Chapter 17
Leonard haven't heard form Abby far the past several days ever since they fought in his apartment. He texted her, asking if they could talk but she never responded to his messages. He tried to focus on his work but can't avoid thinking about his girlfriend, slowly coming to the realization that she will eventually be his ex-girlfriend.
Later that night, Leonard was eating alone in his apartment as Sheldon went out to dinner with Amy. Leonard was watching TV as he ate when he heard a knock on his door. He put his plate on the coffee table and stood up to get the door, surprised to see Abby standing on the hall.
Leonard gave her a weak smile. "Hey. I haven't heard from you in a while." he said.
"I'm sorry. I've been thinking about us for the past couple of days." said Abby.
"Me too." said Leonard.
"Leonard I don't want us to break up but I still can't shake the feeling that you're still holding on to something with Penny." said Abby.
Leonard sighed and shook his head. "I'm not Abby, but it looks like you already made up your mind. Why don't want to believe me?" he said.
"I want to believe you Leonard." said Abby.
"Then what are we doing?" he asked. "Do you think I want us to break up? I want us to stay together but I can't do this if you always bring Penny up and be jealous about her." he said.
Abby bowed her head and began crying, covering her face with her hands. Leonard tried to hug and console her but Abby took a step back, sending him a clear message that their relationship is over. Abby then reached into her purse and handed Leonard a piece of paper. Leonard was puzzled so he took the paper to read what is says. He took a deep breath and looked at Abby, trying to keep himself from getting angry and freaking out.
"I guess this is it huh?" said Leonard. "This couldn't have come at the perfect time."
"Why don't you come with me?" said Abby. "Leave everything behind." said Abby.
"And do what?" said Leonard. "It's not like I could just walk into any university in England and say 'Hey do you a job opening for a mediocre experimental physicist with mommy issues?'." he said.
"Why not?" Abby said. "We can live together while you figure out your next move."
Leonard sighed. "Abby I can't come with you. My life is here, my friends are here, my career is here." he said.
"And Penny's here right?" Abby said.
Leonard threw his hands in the air. "There you go again! You're being totally unfair." said Leonard. "Why do you have to always bring her up in everything!?" he asked.
"Am I?" Abby said.
"Abby, you're asking me to turn my back on everything!" said Leonard. "Isn't it a little too much to ask for?" he said. "And do you think this is the solution to our problems?"
Abby took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry Leonard. I never wanted this to happen." Abby said while wiping her tears.
"Hey, it's not like you're the first woman to break my heart right?" Leonard said surprising Abby.
"Leonard please?" said Abby.
Leonard gave Abby a weak smile. "I kinda saw this coming anyways, with us always fighting and arguing." he said.
Abby gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "Leonard I'm so sorry!" she said as she buried her face on his neck. Leonard didn't say a word as Abby released her hug before turning around to walk down the stairs. He looked at her and took a deep breath, feeling empty and confused.
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Meanwhile, outside the apartment building...
Penny parked her car a block away from the apartment building when she saw that all the parking slots were already occupied. She pulled the handbrake before grabbing her purse and getting out of her car, locking the door with her keys. She went inside the building and decided to get her mail before climbing up the stairs. She reached the third-floor landing and heard Leonard's voice, talking to someone. She decided to hold off when she heard Abby's voice, clearly in distress as she argued with Leonard. Penny heard her crying while talking to Leonard, clearly fighting about something. She immediately felt uneasy when she heard Abby say her name as she struggled with indecision on whether to stay and listen-in on, or to leave and give them their privacy.
Penny decided to stay and listen-in.
After almost ten minutes, Penny heard Abby say goodbye, crying as she walked hurriedly down the stairs. Penny quickly jumped and stepped back, trying to make it look like she's just walking up the stairs and didn't hear anything. Abby was wiping her eyes when she saw Penny walking up, almost to the point of bumping into each other.
Penny looked at Abby. "Abby? Are you alright?" she asked.
"You probably heard that huh?" Abby said.
"Uh, what do you mean? I was just coming up the stairs." Penny quickly said, hoping Abby would let it go. "Is everything alright? Why are you crying?" Penny asked.
Abby didn't answer and just continued walking down the stairs, leaving Penny behind.
Penny decided to walk up to the fourth floor, seeing Leonard standing on the hall, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Leonard, I ran into Abby. She was crying." said Penny as Leonard looked at her.
"We broke up." said Leonard.
"What!?" Penny exclaimed. "That is so terrible!" she said, feeling Leonard's pain. "What happened?" Penny asked.
Leonard sighed. "Penny, I really don't want to talk about it right now." he said.
Penny nodded. "I'm sorry." said Penny as Leonard nodded before turning back into his apartment.
Penny went into her apartment, putting her purse on the side table before going to the kitchen to have a glass of water. She drank her water, feeling relieved that Abby and Leonard never found out about her 'eavesdropping' on their breakup. Penny saw an unopened bottle of tequila atop her fridge and decided to go over to 4A.
Penny knocked on 4A with Leonard opening it. She quickly grabbed his hand, dragging him back into her apartment.
"Penny what are you doing!?" he said, trying to protest.
"We are gonna play a drinking game." Penny said as she pushed Leonard on the couch before closing her door.
"But I don't want to play a drinking game!" he said.
"No buts Leonard! You said you don't want to talk about it so we won't talk about it!" Penny said as she put the bottle and shot glass on the coffee table. "We just drink. If you wanna talk, we talk. If you don't wanna talk, then we don't talk. Simple right!?" she said.
Leonard looked at her. "That doesn't sound like a drinking game at all." he said as Penny opened the bottle.
"Do you wanna play or not?" asked Penny.
Leonard sighed and bowed his head. "Fine. I just broke up with my girlfriend so I guess drinking alcohol is the socially acceptable course of action for me huh?" he said as they both took a shot, grunting at the same time. "Arrggh, that's a strong one!" he said.
"Okay, here's another." Penny said as she poured the tequila on both their glasses.
"Penny, I think we should slow down." he said. "Remember when we first got together drinking and we ended throwing up in the toilet." he added.
"Relax! This is what the alcohol is for, to get whatever it is that's burning you up out of your system." she said as they clinked their glasses before drinking again. "Wooh! That burns!" she exclaimed.
They drank again, clinking their glasses for several rounds as Leonard kept quiet, hanging his head low, deep in thought. Penny looked at him and could feel his sadness. After another shot, Leonard decided to speak.
"She's moving back to Manchester." Leonard said without looking at Penny. Penny was surprised and saddened by what Leonard said and decided to let him open up to her.
"I'm so sorry Leonard." she said, trying to console him. "It's alright if you don't want to talk about it." she added.
Leonard took another shot, grunting after feeling the alcohol burn through his throat. "She received a job offer from one of the bigger hospitals there –North Manchester General or something. She wanted me to come with her but I couldn't just turn my back on everything." he said.
"Why not?" asked Penny.
Leonard sighed. "My career is here, my friends are here, my life is here." he said.
Penny put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry Leonard." she said. Leonard sighed.
"Thanks Penny. Its not like this is the first time this happened right?" he said.
"I know. I did the same to you remember?" said Penny as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I thought Abby was the one, but I guess I was wrong again." he said bowing his head while wiping the tears off his eyes.
"Oh Leonard?" said Penny, hugging his side. "I guess we're both single and alone now huh?" she said.
Leonard looked at her and touched his forehead onto hers. "Yeah. Now I just need to figure out a way to move on and let her live in the past." he said.
"We can try again if you want?" Penny said surprising Leonard.
"What?" he said. "Why?"
"Why not?" said Penny. Leonard sat himself up.
"Penny I think you've had too much to drink now." he said.
"I'm not joking Leonard." said Penny.
Leonard sighed. "Penny?" he said.
"Leonard, you almost died because of me and I'm so sorry for that." she said when Leonard cut her off.
"Penny, I told you I'm not blaming you for what happened." he said.
"But I do. I realized how cruel I've been to you and when I saw you in the hospital fighting for your life, I knew what a horrible person I was." she said.
"You're not a horrible person Penny." he said. "And we've been broken up for two years now." he added.
"I know I hurt you Leonard and believe me, I really regretted breaking up with you." said Penny.
"Penny, you know I can't stay mad at you!" he said while putting his arm around her shoulder.
She smiled at him. "I know and I don't deserve it." she said.
"Well you got scared because I pushed too hard. And I'm sorry for that." he said as he took another shot of tequila.
Penny took a shot. "I guess we're both sorry huh?" she said.
Leonard took a deep breath. "What are we gonna do now?" he asked. Penny looked at him.
"I don't know." she said. "We can still finish the bottle though!" said Penny smiling at him.
"Okay." said Leonard as he poured the tequila on their glasses before taking a shot.
They continued drinking while reminiscing the past, joking and laughing at some of the stupid things they did as both friends and a couple. They both felt relieved in talking about their past, letting go of the hurt and pain they went through and in the process ultimately forgiving each other. Penny was thankful the she and Leonard were able to 'bury the hatchet' and accept each other for who they are, flaws and all. After another hour, they went out of her apartment with Leonard's arm draped over her shoulder as he was too drunk to even stand. The were laughing and giggling when they went out the hall, wobbly walking and almost falling over.
"Leonard come on, help me out here!" Penny said as she tried to support his weight.
Leonard laughed. "This is all your fault, you dragged me to drink and now I'm drunk to my skull." he said as he tried to open his apartment door.
Sheldon suddenly appeared, climbing up he stairs and saw them fumble on the door.
"Whats happening?" asked Sheldon.
Leonard saw him and smiled. "Oh hi Sheldon! Penny and I are drunk!" he said making Penny laugh.
"Why?" asked Sheldon.
"What do you mean why?" Penny said as Leonard finally opened the door. "Leonard and Abby broke up and he decided to drown his pain in tequila!" she said.
They went inside with Penny supporting Leonard. "Damn right babe!" he said making Penny explode with laughter.
Sheldon looked at them and shook his head. "Oh boy, I've seen this before." he said as he stepped inside the apartment and locked the door.
Inside Leonard's room, Penny helped him on the bed, lifting his feet up and removing his shoes and socks. Penny then pulled off Leonard's hoodie so he'll be comfortable sleeping.
"Let's do it Penny!" he said as he laid his head on his pillow.
Penny sat on the bed and pulled the covers over Leonard. "Do what?" she asked.
"Try again. What else!?" he said giving her a goofy smile.
"Okay now you're really drunk!" she said amused by what he said.
"I'm serious!" he said as he touched Penny's hand.
"Okay mister, I think you should get some sleep now." she said as Leonard quickly pulled her hand and kissed her on the lips. Penny was surprised but was unable to let go, feeling Leonard's lips on hers. They broke off, looking into each other's eyes.
"Penny." he said.
"Leonard." she whispered as she put her forehead against his. "You need to rest sweetie. I promise, we'll talk again tomorrow okay?" she said kissing him again.
"I need you now." he said.
Penny sighed. "I do too but I don't want us to make the same mistakes we did before." she said. Penny the leaned over and kissed his lips again, this time with a little more passion and warmth. "I promise, we'll talk tomorrow alright?" she said while touching his face.
Leonard took a deep breath and closed his eyes, finally giving in to sleep. Penny smiled and kissed him again on his forehead before going out of his room, turning off the light and gently closing the door.
She went out into the living room and saw Sheldon making tea for himself.
"Is he going to be okay?" Sheldon asked.
"He's just tired that's all." said Penny.
"Are you and Leonard getting back together?" said Sheldon. Penny didn't respond to him. "Penny please don't hurt my friend again." he said.
Penny smiled at him. "Don't worry Sheldon, that would be the last thing on my mind." she said before turning around and going back to her apartment.