I know many of you were not happy with the last chapter. I hope this chapter is better. But I'm not close finishing this story. Enjoy and still dont own TBBT.

Part 11

Over the weekend the girls took Penny to Vegas. She had a blast even going to a strip male show. The girls tried everyway to keep her mind off of Leonard.

When Monday came around Penny started her job. She sat in training for six hours. Then with Bernadette and Amy still at work, Emily helped Penny go shopping for a bed and couch. Penny almost felt bad for the movers from the store since her apartment complex elevator was broke. She was glad it was not her. Her and Emily already had brought tons of boxes, chairs, and a television. Around seven, Emily left after helping Penny put things away and eating dinner. Penny was also gratful her bed had arrived so at least she could get a good night sleep before another day at work.

Penny was sitting on her couch, texting Bernadette let her know she moved in okay. It was when she heard three knocks on the door and "Hello new neighbor."

Penny froze, "That sounds like Sheldon."

Another three knocks and "Hello new neighbor."

Penny put her phone down and stood up and rolled her eyes to the ceiling, "Please don't be Sheldon."

Three more knocks, "Hello new neighbor."

Penny walked to the door and looked through the peep hole. She quickly turned around and leaned against the door. She closed her eyes. "Just a sec." Penny said loud enough for him to her. The with a whisper Penny began to talk to herself, "Crap it is Sheldon. No wonder the apartment complex looked recognizable. This is where we met up with the guys before New York. That means Sheldon and Leonard are my neighbors. Oh crap Leonard... What the hell I'm going to do when I see him..." She opened her eyes and took one last deep breath. Turned back around and slowly and opened the door with a smile on her face. "Hi Sheldon!"

Sheldon gave Penny a very surprised look as her door was now fully opened. "Penny, you're the new neighbor?"

Penny was now smiling with a grin ,"So you're my bat crap crazy neighbor?"

Sheldon looked confident, "I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested."

Penny rolled her eyes with her arms now crossed and was leaning against the doorframe, "Yeah yeah, so what are you doing here Dr. Whackadoodle?"

"Leonard advised that I should greet our new neighbor. So hello Penny, welcome to the building." Sheldon voice had no emotion, then turned around to headed back to 4A.

Penny sighed, "Sheldon wait!" She walked closer to him with thumbs in her pocket feeling nervous to ask him a certain question.

Sheldon turned around noticing Penny head was lowered but yet looking at him, "Why should I wait? I came over to introduce myself. We already meet and you did not invite for myself to come in for a hot beverage. So I see we have no more introduction for the evening."

Penny shook her head, "Well you said that Leonard you should come over to introduce yourself. How about Leonard? Where is he now?"

"If you fear the akward interaction between you two since you two are no longer interested in cotious with each other. There will be plenty of that. As for this evening he is finishing his work at the apartment. Once he is done he will be over to introduce himself. Boy does he have a surprise awaiting for him!"

Penny grinned from ear to ear. She felt anxious seeing him since things went south since they last saw each other four days ago. Now knowing Leonard was her neighbor she wanted him to know what he was missing. "Oh yes he will Sheldon. Tell him your new neighbor will wait up to meet him because she is excited to meet him."

Sheldon made nod, "Alrighty then I will send hime over when he is done with his work."

Penny told Sheldon thank you and to have a good evening. She went back to her apartment and waited.

Penny must have nodded off when she heard the door knock. She stood up feeling nauseous and quietly went to the door. Penny opened the door quickly once she gained her confidence. Her heart raised as she saw him. She grinned big, "Leonard!"

Leonard looked up and swallowed hard. He could not move his feet. "Um! Penny your...your..."

Penny tilted her head, smile never leaving her face, "Yep I'm your new neighbor! Got a problem with that?"

Leonard shook his head quickly, "No...not at all..."

Penny was happy at herself keeping herself calm. "Good! So what no Priya tonight?"

Suddenly Penny saw Leonard turn pale and head lowered and eyes looked up at her with eyes above his rim of his glasses. "Look Penny...I... I want to talk... I need to talk to you... May I come in?"

Penny wanted to tell him off. She knew she should have not said yes. But Penny nodded her head and before she knew it they were sitting on her couch facing one another. "So talk..." Penny was mentally kicking herself for letting Leonard get to her. She still felt upset over what happened between them.

Leonard rubbed his hands on his pants slowly as he looked up to the ceiling trying to find the right words. He sighed once his eyes meet hers. "Penny I know you're angry at me. What we had in New York was special. My insecurities. my overthinking, my lack of confidence take over my mind that day I saw Mike kissing you. When we returned from New York City, Priya came back to California. I ignored her until last Monday. I went to her for advice. It was wrong of me. In the end I screwed up like always. Penny if you ever could trust me again, if you do at all, a friendship with you would be better than nothing without at all. And for your information things with Priya are officially over for good this time."

Penny saw sadness in his eyes, something she never saw in Kurt nor Mike's eyes whenever they begged her to come back. Penny placed her hands over Leonard's to make him to stop rubbing them over his pants. They both shuddered at their touch. Penny moved her hands quickly away. She folded them into her lap. Penny took a minute to collect what she had just heard. This was not her intentional plan but she had to say something. Her eyes never leaving his. "Leonard, these last four days had me thinking. You are right we had a good thing going where I was hoping we could a potential relationship together. You're right about another thing. Your insecurities, your over thinking, and your lack of confidence got in the way. Stop being so down on yourself. Work on those. Mike is the past. Priya I hope is the past too. So how do you say give me time. I don't know if we have much on a relationship now but a friendship we could possibly work on. I only say that because I do miss talking to you. But not starting tonight since it is getting late and we both have work in the morning." Penny reached over and patted his shoulder with a shy smile.

Leonard watched her and could not hold back the shiver through his body. He pressed his lips tightly together and nodded. "You're right and thank you Penny. Goodnight." He stood up and walked towards the door.

Penny followed, leaned around Leonard and opened the door. "Yep! Goodnight to you too Leonard." Leonard walked out as she watched him enter his apartment. Penny closed the door and leaned against it. She began to think out loud. "At least he explained himself. You kept your cool. He seemed sincere but hard to tell. This is going to be harder than I thought. Leonard Hofstadter I might be mad, upset, and can not trust you right now. But one thing for sure you have done something to me and for the life of me wish things were different. Living across me will be much harder to get over you, I don't think I want to get over you." Penny was not for sure if the tears were from the anger she felt still, or the matter Leonard was so close and she did not want to let him go. The first time in a long time she felt very confused. Penny let herself go off thethe door and just decided to sleep on her feelings.