Sheldon opened his apartment's door and came in like a flash. He had climbed the stairs at full speed, trying to enter as soon as possible at home. Now, he was leaning against the door, as if he would to prevent that a deadly danger to enter. He was out of breath and panting, trying to catch his breath. Suddenly, he was aware that all his friends were there, looking at him with wide eyes.
- Sheldon ... - Leonard began with a raised eyebrow. - Are we being invaded by... the Orcs from Moria?
His mate ignored him. He looked nervously across the room and walked to the kitchen. He seemed to breathe a little quiet.
- If you are looking for Penny, I regret to inform you that she's not here. - Amy said with a suspicious look.
The young physicist turned as if he had been stung and stared her.
- Who said that I am looking for her? - he asked, seeming suspiciously uneasy at the mention of the girl.
Bernadette tried to mediate. She felt quite sorry for the poor Sheldon. She felt that between him and her friend had happened something more serious, and neither of them were willing to talk. Penny had almost begged his boss in the Cheesecake to double her shift that day, and work up to the midnight. Bernadette had looked at her incredulously, and had reminded to her that this night they would dine together with Leonard and Sheldon. But the young aspiring actress dropped the first excuse that crossed her mind. She said that she needed to earn a little extra money and, also, on Tuesday had few customers and allowed her to brush up on her books. Bernadette had tried to get her the truth, appealing to the trust they had, but Penny closed her mouth, insisting that nothing was happening. The microbiologist was afraid that Penny would go away from Sheldon again ... for whatever reason. And, seeing the face of relief that had the young physicist to see that Penny was not at home, she was afraid too that he also wanted to avoid her.
- Sheldon ... - Bernadette began gently. - Penny convinced our boss to stay working overtime.
He looked at her, confused. He was going to ask something, but suddenly he remembered the part he had to play.
- Have I asked for Penny? I do not care where she is or what she's doing! - Said, raising his voice a little more of normal.
- You lie horribly. - Amy said, rolling her eyes.
- Amy! - the microbiologist scolded her.
- What? It's the truth. - Replied the aforementioned. Sheldon looked at her. - Let me tell you that your behavior shows great immaturity. You don't know how to manage your attraction to Penny and, because of that you're behaving like an unevolved Homo.
At that time, Leonard spat the juice he was drinking, soaking the poor Raj. Howard choked and coughed compulsively. Bernadette put her hand to her eyes.
- What?! - Leonard managed to say.
- I'm a homo novus and I am very evolved! - Sheldon exclaimed angrily, glaring at Amy with his eyes. - And if you suggest that I'm not, that does not say much for your quality as neurobiologist.
Howard, Leonard and Raj looked stunned.
- Let's see ... a moment ... - Howard started. - Ehm ... I don't know if you realize that your discussion we care a damn ... especially when Amy just said ...
- Do you like Penny?! - Asked Leonard, with a cry of surprise, looking incredulously at Sheldon.
The poor physicist felt all his tics to his face. He gritted his teeth.
- You should not make that question so vehemently, considering that she's your ex-girlfriend and Priya, your current partner is present now.
Everyone looked stunned. Amy snorted.
- Of course he likes. If I put an electrode in his head right now ... - Amy began.
- Amy, shut up, unless you want that I also start to do experiments with you in a particle accelerator.- Snapped the physicist. He turned to the others.- Okay, I want to clear several things. First, you have no right to give me the third grade. My life is not your business and I don't need your uncomfortable intrusions. And second, between Penny and I only have a friendly social relationship in which you have nothing to do. Or colloquially said, no one has asked you to butt in.
Saying that, the theoretical physicist turned and, in three strides, reached his room and disappeared . All were without breath.
- I cannot believe ... - Howard started. - He... likes Penny. Sheldon Cooper ... likes a woman!
-Howard Wolowitz, shut up! -Bernadette looked at the others, furious - How could you do that? You know Sheldon and you know that for him it must be awfully difficult to manage something that had never before happened. And all you have done is to harass him in that way. You should be ashamed! - she exclaimed, indignantly.- Especially you, Leonard.
The experimental physicist swallowed and lowered his head.
- I ... yeah, I guess you're right. I should not react that way. I just ... I could not help. In what universe Sheldon could be attracted to Penny? Or to any girl?
- Well, apparently, in this. - Raj said. The young Indian shook his head. - Since Penny works as assistant to Dr. Miller, Sheldon is rarer than ever. Sometimes he chooses to work for hours without rest, and sometimes he looks for any excuse to get out of his office. Finally all has sense now...
- The point is that you behaved fatal to him. - Bernadette looked at them, accuser. All bowed their heads in shame. - And considering that you, Leonard, are his best friend, you should go and apologize him.
- Me? ... but I ...
He stopped to see the disapproving look of Bernadette and Priya.
- Girls,I do not know if now is a good idea to go to ... apologize. - Howard intervened. - Maybe we should let ... he calms down.
This time it was the young Jew who silenced his mouth due to his girlfriend's furious gaze. Leonard sighed.
- Okay ...
He advanced, defeated, to Sheldon's bedroom. He knocked almost fearfully.
- I'm not here! - it was heard on the other side.
-Sheldon... come on! Stop this. Come on, let me enter.
- If you cross the door, next time I'll put an electrifying shield to prevent raids on roommate's room.
Leonard snorted and opened the door, tired of this history. He came into the bedroom. Sheldon glared, sitting on his bed, while he pressed forcefully a cushion.
-I should have installed that shield long ago - he muttered, giving his back to the newcomer.
- Sheldon ... - Leonard sat on the edge of the bed. His partner automatically went away. - Sheldon, this is ridiculous. Stop behaving like a little kid. - he saw that his friend's jaw trembled, but he did not say a word. - Sheldon, if you refuse to hold a civil conversation between adults, I'll swear I'm going to phone right now your mother and I'll tell her that you have an attack of ... social phobia.
The thin physicist scowled.
- We have nothing to talk about, Leonard.
- Of course I have. - he replied. - Why the hell didn't you tell me what was happening with Penny? I thought we were friends. - he said, a little hurt.
- Because nothing was happening with Penny! And I don't understand why all of you insist again and again on that point.
Leonard shook his head.
-Sheldon, Raj told us that your behavior is... well, more rare than normal in you since Penny is Dr. Miller's secretary. And I totally agree with him. Right now, you just enter at home like an exhalation, as if you were afraid to meet her in the hall. And until you have ensured that she was not here, you have not seemed to rest quiet. So stop saying that it's our imagination. Maybe you have the highest C.I, but we are not idiots, Sheldon. And you lie horribly.
The theoretical physicist looked at him. He felt cornered. And he didn't know what to do. Leonard moved a little closer to him.
- Sheldon, don't you trust me?
His roomate looked at him. Well, yes, he trusted him. Well, it's true, they always were arguing and defending different points of view relative to the physical theory that could best explain the Big Bang, but despite that, Leonard always supported him and helped him in everything he could. In fact, he was the only person who really listened him. Well, he and Penny ... She swallowed, feeling his heart's beat, thinking about her. He shook his head, trying to erase the beautiful image of his mind.
- I trust you, Leonard ... - admitted.
- So? Why did not you tell me what's wrong?
- The question is ... I have nothing to tell because ... simply because I do not know what to say. I do not know what happens. It is true that ... well, that Penny and I have been closer lately, and I see her almost every hour ... and closeness ...
He swallowed, unable to continue. Leonard looked at him sympathetically.
- Sheldon, I'll tell you what happens. Do you remember our conversation about the signs that tell you if you like a girl?
He looked at him, nodding with fear.
- Which of them do you have with Penny?
Sheldon felt cornered again. No answer. He buried his head in his hands. Leonard put a hand on his shoulder.
- Hey, is not so bad that you like a girl. It is the most normal I've seen so far in you. - joked the experimental physicist.
- As usual, you don't understand anything, Leonard. - Sheldon looked up. - I'm a homo novus. Never it would be normal that a girl likes me. And much less Penny. She is my best friend and your ex-girlfriend. Not to mention that she's the most opposite human being to me. She is messy, chaotic, irresponsible, is not particularly clever, she keeps the milk in the liquor cabinet and is unable to understand what is the limit of f (x) = 1 / x as x approaches zero.
Leonard looked at him blankly for a moment unable to react. He shook his head, confused.
- That ... does not matter if you really like her. And it's clear that you like her, because despite all these "defects" you have always helped her. Moreover, nothing happens for it's her. I love Priya. Penny has been a very important person in my past, but our relationship could not function.
- Of course, so is far more likely that "it could function" with me. - he said, in a surprisingly acidy voice. Leonard looked at him, surprised at the first sign of sarcasm on his part. He cocked his head.
- Sheldon, you should tell her how you feel.
The theoretical physicist looked at Leonard as if he had said that he could fly by flapping their arms.
- I always knew that in your brain something is not working properly. - Sheldon said.
- Oh, come on! If you do not tell, all this will eventually explode. Do not you realize? The situation will escape your hands. Do you think that you can endure this for much more time? Are you going to be always fleeing Penny?
Sheldon swallowed and clenched his teeth.
- I'll endure whatever it takes. I'm a homo novus and am above all this. And no, I will not "flee" from Penny. Tomorrow we'll have a conversation in which we'll redefine the terms of our friendship and I'm sure everything will let to evolve toward entropy and will return to normal.
Leonard sighed and shook his head. He got up and moved toward the door. Before leaving, he turned back to his roomate.
- Sheldon ... is impossible to reverse entropy. And you know it perfectly.
The theoretical physicist looked at his friend while he went out. - "Damn entropy!" - he thought.