Technical Difficulties

Personal Space (Or Lack Of)

A/N: This is my first TBBT fanfic, hope you will enjoy :3

Penny was asleep. It was just gone eleven. She smiled and rolled over. Penny started awake, however, when the knocking started.

Knock knock knock.

"Penny."

Knock knock knock.

"Penny."

Knock knock knock.

"Penny."

Penny groaned. "Sheldon," she mumbled sleepily, frowning and dragging herself out of bed. She walked to the door and opened it, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

He was scowling. "You've only just got up," he said accusingly. "You may as well skip breakfast and have lunch right away!" Penny wrinkled her nose at him. "That's what I was planning. Whatever. What d'you want, sweetie?"

"It's Saturday," Sheldon said. Penny rolled her eyes. "I won't be able to do my laundry as I have run out of washing powder," he continued. "Will you take me to the store?"

"I'll come get you in half an hour, Sheldon," Penny said tiredly. She shut the door without waiting for an answer.

One shower and several coffees later, Penny knocked on Sheldon's door. Leonard opened it. Penny had forgotten Sheldon shared an apartment with Leonard.

The atmosphere was tense and awkward. Penny and Leonard had recently suffered a bad breakup, which had followed Leonard proposing to Penny in bed.

Thankfully, Sheldon pushed past Leonard, oblivious, with a tightly scrolled list in his hand. Penny nodded politely, turned, and practically ran down the stairs. "What did you say to her?" Sheldon asked, bemused. Leonard just shook his head.

Once in the car and speeding away (under 40 miles per hour at Sheldon's insistence), Sheldon unrolled his list, revealing it to be quite long. "You said you needed washing powder!" Penny said in outrage.

"I need washing powder," Sheldon said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I want a new comb, a calculator, three pairs of thermal socks…"

The list continued.

Penny sighed. "Whatever, sweetie, just don't be too long."

Penny had entered the supermarket as well, against her better judgement. "Don't buy shoes, don't buy shoes, don't buy shoes," she muttered as she walked upstairs. "Oooh, look at those!" Penny squealed.

She hadn't been able to keep herself away after looking at the first pair. She browsed the shoes, repeatedly falling in love with a pair and having her heart broken as she checked the price.

Sheldon appeared behind her. "I'm done," he said simply. Penny jumped, hastily putting the shoes back. "Okay sweetie, c'mon," she said, reaching for her keys.

After she left Sheldon at his door, she thought about Halloween, which was on Thursday. 'I'll throw a party,' she decided. Remembering it was Saturday, she threw her dirty laundry into a basket, which she placed next to the door.

Penny sat down, flicking through the television channels. "Boring, boring, boring," she muttered incoherently to herself. Subjected to sitting still with only her mind to occupy her, she found herself thinking of the boys.

Raj, strong but silent, to half the population at least. Penny pitied him for not being able to talk to girls, but she just knew he'd find love someday.

Howard had been immature and idiotic, driven by libido. He'd matured into quite a nice young man with the help of his fiancée, Bernadette.

Leonard. He was a good guy. Her on off boyfriend, though she was determined not to fall back on him anymore.

Penny wasn't quite sure how she felt about Sheldon. He could be cutting, insensitive, hurtful, and weird. But he could also be sweet, helpful and funny. Penny remembered well the time she'd slipped in the shower and dislocated her shoulder. Sheldon had 'come to her rescue', as she put it in her head.

She blushed pink as she remembered when Sheldon had helped her get dressed. "A hero never peeks," he'd said, but he did eventually. Penny giggled out loud as a hazy memory came to her. She'd asked Sheldon if he could help her into bed, and burst into giggles when she realized how that sounded.

After having these thoughts, Penny wondered whether she was developing a crush on Sheldon. 'No way,' she thought. 'Who would fall for whack-a-doodle?' Her conscience, timely as ever, answered for her. 'You would.' Penny pushed the thought away and tried in vain to distract herself, but always fell back on her thought.

Later, Penny lugged her heavy basket of dirty clothes downstairs. Sheldon was already there, folding his clothes with his weird contraption thingy. Her stomach leapt happily at the sight of him. Penny frowned and pushed the thoughts away as she started loading a washing machine. "Penny," Sheldon said. Out of her peripheral vision, Penny saw him nod courteously. She shook her head. 'Sheldon apparently considers that conversation,' she thought. "How are you?" she asked.

"I am feeling sleep deprived."

"Why's that sweetie?"

"Raj's sister Priya is staying for a week or so and she and Leonard have started a relationship." He sounded weary.

"Ah…this deprives you of sleep how?" Penny was curious.

"She and Leonard have been engaging in unnecessarily loud coitus every night. Comepletely unnecessary. It is also a breach of the Roommate Agreement. To add to the negatives, I dislike Priya with a passion."

Penny felt sick. 'Not only has he started a relationship so soon after me,' she thought furiously. 'His ex! The fact it's Priya makes it worse! How could he move on so quick when he was so smitten he proposed to me!' She didn't want to admit she was jealous. 'How could he do that to me though?' Penny asked herself.

On the inside, Penny was fuming, but she forced her face to remain expressionless. "Where's she staying?"

"Our apartment. My schedule has even had to be changed to accommodate her!" He sounded angry. No one messes with his schedule.

"Actually Penny," he said sheepishly. "I have a small favour to ask."

"Fire away," Penny said warily.

"Since my apartment is close to uninhabitable, may I stay with you for a few days?"

Penny felt sympathetic. "Awh, sweetie," she said. "I'd love to have you over, but there's only the sofa for you to sleep on."

His brow furrowed. "Well, that simply won't do," he concluded. "I will have to take your bed."

Penny blushed. If she didn't know Sheldon, that would've sounded suggestive. . . but she knew Sheldon and knew he was being completely serious.

"Didn't your mother teach you manners? And haven't you ever heard the phrase 'Ladies First'? Plus, it's my apartment!"

"Firstly, Penny, don't start sentences with 'and'. Secondly, for your information, I have, and I believe that is referring to doors. Third, I am the guest. However my mother did teach me manners, and proper ones too, so you shall be allowed your bed."

Penny rolled her eyes. "We'll settle it tomorrow," she said, biting her lip. She tentatively reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Sheldon froze. Penny grinned wickedly at him and skipped out of the door. A shout came from behind her. "Penny!" it wailed loudly. "You were in my personal space!"