They shuffled along slowly, and he could almost see her counting in her head. The annual fair dance was lead by the first place winners. One hand was in hers and one was on her waist. And a lead weight was in his stomach. He held her loosely, trying not to get too close. He was having a very unusual and very physical response to Penny. He was almost an adult! She wasn't even 15 yet! Sheldon was mad and disgusted with himself. She's his best friend and he had no business being attracted to her!

He didn't want to be attracted to anyone. Especially not Penny. It would ruin everything! Sheldon had family, acquaintances, and colleagues. But only one true friend. Only one person he counted as a real companion. He wasn't about to destroy that because of some unwelcome hormonal surge!

He noticed Mr. Wyatt standing near the punch bowl talking with one of the other men. Maybe he could help. He had always been like a, well, not a father exactly. But like an uncle. He knew he could go to Mr. Wyatt for advice for just about anything. But for this? This awareness for Penny? Maybe not.

The song ended and a boy cut in to dance with Penny. Sheldon sighed with relief and took a seat at one of the tables. Only one more week and then he would be back in Germany and far away from this madness.

He glanced at her as he double checked his packing. She was sitting in the window sill looking out over the yard. The setting sun gave her hair a glow.

"Shel?"

He paused and gave her his full attention. "Yes, Penny?"

"I'm not going to ask you to stay."

He kept the disappointment off his face. "Oh?"

Penny stood up and walked over. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. "It wouldn't be right," she said in a low voice. "You're going to do so many great things because of your smarts. I just know you'll solve all those big bang mysteries. It wouldn't be fair to ask you to stay."

Sheldon smiled at her faith in him. "I'll miss you, though."

Penny looked up at him and smiled. "I'll miss you, too." Penny leaned up an pressed a light kiss to his lips. They both froze. They stared at each other for a couple of seconds, and then they both leaned toward each other. With a groan he captured her mouth in a deep kiss. His hands moved down to her hips and he pulled her flush against him.

He licked at her bottom lip and she opened up for his tongue. He could feel her heart pounding. It was as fast as his own. He reached down and cupped her bottom. He lifted her up and laid her down on his bed. His own body settled over hers, pressing her into the mattress. Her soft breathy purr drove him on. He abandoned her mouth and pushed her shirt up. He trailed kisses down her neck to her collar as he covered her breast with his hand. Penny's hands clutched at his arms. Her hips moved against his pelvis, shifting frantically over his hardness.

Penny's hands moved up his arms to his neck. Sheldon groaned against her fluttering pulse as he brushed aside her skirt and cupped her intimately. Penny pressed against his hand and grabbed his head to pull him back up for a kiss.

A door slammed somewhere in the house, startling them apart. Sheldon stared wide-eyed, appalled at what they had been doing. Penny blushed until she took in his expression. Her skin paled and she pulled her shirt back down quickly.

"This is bad," he whispered, running a hand through his hair nervously. He looked at her as she stood, wanting to apologize. "Dammit," he whispered softly, as he tried to find the words to tell her he was sorry. A moment later she was gone. Vaguely he heard Missy and George arguing down the hall. He heard the front door open and close. He moved to the window slowly. He could see her disappearing through the corn field toward Meemaw's house.

Sheldon sat on the edge of the sill. He had taken advantage of his best friend. He had taken her innocent goodbye kiss and turned it into something wicked. He had done something so dreadful, he wasn't even able to find the words to apologize. She would never forgive him.

How could she have done that?! Penny raced along the beaten path through the corn field. She skirted the pond and sped on as fast as she could. He would hate her! He called her bad. She had thrown herself at him like Susie Baker did with the football players! She was a tramp! Sheldon would never forgive her. She was bad. He had said so, and Shel never lied.

She slowed as Meemaw's house came into view. She could see her dad closing the door to the shed. She hoped that meant he was finished with the gutters. She hoped he was ready to go home.

"Hey, slugger," he said with a smile. The porch door opened and Meemaw stepped out.

"Where's Moon Pie, sweetie?"

She looked down at the ground. "He's still packing," she said quietly. She looked at her dad. "Can we go home now?"

Wyatt frowned. "Home? But we're supposed to see Sheldon off in the morning." He looked over at Meemaw with concern.

Meemaw stepped off the porch and approached Penny. She tilted Penny's head back and looked at her closely. After a couple of seconds she sighed sadly. "Give me a hug, Penny. I have a feeling it's going to be a while before I get to see your pretty face again."

Penny threw her arms around Meemaw and fought back the tears trying to form. She kissed the weathered cheek and then hurried over to scramble into the truck. She watched her dad approach Meemaw with concern.

Meemaw turned to him sadly. "Take her home, Wyatt. She's heartbroken and needs to be somewhere else."

Wyatt looked toward Mary's house. He sighed sadly. "I was afraid this would happen. Those two have meant the world to each other. It was almost inevitable that one of them would fall for the other."

Meemaw nodded. "We all knew it was likely. Those two were each others shadows for a lot of years. The two years apart only made them miss each other. Sheldon is much older, mentally, than his actual age. Penny is much more emotionally mature than her age implies. They love each other. It's just bad timing."

Wyatt nodded and kissed Meemaw's cheek. "Explain it to him?" She nodded. "I'll let you know how she's doing when as I can."

"I'll do the same," Meemaw said.

Wyatt got into the truck and started it up. He didn't question her, or offer advice. He didn't try to reassure her. He spoke calmly and steadily about her upcoming trip to her mom's house. By the time they got home, she was outwardly calm. But her eyes were pain-filled.

Sheldon was the last to board his plane. He kept delaying, hoping she would show up. Meemaw told him she went home, but that didn't stop him from looking for her. Sheldon took his seat and opened his messenger bag. He pulled out the purple monkey and rubbed his thumb over it's head. By the time he disembarked in Hamburg, he had sealed up that part of him that Penny resided in. No one else could touch that part of him.

Penny looked out the window of her mom's condo. She took a deep breath and turned around. "Mom?"

Julie looked up from the legal brief she was working on. "Yes, Penelope?"

She moved over to the couch and sat down. "I think it's time I started acting like the lady you want me to be. Can you help me change my wardrobe?"

Julie's eyes grew wide. Despite her inability to understand her daughter completely, she knew enough about human nature to understand that something big had happened. She set the papers down on the coffee table. "Penelope, are you trying to impress someone? A guy?"

Penny shook her head. "No, Mom. There's no one I am trying to impress. I don't have a guy." And I don't want one, she added internally. "I just want a change. I'm tired of being a tomboy."

Julie hesitated and studied Penny expression. Slowly she nodded. "Okay, honey. I'll take the day off tomorrow and we'll make a day of it."

Penny nodded and went back to her room. Starting tomorrow, she would be a whole new Penny. A more composed, strong Penny who didn't rely on anyone. Just like her mom.

They could see her sitting on the old tree swing from the kitchen window. Mary sighed and looked over at Wyatt. "How is she?"

Wyatt ran a hand through his hair. "She's different. I don't hardly know her anymore. She gave up calfing, softball, everything. Now she goes to dances, hangs out at the mall, or sits on the couch reading fashion magazines." Wyatt looked up at Mary and Meemaw. "She says she wants to go to New York and live with Julie for the last two years of high school. Julie can get her into a drama program. She wants to be an actress, she says."

Meemaw nodded. "Moon Pie is closed off, too. He will talk about his work all you want, but if you mention anything personal, he clams up. Especially if it's about Penny."

Wyatt turned a faint pink color. "Do you think they…"

Mary shook her head. "No. I don't. I think something happened. I don't believe they actually did anything though. Also I asked Shelly last time I talked to him. I asked point blank if he and Penny had sex. He said no and hung up on me. Shelly wouldn't lie, Wyatt. You know that."

Wyatt nodded. "I know, Mary. But it had to be more than just a few kisses. Even some heavy kissing wouldn't have ended like this."

Meemaw sighed. "I think they had a misunderstanding. Something happened. Something done, or said. And they both misinterpreted it." She shrugged. "Or maybe they interpreted it right. Either way, they hurt each other. Now they can't seem to find a way past that."

Meemaw patted Wyatt's arm. "What are you going to do about New York?"

He looked back out the window. "Let her go."

Dear Penny,

I hope you find some of your joy again in New York. Just know that wherever you go, however far apart we are, you are still loved by all of us. We will miss you, sweet child. Please write me when you can to let us know how you are.

Love,

Meemaw

Dear Moon Pie,

I thought you might like to know that Penny has moved to New York to live with her mom. I am including her new address in this letter. Just in case you want to write her. I know she misses you something fierce. And I suspect you miss her too. Sheldon, whatever happened between you two, don't you think the years and years of friendship are deserving of a better end than this?

Love,

Meemaw

Sheldon folded the letter and placed it in the box with the others. He reached under his pillow and pulled out the tattered letter hidden there.

Dear Sheldon,

I am sorry I wasn't there to say goodbye. Guess I'm a bigger coward than I thought. I am sorry for what happened. I hope someday you can forgive me. Maybe someday I can forgive myself. I could not have imagined a better friend than you. I am going to ask Dad to let me go live with Mom. I need to get away from here. And I'm sure you'll be more comfortable visiting if you don't have to worry about me being there. I look forward to the day I read all about how your big beautiful mind solved the mysteries of the universe. Take care of yourself.

Penelope

Sheldon folded it and placed it back in it's spot. Forgive her? But he was the one that had ruined everything. And now he had forced her to live in the one city she hated. Just so he would be comfortable. Sheldon picked up the monkey and held it tight. She was gone for good now.