Wednesday:
Between everyday activities, her job and waiting for the bus, it had taken Penny 3 days to clean the apartment completely. She had dusted out the cabinets and washed the windows. She had organized her shoe closet, throwing out a couple of pairs that she hadn't used in forever. She had cleaned the bathroom and had added a new orange scented air-freshener. She had bundled up the numerous magazines and given them to Mrs. Wolowitz (through Howard). The kitchen was the easiest room to clean, as she hardly ever cooked. She knew she should be cooking more often; takeout was costing her a fortune. But she was so damn tired after waiting tables that she could barely even cook the frozen meals she had bought on Sunday. The guys (except Sheldon) had been shocked when she had paid for her share of dinner on Monday. But they hadn't said anything, just exchanged loaded glances with each other. She had pretended not to notice. Sheldon had asked her to play D&D with them but she was too tired to make sense of it. She had gone home and had a cup of warm cocoa. Even though she had some money now, she hadn't bought any alcohol. That had put a smile on her face. Warm cocoa before bed had become her routine now, and she was doing just that when Sheldon knocked on her door. She waited for him to finish knocking before calling out 'It's open.'
Sheldon came in. 'Hello, Penny.'
Penny rolled her eyes. They had just seen each other half an hour ago when she had gone over for dinner. 'Yes, Sheldon?'
'I believe I have found a prospective roommate for you.'
'I don't want anyone who works at Caltech.'
Sheldon frowned. 'She's not. I talked with the landlord yesterday and he suggested her.'
He was looking at roommates for her? Probably to ensure that she didn't bring in a drummer or something. Or maybe he was hoping to sneak in some weirdo. 'Alright, I'll give him a call then.'
'I hardly think you should disturb his sleep right now.'
Penny rolled her eyes. The irony of Sheldon Cooper instructing her on appropriate social conduct was not lost on her. 'Of course, not Sheldon. I meant I would call him tomorrow.'
'Very well. Good night, Penny.'
'Good night, sweetie.'
Saturday:
The guys had asked her to go for a movie with them, but she had declined. The roommate interview had gone well and her new roommate would be shifting in next Friday. This was the last Saturday she was going to spend alone in the apartment. Penny walked around the newly cleaned apartment, touching the little knick-knacks that made up her life. She paused when she spied a white Penny Blossom on her dressing table. After that huge overnight order, she had stopped making them. After informing her about a few orders that she hadn't fulfilled, Leonard had quietly taken down the website. A sudden rush of shame flashed through her. The boys had been so excited at her attempt to set up a business. Underneath all their poor social skills and general weirdness, she knew they cared for her, even Howard, who had bought a few Penny Blossoms for his mother. And she had turned around and spent the money from her only huge order on a pair of shoes. Fucking shoes. She couldn't even wear them to work because there was no way she could be on her feet for eight hours in those. She had gone out clubbing in them and her girlfriends had eyed them jealously, while complimenting her. She remembered feeling smug. She felt like throwing up now.
Penny looked at herself in the mirror. Meeting the eyes of her reflection, she stood up straighter and grabbed that Penny Blossom. She would start making them again. This was something she was good at, and she would at least try to revive her business. Maybe she could sell them to the girls at the Cheesecake Factory. If she posted a picture of herself wearing one of them on FB, maybe her friends would buy them too. She could even make customized accessories for the local theatres. Penny realized that these were a whole lot of 'maybes'. But she would try. Penelope Ross didn't give up.
A/N: Reviews make my heart sing :)
If you are a Twilight fan, I have an ongoing fic called Little Flowers, about how Bella grows up in Forks.