Hello readers (if any are still here) ! It has been a long time since I updated. But I plan to finish this one soon, with regular updates. Stay tuned, and please drop a review !
Penny's fingers hovered over her phone. Should she? Would he still believe in her after all this time? After a long, long time, she had dared to hope, and this call would determine whether her dreams could be brought into reality.
Just five more minutes, then I will call him.
She thought to herself. Five more minutes to let the dream be alive, five more minutes to dream of the future.
"Oh, get over yourself, Penny!"
She said out loud, annoyed by her own tendency to dramatize things. Exhaling deeply, she punched the call button on her phone.
"Hi slugger! Found the time to call your old man?"
"Dad – I – I want to ask you something."
"What's wrong? Do you need me to come there?"
"No, no…its – its my college fund. Isitstillthere?"
Penny rushed out the last sentence, afraid she would lose her nerve. There was silence on the other end. Penny drummed her foot nervously on the soft carpet that Natasha had brought with her.
"Oh my God Penny! Are you thinking of going to college? That is amazing, baby! Of course, of course the fund is still there, you don't need to worry about money. So, what course are you thinking of?"
Penny slid down to the floor in relief. A huge smile appeared on her face. Her dream was still possible.
Leonard and Sheldon were working at their respective whiteboards when Penny burst into their apartment. Before Sheldon could reprimand Leonard for leaving the door unlocked, Penny tackled Sheldon in a big hug.
"He said yes, he said yes! Oh, Sheldon, I'm going to college!"
Sheldon yelped and freed himself from the hug.
"While this is great news, and I'm happy for you, it is no reason to assault a man hard at work."
He said, looking at her reproachfully.
"Can someone tell me what is going on?"
Leonard asked, looking thoroughly confused.
Penny sat down and began explaining how two weeks ago, Sheldon had confronted her about the college brochures hidden in her drawer. They had discussed it a lot, searching for a course that would suit her skillset, and ensure a stable income for her as well. In the end, Hospitality Management was her best choice. Pasadena City College offered a 6-month certification, and a two-year degree as well. They had opted for the former, but the tuition was way out of Penny's non-existent budget. So, she had called her father, and he had confirmed that he had still kept her college fund, in hopes that she would someday use it.
"That's amazing Penny!"
Leonard said, pulling her into a hug. Penny grinned at the two of them. Despite being geniuses, they were still happy for her small, new beginning. Not a hint of superiority in their smiles, no condescending glances exchanged with each other, no pity. They were simply, genuinely happy and pleased. Her eyes welled up a little. Wiping them, she asked,
"Well Sheldon, aren't you going to treat me to dinner today?"