AU

Penny is not happy in college, a chance meeting starts changing the way she sees things.

Penny is not really sure she wants to stay in college. She's currently a freshman at UNO, looking to major in fine/studio arts because she thought it would involve acting…which it didn't do that exactly, they could eventually teach her to teach other people about acting but Penny was finding this whole college thing to be a bit of a bust.

She wanted to act, wanted to be the next Julia Roberts. But she was starting to think that if she stayed here in Omaha it would never happen. It was still her freshman year so Penny was perfectly aware that she was being impatient, but her 18th birthday was coming up in 6 months and it was just too tempting, she might just drop out and go to California in her shitty car.

The only thing that Penny liked about college so far was that she felt like she'd be able to find her true love here.

Tamika had told her that Kurt from the Athletic training program was asking about Penny and that her boyfriend Jack had confirmed he was going to ask Penny out. She couldn't wait, she had a good feeling about this Kurt…yum yum, those muscles.

"Hey Pen." Penny liked Tamika, the girl was in the Physics department but looked like a damn supermodel. She was being wasted in the sciences building. Penny got lucky to get Tamika as a roommate.

"Hey girl, ready to go out clubbing tonight?"

"Ugh, can't." Tamika really looked disappointed. "The Physics department is preparing to host a welcome party for the boy genius himself and we all have to be present. Can't wiggle away."

"Boy genius?"

"Oh yeah, you probably don't know. There's this guy in the Physics world that is basically the second coming of Einstein. He got his first PhD at 14, the second at 16 and his name is attached to pretty much every award available, almost always followed by 'The youngest ever'-something."

"Oh damn, sounds like a fun guy at parties."

"You have no idea. He's also pretty famous, or rather infamous for being a pain in the ass. It doesn't help that he's almost always right, I heard he caused several researchers to quit after meeting with him for a couple of minutes."

"And he's coming to UNO, why?" Penny had no illusions that their little University held any sort of importance.

"He's actually on loan from Caltech. He's staying for 3 months to give some lectures and do research using our equipment."

"Huh, how old is he?."

"Just turned 18, it's actually a little creepy at seeing all the older ladies go gaga over him."

"Haha, poor guy then. Anyway, since you can't come tonight, how about we meet on-" And Penny kept going with her life, this conversation soon forgotten.

As Penny worked her shift at The Cheesecake Factory she kept thinking about her future. College so far had made her feel like a failure, she felt stupid for choosing a Major without really understanding what she was signing up for and just because she thought it had something to do with acting. Sure, college life was fantastic, she loved living on campus and not having to worry about the farm anymore. Having clubs, coffee shops, and shoe stores within walking distance was a game changer.

And yet…Penny wondered if she should keep going. Was college really going to get her closer to her dream? For that matter, what was her dream? She enjoyed acting but if she was honest with herself she wanted the fame as well, she didn't want to be a background character in a sitcom, she wanted to be in movie posters so that the bitches from high school would froth at the mouth when seeing her.

Maybe it was a better idea to drop out and go try her luck in California.

That idea was only reinforced by the book in front of her. It was a slow afternoon and her manager didn't mind Penny doing homework at an empty table, Penny knew she wasn't the only waitress that did that. Glaring at the book Penny had to wonder why learning to design clothes required her to know math, and it's because someone replies to her that she realizes she actually said that outloud. 'I need to stop that habit.'

"It's to ensure the piece of clothing you're designing actually fits correctly. You would also need it to calculate how much to charge for that piece of clothing." A boy her age is standing next to the table she's using. He's tall, way too tall and wiry, like one of those swimmers she loved to go and watch practice. And for some reason he's dressed like one of her professors, a red plaid shirt over a light blue tee, khaki pants, and a tweed jacket. At least he was wearing cool sneakers. For some reason he looked really happy to be answering her question.

"As you're probably aware, the clothing designing process always starts with a sketch. This sketch will contain shapes, patterns and sizes as well as how they relate to one another in space, in simpler terms, Geometry. Which is one of the fundamental branches of math." Without being invited to, the boy takes a seat in front of her.

"Of course, that is a vital part of the design process," points to his shirt "Squares, triangles, circles and other designs are always present in our clothing and can be easily defined as mathematical in nature, however, even those designs that can be defined as abstract still use geometry to ensure they're aesthetically pleasing." Penny is not sure that he has taken a breath since he started talking and the way he's talking to her reinforces the idea of a professor, he's probably a freshman as well and trying way too hard.

"Math is also used by stores in order to determine stocking rates. And it goes without saying that return on investment is something present at every step of the way to determine that everyone will stand to gain from it. And it's all thanks to…" He trails off and looks at Penny expectantly.

"…Math?..."

"That's right! Excellent. And that's why you need Math in clothing design." He looks so proud of himself that Penny can't help but laugh.

"Okay, okay, thank you for the explanation. Can you then help explain how this formula becomes a graph? I'm not getting it, how is this a circle according to the book?" Penny shows him her book and the formula (x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2.

"Do you have your graphing calculator?"

"My what now?"

"Oh boy. How did you pass your SATs?"

"Hey! Don't be mean."

"I'm sorry. Let me show you how to do it without a calculator."

And the boy did just that, Penny realized that all of this was stuff she had seen in High School but this boy took the time to show her how to solve formulas but also how to graph them on paper. It wasn't exactly fun but she could tell he had experience tutoring people.

"Oh! That's awesome, that makes so much more sense now."

"Yes, math is a wonderful thing."

"Thank you so much. Oh, your food must have arrived at your table by now. I'm sorry for taking so much of your time."

"No worries. I haven't ordered yet. I was approaching you for that reason when I heard you pose your question about math."

"Oh gosh, I'm sorry. Thank you again. Let me get you a menu, don't move from there."

Quickly going through the familiar motions she cleaned his side of the table and got him a menu.

"Don't order dessert, as thanks for helping me understand this. I'll get you a slice of cheesecake after your meal. My treat."

And for the first time he looks uncomfortable "Oh, is this like a gift?"

"No, it's just a way to repay the help you already gave me."

His face clears "Ahh, like Quid Pro Quo?"

"Sure, let's go with that."

"Then, I accept. Thank you." His attention now on the bible of a menu in front of him.

Penny had to smile, this boy was weird but not in a bad way. It was probably his first time away from home and college had been scarier than he expected, and he wasn't being a creep, he hadn't even ogled Penny or tried to make a pass at her. In High School she wouldn't have been friends with him but here it was perfectly normal, maybe they could help each other out with homework. 'I mean, he can't be good at every subject.'

After almost ten minutes of him going through the menu Penny is getting a little impatient. "All of it is good."

"Highly unlike. But this is my first time at this establishment so I suppose that asking for recommendations would be the next logical step. Is there anything that you recommend?"

"Hmmm, how about a burger? I just had the Smokehouse B.B.Q. Burger a few days ago and it's really good."

"I'll have that please, and a glass of lemonade."

"Coming right up."

Penny got him his burger and went right back to work on her assignment, thanks to this boy's help she was getting it and didn't want to stop. If he needed something then he could just ask her.

As Penny worked she took notice of this strange boy, he ate carefully, methodically. Her first thought was that maybe he was feeling awkward eating in front of her but he was ignoring her, completely absorbed in enjoying his burger.

She made good on her promise and got a slice of cheesecake. She got a gut feeling that he had a sweet tooth so she made it a slice of the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake. She was not disappointed, he basically devoured it.

"Thank you. You were correct on the hamburger and your selection of Cheesecake was equally pleasing. I might make this a weekly visit after today."

"Oh you're welcome Sweetie. I always work this shift so you can find me here." Penny winced, it sounded too much like a come on. But the boy simply nodded and moved to stand up. And okay, Penny had at least been expecting for the boy to ask for her number but he didn't seem interested in her. 'Maybe he's gay.'

"My name is Penny by the way, just realized we never introduced ourselves." She extended a hand to him.

He looked at her hand for a long moment and when she was about to put it down he reached out and shook it.

"My name is Sheldon. Pleased to meet you." He gives her a small shy smile and Penny smiles back.

"I like that, Sheldon. It fits you well. I'll see you around Sheldon."

"Likewise." And he's gone.

Penny likes Sheldon, he's a little high strung and talks like an old timey professor, but he's a good boy, maybe he and Tamika can hit it off, talk science at each other.

After her shift Penny wanted to take advantage of the knowledge still fresh in her brain so she decided to finish all of her math work that same night. She might like this geometry stuff after all.

Tamika entered their dorm and went to slam face first onto her bed.

"Not a great party I take it?" Penny asked seeing the exhausted woman.

"Oh no, fantastic. Simply fantastic." Tamika's voice was slightly muffled but the sarcasm still shone strongly. "Boy genius is everything they claim and more. And he's an ass, not five minutes into the party and he's already offended everyone. I don't know how he plans to lecture with that attitude." Tamika laughs suddenly "And you know the best part? He left his own welcome party halfway through to go eat lunch." Tamika finally sat up to face Penny "Can you believe that?. And his first lecture is in a week."

"Wow, sounds like a fun guy."

"I think it'll be an interesting lecture…want to come and see?"

"Me? Why?."

"C'mon, you owe me one."

"Nuh uh."

"I'm going to get Jack to organize a double date with Kurt. So you owe me."

"...Okay."

Penny really wanted that date, she'll go and get bored for an hour and maybe even work on her homework. She's also hoping that Sheldon will help her again.

Really like this idea.

Still feeling a little sick, so writing will slow for a bit.