Happy New Year! Hope you'll enjoy this one.
Chapter 15
"Hi Sheldon!" said Penny as she saw him taking out his mail from the mailboxes.
"Oh Hi Penny! I see you came from the grocery store?" he said as they start to climb the stairs.
"Yeah. I'm actually making spaghetti tonight. You're more than welcome to join me if you want." she said.
"Are you gonna put hotdogs in it?" asked Sheldon.
"I can put some if you want." she said, smiling at him.
"Thanks Penny. What time will I come over?" asked Sheldon.
"Uh, you can come over in an hour. I'm pretty sure I'll be done cooking by then." she said.
"Alright." said Sheldon. "I'll see you later Penny." he said as he opened his apartment door.
"You got it Sheldon." Penny said as she went inside her apartment to start cooking.
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After almost an hour, Sheldon knocked on Penny's door.
Knock. Knock. Knock. "Penny."
Knock. Knock. Knock. "Penny."
Knock. Knock. Knock. "Penny."
Penny opened her door, welcoming Sheldon in. "Come in Sheldon. You're just in time." she said as she transferred the spaghetti onto a big bowl.
"That smells really nice." Sheldon said as Penny began serving him some spaghetti on his plate.
"Thanks. Why don't you take a seat so we could eat." she said as Sheldon sat down on Penny's small dining table. "So, how was work?" Penny asked as they started to eat.
"Nothing much interesting today I'm afraid." said Sheldon. "I guess it's the same with you and the restaurant?" he asked.
"Yeah. I come in, I get their orders, I bring them food, what else is new?" Penny said. "I'm surprised you and Leonard are not eating takeout food tonight?" she asked.
"Leonard told me that he and Dr. Abigail are eating out tonight." he said.
"Yeah sure." Penny said, trying to sound uninterested.
"Now that you mentioned it, they seem to be having some problems with their relationship." said Sheldon.
"Really? How come?" Penny asked.
"I never should have said that. What happens in their relationship is between the two of them." Sheldon said absently.
"Oh come on Sheldon! You can't start a story without finishing it!" said Penny.
Sheldon rolled his eyes. "Oh alright. But you can't tell him that I told you." he said.
"Sure Sheldon!" she said. "Now tell me what you know." Penny added.
"Last week I heard them fighting inside Leonard's room. I think I heard your name mentioned once or twice." he said surprising Penny.
"You heard my name while they were fighting?" Penny asked.
"Well now that you asked, they weren't really fighting, you know like the one with shouting and yelling. They were more like arguing and talking intensely." he said.
"Uh, what's the difference Sheldon?" she asked.
"Well they weren't yelling at each other." he said. "If my Vulcan hearing is accurate, I think she's jealous of your past relationship with Leonard." he added.
"Why would she be jealous? I mean, Leonard and I hardly talk to each other anymore." Penny said.
"I suppose she still sees you as a threat to their relationship. That you might try to steal Leonard away from her." said Sheldon.
"I would never do that!" Penny said.
"That's what I heard Leonard say but then Dr. Abigail accused him of taking your side. I'm telling you, I had trouble sleeping that night." he said.
"Aww, is it because you're worried about their relationship?" Penny said.
"No, because I couldn't sleep with their constant fighting and arguing." he said. "They're like my parents when I was younger." he said.
"Aww, I'm so sorry sweetie." Penny said, touched by Sheldon's sensitivity to people arguing.
"Don't be, which reminds me, are you currently in a romantic relationship?" Sheldon asked surprising Penny.
"Uh Sheldon, are you taking an interest in my life?" she asked.
"No, but it's the socially acceptable protocol for being invited for supper. You talk, take an interest in their lives and stuff, ask them about their day…" he said.
Penny sighed and shook her head. "No Sheldon, I'm not currently dating or anything." she said.
"Well I think that is just wonderful." Sheldon said.
Penny gave him the look. "Are you being sarcastic?" Penny asked.
"No." Sheldon said.
"Then why did you say that it's wonderful that I'm single right now?" she asked.
"Because sometimes it is better that you shouldn't have to worry about another person's feelings or culinary preferences or what their favorite movie is." said Sheldon.
"I guess you're right." she said.
"I'm always right Penny." Sheldon said making her laugh a little.
"Do you want more?" she asked referring to the spaghetti.
"No thanks. I'm quite full." he said. "The spaghetti was delicious." he said.
"Thanks Sheldon." Penny said as she started to clean up the table.
"Do you need help with that?" he asked.
"Oh no, I got it sweetie. You can go back to your apartment if you want." Penny said.
Sheldon nodded. "Alright. Thanks again Penny. I hope we could do this again."
"Sure sweetie. I'll keep that in mind." she said giving Sheldon a smile.
After cleaning up in the kitchen, Penny went to the bathroom to wash up and change into her night shirt. She got on the bed and slipped under the covers to sleep for the night. She looked up at the ceiling thinking about the things that Sheldon said about hearing Leonard and Abby fight about her. Leonard must have done something to make Abby doubt his feelings for her. She has been keeping her distance from Leonard since they started seeing each other. She suddenly realized that Abby must have taken what she said to her when she invited her over for 'girls night'. Sheldon might be right in saying that Abby must feel threatened that Leonard was still holding on to their past relationship.
She pulled the covers over her head as she now felt more conflicted than ever.