So here is the next chapter. One that I hope you guys will be happy with and enjoy. I dont own these characters. Part 4
Half way through the flight Penny woke up to nature calling. When she did she looked over, as she took off her head phones saw Emily and Raj playing slap jack. Then Raj noticed Penny, "Hey you want to play a round? Looser against Winner?"
Penny frowned in confusion, "You're talking to me?"
Raj smiled at her, "Oh Emily here made sure I had a few drinks to loosen up a bit. So are you in? Please Penny, Emily is kicking my ass!"
Emily laughed as she looked at her new friend Raj, "You would be a deadman if we were playing Russian Roulette."
Penny shook her head with a smile, "How about when I come back. I have to well you know." Then pointed back towards the restrooms. Penny got up as Raj and Emily both said okay.
As Penny started to walk down the aisle she saw Leonard typing away as Sheldon was also on his laptop. She wanted to talk to him just to see what he was really like but that had to wait. So as she walked passed him, Penny lightly touched his shoulder acting like it was an accident. Penny quickly looked over her shoulder seeing Leonard shudder and turning his head. His eyes were big and he swallowed hard once he noticed it was Penny who touched him. Penny winked at him and quickly went into the restroom.
She leaned against the door, eyes closed, as she locked it. "Come on Penny what is wrong with you? He is not even your type. All I know he could creepy as Howard. You don't even know him. Why is this happening?" She took a quick deep breaths and then processed what she came to the restroom in the first place.
When Penny walked out she debated to take the long way around to get back to her seat. She stood there as she saw now Leonard had his laptop was put a way. Then looked and saw the seat across from him was empty. Her heart sped up deciding now if she should go talk to him. But yet she promised Emily and Raj she would play Slap Jack. Penny sighed and decided to go play cards and would have another chance to talk to Leonard. So she started to walk, picked up her pace as she passed Leonard, then found her seat.
After having a few drinks and playing different card games with Raj and Emily, Penny was having fun. She apologized to Raj for earlier as he did when he stared at her and Emily. Around that time the plane began to land.
As they gathered their luggage their was still a few awkward moments between Penny and Leonard as they would accidentally get in each others way. Penny found it odd he had trouble making eye contact with her and kept apologizing to her. Once outside the airport they flagged down three taxi cabs. And once again they had to follow Sheldon's seat schedule. Somehow Penny was stuck in a cab with Leonard and Sheldon. Did not make things better for her when she sat between the men. She glanced over to Sheldon, "So what kind of science do you do?"
Sheldon looked at her with shock, with a sigh from Leonard, "Here we go!"
Sheldon frownes at his roommate and looked back at Penny."Excuse me it is just more than just science. So the correct term you are looking for is that I an a theoretical physicist."
Penny thought she understood, "Oh like Leonard here?" As she looked at Leonard, she watched him barried his head into his hands and whispering "Why?"
Somehow Penny felt now she asked the wrong questions as Sheldon gave her another shocked look as his hands went up in the air. "Not likely! Do you know what is a theoretical physicist does? Penny a theoretical physicist is branch ofphysics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict naturalphenomenon. Experimental physicist like Leonard is well mediocre."
Penny started to regret asking Sheldon and anything to do with physics. She could not wait to get out of the cab. Penny heard about the difference of theoretical and experimental. Then how only Leonard IQ was only one seventy-three, his was an one eigthy-seven. As Sheldon kept talking Penny turned to look at Leonard who was now laying his head back smirking. "Why didnt you stop me or at least warn me?" She leaned over to whisper to him.
Leonard looked at Penny and whispered back. "Well for one we barley know each other and two it's nice to see someone else suffer." Then leaned his head back with his eyes closed.
Penny rolled her eyes. She could not wait to get out of this cab. Penny leaned forward propering her chin on her hand, as Sheldon went on.
Finally they arrived at the hotel and Penny could not get out of the cab any quicker as Leonard exited before Sheldon. Penny rushed to get her luggage and walked up to the side walk next to Bernadette. Once everyone was inside the hotel, Penny was roomed with Emily, which she was grateful. Anything to get away from the whackadoodle Sheldon.
Penny and Emily made it to their room, yet Penny did not feel tired. So as Emiky went to bed after getting ready, Penny grabbed a hotel keycard and some cash and went down to the hotel bar. As she entered the elevator Penny heard a familiar voice, "Hold the door!" Penny turned around seeing Leonard only a few feet away from her. So she held the door for him.
As Leonard entered, Penny stood awkwardly next to him, "Not tired?" As she looked over at him shyly.
Leonard was looking at the floor, but quickly looked up at her while he fiddled with his fingers, "No, I have many things going through my head. You?"
Penny nodded her head at him. "I'm not feeling tired at all. While I tired to drain out your roommate I was memorized by all the lights and finally seeing Time Square. It was just beautiful. I know we he have a busy schedule tomorrow so I'm hoping having a glass of wine will calm my nerves some."
Leonard tilted his head, "Well I would explain why alcohol seems like it relaxes your body, but seems like you had enough scientific explaining for one night. So do you mind if I join you?"
Penny put her hands over her heart acting touched, "Awe you are actually nice, had me fooled in the cab. So I guess you can."
Leonard sighed as he quickly looked at his feet and back at Penny, "Sorry about that. Like I said I have so many things going through my head and Sheldon was adding on the annoyance. So once again sorry."
Penny was about to say something when the elevator doors opened. Leonard nodded his head towards the door, "Ladies first."
They walked in silence to the hotel bar and sat next to each other. Penny ordered a drink as did Leonard. Penny her stool some so she could face Leonard some. "So tell me about you since you could not get a word in edge wise in the cab."
Leonard took a sip and turned towards Penny. "Well you already know I'm an experimental physicist from Sheldon. Anyways I graduated from high school at sixteen. I earned my PhD from Princeton at twenty-four. I know it is not as young as Sheldon but I am still considered one of the experimental physicist to earn a degree at a young age. I work at Caltech, specializing in lasers and sub atomic measurements using lasers as an experimental. In my early years at Caltech, I worked on developing various rocket fuels. Sometimes I have fun with the lasers to make my own bat signal." Then Leonard took his glass and took another drink with a smile as he heard Penny giggle.
"Wow so you are one of those beautiful minds and a nerd?" Penny was amazed and impressed.
"Well yes I am!" Getting another small laugh from Penny, Leonard felt proud as he saw that she looked surprised. He just did not the idea she already classified him as a nerd. So he decided to keep his other love of Star Wars, Star Trek, and other things girls like that considered in the nerd category a secret. Leonard took another quick drink. "So what about you?"
Penny sighed as she took a bit of her bread stick. Might as well get the embarrassment over with. "Well okay my career is not as fabulous as yours...So I came to California at eighteen to become an actress. Since it has been my dream since I was five. I worked as waitress at the Cheesecake Factory so I could pay for acting classes. So I wouldn't call myself an A lister quit yet. If you consider two bad review plays, two comercials, and a guest spot on NCIS a successful career. So yeah dreams come true!" Penny smiled big with displaying two thumbs up. "And I'm sure you heard about my wonderful life on failed relationships."
Leonard knew somewhat was going on, "Well Howard said that you just ended it with your cheating boyfriend. So Im guessing since Howard and Bernadette can not keep anything to themselves, you heard about my failed long term relationship."
The next hour Leonard talked about how he was with his girlfriend for almost a year and things were fine until she went back to India. The reason he acted the way he did was Priya left him messages saying she screwed up but Leonard could not stand cheaters. Penny knew exactly how he felt as she told him about Kurt and Mike.
They walked back to the elevator once they had their one drink and late time snack. Leonard discussed about his speach for the next night. Penny touched his hand gently. Leonard shuddered again to her touch as he looked down at her hand and back up looking at her eyes. "You'll do great, just be confident." She told him with a very gentle voice.
Leonard walked Penny to her hotel door. "Well I enjoyed your company tonight Penny. Somehow you made it much better."
Penny noticed Leonard fiddling with his fingers once more. So she put her hands over his making him stop. His eyes met hers. Penny leaned in and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. Then stood straight back up again. Their eyes never left each other and hands stayed where they were. "I had a nice time too. Thank you Leonard." Then gave him another kiss on the cheek. Penny finally letting go and turned around to unlock the door. She opened it slightly and turned her head, "Goodnight." Then walked in but before she did, Leonard gave her a sweet, genuine smile with him telling her goodnight also.
Penny closed the door and leaned against it. She felt many feelings and emotions. As much as she loved feeling physical with a man, Penny wanted to be careful and take her time with Leonard. Being both hurt is why she wanted to be careful. Penny wanted to take her time with him because he was so different and felt she really wanted to get to know him. Maybe a friendship at first, which this trip would be perfect for. Then maybe see where things led to. Leoanrd was a genuine nice guy and made her laugh too. Penny felt excited yet terrified feeling all at once for a man that was usually not her type. Waiting and time were her weakness, but she did not want her heart broke again.
Penny leaned off the door as she decided to get ready for bed. Maybe some sleep would clear her head.