Penny woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. She managed to feel much more relaxed than when she went to bed. After writing to Leonard, she realized that she's been so used to his constant attention that even Sheldon saying something nice to her churned her stomach. She rolled over and checked her cell phone to see if she got any texts or emails.

Nothing.

She figured Leonard was busy, and with extremely limited internet access, it might be a while before he received her email. Nevertheless, he'd be tickled pink to receive it.

She got out of bed and got ready for work. Her shift was long and tedious, per usual, so she texted the girls periodically to keep herself amused.

Occasionally, her mind wandered back to her show, and more importantly, her rehearsals with Sheldon. She was really hoping she'd be used to their forced romantic verbiage by tonight. This whole thing made Penny wish Leonard was still around, since then loneliness would no longer be a factor in her bizarre behavior.

She got to her apartment around dinner time and dove into some pasta she brought back from the restaurant. She knew she'd be eating alone since Sheldon and Amy were out at some silly lecture. Penny grabbed her script and started flipping through Act II. The context was a bit heavier since they were already dating and facing issues with their student teacher relationship. Parts of it were romantic, and parts had some drama and anger.

Penny laughed to herself. She thought about the old days, where she was just the aloof neighbor next door and Sheldon was a socially awkward loner. They've really come a long way. A few years ago, he wouldn't even have contemplated running lines with her for a show, especially one that didn't have to do with science fiction or whatever. Conversely, she would have never asked for his help, since it would probably hinder the process rather than help her improve.

After she finished her pasta, she looked at her phone to check the time. 7:14pm. She figured Amy and Sheldon would return around 8:30.

Hopefully, Amy will drop Sheldon off at the door and not bother to come up here with him. Of course, I like hanging out with Amy, but I don't have time for her tonight. I have things to do. I have rehearsing to do. I really don't need any more distractions tonight. Or maybe I do need distractions. Maybe if Amy is there, I won't be caught up in the plot. Although isn't that what I want? To get in character and engage with male actors better?

Penny was giving herself a headache with all of her over-thinking. She plopped down on the couch and watched a rerun of America's Next Top Model. She checked the clock every few minutes, but tried to focus on the show to speed up time.

Come on, why isn't it 8:30 yet.

At 8:00, she turned off the TV and started reading through the scene she wanted to rehearse with Sheldon tonight.

She started to feel awkward reading the lines with sexual references. She could picture Sheldon complaining about the context at every turn, but she read on. Her excitement for the role dwindled as she worried about her rehearsal schedule.

I suppose I don't have to rehearse with Sheldon. I can always just wait until my actual rehearsals start and just improve with Cole. It's not like they're going to fire me. They can't do that, right? I'm not paid or anything.

Penny realized she was too insecure to go into her real rehearsals with her inability to portray true romance. This is why she set up these meetings with Sheldon in the first place.

If I can convince an audience I'm attracted to Sheldon, I can do anything.

Penny smiled and went back to her script. She tried to memorize some of her lines to compete with Sheldon's eidetic memory. She knew he'd have his lines down after his first read through, so it would probably help her skills if she could match his eye contact.

At 8:32, Penny heard the door at 4A open and shut. She didn't hear any hallway conversation, so she took that to mean Amy didn't come upstairs with him. Penny grabbed her script and ran across the hall. She frantically knocked in Sheldon fashion.

He answered the door quickly. "Hello Penny, right on time. I just arrived home."

"Yeah I know, I heard your door." Penny took a deep breath. "So, did you have fun rehearsing with me last night?"

Sheldon thought about it for a second. "Aside from the script being tedious and redundant, I did find the overall experience to be quite enjoyable. Pretending to be somebody else helps me enjoy being myself even more." Penny shook her head.

Yeah, only Sheldon would love himself even more after reading for Tim.

"Great. I'm glad you liked it. So today, I want to try a scene from Act II. Here, Sarah and Tim are having some trouble." She said.

"What kind of trouble? Digestive trouble? Trouble with work?" Sheldon asked.

"No, trouble with their relationship. They have to keep the whole thing quiet since he's her professor, but they keep fighting about it because Sarah feels like he's embarrassed by her."

"I can't imagine why." Sheldon said sarcastically.

Penny flashed him a dirty look. "Come on, I want to get through this scene more than once before you throw me out tonight." She looked down at her script. "Dammit Tim, you didn't have to push me into your office like that. There was nobody out there. And even so, I'm allowed to come to your office whenever I want. I'm still in your class."

Sheldon cleared his throat. "I didn't push you. I just didn't want to be loitering in the hallway. It's nobody else's business what we talk about."

"You already told me you can't get fired for dating me, so what's the big secret? Why can't you even be seen with me anymore? Do you have some secret girlfriend elsewhere or something?"

"Sarah, listen to me. I really like you, but the last thing I need right now is everyone thinking I'm sleeping with my students." He yelled. Penny was a bit impressed that he put that much inflection in the line.

"So that's it? I'm just one of your students?! And for crying out loud, what does sex have to do with any of this? Is that all I am to you? A good time?" She yelled back. She was really getting into this scene. Maybe this rehearsing with Sheldon would pay off after all.

"What do you want from me? I'm trying really hard here to make everyone happy." He replied.

"You know what? Maybe you just can't handle a relationship. Maybe I'm too good for you!" She yelled. At that moment, she followed her stage directions and went to push Sheldon with both hands.

He intercepted her push by grabbing both her wrists and looking her square in the eyes. "Or maybe I understand what it takes to make a real relationship work. This isn't a movie Sarah. If you want to be together, you have to trust me. We can't run around like we're teenagers."

Penny's eyes went wide. She didn't expect Sheldon to actually grab her wrists. And damn that memory of his.

"You need to earn my trust. And going out of your way to hide us from the rest of the world isn't going to help." She said timidly.

Sheldon tightened his grip. "I'm not hiding you. I'm protecting you, and I'm protecting us. Just trust me, and I'll be the man you've always wanted."

She blinked a few times, adjusting her vision to the site in front of her. Penny froze, speechless.