"When we give up the chase, we give up our wishing."

-Stephen Richards

Penny entered the building with the biggest smile on her face. She just received her paycheck for her role on the show and she couldn't wait to tell Sheldon about how she is now considered as a professional actress. As she began to climb up the stairs, a voice called for her from behind. She slowly turned around and rolled her eyes seeing that it was Leonard. She gave him a small wave before resuming ascending to the fourth floor.

"Hey," Leonard grabbed her hand and she faced him. "Are you checking out the open apartment on the fifth floor?"

She didn't want to stand in the middle of the stairway talking to Leonard. "No, I was just about to visit a friend."

Leonard nodded. "Sheldon, right?"

"Yup," Penny began moving but stopped when Leonard called her name again.

"Um, why are you friends with him?"

She had a clue of what he was trying to do. "Because he's sweet, funny, and loyal, unlike some asshats in this world."

"You don't even know the real him. He's neurotic and controlling and condescending and..."

Penny shushed him. "He is a hundred percent definitely not all of those things. Maybe you don't know the real him." She turned around once more, but Leonard gripped her arm, keeping her from walking away. Penny got out of his tight grasp, wishing that Leonard would just leave her alone.

"Come on, I lived with the guy for almost ten years now. Why did I stay friends with him? It was because I felt sorry that he couldn't make other friends."

If he didn't stop there, Penny would give him a piece of her mind. "I don't care. Sheldon isn't like that, and what you did to him is completely unacceptable. He has been bullied all his life and it's not right that it continues until this day. You're a jackass, Leonard, and I hope Sheldon kicks you out."

"He needs me to function properly. He can't drive because he thinks he's too evolved so I have to chauffeur him around town. The guy's a big baby, he makes you sing some ridiculous song when he's sick and only sees everyone as a tool to use in his life. He has no feelings and lacks empathy towards others," Leonard crossed his arms. He hoped that was enough for Penny to change her mind about Sheldon.

"Listen to me. I do not giving a flying fuck about what you think he is. When I tell you he's none of that, he is none of that. And before you judge about Sheldon, take a good look of yourself. You are just pathetic and creepy. Stalking me at work and around town isn't gonna increase your chances in sleeping with me. You have to stop this crap now or you'll get what's coming. Do you understand?" Penny taunted, fighting the urge to knock him out right now.

Leonard nodded quickly and Penny went down the stairs. "I thought you were gonna see Sheldon?"

Penny faced him one more time. "Changed my mind now that you're here."

Sheldon locked his bedroom door before fishing out his phone from his pocket. He dialed Penny's number in a flash and sat on the bed. Something happened between her and Leonard, and Sheldon was worried.

It took Penny awhile to pick up the phone, and he almost thought that she didn't want to speak with him until he heard her voice.

"Sheldon?"

He relaxed. "Penny. I do apologize for Leonard's behavior. It was completely out of line and inappropriate."

"Do you know the things he said to me about you?"

"What did he say?"

Penny sighed. "He said how neurotic, controlling, and condescending you are. I'm not saying that you're all of that but what I'm saying is why you are still putting up with that bastard."

"I-I don't know."

"Well, I'm tired of his constant creepy self. I can't visit you Sheldon, not even if he's working late. He's too much to handle and he had a tight grip of my arm back there so I wouldn't leave just yet."

Sheldon raised his brow. "He laid a hand on you?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't anything bad. He just gripped my arm to turn me around when I decided that I didn't want to further the conversation."

He could feel his blood boiling. "I have to kick him out of the apartment."

"Sheldon, you don't have to-"

"I have to, Penny. His actions are becoming unbearable. Ever since my accident, he has done nothing to help me and all he does every day is talk about you."

He felt like it was the right thing to do. The only problem to it was finding a new roommate to pay half of the rent. He couldn't rely on Penny driving him anywhere at any time. He knew she had things to do and didn't want to bother her if she's busy. But the thought of kicking Leonard out of the apartment was a priority of his now.

"Sheldon?"

"I'm still here. I'm just thinking of how I'm going to find a new roommate."

Penny was quiet on the other line. "How about me?"

"What?"

"I'll be your roommate if you want. The rent is getting too pricey over here and I can't keep taking all of Tyler's money. I wouldn't oppose to the idea of it."

Maybe this was a good thing. He could see Penny everyday and make sure she has arrived home safely. They don't need to sneak out just to see each other. "That sounds acceptable. I'll give Leonard the thirty days notice and we'll go from there."

"Are you sure it's okay for you?"

"I am more than sure."

That son of a bitch is kicking me out? Leonard thought as he read over Sheldon's email once more. He was serious, and since it's Sheldon's name on the lease, he had control over it. There wasn't much that Leonard could do and talk some sense to his lunatic roommate.

Well, in thirty days, his ex-roommate.

He didn't do anything recently that violated the Roommate Agreement, but even if he did, Sheldon's wouldn't know since he still has no clue of what the agreement is.

Leonard headed to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. He hasn't seen much of Sheldon since yesterday, and Leonard knew that Penny probably told him of their encounter in the stairwell. He angrily slammed his cup on the kitchen counter. How could a girl like Penny enjoy hanging out with Sheldon? Leonard felt that it was only a matter of time before he regains all his memories, and Penny finally realizes the man he really is.

And wasn't Sheldon with Amy? Leonard should at least tell Amy about his suspicions. There was something off about Sheldon and Penny, and he didn't want to believe that there was a huge possibility of the two going out. He glanced over to the window and spotted Penny's car waiting out in front of the apartment building. He heard the water from the shower being turned off, letting him know that Sheldon was about to come out of the bathroom.

He had to know everything that was between the two. It was bothering him so much. Without putting any more thought into what he was about to do, Leonard grabbed his car keys and sneaked out of the apartment. He managed to get into his car without Penny seeing him. Minutes later, Sheldon exited the building and entered Penny's car. Leonard made sure that there was enough space between him and the car he was following. He stayed behind two other cars and waited a block away from Best Buy where Sheldon was being dropped off.

Leonard saw Penny in her Cheesecake Factory uniform and guessed that she's on her way for her shift afterwards. He drove to the restaurant and stayed in his car until he saw Penny enter. The recognizable blonde hair caught his attention, and soon after arriving, he walked inside the restaurant and tried to look for Penny.

Once he was able to locate Penny inside, he immediately walked up to her from behind.

Leonard tapped on Penny's shoulder, gaining attention. "Ye- What the hell are you doing here?"

"I need to speak with you," he said, ignoring the malicious look on Penny's face.

"I'm working right now. If you don't leave me alone in the next ten seconds, I will personally hogtie and castrate you faster than you can blink," she growled.

Leonard backed up a little bit, but didn't turn away. "It's something about Sheldon."

"Oh my god, can you please leave us alone! Sheldon and I being friends is none of your business. The exit is right there. Leave."

Penny marched to the podium to place the menus in her hand back. Leonard stayed close to her. "Please, give me five minutes of your time and you'll never have to hear from me after that if you wish."

If talking for five minutes is what all it takes for him to leave her alone, then fine. She sighed annoyingly and led Leonard to the back door nearby. They stood outside in the middle of the alley with Penny crossing his arms waiting for him to speak. "So?"

"First off, I just want to know what's going on between you and Sheldon."

"I told you before, it's none of your damn business!" Penny huffed.

Leonard glanced down to the concrete. "He likes you, you know?"

Penny believed he was only bluffing. She shook her head. "Okay, but I don't really get why you have to stalk us around town."

He sighed. "I-I really like you. There I said it. I like you and I hope that there's that something special between us," Leonard said, feeling a little flustered.

"I know. Sheldon told me. Following me everywhere isn't a great way to see if I feel the same way. Okay, you like me. I don't return those feelings for you however. Maybe I would have if you aren't a creep and such an ass towards Sheldon, but no. We have nothing."

Leonard frowned and began to sob. "You're right. I am a creep."

Penny wanted to leave him out in the open in tears. She honestly didn't care about him because of things he did. But she wasn't heartless. Yes, she thought he was pathetic, but she sighed when he realized how he really is.

"Stop crying," she told him as he wiped his face.

"I'm a mess right now. I can't get any girls. I'm gonna live the rest of my life as a lonely pathetic and desperate asshole like what everyone told me growing up."

Penny hesitantly placed her left hand on his shoulder. "Look, I'm still not happy about what you did. Leonard, don't you think you try too much? Instead of stalking women and pretend that both of you are soul mates, why not start out as friends? Get to know each other first before thinking too far ahead."

"What chance do I have? I am a nerd who sleeps in a bed with Star Wars sheets and can't eat cheese. I'm not confident and I can't just walk up to any woman and say hello. You're like the hundredth woman that has rejected me." More tears began to pour. "I hated my life growing up, and nothing is different right now! I moved away from the bullies in high school, great! But there are more out here, too. My mother is constantly putting my esteem down and I get depressed when I'm rejected by people. I only dated three women in ten years, and none of them lasted more than a year."

He continued. "My friends are now turning their backs against me. Sheldon's ignoring me. Raj, I've barely hang out with or seen him. Howard is slowly drifting out of my life. They're all I have left as well as my work. I can't live like this anymore."

Penny was no longer furious. Her heart broke for the man standing in front of her covered in his own tears. No one deserved this. Not even him.

"Leonard, I'm sorry things don't work out that well for you. I go through that as well. But we have to learn to move on to better things. Instead of constantly living in dejection, why not flip a new page. Get a fresh start?"

"You mean move away?"

"That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying to be the better man you are capable of, Leonard. Don't cry and feel lonely every time someone rejects you. Take a deep breath and move on. Sheldon told me about the things you did and I'll say to stop those. Stop treating him like a child and playing tricks on him. Be kinder, more accepting, and more supportive, and maybe Sheldon will come back. Same goes to your other friends."

Penny handed him a napkin from her apron's pocket.

"But moving isn't a bad idea. Sheldon's basically kicking me out of the apartment."

There was that, too. "Explain yourself to him as you did to me. He'll probably understand. It's worth a try."

Leonard nodded. "Thank you, Penny. I really regret all those creepy stuff. I was just-"

She interrupted him and smiled. "I know. We haven't talked one on one, and I'm starting to see a man with feelings, a man who doesn't understand everything even if he's one of the smartest people out there. It's okay."

Penny quickly embraced him, hearing his sobs stopping and his breathing calming down.

A/N:

Leonard is a creep in this story. Gonna make him less of a creep now. Reviews are gladly appreciated :)

In addition, I hope everyone enjoyed Easter today with your loved ones or chocolate boxes!