Disclaimer: I own nothing from Big Bang Theory, only my characters and story line.
Chapter 4: Does it Matter?
Sheldon had just finished his morning routine, and insisted that since they had a little time left that Leonard wait for him downstairs he had to check on something. Leonard agreed, giving Sheldon a worried look as he walked away. Sheldon went across the hall to Penny's apartment and knocked only once when the door opened, revealing a very tired looking Nancy.
"Oh good morning Sheldon." She said rubbing her eye like a child.
"Oh good," he mumbled under his breath at seeing her in perfect health. "You shouldn't rub your eye like that it'll irritate it." He informed her.
"Sorry, bad habit." She muttered smiling slightly. "What brings you here so early?"
"Oh um...nothing really, just checking to make sure you had a nice night...I guess," Sheldon said unable to actually look her in they eye. "I should go Leonard is waiting for me,"
"Oh, ok." Nancy said smiling, hands behind her back. She waved as he walked away. "See you later then."
Nancy turned and closed the door when he was out of sight, a slight blush on her cheeks, her heart pounding a bit harder than normal. She couldn't believe he'd come over just to make sure her night was nice, it was strange. She shook it from her mind as being paranoid.
"Ugh, ever since I moved in here I've never been able to actually sleep in late." Penny grumbled as she walked into the living room as Nancy sat back down on the couch. "Seems you're an early riser too huh?"
"Sometimes," Nancy replied. "Depends on how I slept the night before."
"Oh," Penny said yawning widely. "Want anything for breakfast, I should have something for cereal."
"Oh sure," Nancy said walking over to the kitchen island as Penny began grabbing stuff from cupboards. She opened her fridge and sighed.
"Darn no milk," she then turned to Nancy. "I'll be right back I'm going to borrow Sheldon and Leonard's milk."
"Ok."
Penny returned five minutes after leaving with a carton of milk in her hand. "Had to leave a note for them, I owe them a new carton of milk, Sheldon won't like that very much."
Nancy smiled slightly as Penny handed her a box of fruit loops and the milk, along with a bowl and spoon. "Thank you."
The two ate on the couch watching some T.V. making small talk.
"So how long have you and Leonard been together?" Nancy asked after finishing her cereal.
"We've been on and off for the last year, but this time we've been together for like four months so far." Penny replied taking Nancy's empty bowl to the sink. "Have you had any boyfriends since your separation from Sheldon?"
"One," Nancy said sighing. "But he was a huge mistake."
"I know how that goes," Penny said in a knowing way. "What was wrong with him, other than he wasn't Sheldon." she smirked.
"Well he was kind of controlling, if I was lucky enough to make friends, I couldn't do anything with them." Nancy said darkly. "And I wasn't allowed to make a decision with out telling him."
"Wow, did you dump him?" Penny asked engrossed in the story.
"Not exactly," Nancy said wincing. "He doesn't know we moved, I was afraid if I told him he would force me to stay."
"So that guy still thinks your together?" Penny asked brow raised.
"Sort of," Nancy said with a sigh. "I really hope he moves on...and doesn't come looking for me."
"I hope so too." Penny said. "But if he does make an appearance, let me know I'll back you up ok?"
"Thanks, I'll let you know." Nancy said smiling. "It's refreshing to have a female friend to talk to like this."
"Well I am good at being female." Penny said striking a goofy pose, causing Nancy to laugh.
Sheldon was actually nervous to possibly be spending more time with Nancy as he and Leonard drove home from work.
"What's on your mind?" Leonard asked.
"Lots of things," Sheldon replied.
"But at the top of the list, is it Nancy?" Leonard asked.
"I don't pry into your business about Penny," Sheldon snapped. "But if you must know yes, I am very concerned that I'll make a fool of myself, and I've never felt this way before and it does kind of scare me," he added softer than before. "And this is all because of a girl I once knew."
"Wow it's refreshing to know that you do have human emotions." Leonard said lightly. "Proof that you're not a robot," he chuckled.
Sheldon sat quietly for the remainder of the ride, realizing he'd almost said that he'd liked Nancy. He was supposed to be one who didn't believe in love or anything like that. And it wasn't that he was a germaphob, it was just it didn't feel right if it wasn't Nancy touching him which is why he freaked when others touched him.
When they arrived at the apartment building they went up to their apartment, and just as Leonard was opening the door, Penny's door opened too and both girls walked out.
"Oh hey you guys are home," Penny said smiling, but in a slightly guilty way.
"What did you do?" Sheldon asked eyes narrowed at the blonde.
"I was actually on my way to the store to get some more milk..." Penny said trailing off.
"So you took ours and now you need to get more than one milk don't you?" Sheldon questioned.
"Maybe," Penny replied looking at Leonard. "Would you like to come with me, it will give Sheldon and Nancy some more time to catch up."
"Sure." Leonard said walking over to Penny who kissed his cheek.
"Let's go then," Penny said beginning to walk away. "Behave children," she smirked as both blushed and looked awkwardly at the floor.
When he was sure they were far enough away he looked back up at Nancy. "Why don't we go inside, no sense standing in the hallway.
"Sure." She said following him in.
"Would you like anything to drink?" He asked putting his bag on his desk.
"Sure what do you have?" Nancy asked sitting on the couch, next to his spot once more.
"Well I usually offer tea, or hot cocoa." He said. "But I'm not trying to comfort you exactly, would you like a soda?"
"Sure." She smiled at him, causing him to blush. "Um Sheldon can I ask you something?"
"You just did," he replied then realized what he said stopped and restarted. "I mean sure, what is it?"
"Do you remember when I called you, just before I moved away?" She asked timidly, unsure of why she was even bringing this up.
"I have an eidetic memory, I remember," he replied softly as he handed her a soda, and sat on the couch. "You said you liked me, but didn't think it mattered because we'd never see each other again."
"But we have," she said placing the soda on the coffee table. "And I didn't realize that never forgetting...resulted in my feelings coming back...but if you just want to stay friends, I completely understand..." She couldn't look at him, her cheeks red. Sheldon looked like he was a deer caught in the headlights.
She still feels the same way for me? He thought to himself, unable to believe it. She was the only girl he'd ever had as a friend, let alone have feelings for. Unbeknownst to his friends, he was very shy, he just tried his hardest not to be when he was around them and others because he was tired of being teased for having feelings, which is why her shut himself off from everybody.
"Sheldon?" Nancy asked timidly, breaking him from his thoughts. "You know what, just forget what I said...it doesn't matter...after all it was just a childhood crush..." She stood up and turned to head for the door, when she reached it his voice stopped her.
"But it does matter," he said. She was frozen where she was, hand raised to take the door knob. "I never got the chance to tell you but..." and at that second her cell phone went off. She pulled it out of her purse and checked the screen, it was her father calling.
"Sorry, I have to go." she said hurrying from the apartment, and answering the phone as she went.
Sheldon sighed heavily, would he never get to tell her? He leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. His mother would probably say, maybe it wasn't meant to be...but meeting again like this had to have been a sign from someone, right?
"Where have you been, you were supposed to come straight home from work," her father's angry voice said.
"I know I was." Nancy said. "I was with a coworker it was too late to get home, so I stayed with her."
"That's a lie," he growled. "When you get home..." He let the threat hang there.
"I know," she said subdued. "I'll be home in half an hour," she said as she got on the bus. She sighed as she watched Sheldon's building slide from view. What had he been about to tell her? If her father was too angry, she wouldn't be able to see him for at least a week. Her phone pinged meaning she had a text, it was from Penny.
How are things going?
I had to get home, so I left. She sent the message, as her eyes began to sting. She'd just found her best friend, and made a new friend. Her father ruined it, all the time. She didn't deserve to have to go through hell, just because her mother died...and she didn't.
PING! That's too bad, we'll have to hang out again sometime. Give me your address, I can come get you anytime you want.
Nancy thought about it, and decided she'd send it. She slipped her phone in her pocket only to hear another ping. She pulled it back out, to see a foreign number.
It matters because I liked you too. She gasped when she realized who it was from, Sheldon.
