
- Does Wolowitz have an office?
-In fact ... he's using yours.
- My office? Sheldon shouted and everyone turned to see him. "Are he using my office?" How dare he take it from me! - He began to walk towards what until a couple of minutes ago he thought was his office.
-It was only until you came back- the boy shouted, but Sheldon did not listen to him anymore.