I can't thank you guys enough for the follows, reviews and favourites. As always, I love to hear what you guys are thinking, your input gives me insight to my work and makes me a better writer. If I could get a review from each of my followers that would be spectacular! I had such a terrible week last week, so to make myself feel better I give you two chapters in one week.
Enjoy!
After spending the day shopping at an outlet mall, Penny was ready for a nap. Sheldon's event was supposed to commence in an hour and fifteen minutes. She couldn't risk sleeping through the only thing that brought her back to good 'ol Pasadena. Penny set down her shopping bags by the bed and changed into her silky robe. She fished her phone out of her purse and brought it over to the vanity. One thing she was thankful for was Sheldon's refusal to change, including his cell number. She quickly looked him up in her phone to write him a text.
Hey, I can't wait to see you!
Penny looked at her text and decided it was too friendly. She quickly changed the text as she sat down in front of the mirror.
Hey! Good luck tonight :)
Penny frowned at her changes. What did he need luck for, he already won the Nobel. She pursed her lips.
Hey.
She quickly hit the send button before she could change it. She set down her phone on the counter and got up to begin pulling out articles of clothing from her shopping bags, she was looking for something specific. Her phone made a star wars light saber noise and she smiled to herself. She picked up her phone and read.
Hello Penny.
She smiled at his prompt text. Her fingers flew across the touch screen.
Are you nervous?
Penny hit the send button and clutched the phone to her chest. She took out the dress she bought earlier today and placed it on the bed so it wouldn't wrinkle. Her phone light saber'd in her hand and she looked at the screen.
Why would I be nervous? The hard part is over.
Penny laughed. This was a very true statement.
It will be good to see you, Sheldon. We didn't really get a proper goodbye when I left.
Penny hit the send button, sat back down and began rolling her shoulder length hair into hot rollers. The sound of Sheldon texting her back made butterflies fill her stomach. It was true what she said, he was the only person she didn't get to say good bye to. She frowned and picked up her phone after placing the last roller in her hair.
Penny, you know I'm not one for prolonged goodbyes and maudlin displays of emotion. I'm glad that you left the way you did. By leaving Leonard to pursue your career, you inspired me to "buckle down" and get my Nobel Prize. If it wasn't for you, we would probably be doing our laundry exchanging banal chit chat in person, neither one of us closer to our dreams. So for that, I thank you.
Penny read his novel of a text and smiled. Of course he would practically write a book on a touch screen. She licked her lips and wrote out another text.
I can't wait to see you. It will be nice to catch up in person.
Penny hit the send button and began applying her make up. Her phone chimed and she looked at screen. This text wasn't from Sheldon. It was from Derek.
Hey babe, work was terrible. We lost our case. I wish you were here to make me happy. ;)
Penny read over text and quickly replied. She was still anxiously waiting to hear what Sheldon had to say.
:(
The phone chimed with Sheldon's text tone.
Yes, well I have to admit, it will be nice to see a few familiar faces.
Penny smiled and ignored the text that Derek sent in response to her sad face. She continued to apply her make up. She swept a bold line of liquid eyeliner across her top lashes and put on a thick coat of mascara. She applied a hint of peachy blush to the apples of her cheeks and finished her look with a bold red lip. She smiled at her glam look as she removed the rollers from her hair and began styling it into voluminous waves.
Penny stood up and stepped out of her robe, she put on a pair of lacy black panties, a lacy garter, and clipped her stockings into her garter clips. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She looked good. As she posed for herself, she couldn't help but wonder who she was getting dressed up for. Penny frowned. It was going to be her secret, she could wear lingerie if she wanted to.
Penny stepped into her dress that she laid out on the bed, it was a ¾ length sleeve black dress with lace detailing. The skirt hit her about mid-thigh, not enough to be a slut, but enough to have men's eyes wander. The neckline was high and it hit her at the collarbone, but the back of the dress was Penny's favorite. The back of the dress was backless and was open to the small of her back, it didn't leave much to the imagination. Penny felt like a vixen. It was the first time in a while that she had actually dressed up. Penny put some cash, her hotel key and her phone into her purse, she stepped into a pair of black patent heels and headed out the door.
The hotel floor was quiet. Penny waited for the elevator to come and as she waited, she couldn't help but think about Sheldon. She wondered if he had grown a beard or if he was still that awkward man child that she had come to know. She knew how sharply he could dress, she had seen it herself. It wasn't the first time she found herself eyeing Dr. Cooper, no sir. When they first met, she had taken note of how cute he was, but in an entirely geeky way. She thought she sensed chemistry between them when they first met, but she was sadly mistaken.
The elevator doors opened and Penny's thoughts were still plagued by her former neighbor, who looked ridiculously handsome in a black suit. Her thoughts snapped back to reality for a second, as the elevator descended, toward the main floor, she was thinking about Sheldon in a romantic fashion. Penny shook her head and tried to think about something else when the doors opened. It was hard not to. She silently chastised herself as she walked toward Ballroom C.
The room was large and decorated very nicely, like an award show or something. Crystal centerpieces decorated the tables and flowing fabric cascaded form the ceiling to the walls. It was absolutely stunning. As Penny approached the table by the doors, she spotted Amy. Penny gave a quick wave and ran over to her friend. Amy was wearing a simple black dress, certainly less modest than a nun, but no more modest than Penny's grandmother. Penny quickly embraced her friend, she had to slightly bend her knees because of her heels.
"Penny, you look absolutely stunning!" Amy gushed. Penny blushed. She knew. Penny and Amy linked arms and walked toward a table that Sheldon had specifically reserved for his closest friends and treasured acquaintance. Penny approached the table and Bernadette came into view. Penny let out a small excited squeal when Bernadette caught her gaze.
"Oh my god! Penny?!" Bernadette exclaimed. Penny grinned and hugged her very pregnant friend. It was so bizarre because it felt like no time had passed. The girls pulled away from each other and took in each other's presence. Bernadette was just the same, but she was even cuter when she was pregnant. It was like she was as wide as she was tall.
"Penny, you look amazing! New York has been good to you!" Bernadette gushed. Penny grinned and placed her hand on Bernadette's stomach. The baby kicked under Penny palm and she quickly took her hand away in a fit of giggles.
"So is it a boy or girl?" Penny asked. Bernadette smiled wide.
"It's actually twins. We're surprising ourselves this time. When we had Noella, it was fun buying everything in advance, but we decided to be surprised this time." Bernadette explained. As the girls chatted more people began to flood into the room. Soon the girls were joined by Leonard, who sat down with his fiance at the table, and Howard, who couldn't help but stare at Penny. Howard looked the same, he was still a small creepy little man.
"Howard, quit staring, it's rude." Bernadette chastised. Howard smiled and apologized to Penny. The three of them took their seats Penny sat beside Bernadette and Amy, she felt relieved that she didn't really have to talk to the guys.
Raj sat down with his wife across from Penny. The guys chatted and Raj introduced his wife, Penny caught her name. Madhavi. She was wearing a beautiful sari and her hair was braided to the side. Penny had to admit, Raj's wife was stunning. She wondered how drunk he had to be to talk to her. As Penny was silently joking to herself, she caught his gaze. A big grin broke out onto his face.
"Penny!" He almost shouted as he stood up and walked around to her side of the table. He pulled a chair from another table and sat down beside her. Penny smiled as he looked her over.
"You look great, Penny." Raj said as he held his hand out. Penny placed her hand into his and he gently kissed her knuckle. Penny blushed, the guy gets married and turns into the Indian Casanova. Penny looked him over, he wasn't wearing a sweater vest, he was wearing a nice dark suit, dark shirt and dark tie.
"You are looking good too Raj. How's India?" Penny asked. Raj rolled his eyes.
"I hate it there. It's honestly the worst place on the planet." He said spiting it out like a bad taste in his mouth. Penny smirked.
"So how drunk are you?" She teased. "Are you constantly hammered or what?" She joked. Raj laughed. Penny let a small laugh escape her lips.
"I can honestly say that I have not had a sip of alcohol since I got married. It turns out when you're around someone all the time you can talk to them, it also turns out that when other women become off limits to you, you can talk to them too." He said wistfully. Penny laughed. She looked over at Madhavi and back to Raj.
"Well you did good. She is absolutely beautiful." She sweetly said. Raj grinned and patted her hand before putting the chair back and returning to his beautiful wife. Penny couldn't believe how much everyone's life had changed. She thought about Sheldon and his schedule and smirked. Ok, everyone but Sheldon. She wondered where he was.
Once everyone had found their seats, the microphone was being tapped and blown into. The ballroom was full, mostly of science people probably from other universities, but Penny didn't care, she felt safe in her little table universe of old friends. Dr. Siebert stood in front of the podium and tried to get everyone's attention. The room quieted and he began to speak.
"Good evening everyone, tonight we are here to honor one of our own. Tonight we pay our respects to one of the most brilliant minds of the 21st century. Please give a warm welcome to Dr. Sheldon Cooper." He started. The crowd cheered and a round of applause filled the room.
Sheldon stood in front of the podium, Penny smiled, he looked no different. His hair was styled a little more carefree, but he was still clean-shaven lanky Sheldon. He looked out at the crowd and licked his lips. Penny noticed a glass of champagne resting on the podium. She smirked. How drunk was he? Penny laughed to herself.
"Good evening friends, colleagues and treasured acquaintance. I am going to keep this short and sweet. I have changed the face of science and for that, I have been awarded the most prestigious prize for my hard word and perserverence. I'm not one for thanking people for their contributions as I don't like to share my work if I don't have to. However, I wouldn't be here if not for one of my closest friends. I would like to thank Penelope Miller." Penny's heart stopped when he looked over at the table and their eyes met. She licked her lips and forgot to breathe.
"If not for you garnering the courage to chase your dreams, I would have not done the same. To Penny and To Science." Sheldon finished as he raised his champagne glass to her. Penny's breath hitched in her throat and she couldn't stop the tears from stinging the back of her eyes. She raised her glass and toasted the man-child who seemed to have grown up in front of her eyes. The room applauded and Penny finished her glass of champagne and took in a deep breath. She smiled as everyone around her table gave her a slight nod. Penny didn't expect that from Sheldon.
Penny excused herself and stalked off to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, she wanted to splash water on her face, but it would ruin her make up. Instead she sat down on a couch that was in the luxurious bathroom and thought about what just happened. Did he actually acknowledge her for contributing to his scientific success? Penny felt her hand tremble. This feeling that resonated in her was something she didn't even know existed. Longing, lust, admiration, all wrapped up in teenage butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.
"Stop it, Penny. Sheldon doesn't have a deal. His deal is Science. It always has been it always will be." Penny wiped at her eyes with a tissue.
"And besides, when do you have feelings for Sheldon? He's friggin' nuts!" Penny reminded herself. She huffed and stood up. She wasn't going to spend the evening in the bathroom. She had people to see, well a handful of people she could hang out with anyways. She missed her cat. Penny shook out all the thoughts from her head, she decided the only solution would be to drown her feelings in champagne. Penny smoothed out her skirt, fixed her hair and left the bathroom in search for a drink.