Two: Leonard's Story...
It had started as an evening full of promise. He and his friend had agreed to swap places for the night as Raj had a much better internet connection to India than he did. The fact that Leonard and his sister might attempt to have cybersex prompted his desire to swap homes. Deep down, Raj knew that things would end badly for his friend as Pria's desire to succeed in her professional life was more important than anything.
With her return to India and their two failed attempts at cybersex, Leonard knew that their relationship was at a crossroad. He knew that it was probably a huge mistake, but he needed to find out if they had any shot at a future together. He had spoken to, and had been offered a position at the University of Bangalore and could begin the next semester. He would tell her tonight.
Leonard knew from Pria's body language and mannerisms as their video chat began that something was amiss. It was confirmed when she proceeds to tell him how she ran into her old boyfriend, one thing lead to another, and that they were going to give it another try. And of course she gave him the "you're a great guy" line, not saying "but you're not enough" which is what she really means. He had heard nearly the same speech from Penny a year earlier followed by the patronizing "I hope that we can still be friends".
The only lucky break for him was she ended things before he revealed how far he had been willing to go to be with her by moving to India. They ended the call with promises to stay in touch that both knew would never be kept. It was after two in the morning because of the time differences between the two places and the last place he wanted to be at this moment was in Raj's apartment.
It was nearly three am when he quietly enters his apartment and remembers that Raj is in his bed. The last thing he wanted to do was wake Sheldon and have to listen to one of his rants, so he lays down on the sofa, hoping to get some sleep.
He is awoken from his sleep by the shrill sound of his roommate informing him that he is sleeping on his spot. That quickly progresses into a rant about how he has a bed and why wasn't he in it. Before he can offer a response, Penny appears, haphazardly dressed in shorts and top, underwear in hand. Judging by her disheveled appearance, it would be easy to assume that she was hungover. She stops, as if frozen in place as the two stare at her.
Sheldon was about to offer some inappropriate remark, as he always seemed to do, when Raj appears, looking equally worse for the wear. Wrapped in a blanket he stops a few feet behind Penny, equally afraid of being seen. You certainly didn't need to be a genius to figure out what had happened, judging by the guilty looks on their faces. Somehow Penny manages to make things even by saying, "It's not what it looks like", before nearly sprinting out the door. Raj is left standing there and mouths a silent "sorry", as he follows her out the door. Sheldon throughly puzzled by what has happened and asks. "What does it look like?"
It was as if all of the tumblers in a lock had fallen into place and Leonard knew that it was time for a change. Without a word, he walks into the bedroom and sees the place the two people he had thought of as his friends had betrayed him. Granted, he and Penny were not dating, but the fact that she would have sex with his friend in his bed was unforgivable. Pulling one of his larger suitcases from his closet, he begins to fill it with enough clothing to get him through a week or so. He would contact movers to get the rest of his belongings once he figured out where he was going.
Only one thing was certain, he couldn't stay here.
Towing his suitcase behind him, he stops as Sheldon begins a rant about how all of interruptions to his morning routine have rendered his cereal too soggy to enjoy. It was exactly what Leonard needed to hear as he had started to feel guilty for abandoning his roommate. So fixated on his own petty grievances that he fails to notice the suitcase that Leonard is towing behind him.
He stops at the door to take one last look at the place that he had called home for the last five years before turning towards his former roommate and remarking. "I'll have someone come and gather up the rest of my things once I know where I'm going. Goodbye Sheldon. I'd like to say that it's been a pleasure, but that would be a lie."
At first he was going to dismiss his roommate's remarks as another one of his 'hissy fits', as he called them, but there was something about the tone of finality in his voice that put his senses on high alert and he fires back with his trusty counter to all issues. "You can't move out! Our roommate agreement clearly states that only I can make such decisions."
By now Leonard is out the door and simply replies. "So sue me." He closes the door, leaving a stunned Sheldon in his wake.
Leonard drove around the city aimlessly for the next few hours trying to figure out what was next in his life. He considered contacting Cal Tech's President and asking about a transfer to another school, but quickly nixed that idea. He still had several contacts in the physics department at Princeton, where he obtained his PHD, maybe one of them knew of an opening. He would give them a call.
Carrying his laptop with him, he stops at McDonald's for lunch and the free wi-fi. He spends the next hour booking a room at a Holiday Inn nearby for a few nights and making a few calls to his friends from school. Luckily, none of them asked why he was leaving Cal Tech and one knew of a job in the private sector that he would be perfect for. He went on to say that he would contact them and arrange an interview. Leonard thanked his old friend and told him that he would owe him as the call ended.
He was about to leave when his phone vibrates and he checks to see who is calling. So far, he had received a half dozen from Sheldon and one from Raj. All were sent to voicemail unanswered. He sighs when he sees that the call is from Howard. Wolowitz was still his friend, at least as far as he was concerned, so he reluctantly answers.
Howard goes on to tell him how he had heard conflicting stories from Raj and Sheldon and wanted to know the truth. Leonard spent the next fifteen minutes explaining what had happened and his decision to leave. Howard was surprisingly sympathetic to his situation and offered to support him any way he could. Leonard thanked him and promised to stay in touch, provided Howard told no one else about their talks. He agrees and the call ends.
His friend from Princeton calls him back a few hours later and informs him that Battelle Memorial Institute was in need of an experimental physicist due to a recent retirement. The starting salary was nearly double what he was making at Cal Tech. They wanted him to fly to Columbus to interview for the job as soon as possible. While Leonard knew little about Ohio he decided to give it a shot and agreed to the meeting the day after tomorrow.
Once in his hotel room, he opens his laptop and begins comparing the checklist he had put together in anticipation of moving to India and finds that the majority of tasks still apply. His original plan was to move his non essential belongings to a storage unit until a final decision was made regarding their relationship. Until he knew where he was going to live, it made sense to do the same. After a quiet dinner at a nearby diner, he returned to his room and wondered why he was unworthy of love. He looked into the floor length mirror and gave himself an unflinching appraisal. He knew his shortcomings better than anyone. While there was nothing he could do to make himself taller, or cure his asthma, he could make himself look less like a loser.
A new checklist was formed to make himself into the type of man that a Pria, or Penny could truly love. The transformation of Leonard 2.0 would begin tomorrow.
The alarm on his phone wakes him from a surprisingly quiet night of sleep. After a quick shower, he opens his laptop and examines his checklist. The very first item was exercise which makes him groan as he had avoided physical activity since his high school days. He knew that as he approached his thirtieth birthday it would be harder to begin to get into shape the longer he put it off. Today was the first day for the new Leonard and that meant getting into shape.
Slipping into sweatpants and a tee shirt, he heads for the hotel's fitness center, grateful to find it nearly empty. Having no idea how to begin, he decides that he can at least walk and heads for the treadmill. After a few minutes at a fairly slow pace, he begins to increase the speed, discovering that maybe this might be a good idea. Before he knew it, the timer signaled that he had completed the 30 minutes of exercise that he had planned. Proud of his effort, he returned to his room for another shower and see what was next on his list.
He enters the men's clothing store having no idea what to buy and tells the older woman that waits on him as much. She simply smiled and asked a few questions regarding his job and what hobbies he had before setting out to put together the beginnings of a new wardrobe. The suit that he had chosen required major alterations, but she assured him it would be ready in a few hours. He would need it for his interview the next day and appreciated the effort. When it came time to pay the bill he realizes that this level of service came at a hefty price. He had never spent this much on clothing in his life, but knew it was a necessary step in his transformation.
Returning to his car, he stuffs the bags into the trunk and heads back into the mall. He had always wanted to try a hair salon like Howard and Raj, but always acquiesced to Sheldon who would only go to an old barber that he claimed had his 'haircut history'. Much as he had done in the clothing store, he put his trust in the professional to give him a haircut that wouldn't look so outdated. Thirty minutes later he exits the salon looking, and feeling, like a different person. With his new look, it became obvious that the glasses needed to go as well.
After a quick lunch, he returns to his room and begins a search for an optometrist nearby. Located only a few minutes away, and with no appointment required, it became the logical choice. After a quick exam to verify that his prescription hadn't changed, the optometrist made the suggestion that he was an excellent candidate for Lasik surgery. He was given a quote for the procedure and the first appointment was made for later in the week.
Returning to the mall, he picks up his suit and returns to his hotel. He was flying out on the red eye that would land in Columbus early in morning and decided to try and get some rest.
X-X-X-X
The interview went better than even he expected and he was offered a role as team lead at more than double his current salary, provided he could start next week. They were impressed with his professional appearance, thanks to the new suit and haircut and wanted to make him the team lead. In spite of his apprehension at the idea of leaving California, he knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and accepted their offer.
After flying back to LA, the remainder of the week seemed to fly by in a blur. Between making arrangements for his move, his two LASIK procedures, and his official resignation from Cal Tech, he had no time to think about anything else.
He had spoken to Howard to assure him that he was okay, but wouldn't divulge any information regarding his new job or impending departure. It wasn't that he didn't trust him, it was simply the fact that he didn't trust Bernadette not to tell the others. He would change cell phone carriers once he relocated, with a new number, as he had to block Sheldon's frequent and laughingly harassing calls.
Penny never called.