Hard Choices
This pair of teens... Penny and Leonard... that Belong only to TBBT... find it is not so easy living so far away from each other.
Donnie just lay holding Penny with her arms wrapped around him… her hands neatly tucked into his pants holding her close to him. He didn't know what to do, but was not exactly against having a half-naked girl pressed tightly to his chest. And the alcohol he had had to drink did nothing to make him feel he should do anything about their position.
A sound came from within the trees nearby. "Get OFF me!"
Almost immediately, another voice came from the trees. "Babe… C'mon…"
Donnie Instantly knew the second voice and also knew that this was not a position he wanted to be caught in… or more accurately… a position PENNY would not want to be caught in. Donnie tried to sit up and Penny fell back pulling her hands out of his pants, hitting her head on the ground, her arms falling out to her sides and causing her to moan. Donnie first was frozen... staring at Penny's chest, then heard more rustling from the trees. Donnie then grabbed for Penny's bra and attempted to put it on her.
Just at that moment, Penny came awake and looked down seeing Donnie with her open bra in his hands. "What the HELL are you doing?!"
Donnie looked at Penny. "NO… it's not like that…"
The couple was suddenly aware they were being watched as Kurt and Chelsea Himmelfarb stepped out from the thicket of trees.
Kurt laughed. "Hey… nice RACK you got there Pettersson!..." Chelsea stood still with a open mouth then put a hand over her mouth and giggled.
Penny immediately covered herself as best she could, stood up and grabbed her bra from Donnie… "For the love of GOD!" She quickly put it on and grabbed her shirt that was lying next to Donnie. She pulled her shirt on and then stood, not knowing what to say. Penny quickly turned and ran off in the direction of her house.
Kurt put an arm around Chelsea and punched Donnie in the shoulder. "Way to go Williams... sorry for breaking up your fun…" He then turned to Chelsea. "See Babe? I told you this was a good spot…" He then turned and pulled her back into the trees. He turned his head. "Williams… do you mind?"
Donnie just looked between Kurt and the direction that Penny ran off in. He bent down and found his own shirt and pulled it over his head. Not exactly knowing what to do and still with the slightest buzz. Donnie just walked off to his own house. There was going to be some hell to pay when they got back to school… and it wasn't all going to be coming from Penny. Valerie was sure to hear about this and then there was going to be just that much more to the rumor mill about Penny and how she puts out.
The next day at school was everything Penny had feared it would be. It seemed that everyone was either staring or pointing at her… whispering and then going the other way… sometimes giggling. She had avoided Donnie at all costs. As much as she wanted to know exactly WHAT he thought he was doing… she really didn't remember much of anything after they had left the party all the way up to laying half naked on the ground with her legs tangled in with Donnie's… Donnie holding her bra and KURT standing over the two of them laughing and staring at her boobs… with CHELSEA HIMMELFARB!.. Ugh… there was no way she was getting out of this situation… Val might have lost playing Beer Pong… but this was WAY worse. She knew Leonard wouldn't know about this… but it still hurt knowing that she probably disappointed him again.
Leonard was sitting in his usual place in the library when Geri came up to sit with him. "Hey… are you ready for this weekend?"
Leonard smiled as he held up the information he was looking at. It was admission information to the University of Chicago. "You bet… This place is amazing… the Physics department is just SO advanced… and we may actually be able to go and see Fermilab !"
Geri smiled. "Have you cleared it with your parents?"
Leonard sat back. "They have no problem with the two of us going on the tour. My mother has a speaking engagement at the University of Pittsburgh and Father is at a symposium on East African Prehistoric sites."
Geri cocked her head. "They don't have a problem with us flying alone?"
Leonard furrowed his brow. "I don't think either of them gave it a second thought… although… to be perfectly clear…"
Geri rolled her eyes. "I get it Leonard… everything will be fine!"
Penny made it to the end of the week without actually spending any alone time with Donnie. The closest they came to each other was at lunch and Penny made sure that Tammy and Anna were there to occupy her time. Donnie was relegated to being with Timmy and Brad. She came home after cheer practice still in her uniform. She didn't want to have to explain anything to any of the girls. Walking up the steps and then as quietly as she could past the den, she was interrupted by her father's voice.
Wyatt had seen that something was bothering his daughter this week and he thought that he had just the thing to get her out of her bad mood. "Hey Slugger… come in here for a second…"
Penny let her arms go completely slack, flopped her head back and literally dragged her own feet into the den until she was in front of the couch and flopped down. "Yes?"
Wyatt saw the performance and was not amused. "If you're gonna be that way… maybe it isn't worth the effort…"
Penny sat up straighter. "I'm sorry Dad… what did you want?"
Wyatt got a huge smile on his face. Well… old Tom… he had a couple of tickets to the Huskers game this weekend…"
Penn sat BOLT upright and her eyes went wide. "YES!"
Wyatt chuckled. "Now… wait just a second… They're playin North Western this Sunday…"
Penny sat at the very edge of the couch cushion. "Even better! They SUCK!"
Wyatt was now properly amused by his daughter. "There's one catch…"
Penny sat back. "I am NOT going to go with his grandson Willy!"
Wyatt was confused. "Who said anything about Willy?... That boy may be the best right guard your school has ever had… but he's dumb as a box of rocks… No… and who said you were goin…"
Penny rolled her eyes. "WHY would you bring me in here if you weren't going to offer me a seat? I'm certainly not going to BABYSIT Willy! While you and TOM go…"
Wyatt thought. "Well… you saw through that one... alright… I was offering you a ticket… but the game is up in Chicago… and it's an early afternoon game…"
Penny waived her hand. "Just wake me up… I'll sleep in the truck…"
Leonard and Geri had an early morning flight to Chicago. Leland had made the argument to his wife that Leonard could handle the ordeal just fine if he went with someone. Originally, the thought was to have Floyd take him. Leonard made the request that Geri and he go because she was also considering the University of Chicago. Beverly saw no difference in either Geri or Floyd. In fact, she had made the statement that "This Geri girl… would be an improvement over Floyd. At least she could carry out a meaningful conversation with some kind of academic bent".
Leonard and Geri both only carried a backpack with folders of information and pads for notes. Upon landing, they got into a cab and were dropped off at the University.
Wyatt stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Slugger.. we need to be getting on the road".
Penny yelled down. "I'm coming… just a second!"
It wasn't all that tough to get Penny up that morning. She was actually looking forward to going to the Football Stadium. She hadn't been to and actual live Huskers game in years. It wasn't long before Penny came bounding down the stairs in a pair of Nebraska Cornhuskers sweat pants and Wyatt's Husker's Sweatshirt. It was plainly too big for her so she rolled up the sleeves. On her head was a University of Nebraska ball cap with her ponytail pulled through the back. The fact that Penny took so long didn't pass Wyatt's notice. She had managed to put on makeup.
Henrietta smiled as she held out a juice box and a package of Strawberry Pop Tarts. Penny took them and smiled as she turned to her dad. "Okay… ready!"
Wyatt just stood for a second. Penny was standing in front of him in sweats too big for her body… not showing off at all that she had grown into a beautiful young lady with a shapely figure. She stood in her red converse sneakers and ball cap. It looked for all he was worth to Wyatt the same way Penny looked when she was a little girl… smiling at him as she wanted to go outside and throw a football around. He chuckled. "Okay then… get in the truck".
Leonard and Geri had a wonderful time visiting The University of Chicago. They both followed the same tour through the Physics buildings and presentations. When they were going over to Fermilab, Leonard had suddenly become very quiet. Geri turned to him. "Leonard… what's up?"
Leonard half smiled. "This is so awesome… can you even imagine what secrets of the Universe they could unearth? A real super collider…"
Geri scrunched her brow. "If it's so AWSOME… why so quiet?"
Leonard shrugged. "I don't know if this is my first choice… Princeton was incredible…"
Geri giggled and bumped shoulders. "You are such a goof… that's why we're here… to find out where we want to go…"
Leonard looked out the window of the bus. "Mother wants me to go to Princeton". Geri looked puzzled at his words. She then just looked away.
The game was absolutely fantastic Nebraska had rightly drubbed Northwestern. Penny was jumping in her seat as the final whistle blew. "That was AWSOME… the Huskers RULE!"
Wyatt smiled at his daughter. "Okay Slugger… want to get a bite before we head back home?"
Penny thought. "We just had hot dogs at halftime… could we go up to the lake and see the water?" Penny was always amazed at the wide expanse of the great Lakes. Sure they had ponds, lakes and swimming holes back home… but they were nothing to when you could stand on the shore or on a pier and look out seeing nothing but water… water as far away as you could imagine… She had read the history books about the first explorers to the Pacific Ocean and could hardly imagine how they could have felt looking out into the water. This wasn't the ocean… but it was as much water as she had ever seen.
Wyatt smiled. "Sure sweetheart… but it's too cold to go down into the water." They found their truck and Wyatt drove in the direction of the Lake.
Coming back from Fermilab, Leonard was even quieter. Geri had the idea to go sightseeing along Lake Shore Drive up by the lake. She thought she could get Leonard to maybe get a bite to eat. It wasn't too long before Leonard and Geri were walking along the lake hand in hand. Leonard felt Geri take his hand and felt her soft palm against his and her fingers intertwine with his. Leonard was much more talkative once the shine had worn off their visit… he had actually turned into quite the chatterbox… rambling off all kinds of experiments and facts about Fermilab. Geri thought that he was just adorable. She could listen to him talk about science all day. He was always so passionate about it. Geri could tell that Leonard was someone very special… sure he was smart.. but there was something different about Leonard from any of the other smart kids. Leonard seemed to "get it"… quicker… deeper and with more understanding of the topic. He was not just smart… he was probably a genius.
Leonard suddenly stopped talking and looked at Geri. "What?"
Geri wasn't sure what made her do it… but she let go of Leonard's hand and threw both arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth… not a friendly peck on the lips… a kiss that was passionate and wanted more. Geri ran her tongue across Leonard's lips parting them to find his teeth.
Leonard hesitated, but just for a second. He parted his mouth and let her tongue in to mingle with his own. Leonard then raised his limp arms to Geri's waist and held her hips and she deepened the kiss.
Penny and Wyatt were walking along the shore path gazing out onto the water. Wyatt had seen a young couple walking in their direction talking animatedly about something or other while holding hands. Penny was distracted looking out on the expanse of water. He could only imagine the wonders that were going through his daughter's mind. She looked so happy… breathing in the cool crisp air.
Penny turned to say something to her father when she noticed to people that had just turned to look out onto the lake. They were about the same height as she was. The male was dressed in jeans and sneakers with a military style jacket and what appeared to be a hood sticking out the back. The girl he was with had long auburn hair… she was thin and shapely. The girl was looking more in her direction and was obviously listening intently to the boy. He looked very excited… They got close enough for Penny to recognize who the boy was… it was LEONARD…
Wyatt turned as his daughter stopped dead in her tracks. He looked back at his daughter as she stood gawking at the young couple.
Penny was about to say something as the couple turned with the boy facing away from Penny and her father. The girl then put her arms around the neck of the boy and kissed him deeply and long.
Wyatt could see what looked to be tears forming in Penny's eyes as she spun around and ran back in the other direction. Confused, Wyatt turned to look at the young couple and almost blushed as he saw them deepen their embrace. Puzzled by Penny's reaction, Wyatt turned to go find his daughter.
Penny was standing by the truck when her father came up alongside. She was wiping her runny nose on the sleeve of her sweatshirt and turned away. "Could we go now?"
Wyatt opened the doors to the truck and Penny quickly climbed into the seat. "Slugger… is something wrong?"
Penny turned away from her father. "Could we just go? Please?"
The ride back to the farm was in almost complete silence. Penny pretended to be sleeping so she wouldn't have to talk about what they had just seen. Her father had not pressed her which probably he didn't recognize Leonard and whoever it was that he was kissing… Why Leonard would be in Chicago? She had no idea… but she was pretty certain that it was Leonard.
When Leonard and Geri had broken their kiss, Geri had seen a tall older man turn and walk in the direction of a younger person dressed in baggy sweats running away. It was an odd scene and she had hoped that nothing was seriously wrong. The younger person was running away with what looked like determination. Geri turned away from the mismatched couple and smiled at Leonard. "We probably should get back to the airport… our flight back home is early evening." Leonard just smiled and they picked up their pace. They had spent a busy day in Chicago, arriving late morning and spending the last six hours exploring the exciting possibilities of the University of Chicago and Fermilab. Then a nice walk on the shore of Lake Michigan... With Geri... Now they had their flight back to New Jersey... they were going to have dinner together. It wasn't a "date" but somehow, it felt like one. Leonard had a lot to think about.
After a seven hour drive… one that Wyatt thought seemed much longer, Penny opened the door to the truck and ran up to her room… closing the door behind her louder than she would have liked.
Henrietta looked a bit puzzled by the actions of her daughter. "Did your team lose?"
Wyatt saw the concerned look on his wife's face and just shrugged. "Don't even ask… the Huskers won… we went for a walk by the lake… and she's been like this the whole time since… maybe she's just tired… it is a long drive… just to see a football game… no matter how much you love it."
Penny spent the following day almost exclusively in the barn with the horses. She took Buttercup out for a long ride but didn't push her. She didn't know if she was mad at Leonard or not... she wasn't even sure if it WAS Leonard... Why would he be in Chicago? He didn't tell her he was going to Chicago... The day just seemed to go on and on... Penny's mother was getting a bit worried until Penny finally showed up just as dusk was settling in. Dinner was nothing more than a hearty stew… one that Penny usually loved. This evening, however, Penny just took a bowl and carted it upstairs to her room, closing the door just the same as the day before. Henrietta thought that something must be bothering Penny... Perhaps it was time for Denise to have a visit.
Leonard had raved about the visit to Chicago when he got home… it was all so different for him… being trusted to go off on his own… even though he had technically had company. He was determined to apply to the University of Chicago along with Princeton. If for no other reason… to show his mother that he didn't need her position and notoriety for being admitted. Of course, it didn't hurt that his father was also a highly regarded alumnus of Princeton and an active faculty member. Both parents actually assumed Leonard would go to Princeton... Beverly thought this trip was just another frivolous distraction for Leonard supported by her husband.
Penny was never so happy to see a school day start since she was very young. She needed some kind of distraction and all the whispering and catty events at school were just the thing to keep her mind off Leonard.
The next week went by pretty fast. Penny making sure she was with the girls whenever anyone else was around. Donnie was always there but didn't push her. She still was a little mad… mostly at herself… for being caught in that position with Donnie. It was all over the school by now and everyone pretty much was congratulating him.
The weekend came about and it was time for a call from Leonard. Penny didn't want to be there for the call so she made plans with Tammy and Anna and tried to leave as the call came in and her mother made her take it. Penny rolled her eyes as she took the receiver… not even running up the stairs to take the call in Denise's room. "Hi…" was all Penny said in a somewhat monotone voice."
Leonard was excited to hear her voice… he wanted to tell her all about his trip to Chicago. "Hey… how are you… boy did I ever have a good weekend last week."
Penny stood with her legs crossed at the ankles and one arm shoved tightly under the holding the phone. "Uh…huh…"
Leonard could hardly hold himself together telling Penny about Fermilab and the rest of the University.
Penny's heart sank. It WAS Leonard she saw in Chicago...kissing another girl...
Leonard was just so excited to tell Penny about his trip."Isn't that GREAT?... and it's only five or six hours from Omaha!"
Penny rolled her eyes. "Seven… actually… six and a half… if there's no traffic".
Leonard smiled. "That's still not so bad… What's up with you?"
Penny sighed. "Nothing… same old crap… Val's a bitch… Tammy and Anna go ON…and ON about Brad and Timmy… You would swear that they were married or something…"
Leonard softened a little. "That's nice … but what about you… drama club and all…"
Penny dropped her free arm and then ran her hand through her hair. "It's all good… Look… I need to go… the girls wanna get together at the Mall… see a movie or something…"
Leonard was surprised at being cut short. "Oh… okay… is Donnie going to be there?"
Penny shrugged. "I don't know… maybe… I'll talk to you…"
Leonard smiled weakly into the phone. "Sure… sure… we have the schedule… or… you could call".
Penny sighed. "Okay… say hi to GErriii…"
Leonard was surprised at the inflection of Penny's voice. "Okay Bye". As he hung up the phone, Leonard could only feel guilty. He didn't know why… He just did.
Penny put down the phone and went outside to wait for the girls to pick her up. She went down the stairs and sat on the last step. She suddenly felt very sad. She could feel tears coming to her eyes, but held them back. The cool night didn't help any. She just scrunched her shoulders and shivered as she saw Tammy driving up the drive.
Feeling a bit guilty for the way she cut Leonard short on their last call, Penny made sure she was home for the next scheduled phone call. She waited... but no call came from New Jersey so Penny made the call. It seems that Leonard was taken up with a new Physics assignment... and because he and Geri excelled so far in the last project, this one was much more in depth. He was out at the library researching his part of the assignment. Penny had told Uncle Floyd to tell Leonard she was sorry she missed him and to tell Leonard she would try to be around if he wanted to call back. When Leonard tried to call the next evening... he was told that Penny was at Cheer practice. When Leonard found the original schedule Penny had sent him he could see plainly she was not going to be available that evening.
That was the way it went... each of the teens had increasing commitments that made their connecting difficult. Penny tried writing... but never got what she wanted to say just right. Leonard would try, but his writing anything that was not scientific turned out wholly inadequate for presenting his feelings. Time passed and the communication between the two friends became sparse. They tried hard to cram all their events and feelings into the calls they did have... which just seemed to confuse them further.
Both Leonard and Penny started to spend more time with the friends they DID have in their immediate circles. For Leonard, that meant spending more time with Geri... working on their assignment and applying to colleges. Penny spent time with her girlfriends and Donnie... somehow accepting all the things that were said about her. When she stopped avoiding everyone and stopped denying the rumors, without admitting to any of them, she could walk with her head up and was again on the top of the popularity heap.
Leonard and Geri had applied mostly to the same schools... the week the acceptance letters came in they were both excited... both wanting to go to Chicago. Geri got a letter from Princeton and opened it immediately... finding out that she was accepted. Leonard had gotten a letter but filed it in his bag not admitting to even receiving it. When Geri got a letter from The University of Chicago... Leonard had also received his but didn't admit to it. Neither opened them wanting to do it in front of their friend.
Leonard and Geri thought that it would be best to open the letters in the library. Leonard thought he would let Geri open hers first and then pull his out of his bag as a surprise. When Geri opened opened her letter... she found that she was turned down. The look on her face was devastation. Tears almost immediately came to her eyes.
Leonard reached over and held her. "Hey... you got into Princeton... that's a great school..."
Geri sighed. "Yeah... but they're breaking up our team... there's no way you aren't getting int U of C and Fermilab..."
Leonard just smiled. "We'll see... they actually have to send me a letter first." The two friends went back home one knowing she would be staying in New Jersey... The other... pondering what to do.
When Leonard got home, he went to his room and opened both his letters. Looking down... he was both excited and sad at the same time. He had been accepted to both schools. Chicago offering to have Leonard come and tour the University and Fermilab one more time.
It was getting to be late in the semester and there was a big Prom for the Student Council.. being popular, Penny was in the running for one of the offices and was expected to go. The pressure was on so she asked Donnie if he would go with her. Donnie accepted in a cold minute. The only thing left to do was pick out a dress and get Donnie a Tux.
Uncle Floyd agreed to accompany Leonard to Chicago. They had a morning flight and had a wonderful time at the University. Not knowing when the tour would end, they decided to stay the night and leave the next day. Their flight the next day wasn't until the evening, so they had some time on their hands. Leonard was extremely excited and asked if they could drive to Omaha to surprise Penny with the information that Leonard would be going to College in Chicago. Uncle Floyd was a pushover for romance and agreed immediately.
Penny and the girls were getting all dolled up in Penny's room at the farm with their dates waiting in the den when the door rang and Wyatt opened the door to see Leonard standing there with Uncle Floyd.
Wyatt was surprised as he let the two into the foyer. Penny was coming down the stairs as Leonard came into the house. "Leonard? What are you doing here?"
Penny was absolutely beautiful... she was wearing a red sleeveless gown that had just a strap around her neck and a bare back... She was obviously not wearing a bra. Leonard just gawked. "Wow... you're... beauti... your going out..."
Donnie came out of the den with Brad and Timmy. "Hey... Hofstadter... what are you doing here?"
Leonard could see that Donnie was wearing a black Tux with a red tie... he obviously was Penny's date. "Ummm.. I was visiting the U of Chicago... and we had some time so... here we are... but you're going out..."
Donnie walked over to Penny and pulled her into a hug with one arm around her bare shoulders. "Yes we are... and we HAVE been going out pretty much since you left..." Penny was basically speechless and fiddled with her hands... she just smiled nervously.
The three couples were called outside when a limo came for them. Leonard and Floyd watched them leave and politely sat for a cup of tea with the Petterssons before the left to drive back to Chicago.
Penny and the girls actually had a really good time at the formal... there was everything you could expect for a High School party... including spiked punch... and it was spiked by more than one person... with more than one kind of liquor. Donnie had a good time with Penny but could tell she was slightly upset seeing Leonard before they left her house.
When the party ended the limo left the other couples off at Tammy's house... that was where they all met before Donnie drove everyone over to Penny's. Being his car was at the Petersson's, Donnie rode in the limo alone with Penny back to her house. Penny was more than tipsy... but had started to hold her liquor better. Donnie leaned over to Penny and tried to take her mind off Leonard. "You know... if you really like science guys... I've been thinking about doing something with bio-fuels..." It was a topic they were learning about in science class. "If you take some Pig POOP and mix it with water... it might be something... and my Dad... has a lot of Pig POOP!"
For some reason... Penny thought that was about the funniest thing she heard tonight... She laughed... then just smiled at Donnie... She didn't know if he was serious or just trying to make her feel better. "Come here..." Penny then took Donnie's face in her hands and pulled him into a deep kiss. Donnie was surprised, but returned the kiss rubbing his hands up Penny's sides... stopping just below her breasts. Just then, the limo pulled into the drive. Penny told the driver to stop at the bottom of the drive so her parent's didn't know they were home.
Penny opened the door and pulled Donnie out of the limo. "Come... with ME!" Penny then pulled Donnie into the side door of the barn... she looked around for a soft place and settled on a mound of hay. Penny then undid the clasp at the base of her neck and her gown top fell to her hips.
Donnie's eyes went wide at the sight of a half naked Penny and he immediately took off his tie and shirt. "Are we gonna?"
Penny smiled. "Lose the pants... keep the tie..."
Donnie smiled wider and put his jacket down so they had something smooth to lay on over the hay bales. Penny shimmied out of her gown as Donnie's pants hit the floor.
Leonard got back to his room after their flight back to New Jersey and pulled out the acceptance letters to both The University of Chicago and Princeton. He filled out his responses and put them aside to be mailed the next day.
Leonard went down stairs to the phone and called Geri. When she answered... he smiled. "Hey... guess what?..."
Geri smiled, but it was late. "It's kind of late for games Leonard..."
Leonard shrugged. "Fair point... I got accepted to Princeton! I'm going there too!"
Geri suddenly was more attentive. "What about Chicago?" Leonard had told her he was going back to Chicago to take a second look at the campus.
Leonard sighed. "Actually... Living in Chicago wasn't as appealing as it was the first time..."
