Thanks for the reviews everyone! Here's Chapter two. I don't own The Big Bang Theory, or some of the items mentioned in the text. Hope you like this one guys, moving along here a little.
Chapter Two
The Adverse Effect
Two days later, after a few hours of searching on the internet, Howard was able to pinpoint the address of Penny's ex boyfriend. There weren't many people with the name Kurt in Pasadena, so it was relatively simple to locate him.
Reluctantly, after pleading with them, Leonard's three friends accompanied him to confront this stranger. The four of them got in his car, and he had begun to drive.
Although he was nervous, Leonard badly wanted to do this favor for Penny. His new neighbor seemed to be distraught about the situation and he wanted to assist her in any way he could.
As he drove down the Highway, he was deep in thought. The guys were conversing about a re-release of Indiana Jones in theaters, and usually, he'd be excited about something of the sort. However, he honestly didn't care about anything but the task at hand right now.
Leonard couldn't remember a time he had feelings so strongly for someone. He knew the guys would make fun of him for being so love-struck, but they didn't have anyone in their lives either. Leonard hadn't been interested in anyone, and nobody had been interested in him for months. The few girls from past Comic Cons didn't count. Or Leslie Winkle. Those instances were merely one night stand kind of deals. He craved a relationship so badly. Love was the only thing missing from his life; he had everything a guy could ask for really; great friends, a relatively nice apartment, a high-paying job that he enjoyed, and a local comic book store. But he didn't feel complete. Affection was missing from his life and he knew it was starting to take a toll on his emotions. Leonard didn't have affection from his family as a child and that carried into adulthood as well. Sheldon, Raj, and Howard cared of course, but in their own strange ways. And they were just his friends, clearly they couldn't help him in that aspect.
It occasionally kept him up at night, the pangs of emptiness, the stress of feeling like he might never find someone… Why Penny resurfaced these emotions so much stronger, he didn't know. The reality was that he probably had no chance with her at all and he knew the guys must think he was a joke for even trying. Leonard didn't care. He wanted her, and he was going to try get her. There was something he saw in Penny that he had never seen in any other woman before.
"I believe this is the turn, Leonard." Sheldon shuffled in the passenger seat, clearly antsy from the car ride.
Leonard turned the wheel in the direction of Kurt's street, flicking on his headlights, due to the darkening sky. As he arrived at the house numbered 567, he parked the car out front.
"This is where Leonard gets his ass kicked and we watch from afar!" Howard laughed and Raj joined in.
"I'm not going to get my ass kicked," Leonard affirmed with irritation and stepped out of his vehicle. "I'm just going to be mildly... assertive. Besides, it's four against one."
"No, three nerds and a Sheldon." Raj corrected, in which made the two burst into another fit of laughter.
Leonard rolled his eyes.
"Oh just make it quick, will you Leonard? Our schedule for Thursday Halo night is getting interrupted because of your escapades and I want to visit the train store before it closes. It's nearly five o'clock."
"Don't worry Sheldon, " Leonard assured him. "We'll make it in time. This shouldn't take long."
"No, assuming this individual is likely to beat us into a pulp within nanoseconds." Sheldon said, stiffly walking behind his friend.
The four men trudged up the sidewalk of the small house with Leonard in the lead.
Leonard took a deep breath and his nerves were affecting the pace of his heartbeat. Beads of sweat formulated on his neck as he knocked on Kurt's door.
They waited several minutes until a very tall man, who matched Sheldon's height, opened the door. This was the right guy. He was extremely muscular, almost beast-like, and had a buzzed hair-cut. If this was Penny's type… well, then Leonard concluded that didn't have any shot at all with her.
"Are you Kurt?" Leonard asked, trying to be as forceful as he could muster.
Kurt leaned against his doorframe and crossed his arms. "Yeah, and what's it to ya?" He grumbled in a deep voice.
"We're here to get Penny's TV back. Uhm… You'd better give it to her." Leonard asserted himself, but clearly failed at doing so. He barely heard Howard murmur the word smooth.
Kurt ceased from leaning and now he towered over the four. "What are you weirdos gonna do about it, huh? She sent the four of you over here?"
Now, with his reddening face and flaring nostrils, Kurt reminded Leonard of the fearsome dragon, Smaug, from the Hobbit.
"No. I took it upon myself to retrieve it for her," Leonard reasoned. The Experimental Physicist tried to calm himself, but his chest was hurting him.
Sheldon noticed that Leonard was having a difficult time, so he put a hand on his roommate's shoulder to steady him. "Won't you be a decent individual and return Penny's television so I can resume my evening? She paid for that item. If you had made a relationship agreement, which I highly suggest you do in the future, you would have avoided this conundrum. Preposterous, I will never understand commoner relationships."
"Yeah, exactly." Leonard smirked, thankful for Sheldon's input. This was one of the rare instances where his roommate's comments were appreciated.
Hopefully Kurt would be agitated enough to return the TV now.
He was wrong to expect that from this type of brute. Kurt, after saying, "get the hell outta here freaks," proceeded to give Leonard a wedgie and then slammed the door in their faces. Leonard, humiliated, quickly righted his underwear and made his way back into the driver's seat without a word to his friends. He was an adult for god's sake. Why didn't people take him seriously?
The rest of them climbed in the car, and his friends continued to poke fun at Leonard.
"Helpful, guys."
Leonard drove Sheldon to the train store, they picked up a pizza, and sped home. The whole excursion took about four hours. He just wanted to be home. Leonard was irked. All he wanted to do was please this girl, why didn't it work out like he wanted it to? Any efforts he made in regards to women never worked out for him, and his friends never failed to point it out.
The four of them walked up the four flights of stairs, in which always gave Leonard's heart a challenge. He had to pause several times as they went up, trailing behind the others.
When they reached 4A, Sheldon began to unlock the door. Just as they were about to file in, Penny's door opened and closed.
Leonard turned his head and sure enough, the breathtaking blonde stood before him.
"Hey you guys! What's up?" Penny mused, her green eyes sparkling.
She looked absolutely perfect; with her simple pink sweater, black pants, and flats, Her golden hair was elegantly curled. Leonard's thoughts went fuzzy for a second. His pulse wasn't catching a break. No progress. She made his knees go weak.
Leonard didn't respond for a second, and when he did, it was muddled. "We… uh… just got back from picking up a pizza. You could join us if you wanted… but it looks like you're already going out? By the way, this is Howard and Raj." And then he shot the two a look, as Sheldon had already gone into the apartment after greeting their neighbor, and he wanted them to do the same.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Penny." She greeted them, and then reached into her bag for something.
Raj and Howard got Leonard's hint, waved to Penny, and went into the apartment. That was, surprisingly, probably the most considerate thing they have ever done for him.
"Yeah I am actually going out! So guess what Leonard? Kurt is letting me take back the TV. I can't believe it!"
"Reeeeally? Do you have any clue as to why that might be?" Leonard insinuated.
"No clue! That's where I'm going, to pick it up. You know, I thought he was such a bad guy but I think he deserves another chance. We're gonna go out for a bit and try to work things out. Kind of a date I guess. Wish me luck?"
No. Leonard's heart dropped. Of course his actions would have an adverse effect. What else is new?
He only nodded, and offered a her small smile. Before arguing with himself internally about it, Leonard gathered the confidence to meekly murmur, "You look beautiful tonight, Penny. Any guy would be lucky to have you."
At first, Penny was stunned, but her cheeks began to redden slightly. "Thanks Leonard, you have a nice night."
As she climbed the stairs, she didn't think much of it at first. She had received comments from many men in her lifetime. But after thinking about it, the compliment just felt… real, genuine coming from Leonard. She knew that guys often just said things to get in bed with her, but Leonard wasn't like that. She could see he was a truly nice person. He had really made her night; she wasn't used to that. Kurt hadn't said something nice like that to her… ever. She continued to walk to her car, baffled by her emotions, but still excited to try and mend things with Kurt. Penny had to admit, there was a part of her that did miss him. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.
After saying it, he swiftly turned into his own apartment. His heart almost jumped out of his chest and it was beating extremely hard. Leonard sat down immediately. His friends looked at him. The Experimental Physicist took a second to breathe, and used his inhaler.
"So, since you suck at women, can I have her?" Howard asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"C'mon, stay away from her." Leonard grumbled, and after regulating himself, then bit into a greasy slice of pizza.
"Leonard, what are you thinking? You've been awfully reckless lately. Pizza? Going out and doing things that you know will ultimately result in cardiac arrest? I just do not understand you people. You need to take your Captopril" Sheldon shook his head, and took his usual seat on the couch.
"Thanks for being my 24/7, stay at home doctor Sheldon. I need one of those." He sneered, quickly finishing off his first slice.
"Oh, you're welcome. Who else is going to take me to my annual dental checkup?"
Howard smirked, and whispered sarcasm into Sheldon's ear.
"Oooh," Sheldon said, and proceeded to emit an odd laugh.
Leonard shook his head. He wasn't in a good mood, and he could care less about his health right now. He had horrible luck.
