The Music Metamorphosis
Summary: Penny and Sheldon's friendship is transforming into something neither of them expected or understand. Each stage of the developing relationship is found in a randomly chosen song that coincidentally – or, in accordance with the law of large numbers - fit perfectly.
Song: "Just One of Those Things" – Meg & Dia
Penny came over a week later – not to see me, but to see Leonard. I felt a twinge of envy as she marched into the apartment and addressed me, her eyes focused anywhere but on my face.
"Where's Leonard?"
"In his room," I replied, smothering my jealousy and my hurt with a stoic mask. I was doing that more and more lately: shielding my emotions with a mask that used to be my true face. I suppose I am more homo sapien than homo novus.
She gave me a curt nod and marched back towards mine and Leonard's bedrooms. I heard her knock on the door, his query of who it was, and her reply. I heard him, in surprise, ask her to come in, and then the door shut.
My curiosity got the better of me then. I crept silently down the hall stood a few feet from the door, trusting my Vulcan hearing to do the rest.
"Leonard," I heard Penny begin. "I have something to tell you."
"Oh?" The hope in his tone was painfully obvious.
"I – I have been doing a lot of thinking. And a lot of feeling. And these past few months since we broke up have made me realize quite a few surprising things about myself."
My heart sunk somewhere into the region of my abdominal cavity. This was the same feeling I had whenever I was passed over for an award or academic recognition, but it was 10 trillion times worse. I felt rejection, and my heartbreak.
Leonard's breathing picked up slightly in speed in his anticipation. We both, on either side of the door, waited for the girl we loved to continue.
"I love Sheldon."
Leonard's shocked and pained hyperventilation drowned out my soft whoop of joy.
"I still care about you Leonard – you're one of my best friends – but Sheldon and I have been spending so much time together. He's not the android you guys think he is, and I don't want you thinking – "
"Why him and not me?"
" – that. It's nothing you did, Leonard. It's just, y'know, one of those things. Sheldon has been there for me. He's been sweet, caring – everything he never shows around you or Howard or Raj. It's only for me. He doesn't act like a fan-boy; he treats me like an equal. You treated me like a goddess – but put me on a pedestal that I couldn't handle."
My roommate's voice was choked with misery. "Why the hell are you telling me this?"
"Because you needed to know – I'd rather you hear it now, before I even tell Sheldon, than be shocked if you see or overhear something."
Now his voice was vicious as he yelled. "Sheldon doesn't love you – I do! He'll never love you, he's too cold and calculating and everything opposite of human. He's going to reject you, Penny, and I won't be there to pick up the pieces!"
I, wisely, chose that moment to disappear into my own bedroom, both to avoid violent confrontation and to contemplate the most puzzling, amazing, paradigm-shattering, joyous, fascinating, wonderful, and foreign news I had ever heard.