Chapter 10
After a couple of months, the whole gang were having dinner in 4A. Amy was glad that Penny accepted their invitation to join them despite knowing the fact that Leonard and Alex were already a couple. They just started eating when the door opened and in comes Leonard with Alex.
"Hi guys. I hope we're not late for dinner." Leonard said.
"No. We've just started eating." Sheldon said.
"Hi guys!" Alex greeted the gang. The rest of them greeted her back.
Leonard turned to Alex. "Why don't you go ahead and eat. I'm just gonna go to the bathroom." he said.
"Okay." Alex said as Leonard walked towards the bathroom. Alex then walked towards Penny. "Hi Penny." she said.
Penny looked at her. "Hi." she said back.
"Listen Penny, I hope it's okay to you that me and Leonard are….you know?" Alex smiled at her.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Penny asked her.
"Well I mean given that you and Leonard were seeing each other before and now it's me and him…..I hope it doesn't get weird between us." Alex said Penny.
"Leonard told you that we dated before?" Penny asked.
"Yeah. When we started dating he kinda decided that we have to be honest with each other….and that includes past relationships…" Alex said. Penny couldn't believe what she was hearing, Leonard has really matured emotionally.
"Alex it's cool. I mean Leonard and I are still friends and we've been broken up for more than a year now." Penny said trying hard to hide her true feelings.
"Great. Thanks a lot Penny. You're so great." Alex smiled at her while taking a seat on the couch.
"It's fine Alex." Penny said giving her a weak smile.
Howard decided to butt in. "So Alex, you and Leonard huh?" he asked.
Alex nodded. "Uh huh" she said smiling at him.
Sheldon scoffed. "Yes. Of all the guys in the university pursuing Alex, she decided to settle for Leonard Hofstadter." he said.
Alex faced Sheldon and gave him the look. "And what is that supposed to mean Dr. Cooper?" Alex asked Sheldon.
"I mean Leonard is short, uncoordinated, has lactose intolerance and asthma. You're a young woman, why would you settle for someone like Leonard?" Sheldon asked.
"Well for starters, Leonard is cute. He's smart, he's funny, a true gentleman and he always does things to make me feel special….if anything else I think I hit the jackpot with him." Alex said to Sheldon. Sheldon was speechless.
"Wow Sheldon, you really don't run out of insults to people huh?" Howard said.
"I'm just being truthful Howard. I can be truthful about your engineering degree if you want?" Sheldon said.
Howard became a little agitated. "And why are you still in the university and not in jail right now?" he asked him.
"If you're referring to the incident in the building, my mom came here to ask the lady upstairs to drop the charges against me." Sheldon said.
"And who called your mother?" Howard asked. Sheldon was speechless. "You see Sheldon, you may have an eidetic memory but when it comes to the important people in your life, you deliberately forget them." Howard said. Sheldon still didn't respond the same time as Leonard came back from the bathroom.
"Don't waste your time on him, it's a good thing that Sheldon hasn't changed a bit because Howard, Raj and I have very good news." Leonard announced.
"What's your good news Leonard?" Amy asked.
"Nothing much. It just involves us being scientific consultants to an upcoming movie!" Leonard said.
"Really? What kind of movie?" Penny asked.
"Howard, would you like to start?" Leonard said.
Howard smiled. "Gladly Leonard. The movie features a brilliant scientist who had a gamma radiation accident and turns into a big green monster when he gets angry." Howard said proudly. Sheldon was shocked and looked at him. "Raj, your turn." Howard said looking at Raj.
Raj took a sip of his beer. "Oh how about a billionaire, playboy, genius, philanthropist who builds a suit of armor to fight the bad guys…Leonard?" Raj said.
"Or….a Norse God with a magic hammer that can only be wielded by someone worthy!" Leonard said smiling.
"Noooo!….you're bluffing!" Sheldon said.
"Are we?" Leonard asked him.
Sheldon still didn't believe them. "Why would Marvel hire the three of you to be consultants for the Avengers?" Sheldon said.
"Maybe because they saw the Wired Magazine article with my name on it and decided to hire me as a scientific consultant. I asked them if I could bring my other scientist-slash-nerd friends along and they said the more the merrier." Leonard said.
"You're lying." Sheldon pouted.
"Suit yourself. We're gonna have so much fun when we visit the set of the movie right Howard, Raj?" Leonard said.
"Yeah! I'm gonna bring all my comic books for Stan Lee to sign." Howard excitedly said.
"Me too. I'm gonna make sure my phone's fully charged for all the selfies we will take with the cast." Raj said.
"Not to mention Comic Con, when the three of us will be in the panel and not just in the audience!" Leonard said as Howard and Raj nodded in approval.
"Is that the movie with Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr.?" Bernadette asked.
"Yeah." Howard said.
"Oh my god Howie, you have to take us there!" Bernadette said.
"Hey me too!" Amy and Penny said.
"Yeah sure. No problem!" said Leonard.
They all looked at Sheldon who is having a hard time believing Leonard's good news.
"Oh and before I forget…" Leonard said as he went to his desk and took a small piece of paper. He handed the paper to Penny. "Here." he said.
Penny looked at it. "What's this?" she asked.
"I set you up with the casting director for an audition. They agreed to give you a chance….good luck." Leonard said patting her on the shoulder.
Penny jumped and screamed. "Oh my god really!?" she asked Leonard.
"Yeah why not? This might give you your big break!" he said.
"Oh my god thank you so much Leonard!" Penny said.
"You're welcome Penny." he said.
"Thank you." she said to Leonard then turned to Alex. "Alex I hope it's alright?" she said.
"It's alright Penny." Alex said smiling at her
"Thank you Alex. I really appreciate it!" Penny said.
"No problem Penny. I hope you get in." Alex said.
"Oh my god I should prepare for this!" Penny said.
"Why does Penny get that but you chose to exclude me?" Sheldon pouted.
"Because Penny knows how to say thank you and she doesn't insult people." Leonard said.
"Oh my god Sheldon the genius is jealous!" Penny declared. Sheldon didn't respond until he can't hold it anymore.
"Please! Please! Please Leonard bring me with you! I'll do anything you ask, just let me join your team please!" Sheldon begged Leonard.
"What do you think Howard?" he asked.
"I don't know Leonard. He didn't insult me in front of my girlfriend….come to think of it, he always insults me...Raj what do you think?" Howard said.
"I don't know….have you ever been lectured about your own culture and religion by someone who is not Indian?" Raj asked rhetorically.
"Please Leonard I beg you….I'll do anything you ask! Please!" Sheldon was becoming desperate.
"Are you sure? You'll do anything?" Leonard asked him.
"Yes. Just let me join your team please!" Sheldon said. Leonard then went to his desk and took out a stack of papers from the drawer. He handed them to everybody in the room.
"What is this Leonard?" Bernadette asked.
"My Friendship Agreement." Leonard said proudly. The gang then proceeded to read it.
Penny spoke. "Section 4.2: Sheldon Cooper shall refrain from making insulting remarks to Howard Joel Wolowitz including all comments regarding Engineering, his haircut, his mother, MIT, his job or any other aspect of his personality among others." said Penny.
Section 5.3: Sheldon Cooper shall not lecture Rajesh Koothrapalli about his Indian heritage, culture and religion and shall always treat him with kindness and respect." Amy said as the rest of them continued reading the document.
"Wow Leonard. This document is basically forcing Sheldon to be respectful to all of us." Bernadette said.
"Yeah. I was beginning to think I wouldn't have the chance to spring this up but since Sheldon said he's willing to do anything….well let's just wait for him to digest this." Leonard smiled.
"Nice going dude! Very decisive!" Raj smiled.
Penny was really impressed with Leonard. "Yeah Leonard….it's about time someone finally puts Sheldon in his place." she said.
"Well Sheldon?" Amy asked him.
Sheldon sat quietly reading the document in his hands.
"Sheldon are you alright?" Amy asked.
"No." he said.
"Come on Sheldon. Do you really want your friendship to come down to this paper for you to give everybody a little respect?" Penny asked. "Your problem is you always think of yourself as being above everybody else when in fact you can't admit that you cannot function properly on you own." she added.
"She's right Sheldon. If you were a little respectful, I'm sure Leonard would have invited you to join them without this paper here." Amy said.
"She's right Sheldon." Leonard said.
"Is that really necessary Leonard?" Alex asked.
"Did you know that Sheldon and Amy has a Relationship Agreement that dictates hand-holding and how many dates in a month they are allowed to have?" Leonard asked her.
"Really?….and you're okay with that?" Alex asked Amy.
"Well…." Amy said hesitating.
"Why wouldn't she be? She's lucky to land a fellow like me." Sheldon bragged.
"Amy are you happy with your Relationship Agreement with Sheldon?" Penny asked.
Amy didn't reply. Sheldon was taken aback by Amy's non-responsiveness.
"Amy, If you're not happy why didn't you tell me?" Sheldon asked.
"Because you act like a big baby that always has to have your way without taking other's feelings into consideration!" Leonard said.
"Amy?" Sheldon looked at her.
Amy sighed. "Honestly Sheldon, being in a relationship with you is more work than it's worth. It's always a struggle and sometimes I can't help but have doubts about our relationship." she said.
"See that Sheldon? How can you have a good relationship if Amy is not happy?" Penny said.
"Amy, are you really not happy with me?" Sheldon asked.
Amy looked at him. "Sheldon...sometimes it's just so difficult dealing with you. You always blow things out of proportion like sitting in your spot, limiting our dates and always complaining about things that doesn't even matter." Amy continued. "Sometimes I just feel like our relationship is just a matter of convenience for you…like a way to make your life easier." said Amy.
"What do you think I should do?" Sheldon asked.
"I don't know Sheldon…but a little more effort and appreciation wouldn't hurt." Amy said.
Sheldon didn't reply and thought for a while. Suddenly, Sheldon took the pen and signed document prepared by Leonard. The others then signed their copy with Sheldon signing each and everyone's copy. "There….I hope you're happy." he said to Leonard.
"Buddy, I'm not happy about this but it is the only way for you to start improving your social skills." Leonard said.
"Does that mean I'll be included in your team?" Sheldon asked.
"Sure buddy." Leonard tapped his shoulder. "And I'm going to ask you to behave when we're meeting with them alright?…these people doesn't tolerate anyone going crazy fanboy with them." Leonard said.
"I understand. Thank you Leonard." Sheldon said.
"You're welcome buddy." Leonard smiled at him.
They continued eating and talking about the movie as the girls were so excited in the prospect of meeting the male casts of the movie.