The Girl In 3A (A Sheldon Cooper Fanfic)

Death by Lasers

It was 7 pm and Andy could hear footsteps and murmurs heading upstairs to Apartment 4A. She was finally home and settled in from an impromptu day of employee training at the Comic Center after being hired on the spot, foregoing an interview for another job, and being asked to come in if she could. Upon walking in wearing a sheer blouse and black high heels (and sporting messy hair from walking too many blocks), instead of eye-rolls, she was met by a skinny and somewhat uncomfortable guy in cargo pants who could only shake her hand and laugh nervously.

She loved it! And she had forgotten how passionate she could get about comic books. She told her new boss all about the collection she had with her brother...and about her first edition of The Avengers and how it had almost been chewed up by their dog once. He laughed nervously at that too. But he was sweet, and even better, he didn't assume she didn't read comics or play video games just because of how she was dressed.

Andy heard the bass boom from the TV a floor above. She thought she could hear Howard and Raj talking as they passed her door, but she wasn't sure. They must be having a movie night, she thought. She was close.

~

Upstairs, the door knocked and Leonard happily answered.

"You actually made party food..." Leonard asked, shaking his head at Raj's big blue plate covered in plastic wrap.

"They're party pinwheels. I told you they were amazing."

"He isn't my date, I swear," Howard said, plopping down on the couch.

Sheldon was sitting in his usual spot, holding his laptop, and refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

"He is acting so weird," Raj said, half-concerned, as he stuffed one of his pinwheels in his mouth and started searching for a bottle opener.
"You mean weirder than he usually does," Howard laughed back.

"He is sitting right here," Sheldon scoffed back.

"Noted, dude," Raj replied, sitting down in front of the TV.

~

The door opened and Penny walked in wearing pajama pants and carrying a bottle of wine.
"Ugh, are you kidding me? Where are all the chicks and why am I stuck with all of you guys?"

"I don't know," Leonard answered, "Sheldon, didn't you invite Andy?"

"I prefer to not willingly spend my time with clueless, head-in-the-cloud musicians who have no real concept of sub-atomic particles and who think Combat Evolved is the best Halo. Please."

They all looked at him in confusion as he went back to typing on his laptop.

"What's a sub-atomic particle again?" Penny asked. 
"Shh...the new show's about to start!" Howard pleaded.

~

Back downstairs, Andy was wrapped in her favorite quilt and binge watching shows on Netflix. She was pretending that she wasn't extremely jealous and almost hurt that she wasn't invited to the get-together going on above her. Her inner-monologue was drowning out the sound of her favorite TV show.

Sheldon's mad at me. I knew it. I knew we took things too fast. I always mess everything up, because I have no self control. Sure, Andy, move in and immediately hook up with the genius physicist upstairs and then, you know, maybe spend a night hanging out with his roommate and telling him everything. Solid plan, you idiot.

**knock knock**

Andy felt those all-too-familiar butterflies at the thought of that tall and cantankerous genius standing in her doorway, ready to shyly kiss her obsessive thoughts away.

She opened the door and there stood Penny.
"Andy. Help me," she laughed, walking in clinging to her wine bottle. "Want some?"
"You have no idea," Andy said, somewhat relieved. "Are you not invited to whatever the guys are up to tonight? I could hear them up there."

"Well...yeah, they're watching some new Syfy show with that girl that was in Shipstar...Starship...oh, some alien show."

"I'm assuming you didn't get too into it?"

"Too many death by lasers, too little alcohol," Penny replied. She knew how to cheer Andy up.

Before Andy could ask, Penny read her mind. "Sheldon seems upset...I figured you would know why?"
Andy looked down and then sank back onto the couch to sip her own glass of wine.

"I don't get it. I thought everything was fine. But I guess I really don't know him as well as...I mean...this was all too rushed, Penny...I am freaking out and I think I am past the point of no return," Andy replied, attempting to quell her racing thoughts.

"Andy, look...Sheldon is...I've known him for years and he isn't the kind of guy that you can figure out over night. Actually, I still don't understand him. Honestly, I am beyond surprised at what has happened this past week. I didn't know he had it in him. And I was wondering how he'd ever get past the germ thing to...you know."

Andy couldn't help but giggle. There are clearly ways, she thought.

"What I'm trying to say is..." Penny continued, "You can't figure anything out by being scared and sitting here in your apartment. When Sheldon is hurt, he shuts everyone out. And as much as I wish he would, I don't see him being the first to say anything."

Andy nodded...wishing she would have never ran into Leonard and wishing that this was still her and Sheldon's secret.

"Should I come upstairs and see him?" Andy asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"It's not my apartment, but because Leonard gets to sleep with a blonde who wears cute underwear and doesn't spend all her time in a lab....I am taking it upon myself to invite you upstairs to finish watching Alt Control Space or whatever they're fanboying over tonight."

Andy immediately ran to brush her teeth and scrub her nails and put on some comfy pants that didn't have a hole in them.

~

Penny opened the apartment door and the guys were so into their Syfy show, they didn't even notice. Sheldon, however, got an uncontrollable twitch in his leg when he saw Andy standing behind her with a shy smile and her eyes intentionally looking any way but his. He immediately wished he could be a bit stronger-willed, but there was something about her that made him feel like a very different version of who he knew himself to be.

"Andy!!" Leonard said happily. 
"2 more minutes, guys, 2 MORE MINUTES!" Howard exclaimed!
"That's what she said," Raj said quietly, amused at himself.

Andy immediately felt at home. That is, until Sheldon shut his laptop and headed for his room. She felt a twinge of embarrassment but tried to shrug it off.

"Pinwheel?" Leonard asked, playing host as usual, "Raj made them."
"Sure, thanks" Andy smiled, taking a bite. She decided to make an irrational decision to follow Sheldon into his hiding place while everyone was still involved with the television.

She also, against her better judgement, decided not to knock.

She pushed open the door and he was sitting on the edge of his bed, pretending to be intently focused on a small box covered in Star Wars stickers.

Without saying anything, she sat down beside him. She could feel him tense up.

"Sheldon...look..."

"Andy, we do not have to have this conversation if you would not like. You and I both understand that we are two very different people with very different values, knowledge, and tastes. I am not bothered."

Confused and nervous, Andy decided to let him finish talking.

"Although it may be difficult for the foreseeable future, we may continue to hang out as friends if you would like."

Andy realized immediately what he meant. It was over. She had made an unforgivable mistake and she had gotten too involved too quickly.

Not knowing what to say, Andy felt her eyes fill with tears and, though she hated to leave without an explanation, she couldn't help but get out as quickly as possible. 

Sheldon caught a glimpse of Andy wipe her eyes as she walked out of his door and for the first time, he understood the ridiculous and overused term 'heartbreak' - his heart felt damaged and he thought maybe it was something real after all.