A/N: Thank you for the reviews and follows for this story. They are all so much appreciated. Hope you enjoy the update!
Chapter 4: Disclosure
Leonard was having a hard time concentrating in his lab that morning. His thoughts continually wandering back to the time he spent with Penny the day before. It wasn't only the kiss that he replayed in his mind over and over; it was the entire time he spent with her. From the moment he collided with her outside the building all the way through to her waiving to him in her rear-view mirror as she drove away so many hours later.
He stayed up late the night before. He had re-sketched one of the drawings from the session. It was a smaller version of the study of her upper back and neck. However, to this sketch he added a profile view, her chin pointed down and her eyes closed. Her hands holding her hair on the top of her head. He let a frown splash across his face and said aloud "over thinking things again Hofstadter." He had taped the sketch to the wall just above his work table.
Just then, there were two quick knocks at his door. It swung open, revealing his two friends Howard Wolowitz and Rajesh Koothrapalli. Howard was an engineer, while Raj was an astrophysicist. Both were his colleagues at CalTech.
"Hey Leonard" Raj began. "Are you ready for lunch?"
Before the question could be answered, Howard entered the lab and immediately walked to the wall over Leonard's work station.
"It looks like Dr. Hofstadter had been getting some special training from that drawing class he's taking."
Furrowing his brow immediately, Leonard began stuttering his reply. "Nnnoo. No. I was just-um. I was just doing something a little extra after yesterday afternoon's session." Satisfied with his answer, he added a little nod at the end, as if that motion gave validation to his statement.
Walking toward the exit of the lab, Leonard's two friends followed. He closed the door; trying the knob to be sure it was locked as Howard continued.
"Oh. That's right you had figure drawing yesterday." Howard used his fingers to put air quotes around the phrase.
"So? Figure drawing?" Howard began to prod. "Are we talking nude? Semi-nude? Implied nudity?"
"Howard- - - stop asking so many questions" Raj interjected, adding "dude, clothes or no clothes?"
"What?" He exclaimed in answer. "No! She wore a bathing suit!"
"One-piece? Two-piece? Mono-kini?" Howard asked, getting creepier by the second.
"Will you stop? It wasn't like that at all!"
"Dr. Koothrapalli, does it appear that Dr. Hofstadter is protesting a bit ardently over our questions regarding a certain 'figure model'?" Howard said as he turned to Raj.
"I believe you are correct Mr. Wolowitz. Whatever are we to make of this rather interesting turn of events?"
"Really? Is this how we are going to act about this?"
"Seriously Leonard, what's the big deal?" Howard asked now in earnest.
"Yeah. Its not like you'll ever see this woman again" Raj added.
When there was no answer from Leonard and a hint of a smile passed his lips while the silence dripped through the air, Raj exclaimed "Shut. My. Ass!"
"Wait. What?" Howard's voice went up an octave.
"I think that he thinks he has a chance" Raj added. His eyes were as large as saucers.
"You spoke with her? You. Leonard Hofstadter. Who hasn't had a real date in the entire time I've known you?" Howard went on.
"I don't want to talk about it" Leonard said in response. He lowered his head and continued on to the cafeteria; his small smile still in place.
Trying his best to ignore his friend's questions, Leonard sat down at their usual table. Keeping his head down, he sorted his plastic cutlery and prepared to enjoy his salad.
Howard and Raj talked among themselves, realizing that Leonard was not going to take the bait or divulge any additional information regarding his art class the day before.
Just then a tall, slim figure came up to their table. He was carrying a tray, but it had the remnants of an eaten lunch.
"Dr. Koothrapalli, Mister Wolowitz" the man greeted the two colleagues.
"Dr. Cooper", they both responded at once.
Turning slightly, Sheldon looked directly at Leonard.
"Dr. Hofstadter."
"Um-. Yes. Good afternoon Dr. Cooper" Leonard replied softly and with great trepidation.
"I understand that we have a mutual acquaintance" Sheldon stated flatly.
"Uhhh. Errr..Uhhhh." were the only sounds that Leonard could manage, as his face lost color. His two friends looked on in astonishment.
"Oh. Am I mistaken?" the tall theoretical physicist from Texas asked.
"My neighbor, Penny said she met you yesterday at an art class. It is encouraging to know that you are expanding your horizons by the way."
Leonard looked up at the other man with a questioning look.
"In case this career in physics isn't for you."
"Excuse me Dr. Cooper" the color returning to his face, Leonard stood up and looked directly at the taller man's chin.
"Just because I enjoy a certain hobby, does not mean that a - - - how did you put it 'this career in physics' isn't for me." Finishing his reply, he folded his arms across his chest.
"So noted" Sheldon replied. Looking at the three men in front of him, two wore extremely confused looks on their faces, while the third looked at him with more than a little defiance.
An awkward silence passed between the four men. "Well. Gentlemen" he said nodding at Howard and Raj. Then "Dr. Hofstadter. I'll be sure to mention to Penny that we had this nice little talk. Good day."
With that, he turned and made his way to the trash and recycling counter to dispose of his luncheon materials. He then turned and gave an odd, almost maniacal smile to the three of them and left the cafeteria.
"What the hell was that?" Raj said, still looking in the direction that Sheldon went.
"People say how odd he is, but wow! He is bat-crap crazy" Howard added.
"So who is this Penny he was talking about anyway?" Raj asked, finally gathering composure after their strange encounter.
Looking down, but not completely able to hide the smile that bubbled up from somewhere inside him, Leonard replied "yeah. Um. Penny is the model from the class yesterday."
"You mean that nut-job lives next door to a nude model?" Howard asked, his mouth hanging open.
"Howard for the last time, she is NOT a nude model. She does some modeling for the school and for local advertising. She is also an actress."
"The triple play!" Raj shouted. Looking at Howard, the astrophysicist from India counted on his fingers "One-nude modeling for college art classes. Two-magazine modeling. Three-an actress!"
"Okay. That's enough. I'm not going to stand here and listen to you two anymore. She is not that kind of a model. Or actress."
With that, Leonard stormed off toward his lab.
Slamming the door harder than he intended, Leonard sat down heavily in the chair at his work station. Looking at the drawing again on the wall, he stood up and went to rip it down, but at the last second, changed his mind. Taking his hand slowly away, the smile once again returned to his face as he thought of how his conversation with the beautiful blonde played out.
He sat once again, but a little more lightly and buoyant. He laughed to himself about Howard and Raj's responses. They acted exactly how he imagined they would. He just wished he could keep the news from them until he figured out what would happen next.
Sheldon Cooper was another matter. That this unknown co-worker had approached him enlightened the fact that Penny had sought her neighbor out to ask about him.
His smile broadened as the headache that was forming when he left the cafeteria disappeared. Looking up once again he took a deep breathe and took out his phone.
Picking up the card she had given him, he began to enter her contact information into his cell phone. Tapping 'save' on the screen, he then accidently hit the call button.
His eyes opening wide in horror, he heard a voice coming from his phone saying "Hello? This is Penny".
Not knowing what to do, he nearly hit disconnect, but at the last second he brought the phone to his ear and stammered "hhh-hello" quietly.
"This is Penny" came back the response a second time. "Can I help you?'
Gulping and quickly composing himself Leonard dove right in.
"Uh. Hi. Yeah. Penny. This is Leonard. Leonard Hofstadter. From the art class yesterday?" His voice went up at the end turning his statement into a question.
Her reply came back excitedly enthusiastic.
"Leonard! Hi. I'm so glad you called! How is your day going?"
"Um. Good. Good. Thanks for asking."
"Well, can I call you back later on? I'm at work and was expecting a call from my agent, you know on the commercial I mentioned yesterday?"
"Oh. I'm sorry. You were starting work at 11:00." He felt his face redden. Looking at his watch he noted it was 1:15.
"It's okay really. I ducked into the ladies room when I felt my phone vibrate."
An uncomfortable silence followed until she said "Alright. I get out of work at 8:00. If I call you at say 9:00, is that too late?"
"No. That's not late at all" he replied.
"Good" she replied in turn. She couldn't help her smile, sensing how big it was she brought her hand to her mouth and stifled a giggle.
Although she could not see it, his smile was just as wide and perhaps grew when she signed off by saying:
"Leonard, I'm really, really glad you called. I'll talk to you tonight."
After the call ended, each of them held the phone in their hand for a brief moment. She was then called for a meal pick-up. His interoffice desk phone rang. Each of them shook their head to exit from similar, deep thoughts.
