Leonard and Penny sat at the desk in her bedroom on the next Wednesday night after he drove her to the audition. Penny was staring intently at a particularly difficult mathematics problem. Leonard waited for her, to see if she could complete it. Penny had her test the next day and requested extra tutoring for the night before. Leonard watched as she wrote down some mathematical calculations and then tapped some buttons on a calculator. She continued to write until she put her pen down and took a deep breath.

"I got -9/8 and 7 for when the thing is zero." She said. "Is that correct?"

Leonard looked down at the answer. "It is correct." He said with a smile. "I think you are very ready for your test tomorrow."

Penny sighed. "I don't know." she said. "I don't know if I can do these without your help."

Leonard gave a confused look. "You just did that question without my help." He pointed out.

"I guess it is comforting having you there in case I need help." She admitted. "I think I might be nervous and my mind will go blank and…"

"Leave the overthinking to people like me." He said. "Just remember everything I've told you and you'll at least get a C. You only need a C to pass and stay on the cheer squad."

Penny nodded. "I know you're right." She said. "Thank you Leonard. I'm hoping after this test that you can still tutor me. Maybe in more than just maths."

"You want more tutoring?"

"I know you're good at science." She said. "And in other subjects."

Leonard shrugged. "As long as I have the time." He tried to not commit himself too much. "Speaking of time, I should get home. Good luck with the test tomorrow."

"I'll need it." Penny said. "Thank you for the tutoring."

"Okay." Leonard said. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Penny gave a wave. Leonard walked out of the bedroom and out of the house.

#

Leonard opened the door to his house and felt like going to his room and falling asleep. He'd been having some sleepless nights. He couldn't help stressing over all the socialising he'd been doing and all the socialising he would do in the future. Including his first ever date. He walked towards his bedroom and saw his father sitting on a couch, drinking.

"You're back!" Leonard felt happy. He'd been gone longer than expected after his parent's fight but like he predicted, he had returned.

"Hello, Leonard." He greeted. "You aren't usually out this late."

"My student has a test tomorrow." Leonard explained. "She requested extra tutoring."

"You've been spending a lot of time with this girl." He said. Leonard knew his father wanted to ask if him and Penny were becoming romantic but didn't want to seem like he was intruding.

"Nothing is happening." Leonard put it bluntly. "In fact, I have a date tomorrow night with a different girl."

"Who?"

"I met her whilst at the café." He explained. "She is smart and funny and quite attractive."

"I'm happy for you Leonard." He said and took a sip of his drink. Leonard saw it was some sort of alcohol.

"Are you okay, father?" he asked with concern.

"I'm fine, Leonard." He said.

"Are you sure?" Leonard questioned. "I haven't seen you for days and you're sitting here drinking alcohol."

"You're just pointing out fact." He rebutted. Leonard knew this meant he didn't want to talk about it.

"Have you spoken to mother since you got home?" Leonard asked.

"No." he shook his head. "She must be working late. That is probably for the best."

Leonard knew this was true. Who knows what condescending arguments his mother would bring up if she'd been home when he came back.

For the past few days he'd been at home with his brother and mother and it hadn't been very pleasant. Whenever his father wasn't home, it reminded him of why he was important in his life.

Leonard couldn't help but yawn. "I'm going to sleep. Or at least, try to." he said. "Good night." Leonard walked to his bedroom, changed into his pyjamas and lay on his bed. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. But he couldn't stop thinking of his date with Priya and Penny's math test. And Penny in general.

#

Leonard sat in silence as he ate his lunch at the cafeteria the next day. The big table of popular people was half-occupied and Penny was not there yet. He began to fidget as he wondered how her test had gone.

His thoughts were interrupted when Howard and Raj sat across from him.

"They say it is pretty bad." Howard said.

"I really liked it!" Raj said. "Oh, hello Leonard." He half-greeted. Leonard gave a nod. Every day that week Leonard had chosen to sit at the smaller table, alone, and Howard and Raj had voluntarily sat with him. There were always disagreements between the two he had to settle and the constant reminder, thanks to Raj's relation to Priya, that he had a date coming up.

"I'm going to Raj's to watch Suicide Squad." Howard explained. "I haven't seen it yet."

"Have you seen it?" Raj asked.

"Yeah." Leonard nodded. "It was okay." He added.

"You should come over tonight and watch it with us." Raj offered. "I'll be home alone so we can eat as much junk food as we want."

"No I have a…. a…. something tonight." He said remembering Priya didn't want Raj to know.

"I think he doesn't want to hang out with us." Howard said.

"You must be psychic." Leonard said sarcastically. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Penny had just entered the cafeteria. She had a smile on but this could mean anything.

"Well look at that jelly shake." Howard was also looking at Penny, and clearly not at her smile. "I don't need to be psychic to know that'd be a good time."

Leonard felt an odd amount of anger at that very moment. Thanks to living with his mother, he had the ability to hide anger with a snide comment. So instead of reacting harshly he just stood up calmly. "I need to go to the nurse because you what you just said made me sick. Excuse me." Leonard gave a sly smile and walked away.

#

"And that will be the end of today's lesson on Coulomb's Law." Gablehauser said at the end of lesson. "Can I please see Bernadette, Sheldon, Amy and Leonard after class. Everyone else may leave. And don't forget your assignments are due tomorrow!"

The entire class quickly walked out the of class, except the four he said to stay behind. Leonard, Sheldon, Bernadette and Amy all walked up to the teacher's desk.

"I am very happy that both of your groups handed in your assignments early." He said. Earlier that week Sheldon and Leonard had handed in their completed report and it seemed Amy and Bernadette had done the same. "I've graded them already and was very impressed." He reached into the desk and got out two reports and put it in front of them. Both of them said 'A+' on them. Leonard couldn't help but smile. He usually got an A for his work but A+ might show his mother that he wasn't the 'weak link' in the family. "I am very impressed with the effort and research put into them. And the teamwork."

"Bernadette and I functioned successfully during our collaboration." Amy told him.

"Did you read the grade I gave you, Gablehauser?" Sheldon questioned. Sheldon had handed in an evaluation of the assignment with their report.

Gablehauser sighed. "I don't have to but I did. Not that I care that I got a C."

"I would've given a C+ for how well the guidance questions were carefully worded." Amy spoke up.

"I noted that too. The teamwork aspect reduced it to a C." Sheldon explained.

"Oh." Amy said. "I decided it wasn't logical to include the teamwork aspect into the grading…"

"You all may leave now." Gablehauser interrupted. "Good job on all your assignments."

The group of four walked out of the science classroom.

"It is nice to see someone else grades the assignments." Sheldon said to Amy.

"I don't hand it in to the teacher." Amy said. "I just think about it. I've thought that it should be a part of our official assessment. Like a customer satisfaction survey."

Sheldon gave a smile. "That is very clever." He said. "We should go out and talk about it."

Leonard eyes opened in shock. "You do know what message your sending when asking a girl to 'go out'." He said.

"I'd like to discuss other teacher assessment options." He said confused. "I don't know what you're on about it."

"I believe Leonard is implying you'll make me think you're initiating a romantic relationship." She explained. "I find romantic relationships unnecessary and even if Sheldon initiated, I would object."

"I have the exact same opinion." Sheldon said. "Leonard, I sometimes begin to think you aren't not smart but then you go and insinuate something like that."

"We should discuss a time and place to discuss." Amy said. "Anywhere that doesn't serve alcohol"

Sheldon nodded. "Goodbye Leonard. Working with you was not fun but was not the torture I expected."

"Thanks Sheldon." Leonard said with sarcasm. "Not even my mother would say something that nice." This was a joke but Leonard knew there was truth behind it.

Sheldon and Amy walked off and continued to talk. Leonard and Bernadette walked awkwardly together for a few seconds towards their lockers.

"How is the tutoring going?" Bernadette questioned to stop the silence.

"Well… Penny has a test today." Leonard said. "I think she was ready for it."

"She seemed really happy with her progress when I spoke to her at work the other day." Bernadette said. "It was certainly more stimulating conversation then when she discusses Kurt or the cheer squad."

"Umm… she wants me to do more tutoring." Leonard said. "I don't know if I should get more involved. I…. uh…. with her dating Kurt I don't want to look like I'm trying to take her."

"Would you try and date her if he died or something?" Bernadette questioned. Leonard looked at her with disdain.

"Well obviously she'd need a shoulder to cry on." He joked. "In actuality… I wouldn't. I'm actually a bit preoccupied in the romantic department right now."

"Really?" she looked surprised.

"I have a date tonight." He told her.

"Who?"

"I can't actually say…"

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know…"

"What will you be wearing?"

"I haven't decided."

"You're a real conversationalist, you know that?" Bernadette said with annoyance. "I can't even imagine how Penny gets through those tutoring sessions."

Leonard took a deep breath. "Hypnotism." He said with sarcasm and disdain. "Goodbye, Bernadette." And he walked by himself to his locker.

#

Leonard stood in front of his closet looking at his clothes. He couldn't decide which of his clothes to wear. He knew he could've picked anything and Priya probably wouldn't have cared but it was his first date ever and he needed it to be right. But the date was intensifying his stress. He began re-thinking the restaurant he had chosen and over-analysing conversation starters. He decided this had to stop, so he went to grab his phone to cancel, planning to be 'sick'.

"Why are you just looking at clothes?" he hard Michael at his doorway. "You were like that ten minutes ago when I walked past and still like that now."

"I don't want to discuss this with you Michael." Leonard said.

"It's the date, isn't it?" he questioned. Leonard gave a confused look as he had not told Michael. "Father was boasting about it. He seems very happy you got a date. Like him pushing you to get a job was why you've got it."

"Well he'll be disappointed." Leonard said. "I'm going to cancel the date. I can't take the pressure."

"I expected as much. So did mother." Michael said. "I guess it is a lot more pressure if you're looking for something long term."

Leonard knew exactly what this meant. Michael was not into long-term relationships and when he went on a date it was with the intention of having a one-night stand. "I'm not getting advice from you Michael." Leonard made it clear.

Michael laughed. "I'm an expert on this Leonard, unlike you." He told him. "Just imagine this is the only time you'll ever see this girl ever. No pressure, right?"

"Go away, Michael." Leonard said.

Michael laughed once again and walked away. Leonard looked at the phone he just grabbed and then thought about the advice he was just given. Was he really thinking of taking Michael's advice? He shook his head and texted her.

I'm really sick. I have to cancel. Maybe another time. – Leonard.

#

Leonard sat down in study class the next day. When Penny walked in the classroom she sat in the chair next to Leonard.

"Because of the test I don't actually have any math homework." She told him. "But I have some science."

"I guess we can do that." Leonard said.

"How was your date?" Penny asked. Leonard gulped.

"What date?" he questioned.

"Bernadette told me you had a date when we were working yesterday." She said. "Was it the Priscilla girl you were texting?"

"Yeah." He said. "The date was cancelled."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Penny gave a concerned looked. "I'm sure she had a good reason…"

Leonard felt like rolling his eyes at the fact she assumed Priya was the one who cancelled the date. "I cancelled it."

"Why?" she asked.

"It was freaking me out." He said. "I couldn't sleep for nights beforehand. I couldn't even pick an outfit."

"You need confidence." She said and put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. It made Leonard feel very awkward. He also noticed Christy, from across the class, look at this. "What did the girl say when you told her?" Penny asked.

"She texted me to feel better." Leonard said. "I said I was sick."

"Oh." Penny said and took her hand off him. "Next date, ask me to help you, okay?"

"Why?" Leonard questioned.

"I've been on many dates." She said. A phone buzzed in Penny's pocket. She looked at the study class teacher who was asleep and then answered.

"Hello." She said. Leonard waited as Penny said answers like "Okay." And "Yep." Suddenly she looked sad. "Oh. Oh, that is okay. I will. Thank you." She then then goodbye and hung up. Leonard didn't care enough to question it.

"So what are you studying in science right now?" Leonard said.

"I didn't get the part." She said in a disappointed the tone. "You know, the one I auditioned for on the weekend."

Leonard didn't know how to react. "At least you tried." He shrugged. "Now back to science."

"They said my acting was good but I needed more experience." She continued. "How do I get experience if I can't get parts!"

Leonard sighed and answered logically. "That was a movie, Penny." He said "You should try smaller. Theatre maybe. Acting classes. YouTube even."

"I'm sorry I dragged you to Hollywood for no reason." She apologised.

"Let's get back to science." Leonard insisted. "What are you studying?"

"Velociraptors." She said.

"I didn't think that was a part of the curriculum…. Oh you mean velocity." He realised.

"Of course. I was joking." She pretended like she did not think her class was studying Velociraptors.

"Ok, then." He gave a small smile and kept any criticisms internal. He knew from many years of living with his mother that attacking intelligence was petty. She showed him her science textbook and on the page was formula for velocity. He began to explain what it meant and how it was different to speed.

#

Leonard was at his locker after the school day had finished. It was Friday so he was putting his books in a bag. He put the bag over his shoulder, locked the door and turned. When he turned he saw Penny run up to Kurt and hug him tightly. Leonard stared at them and saw she had an excited expression on her face and he gave a confused one. She seemed to explain something and the two than kissed passionately. Leonard shuddered and reactively turned the other way and walked in that direction.

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He looked at the text.

On Sunday I want to go to the movies. Will you be better enough to go so it can be our date? – Priscilla

Leonard thought about this and knew it'd be perfect. A movie would reduce the social interaction between the two, so it would be a perfect first date.

Yes. Text me the time and location and I will be there – Leonard

"Hello, Hoftsplatter." Bernadette greeted him. She and Amy were standing in front of him. "Do you see how happy Penny is?"

"I noticed." Leonard told her "And it's pronounced Hofts…"

"Do you know why she is so happy?" she asked.

"Did Forever 21 stock a new nail polish colour?" He joked.

"It is because of how you helped her." Bernadette said. "She got an A- on her math test. She texted me as soon as she got the result."

"A-?" he questioned. "Are you sure?"

"I'm not surprised you're surprised" Amy said.

"I wonder why she told Kurt before me." He thought aloud.

"Is someone jealous?" Bernadette hinted.

"Of Penny?" he joked. "I'd never want to tell Kurt anything."

"Ha ha." Bernadette gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Hello ladies." Someone walked up to the three of them. "And Leonard." It was Howard. Raj was with him.

"Not you again." Bernadette rolled her eyes. She grabbed Amy's arm and pulled her away. "Let's go." She walked away from the three.

"You weren't the person I wanted to talk to just now." Howard said when they'd left.

"I thought I told you not to annoy Bernadette." Leonard said.

"Don't care. Christy had her test. She got a D." he shook her head. "Not my D, to clarify." Both Raj and Leonard did not laugh.

"Christy is not letting Howard touch her breasts anymore." Raj elaborated. "Apparently that arrangement wasn't helping her grades."

"So you're desperate for female attention." Leonard assumed. "Sucks to be you."

"Sucks to be me?" he questioned. "When was the last time you got female attention? Even your female study buddy is consummating her test result with her hunky boyfriend."

Leonard should've told them about his date. But Raj was standing right there and he was afraid he'd accidentally let out that his date was Priya.

"I even heard Shelbot Cuckoo got a date with a girl this weekend." Raj said. "The new girl with the glasses that was here before."

Leonard shook his head. "That is purely platonic."

"Better than any of us." Howard said.

"Good for Sheldon Cooper." Leonard shrugged. "I'm going home now. Bye." He left the two and walked out of the school. He began to text Penny.

Congrats on the test result – Leonard

A- is amazing - Leonard

Also, can we have a tutoring session tomorrow? I need some help with a date – Leonard

Thank you for reading. Next chapter will have Leonard and Priya's date, Penny helping them and the platonic Shamy date mentioned in this chapter. It will be interesting to see how all these events will turn out.

If you wish to leave feedback please review and please favourite or follow here or on tumblr(clintcooper) to get updates. Thank you all again.

Clint Cooper