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3rd POV
"Why?" Leonard asked Penny, narrowing his eyes. "Do you know the whole story?"
Penny crossed her arms and stared at him. "Yes, Sheldon told me everything. It's not a good thing to call someone creepy, Leonard." She huffed before adding, "It's different for Howard. You know, he's just creepy and disgusting."
Leonard sighed and walked past Penny. "I'm not going to apologize to Sheldon," he said without looking at her.
Penny let out an exasperated sigh. "You're a grown man, Leonard. Why can't you just apologize to Sheldon?! Unbelievable!"
"Because! You know how creepy it is to be spied on. You wouldn't want someone watching everything you do, would you?" Leonard shot back, this time looking directly at Penny.
Penny tossed another piece of clothing into her laundry basket and replied sarcastically, "Pfft, please! You have a friend who goes to extreme lengths just to see women naked, and you're fine with that—" Penny paused, realizing something. "Oh my god! You're jealous of Sheldon!"
Leonard was caught off guard. He had no idea how Penny had reached that conclusion, but she was right.
"What? How could I be jealous of Sheldon?" Leonard scoffed, turning away and pretending to sort his laundry.
Penny narrowed her eyes. Her guess was spot on. "Why are you jealous of your own friend? Haven't you been friends for a long time?" she asked, stepping closer to him.
Leonard didn't respond or look at her. He diverted his gaze, hoping she wouldn't see the truth on his face.
But Penny wasn't having it. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Leonard replied instinctively, locking eyes with her.
Penny smirked. "Now tell me, sweetheart, why are you jealous of Sheldon?"
Leonard sighed. "I'm not jealous… well, alright, I am jealous of him." He tried to deny it again, but Penny's knowing look forced him to be honest. "He's just a robot who doesn't have feelings for other people, and suddenly he changes into something else when his family visits. It's like Clark Kent taking off his glasses, ripping his shirt open, and turning into Superman."
Penny listened, slightly skeptical. "So… you're jealous of him because he looks different? Or are you jealous of his family?"
Leonard was caught off guard again—Penny had hit the mark. "No… I don't know!"
Penny's mouth dropped open. "I can't believe you're jealous of his family too!"
Leonard's lips twitched in frustration. He wasn't sure how Penny had figured it out so easily.
Penny continued, watching as Leonard tried to avoid her gaze. "Leonard, Sheldon told me that their family motto is 'Family First.' I don't know why he left them to go to university, but I do know that he still loves them."
Leonard remained silent, listening.
"I'm sure that if anything happened to his family, he'd choose them over anything else. Even over you, Leonard—the person he considers his best friend." Penny said firmly, releasing him.
"Well, I've said what I needed to say. It's up to you if you want to stay stubborn and hold onto your petty jealousy," Penny added sarcastically, driving her words deep into Leonard's conscience.
She picked up her laundry basket and, without another word, walked away, leaving Leonard standing there, lost in thought.
"….I'm not petty…." Leonard muttered after she left.
"Yes, you are." Penny's voice rang out from the hallway, making Leonard freeze as he stared at the laundry room door.
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After the conversation with Penny, Leonard headed back to his apartment. "Hey," he finally greeted Sheldon, who was typing something on his laptop.
Sheldon paused and looked up at Leonard, who stood at the doorway with his laundry basket. "Hello, Leonard."
"What are you doing?" Leonard asked, attempting small talk. He didn't actually care—he was just trying to ease into the conversation.
Sheldon glanced at his laptop, then back at Leonard. "What kind of question is that? Of course, I'm writing a paper to submit to a university. What did you think I was doing? Watching porn?" Sheldon replied sarcastically. "What am I, a Wolowitz?"
Leonard sighed and walked past him. "I need to talk to you, but first, let me put this away." he said.
Sheldon nodded. "Alright, Leonard. I have something to say to you as well."
Leonard set his laundry basket down in his room and returned to the living room, where Sheldon was already seated in his usual spot. He walked over and sat across from him. "Listen, Sheldon—" Leonard began, but Sheldon cut him off.
"Leonard, I apologize for yelling at you," Sheldon said, looking at him seriously. "It was rude, and I behaved like a barbarian."
Leonard was stunned. Sheldon rarely apologized unless he truly believed he had done something wrong. It was a rare moment.
"I talked to Penny earlier, and I understand why you were upset. But I need you to understand this—nobody insults my family, especially my brother and my mother," Sheldon stated firmly, making Leonard swallow nervously. "Oh yeah, and my Meemaw."
"What about Missy?" Leonard asked, only to hear Sheldon scoff.
"Alright, I also want to apologize for that," Leonard admitted. "You've made it clear where your boundaries are with your family, and I respect that now."
"Good. I think we're clear on this, right?" Sheldon said and stand up, already turning back to his laptop. He didn't care where Leonard got his enlightenment from, Sheldon just wanted to tell him the line he had crossed.
"Aww, best friends making up—what a beautiful sight!" Penny said as she entered the apartment unannounced.
"Penny, please knock first." Sheldon sighed, looking at her with disapproval.
"We should celebrate!" Penny ignored his complaint. "But I have to cover someone's shift tonight," she added with a pout.
Leonard stood up and walked over to her. "I'd love to! How about at The Cheesecake Factory?" he suggested, hoping to spend more time with her. "Sheldon?" He looked at Sheldon, giving him a pleading look.
Sheldon observed the exchange and sighed. "Huh… alright, I'm done with my paper anyway," he agreed, then muttered under his breath, "Another matchmaking job for me. Yay."
Leonard and Penny exchanged awkward glances.
"It's not a date or anything, Sheldon," Penny clarified, missing the way Leonard looked at her with hopeful eyes. "Come on, I'll make you a virgin Cuba Libre."
"It's not?" Leonard finally asked, disappointment evident in his voice.
Sheldon, however, sealed the deal. "I already invited Howard and Raj."
"Great!" Penny grinned at Leonard. "It's a celebration, Leonard! I saved your friendship!"
Sheldon suddenly remembered something. "No more spiking my drinks, Penny." he warned, narrowing his eyes at her.
Penny quickly averted her gaze. "What are you talking about?! Come on, guys, I'm running late!" she said before rushing out of Apartment 4A.
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Howard and Raj, having received a message from Sheldon, immediately headed to The Cheesecake Factory. They both knew about Sheldon and Leonard's argument but never truly believed it would ruin their friendship.
Howard and Raj entered The Cheesecake Factory and headed straight to the bar, where Penny had already started her shift. "Hey, sweetheart!" Howard greeted her, wiggling his eyebrows as she prepared drinks.
Raj simply smiled and waved at Penny.
"Gross, Howard," Penny said flatly, giving him a deadpan stare. "What do you guys want to drink? It's a celebration party for Leonard and Sheldon. Oh, by the way, Sheldon's paying!" she added with a grin.
Howard and Raj glanced at Sheldon, who had his head down on the bar counter. "What happened to him?" Howard asked, turning to Leonard.
Leonard slowly sipped his drink before answering, "Penny spiked his drink again," he said with a smirk. "And this isn't a celebration party for us." he added, throwing a glance at Penny.
Penny just shrugged and took a sip of her beer. Since she was working, she could only have beer. Well, not really—she was a little rebel.
Howard and Raj shrugged as well before Howard turned back to Penny with a serious look. "Can I have a Slippery Nipple?"
Penny grimaced. "Again, gross." But she still made the drink for him. Then she turned to Raj, who had remained quiet. "Do you want a Mean Grasshopper again, Raj?" she asked, receiving a bright smile and a thumbs-up from him.
As Penny prepared their drinks, she explained why they were here. She had eavesdropped on Sheldon and Leonard's conversation earlier, which prompted her to storm into Apartment 4A and drag them all here.
As the four of them chatted—and as Howard continued flirting with Penny—Sheldon suddenly shot up and yelled, "I WANT TO SING!" startling them and the rest of the Cheesecake Factory's patrons.
"Sweetie! Keep your voice down!" Penny hissed, trying to shush him.
Sheldon, with a goofy grin, looked at her. "Oh, Penny, why are there two of you?!" He then turned to his side. "Leonard too!"
Leonard sighed and glanced around at the other patrons, who were now watching them. "Sheldon, you're drunk." he whispered.
"No, I am not," Sheldon insisted, standing up from his seat.
"Where are you going, Sheldon?!" Leonard tried to stop him, but Sheldon merely huffed and strutted toward the stage for the usual band who played in this restaurant.
"Leonard, let him be," Howard said, pulling out his phone. "I want to record this again!"
Raj grinned and nodded. "Oh yeah, this is going viral again!" He peeked at Howard's phone. "Dude, aim the camera properly!"
Penny grinned, watching Sheldon approach the stage. "Aren't you going to stop him?" Leonard asked her, looking completely lost.
"Nope," Penny replied with a mischievous smirk. "This is exactly why I wanted him drunk!" she added, ignoring Leonard's exasperated sigh. Well, she just want the chaos.
"Good evening, everyone!" Sheldon's voice rang out, drawing Leonard's attention—along with everyone else's in the restaurant.
"I hope you're all enjoying this evening with your twins…" Sheldon slurred, scanning the crowd.
Penny burst into laughter, while Leonard just rubbed his temples, dreading whatever was coming next.
"I want to sing! I learned this from my brother…" Sheldon announced as he sat at the keyboard. "If you know this song, feel free to sing along. If you don't… well, what cave have you been living in?" he added with a sarcastic slur.
The other patrons chuckled, some already intrigued by what was about to unfold.
"Are you sure you don't want to stop him?" Leonard asked Penny, recalling Sheldon's last karaoke disaster when he performed To Life (L'Chaim)!
Penny simply waved him off. "He said he learned this song from his brother! Don't worry about it!" she reassured, ignoring Leonard's sigh.
"Ahh… I need a guitar… well, forget it. I have perfect pitch anyway," Sheldon muttered, realizing he was at the keyboard instead.
He tested a few notes before nodding to himself. "Alright! Be quiet, please!" he demanded, earning a few more chuckles from the audience.
Then, the familiar chords filled the Cheesecake Factory, and the laughter died down as a few people recognized the song.
Especially penny who realized the notes of the song sheldon was playing at the moment.
{Brad Paisley – Alcohol}
"I can make anybody pretty"
As soon as Sheldon sang the first line, the rest of audience who didn't know the song from just a note of keyboard, immediately recognized the song. Penny grinned, and even the Nerd Gang knew exactly what Sheldon was performing.
"I can make you believe any lie
I can make you pick a fight
With somebody twice your size"
Sheldon sang with a drunken slur, looking out at the crowd, which was now cheering for him. Most of them were men raising their glasses in approval.
"Well, I've been known to cause a few break ups
And I've been known to cause a few births
Well, I can make you new friends
Or get you fired from work"
As Sheldon sang, his mind drifted back to 1989, to Georgie's first gig. He and Missy had been there, standing onstage with their brother. Sheldon remembered looking out at the audience, absorbing the energy of the music Georgie performed.
"And since the day I left Milwaukee
Lynchburg and Bordeaux, France
Been making the bars
Lots of big money
And helping white people dance"
The entire restaurant sang along as Sheldon launched into the first verse.
"Y'all are off-tune!" Sheldon slurred into the mic, his thick Southern accent slipping out.
The patrons just laughed, ignoring him. Some men even got up to join Sheldon, leaving their dates behind at their tables, grumbling.
"I got you in trouble in high school
But college, now that was a ball
You had some of the best times
You'll never remember with me"
Everyone sang along as Sheldon played the keyboard. His voice wasn't great, but he sang with passion.
"Everybody!" Sheldon shouted, raising his glass.
"ALCOHOL!" The crowd chanted back, lifting their drinks in unison.
"ALCOHOL!"
Penny walked over to Sheldon, handing him another drink with a playful grin. "Here, Sheldon."
"Oh, thanks, honey!" Sheldon beamed, taking a sip without missing a beat on the keyboard. The audience continued dancing and cheering.
"I got blamed at your wedding reception
For your best man's embarrassing speech
And also for those
Naked pictures of you at the beach"
Sheldon remembered Georgie smirking at him from the stage back in 1989.
"I've influenced kings and world leaders
I helped Hemingway write like he did
And I'll bet you a drink or two
That I can make you
Put that lampshade on your head"
Sheldon shot a deadpan glance at Georgie in his memory. "No, he isn't." he muttered, but nobody heard him over the booming music.
"Now sing!"
"Cause since the day I left Milwaukee
Lynchburg and and Bordeaux, France
Been making a fool out of folks just like you
And helping white people dance"
Laughter and cheers erupted as the Cheesecake Factory transformed from a restaurant into a lively bar. Parents kept a watchful eye on their kids—well, the mothers did. The fathers? They were singing along with Sheldon.
"I'm medicine and I am poison
I can help you up or make you fall
You had some of the best times
You'll never remember with me"
Employees gathered around, entertained by Sheldon's performance, as the energy in the restaurant skyrocketed.
"ALCOHOL!" Sheldon shouted, taking another sip.
"ALCOHOL!" the crowd echoed, raising their drinks again.
Sheldon finished the song with a dramatic flourish on the keyboard, stood up, bowed, saluted to the audience—
*BANGGGGGGGGGG
And passed out cold.