Some secrets kept
Penny and Leonard (who belong to Lorre and Prady) try to talk.
School went along… there was an understanding between Penny and Donnie that they would be friends. Donnie clearly would like more, but Penny seemed to him… to be keeping him at arm's length. It was interesting to him that Penny seemed to hold it against Valerie when she would play Curtis like a YoYo. Letting him go and then reeling him back in at what seemed to be her whim. As far as Donnie could tell it didn't differ all that much from what Penny was doing to him Although, if he was honest with himself, Penny would probably let him go if it wasn't for Tammy and Anna. Those two girls kept making Brad and Timmy bring him along whenever the three girls were out together. He could hardly fault either of his friends though… considering what the two of them were getting in return for making sure Donnie hung around with Penny. And in all truthfulness, Donnie hoped that at some point… Penny would cave under the pressure… and then he would be able to find out if all the rumors were true about Penny. He already had a pretty good idea they were… considering that he already had seen her naked and she had performed a pretty awesome handjob on him… and HE had brought her to climax… something that Curtis had said… couldn't be done. Of course… no one had found out what happened between Penny and himself… and if anyone did… it would mean that he would lose all hope of hooking up with Penny for real and putting Curtis's nasty rumor to bed once and for all…
Brad, Timmy and Donnie were sitting outside the burger joint in the food court while Penny, Tammy and Anna were off at yet another shoe store. The three friends had tried to keep up with the girls, but following them into store after store carrying bags was not their idea of a fun day. They even fought over the two seats outside the last store's dressing rooms. There were three of them and only two seats. When Tammy had come up from behind Brad and slapped him hard on the side of his head, they decided to leave. The looks from Anna and Tammy were unbelievably angry while Penny was more than mildly amused. She never had a problem with Leonard when he went shopping with her. The girls said there would be plenty of seats at the shoe store, but the guys opted for a snack instead.
Brad sucked on a chocolate shake and nodded at Donnie. "So… how you making out with Penny?"
Donnie knew he had very thin ice to walk on. ""EH… you know… sometimes it's better than others… She's pretty funny and all... and she's bangin HOT!"
Timmy laughed. "Yeah… well… good luck with the bangin part…"
Donnie frowned. "Lay off… Penny's a good kid… she's just going through a rough spot."
Brad laughed. "Yeah… how's it feel to be playing sloppy seconds to Hofstadter…"
Timmy spoke up. "Leave Leonard out of this… Just because WE couldn't make it with her…"
Brad smirked. "Yeah… well at least ME and Curtis got all the way to…"
Donnie shoved Brad… almost knocking him out of his seat. "Shut UP you asshole! Leave Penny out of this… what she does between us is OUR business… I don't give a CRAP what you say YOU did with her… and If Curtis has any smarts at all… he'll keep his mouth shut too" Donnie turned to Timmy. "And YOU… the same goes for you…"
Timmy held his hands up. "My lips are sealed… I got it better with Anna anyway…"
Brad smiled. "Yeah… things with Tammy… woof!"
Donnie sat back and grabbed his soda. "Yeah… well… who knows… Penny can't hold out forever…"
Leonard sat a table off to the side of the main study area of the library. Geri was supposed to meet him tonight. They had finished their assignment, deciding to just fine tune the material. Leonard had left all his books at home being told by Geri that she would bring the copies that needed to be gone over. As Leonard waited, he started to get a little nervous. It was a strange feeling for him where Geri was concerned. They had been a natural fit as study partners. Both detail and structure oriented. "A place for everything… and everything in its place". That was one of Beverly's favorite sayings… often used for admonishment when she would find an untidy room. Leonard had no real reason to feel nervous… Geri and he were friends. It had started slowly, then as their studies increased, they spent more and more time together. He hadn't felt this comfortable around someone since he came back from Nebraska. Geri wasn't really that similar to Penny… except that she was a girl… Penny was blonde and much more carefree. Geri had very nice Auburn hair but was much more "planned out"… for lack of a better term. Leonard imagined that Geri fretted over what to wear for school… where Penny was much more on top of her clothes… making sure each had just the right accessories… right from the second they were bought… that's part of the reason that shopping with Penny was such an ordeal… and soooo looong. Geri always looked neat as a pin and always classy. Penny had more of a fashion sense as to what were the new trends and could always make a last minute adjustment that was just perfect… but she also felt just as comfortable in an old pair of sweat pants and a baggy oversized shirt.
Geri saw Leonard siting and just staring into the open room… a queer soft smile on his face. She stopped out of his direct line of sight… stepping back and peering through a bookshelf. He was easy enough to recognize… one could always count on Leonard to wear jeans and sneakers topped off with a t-shirt with some printing on to under a hoody and as the weather cooled… some sort of jacket. Geri wondered if anyone at his house even cared how Leonard presented himself to the outside world. Appearances mattered and Leonard could use some advice. It was a theory of hers that Leonard tried very hard to blend into the background… and his clothes helped him do just that. Most girls didn't even give Leonard the time of day… something Geri didn't understand. Leonard was actually very cute and had a dry sarcastic sense of humor… probably fostered by his awful mother. He tended to let his hair grow… and the curls nestled above his neck in the back. He had deep brown caring eyes that you could lose yourself in and a strong jaw with a wonderful smile.
Penny and the girls came up from behind the guys and sat next to their partners. Penny immediately took some of the crispiest fries sitting in front of Donnie and crunched loudly as she tilted her head and smiled. Donnie tried to grab them back, but was a bit late. Penny then looked at the soda in Donnie's hand and flashed her eyes in his direction. Donnie had no recourse but to hand the drink over to Penny who proceeded to slurp it down through the straw continuing to try to get every last drop out of the now empty cup…
Shaking the ice in the cup, Penny placed it down in front of Donnie and smiled. "Sorry… none left…" She gave Donnie a puppy dog look and he just smiled in return. The girls had seen that the guys were in some kind of discussion. Penny asked first. "So… whatcha been talking about…. It seemed pretty intense."
Donnie immediately looked to his two friends knowing that they were talking about Penny and all the rumors about her. Luckily… Brad and Timmy pretty much understood the look they got from Donnie… either that, or they really understood Penny more than Donnie gave them credit for… both going steady with her at one time or another and undoubtedly exposed to her temper. "Just guy stuff… did you get any shoes?"
Penny smiled… "Aren't you sweet for asking…" Penny saw what she thought was a "proud" look on Donnie's face as he smiled back… impressed that he made her smile. He really was cute… "Nah... but it was fun trying them on just the same.
When they got back from the mall, Brad dropped Penny off at her house. Henrietta caught sight of her daughter before she managed to run up the stairs with her bags of new clothes. "That took a while… I see that you and the girls took your boyfriends along…"
Penny rolled her eyes. "Donnie in NOT my boyfriend…"
Penny's mom chuckled. "Say what you will… but that boy is spending ALL his time around you and it's not because he's after Tammy or Anna."
Penny Turned and ran to her room. "What-EVER!" She then sat on her bed with her bags of purchases then looked over at Liam. "What? You too?"
Lucky for Penny, Denise had made her parents put in a phone line in her old room so she could have some privacy. Penny ran down the hall to Denise's room and closed the door and sat on the bed cross legged with the phone in her hand… staring at the dial. Uncle Floyd had written Penny's parents and thanked them for being such a good influence on Leonard over the past year. In the letter he had written down Leonard's address and phone number. Just in case "someone" wanted to get in touch. Penny had seen the letter and had committed Leonard's number to memory… faster than any random bit of information she had ever heard or seen.
Penny took a deep breath and dialed the number. It seemed that the ringing would never stop. Suddenly and older familiar voice answered the phone. Penny had feared that Beverly would answer the phone at which time Penny had planned to just hang up.
But this time… for this call… Floyd answered. "Hofstadter residence…"
Penny smiled weakly… suddenly a little sick inside… "Is Leonard there?"
Floyd smiled widely as his fondest wish had come true for his nephew. "Why… yes my dear… as a matter of fact... he is… just one moment."
Penny grasped the phone in what had become… very sweaty hands. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her racing heartbeat. All at once she heard a voice on the other side of the line. "Penny?" It was so soft so sweet… just like she remembered. Penny answered in a voice that seemed too small for her… too quiet… all she could muster was a single word. "Hi…"
Leonard smiled… it was the most beautiful sound he could imagine… he hadn't tried to call Penny or even write a letter. He knew that she was mad at him… she actually said she HATED him… and that the best thing was to… just wait for her… to let her come to a point in her mind where it was SHE that would call… Not because he was trying to make a point… not because he was being arrogant… not because he was afraid. He knew that Penny needed time to come to the realization that he had to leave… not because he wanted to… even if he WAS going in another year… the last thing he ever wanted to do was leave her. Leonard was also at a loss for words. "Hi".
It was a sound that Penny had longed to hear. She could see Leonard in her mind's eye… with his jeans and t-shirt covered with a hoodie and probably a jacket… his hair all rumpled in the back with curls… Penny could tell that Leonard was a little nervous… even just that one word… she could hear the slightest quiver. "I think we need to talk".
Leonard exhaled. "Okay". The next few minutes were absolutely quiet. There was no noise from either of them, neither seemed to draw a breath. Leonard decided to try to break the ice. "Not much of a talk…"
Penny snapped out of her thoughts. "Well… talk then".
Leonard was surprised by the command. "You called… and you said we should talk".
Penny smiled to herself. "So… how have you been?... What have you been doing?"
Leonard smiled back. The tentative hesitation had passed. "I've been good… just going to school and stuff… Nothing big…"
Penny lay back on Denise's bed with the phone. "Yeah… same here… except all my school things are different from yours… not so much studying…OOOh! I know… I joined the drama club… it's so cool… we do little scenes and for homework… we have to watch some old movies and stuff… musicals… and we might go see some plays… maybe even go on a trip somewhere… on account that there isn't really anything going on back here."
Leonard laughed. "Yeah well… I've been working on some projects… one for physics… and then there's always Chess Club…"
The talking came easier as the time went on… each of them eagerly wanting the other to talk as long as they could just so they could hear the other person's voice. Penny asked a question she really wanted to know both for herself and for Leonard… she needed to know that he wasn't alone. "Have you made any friends?"
Leonard thought… "Well… there's the guys in the Chess Club…"
Penny pushed. "Anyone else… somebody to hang out with… like real friends…" It ALWAYS made Penny sad when Leonard would tell her that the only real friend he ever had was her. He spent all those years after his mother took him away… and didn't make ONE single friend… And now… she took him away again…
Leonard sighed… there wasn't any real harm in telling Penny about Geri… they WERE friends… they did work on an assignment together… they WERE in some same classes… "Well… there's Geri… we're in some classes together and we're Physics partners… What about you?"
Penny smiled… happy that Leonard had made a friend. "Same old crap… Valerie's a big-ole pain in the ass… always trying to outdo everybody… sitting at her lunch table like some kind of Queen… Tammy and Anna are always on edge worrying about her… They're still with Brad and Timmy."
Leonard frowned at the mention of boyfriends. "That's too bad… the thing about Valerie… The Drama Club is cool though…" He thought for a second or two. "How about you? Any new Boyfriend?"
Penny was surprised… this was something she really didn't want to bring up right away. "ME? NO!... I mean… Anna and Tammy make sure that Timmy and Brad bring Donnie EVERYWHERE we go… "
Leonard's eyes widened. "Donnie Williams?"
Penny could hear that Leonard's voice went up a bit. "Yeah… they make sure it looks like we are three couples when we're out… they're afraid that Val might be trying to make trouble if I was a fifth wheel all the time." Penny stopped talking and there was a complete silence. "Leonard… we're just friends… we just all hang out… we've been at a couple of parties… one we didn't even have anything to drink…" Another silence. "We're just friends… really… so… tell me about this guy Jerry…"
It was Leonard's turn to take a deep breath. "Well… Geri is not really Jerry… He's… not Jerry"… Leonard could feel the confusion on the other side of the phone after listening to his own words that just came out of his own mouth… "SHE's… Geri…"
Penny shook her head. "Jerry's a GIRL?! What kind of a name is that for a GIRL?"
Leonard got instantly nervous and could feel his chest getting tight. "Geraldine… actually… she just prefers to be called Geri".
Penny was a lot more quiet. "Uh…HUH…"
Leonard thought he should say more. "She's in my Physics class and we had this big project… and she wanted to work together…"
Penny broke in. "SHE wanted to work together… with you… nobody else… just you…"
Lenard slipped off his jacket and hoodie. Suddenly it was very warm. "Ummm… yes…"
Penny thought… then spoke monotone. "Interesting…"
Leonard thought he could actually feel cold air coming out of the phone receiver. "We're just friends… STUDY friends… That's what smart kids do… STUuuuDYyyyy…
After both of them reassuring each other that Geri and Donnie were just friends… Penny and Leonard settled into a more easy conversation. Penny talked about Buttercup and Moondance, neglecting to tell Leonard that Moondance came from Donnie's farm. Leonard talked about how Uncle Floyd was staying with them because his father insisted that he stay to take care of Leonard and Michael while he and Beverly were at work. Penny went on to tell Leonard more about the Drama club and cheerleading while Leonard talked about his sister coming home.
In the end Penny sighed into the phone. "I miss you…"
Leonard could hear a skip in her voice. "I miss you too…"
Penny took a deep breath. "I'm glad that you have a friend… say Hi to Geri for me… study hard… but don't take her to any comic book stores… that's OUR thing…"
Leonard chuckled. Of all the things they did together… he never would have thought Penny thought going to a comic book store was THEIR thing… Leonard thought better of telling Penny that Geri actually really liked playing video games and could easily beat him at one of his favorite games just as well as Penny could. "Sure… and you make sure that Donnie keeps Valerie on her toes… you can't lose to someone like her… But he has to be around with Tammy, Anna, Brad and Timmy…
Penny scrunched her nose… not telling Leonard that she and Donnie had been alone. "Okay…" There was another awkward pause before Penny spoke again. "So… could we call and talk again? Or maybe write?"
Leonard smiled into the phone. "I would really like that… Send me your schedule… with cheerleading… and Drama Club… and I will look at mine… you know… studying and Chess Club… and then I will send you times that will fit into our schedules… or just write whenever you want to…"
They both agreed and said their good byes. Leonard put down the receiver and thought that things went pretty well. He felt better about telling Penny about Geri. Penny sighed as she hung up the phone. She was really happy about talking to Leonard, but she really didn't clear the air about Donnie… Sure she told Leonard they were just friends… she just didn't tell him about the playground... she tried to shrug it off… that didn't really matter… it was not going to happen ever again anyway…
Things carried on pretty much the same for the two friends after their phone call. As he said he would, Leonard sent Penny a schedule and the two friends would call at the agreed time. If someone wasn't available, pretty much always Penny… her mother would answer the phone and make the appropriate apology… Unscheduled cheer meeting… girl's at the mall… Drama Club... Leonard always seemed to understand and Penny was always apologetic when she would call back… never waiting until the next scheduled call.
Their separate lives were getting more complicated. Leonard was studying more making sure his grades were good enough to get into Princeton. As it turned out Geri was applying to Princeton also, so the two friends usually buckled down and studied together. Penny was getting more involved in school events… going to plays… getting involved in the student council… which turned out to be nothing more than a popularity poll… which she was made for… being cute always got more votes.
Leonard and Geri were sitting outside of the Student Union at Princeton. They were on a student tour that was planned for the weekend. Leonard was looking a little down after the last round of demonstrations. Geri looked over her soda as she took a sip. "What's up Leonard? Is the Physics Department too tough to get into?"
Leonard snapped out of his thoughts. "What?.. No… That tour was awesome and the demonstration with lasers was unbelievable. Applied Physics is the way to go… for sure…"
Geri smiled. "Really? I would have thought Theoretical Physics is more appealing. But that doesn't really answer my question… Something wrong at home? Has your mother come out of her lair and eaten the pizza boy again?"
Leonard chuckled. "No.. she saves her best moments for when you show up… She's sure you are nothing but a distraction."
The two friends got up and started to walk. They were on a nice path with trees. Geri turned to Leonard and stopped them. "If I wanted to be a distraction…. I wouldn't spend all my time studying with you… I would do this…" Geri then leaned in and kissed Leonard.
Leonard did not stop the kiss, it was very nice... gentle... but he was less than unenthusiastic in his return. He looked down and fiddled with his hands as they broke apart. "Ummm… Geri…"
Geri was mortified at the cool response. "Leonard…. I'm so sorry…" She then ran a short distance to a bench and sat with her head in her hands.
Leonard came up quietly and sat down. "Geri… please don't feel bad… it's just…"
Geri mumbled through her hands. "I'm so embarrassed."
Leonard took her hand and made Geri look at him. "Geri… don't be… it was a kiss… a very good kiss… it's just… I sort of have a girlfriend…"
Geri looked horrified. "It's Amanda… isn't it…"
Leonard looked surprised. Amanda was one of the popular girls… there was no way he would have a chance with her. "NO…. it's Penny… from Nebraska…"
Geri cocked her head. "The cheerleader you told me about? She just a blonde version of Amanda…"
Leonard thought. He realized that he could never see himself with Amanda… she was too pretty… too popular… always around muscular guys. He also took Geri's words to heart. She was right. Amanda was almost exactly what most people would see of Penny. The trouble was… he saw so much more in Penny. She was kind and funny and would never act like the popular girls in his school now. "Yes… Penny… from Nebraska…"
Geri sighed. "I suppose that is why you constantly yammer on about her all the time… Is something wrong with her? Did you have a fight or something? Is that why you're so quiet?"
Leonard shrugged. "We were supposed to have a call… and she wasn't there again… we made this schedule… and I always call at the time and she isn't there a lot of the time."
Geri looked over. "Leonard… she's a Sophomore… and a girl… a popular girl… Does she blow you off?"
Leonard shook his head. "No… she calls back within a day or so… and she's always mad at herself for missing the call… But we're here this weekend… overnight… she doesn't know where I am or how to call me."
Geri smiled. "Turnabout is fair play Leonard… Call her when we get back home… I'm sure she'll understand. So…sorry about the kiss… I just thought that maybe…"
Leonard blushed. "No…no…. it was fine… normally… I would have been good with it… well actually… I probably would have passed out… from being surprised that some as pretty as you would kiss a Dork like me…"
Geri bumped shoulders. "Don't knock yourself… You're cute… if you weren't… Amanda would not be interested…"
Leonard just sat and stared ahead. "Amanda… Really?"
Geri rolled her eyes. "You really have to get better at flirting… why else would Amanda be interested in circuit diagrams…?"
Leonard kept staring. "Huh….."
Geri shook her head. "Are we okay? I mean… I won't jump your bones or anything… now that I know about Penny…"
Leonard "sure… we're fine…"
Geri gave Leonard a side hug. "If she ever does anything to piss you off… I'm right here for you."
Penny's parents had warmed up to Donnie after he came over a few times along with the girls and their boyfriends. Both Henrietta and Wyatt had seen that Penny's mood had improved when she was active around her friends. After the last party, Penny had gotten into a schedule of waiting for Leonard to call. They would always have a long call… over an hour each time. Penny always was worked up prior to the call, but was borderline depressed when she had to hang up. She missed that boy something fierce. But when Penny was around her friends… she perked right up… and when she was around Donnie… things were even better.
Penny sat with Donnie on the side of the room. Valerie had yet another party and all the usual people were there. This night was not like the party at Tammy's. With the pressure off from her parents, Penny… and Donnie decided that it would be all right to have a few beers. Penny figured she would just make sure they stopped at the Diner before they got home to get something to eat and then she would make a quick run to her bedroom before her mother got too suspicious.
Curtis was having a good time with all comers to his Beer Pong Table. He was winning just about all the rounds… only having to take the occasional drink. Valerie was right by his side rooting him on and egging on all the losers that thought they could best her boyfriend. It wasn't long before she saw Penny sitting with Donnie. "Hey Pettersson… bet you can't get out of drinking THIS Time!"
Penny had had more than a few beers and was feeling a buzz. But she wasn't about to let Valerie get the upper hand. Val couldn't hold her own liquor and always was bested by Penny in the past. That fact and the thought that Penny won every round at the last party made her see red. "Shut it Val… this is just a bunch of amateurs…"
Curtis laughed. "Of course it is… you can't drink PROFESSIONALLY"… He thought through the alcohol haze he was building. "But if you could… this would be the Super Bowl of Beer PONG!... The OLYMPICS of BEER PONG!" A roar went up from the people around the table. "We should start a petition to get BEER PONG in the OLYMPICS!" Another roar went up from the small crowd.
Penny stood and waved her hands. "Okay… Okay… let's get this over with… Curtis… you… are… goin… DOWN!" Yet another crowd roar and then everyone started to gather.
Donnie stood by Penny. "Are you sure you're okay to do this? You've had a lot more to drink this time…"
Valerie broke in. "Can't take it can ya!"
Penny turned and saw red. "FINE! Big MOUTH… shut you're pie hole! Put up… or SHUT UP… ME and Donnie… against YOU and Curtis!"
Donnie was also drinking… so it was certainly not a given that things would come out in their favor… "Ummm… I'm not so sure this is a good idea…"
Penny turned and gave Donnie the best pair of puppy dog eyes she could muster. "PLLLEEEEAAAASSSEEEE?"
Donnie buckled and took a hand full of ping pong balls. "SET-EM UP! Two Rounds… Switch ends of the table for the second round..." The crowd of teens swelled and started to root for one side or the other.
Penny stumbled as Donnie and her came to the playground once again… They had left the party after soundly defeating Curtis and Valerie… At least THEY thought it was a drubbing. Curtis and Donnie could hold their own… each trading drink for drink… but when Valerie went against Penny… it was no contest. Penny didn't need to drink much and put Val down. When the second round started… it was Donnie against Valerie and Curtis against Penny.
Penny wasn't about to let that cheating sonofabitch ex-boyfriend of hers win… so she quickly sank three balls making Curtis drink first. Unfortunately, Penny had enough to drink that night to affect her aim and she lost her round to Curtis after he didn't miss a one. Penny was pretty much in the bag when Valerie stood at the end of the table to take her throw and managed to toss the ping pong ball clear over Donnie's head. Donnie responded by putting Valerie literally under the table when she slipped on her last cup of beer spilled on the floor. Penny threw her arms around Donnie's neck and pulled him out the door… away from the boisterous crowd.
They then found themselves walking away laughing… Penny in the arms of Donnie… Donnie trying to make sure that Penny wouldn't fall and hurt herself. It wasn't long before they came to the playground of the elementary school and found the bench by the trees. Penny was absolutely giddy with victory… she turned to Donnie and threw her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.
Donnie was completely taken by surprise… But didn't pause for a second with his response. He had the prettiest girl in school… in his arms… and SHE was kissing HIM… Donnie wrapped Penny in his arms and returned the kiss. It was one of those rare warm Autumn periods in Nebraska... much like it was when Penny was a very little girl.
They settled into the grass... much lie the last time Val had a party. Penny ran her fingers through the rumpled curls at the back of Donnie's head and deepened the kiss… It wasn't long before she pulled away and turned her head and rested on Donnie's shoulder. "Thank you Leonard…. That was great…" Penny then started to pull at Donnie's shirt trying to pull it over his head.
Donnie's eyes opened wide. He didn't move an inch… He just lay there with Penny pawing at him... managing to get his shirt off. Donnie didn't fight her and was surprised when Penny pulled her own shirt off quickly followed by her bra. The moonlight shone bright upon her form with the clear night sky. It was a cool night out and the affect of the temperature could be easily seen on Penny's breasts.
Penny pulled Donnie in for a hug. "It's cold..." She then snaked her hands behind Donnie into the back of his pants... She moaned again as she felt the soft warmth of his behind.
Donnie pulled Penny to his chest... easily feeling her erect nipples against his chest. "Better?"
Penny moaned in pleasure. "Mmmm... Hmmmm".
Donnie smiled as Penny was resting her head on his chest… he leaned back and took a deep breath. He was about to say something when he heard a soft snore… Looking down… he could see that Penny had fallen asleep on his chest.
