National Hot Dog Day (July 23rd)
Sheldon heard Penny's footsteps so he walked out into the hall. She looked over her shoulder briefly and turned back to her door. He sighed to himself, wishing he could just hold her. "Penny, Howard has informed us that you won't be joining us for the barbecue this weekend. May I ask why you are disrupting my planning? Especially since this one coincides with your ridiculous holiday calendar?"
Penny tossed her purse on the couch and headed to the kitchen silently. Sheldon stepped inside and watched her. She reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. She braced herself on the counter with one hand and took a drink. Sheldon moved closer to her and was stunned to see tears in her eyes.
"Penny?" He reached out to touch her shoulder and she jerked away. She dropped the bottle in the sink and walked away from him. She moved swiftly back through the living room and went back to stand by the door. "Get out," she said stiffly. "I don't feel like company."
Sheldon's expression was one of stunned disbelief. Penny was throwing him out? She had never before been so cold to him, not even when they were in the middle of a war. He moved to stand before her, but she kept her eyes on the door knob. Sheldon cupped her jaw and tilted her head back.
"Penny, what has happened? Why are you so upset?" he asked.
Penny pulled away from his hand and shook her head. "Nothing I want to discuss at the moment, Sheldon. Please," she begged emotionally. "I just want to be alone."
He didn't stop to think about it. He just dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers. He groaned as pleasure washed over him. He pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss. She was warm and supple against him, and he could feel her pounding heart against his chest. His heart raced at the same tempo as hers did. He moved a hand up to cup her nape and she suddenly began to struggle. Sheldon stumbled as she pushed against him.
Her eyes were wild and frantic as she gaped for breath. "I can't do this!" she cried. "I can't fool around with you! I won't! It's wrong!"
Sheldon's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Penny. I don't know what came over me. I was just worried about you. Please, you're distressed. I want to help."
Penny shook her head and pushed him toward the hall. "Just leave me be, Sheldon! I don't want to talk about it! I just want to be alone!" She shut the door and he listened to her lock the deadbolt. He leaned his head against it and sighed. He could still taste her on his lips. Slowly he made his way back to his own abode. He would try again later when she wasn't so upset.
None of them saw her for a week. The barbecue came and Penny didn't make an appearance. She wasn't even returning texts, emails or phone calls. On Tuesday her friends showed up at the Cheesecake Factory determined to talk to her, only to find a large sign on the door. It read "Commercial Property for Lease".
They immediately rushed over to the apartment, Bernadette knocking loudly. When Penny didn't answer, Sheldon grabbed the spare key. He unlocked the door and they all stared, alarmed, at the various cardboard boxes and packing supplies. Penny wasn't home, but it appeared as though she had been quite busy.
Sheldon slowly shook his head, trying to persuade himself this was a dream. Packing implied she was moving. He couldn't allow that. He couldn't lose her. Not his Penny.
"What are we going to do?" Bernadette asked. "Penny is packing. Why didn't she say anything to anyone?"
"Because I didn't know how." They all spun to see Penny and Zack in the hallway. Sheldon looked at the dark circles under her eyes and the hollow cheeks. She wasn't sleeping, and stress was evident in her eyes.
"What happened?" Priya asked.
"Apparently the manager was skimming money. He emptied the safe and took off with the payroll last week." Penny pushed into the apartment and headed to the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water off the counter and took a swallow. "So, the owner of the franchise is broke, and shut the doors. Goodbye, ugly yellow sweater vest."
Leonard walked over and placed an arm around her shoulders. Sheldon suppressed the urge to pull them apart. "What are you going to do?"
Penny shrugged. "Find a new job. I can't stay here though. I can't afford it. Hell, I could barely afford it before."
"I'll loan you the money," Sheldon said quietly. "You know that."
Anger flashed through her eyes briefly. "That's ..sweet of you, Sheldon. But that's just putting a band-aid on a broken leg. It's not going to help. I have no way of paying you back, and it doesn't change the fact that I really cannot afford to stay here."
Sheldon wanted to argue with her, but he could see she was in a stubborn mind set. She was expecting an argument, and prepared to fight. He decided it would be prudent to retreat and try later.
"Where will you go?" Bernadette asked. Penny turned away from Sheldon. Her shoulders were stiff, and fear settled into his stomach. No! Don't say it, he thought to himself.
"Mark has asked me to move in with him."
And just like that, Sheldon's world crashed down about his feet.