The door to 4A opened with a soft click. Leonard stepped inside first, holding the takeout menu in his hand. Sheldon followed, walking straight past both of us like he had a preplanned route through the apartment.
"This way," Leonard said to me. "Just make yourself comfortable."
Before I could sit, Sheldon turned around sharply. "Not anywhere. Definitely not there." He pointed at the right side of the couch. "That is my spot."
Leonard sighed. "He means sit on the other side."
I nodded and took the left seat. The cushions were softer than I expected. Seeing the apartment in person still felt unreal. I kept catching myself comparing small differences from how it looked on TV.
Leonard grabbed his phone. "We should order dinner. Chinese okay for you?"
"Yeah," I said. "That works."
"Excellent choice," Sheldon said, settling into his spot like a king returning to his throne. "The menu rotation for tonight is flexible."
Leonard called the restaurant. While he ordered, I walked over to the bookshelf and glanced at a few titles. Physics textbooks, comics, old paperbacks. I didn't touch anything, but looking at them made something inside me settle. This was real. All of it.
Leonard hung up. "Food will be here in about thirty minutes."
Sheldon nodded. "Good. Plenty of time for orientation."
He picked up the laminated packet again. I held in a laugh. He was exactly the same as I remembered.
Before Sheldon could start reading, Leonard looked toward the door. "New neighbor."
I followed his gaze. Through the peephole, a blonde girl was moving boxes into the apartment across the hall. Penny. The Penny. Seeing her in real life made my heartbeat jump for a second.
Leonard straightened his shirt. "We should say hi."
"She did not file a social introduction request," Sheldon said.
"Sheldon, come on."
Leonard opened the door and crossed the hall. I followed him, curious and nervous at the same time. Sheldon walked behind us like he was inspecting the floor for faults.
Leonard knocked. "Hi."
Penny turned around with a smile. "Hi."
Her energy was warm, casual, friendly. Exactly like in the show. She looked between the three of us, curious.
"I'm Leonard," he said. "We live across the hall."
"Penny," she replied. "Nice to meet you."
Leonard gestured toward me. "This is my younger brother, Adrian. He just flew in today."
Penny's smile widened. "Oh wow, welcome to the building. Long flight?"
"Yeah," I said. "Still kind of tired, but I'm good."
She looked at me a bit longer than I expected. "You look sweet. If you need anything, I'm right here."
Sheldon stepped forward. "And I am Sheldon Cooper. I have very specific guidelines regarding hallway interactions, noise levels, and shared stairwell etiquette."
Penny blinked. "Okay."
"He gets like that," Leonard said quickly. "A lot."
Penny laughed. "I figured."
She invited us inside while she set a box down. Her place was only half-furnished. Clothes still folded in piles. A suitcase open on the floor.
Leonard looked around. "If you need help with anything, just let us know."
"Actually," Penny said, twisting a strand of hair, "my shower's not working yet. Any chance I could use yours?"
Sheldon immediately stiffened. "No."
Leonard shot him a glare. "Yes."
I stepped aside to make room. Penny smiled softly. "Thank you. I won't take long."
She crossed the hall with us and went into our apartment. Sheldon stood in the doorway like someone guarding a museum.
"Penny, the bathroom is straight ahead," Leonard said.
"Thanks," she called before closing the door.
A second later, we heard the water turn on.
Right then, Howard and Raj walked in without knocking. Leonard didn't seem surprised. I guessed this was normal.
"Hey," Howard said, spotting me. "New kid?"
"Adrian," Leonard said. "My brother."
Raj waved shyly. Howard smirked. "Welcome to the nerd castle."
Before I could answer, the bathroom door opened and Penny stepped out wearing only a towel. Howard froze like a cartoon character. Raj made a choking sound.
Penny smiled at them. "Hi."
Howard tried to speak but only squeaked. Raj stared at the floor. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.
Leonard kept things moving. "Penny, this is Howard and Raj."
Penny waved. "Hi, guys."
Howard finally found his voice. "H-hi."
Raj stayed silent.
Penny thanked us again but didn't leave right away. Instead, she lingered in the living room, looking around with a curious smile. Howard tried to fix his hair. Raj shifted awkwardly. Sheldon watched her like she was standing too close to a priceless collectible.
"So," Penny said, sitting on the arm of the couch, "what do you guys normally do around here?"
"Wednesday is usually open schedule," Leonard said. "Sometimes we eat, sometimes we watch TV, sometimes Sheldon gives a lecture no one asked for."
"I do not give unprompted lectures," Sheldon said. "I give necessary lectures."
Penny laughed lightly, then looked at me. "What about you, Adrian? Anything you like to do? Any hobbies?"
Her attention caught me off guard, but in a good way. Everyone else was busy being themselves, and she actually asked about me.
I nodded. "I like music."
Howard leaned in. "Listening or playing?"
"Both," I said. "But mostly writing."
Penny looked genuinely surprised. "Wait, you write music? Like real songs?"
"I wrote a few," I answered. "But nothing serious. Just for fun."
Leonard jumped in before I could downplay it more. "He's really good, I listened to some of them. He's been into it for years."
Penny smiled at me in a warm, interested way. "That's awesome. I want to hear something sometime."
Howard wiggled his eyebrows. "Play something now."
All eyes shifted toward me. I could feel the pressure, but it wasn't the bad kind. More like curiosity mixed with a little excitement.
Penny leaned forward. "Yeah, sing something. Just a little. If you want to."
Leonard nodded. "No pressure lil bro, but it would be cool to hear your voice again."
I looked around the room. Sheldon was already sitting straighter, analyzing me like this was some sort of test. Raj watched quietly, waiting. Howard looked like he was ready to judge or praise, depending on the first note.
Penny's smile was gentle. "Only if you're comfortable Adrian."
I took a breath. My heart was steady. Strange. Usually, singing in front of people made me nervous, but tonight felt different. Maybe because this wasn't my old world. Maybe because this was a new start.
"Alright," I said softly. "I'll try something."
Penny clapped her hands once. "Yay."
Leonard smiled wide. "This is going to be good."
I stood up from the couch and walked over to my backpack. Inside was my guitar case. I unzipped it slowly and lifted the guitar out. Just holding it made something inside me settle. It felt right in my hands, almost like muscle memory from both this life and the last one mixed together.
I sat back down, resting the guitar on my knee.
Yeah… this feels like me.
I ran my fingers lightly across the strings. The familiar vibration grounded me, made everything around me fade into the background. For a moment, I wasn't in a stranger's apartment or inside a sitcom world. I was just Adrian, someone who loved music.
I took a quiet breath, cleared my throat, and closed my eyes.
A melody came to me.
Something from my old world.
Soft. Emotional. Safe.
I let the feeling guide me.
Then I opened my mouth and sang.
A/N: If you want to hear exactly how Adrian sounds in this scene, listen to this version. It's from the Ed Sheeran - Photograph 'x Acoustic Sessions 2014' (released for the 10th Anniversary)
♫ Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes♫
♫ But it's the only thing that I know ♫
The room went instantly quiet. Penny, perched on the arm of the couch, stopped swinging her legs. Her expression shifted from polite curiosity to genuine surprise. She tilted her head, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
♫ When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes♫
♫ It is the only thing making us feel alive ♫
Sheldon sat stiffly in his spot, his eyes narrowing as he processed the audio input. He opened his mouth and likely to correct the biological inaccuracy of love causing physical pain, but Leonard shot him a sharp, warning glare. Sheldon closed his mouth, though he tapped his finger rhythmically against his knee, seemingly against his will.
♫ We keep this love in a photograph♫
♫ We made these memories for ourselves♫
♫ Where our eyes are never closing♫
♫ Hearts are never broken♫
♫ And time's forever frozen, still ♫
Raj let out a soft, audible exhale, his hand clutching his chest.
He whispered loudly to Howard, "Oh my God, it's so beautiful. It's like he's speaking directly to my soul."
Howard rolled his eyes, though he stopped making jokes and actually watched my fretwork with a critical, yet impressed, eye. "Chord progression is simple," Howard muttered, "but... effective."
♫ So you can keep me♫
♫ Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans♫
♫ Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet♫
♫ You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home ♫
Leonard watched me closely, his brow furrowing just a fraction. He adjusted his glasses, looking less like a fan and more like a concerned older brother. The melody was beautiful, but the lyrics... they felt heavy.
♫Wait for me to come home.♫
The wheels turning in his head. Why did he write this? Leonard is wondering. Was he homesick already? Was this about Mom and Dad? Or was there some heartbreak back in New Jersey that he hadn't told me about yet?
A flicker of worry crossed his face, a silent question about who exactly I was missing so much on my very first night here.
♫ Loving can heal, loving can mend your soul♫
♫ And it's the only thing that I know, know♫
♫ I swear it will get easier
♫ Remember that with every piece of you♫
♫ Hm, and it's the only thing we take with us when we die ♫
"Biologically, we decompose," Sheldon muttered under his breath, unable to help himself. "We take nothing. Except perhaps dental fillings."
"Shh!" Penny hissed, not looking away from me.
♫ We keep this love in a photograph♫
♫ We made these memories for ourselves♫
♫ Where our eyes are never closing♫
♫ Hearts are never broken♫
♫ And time's forever frozen, still ♫
I leaned into the guitar, the strumming picking up intensity. I felt the familiar ache of the song, the nostalgia of a world I might never see again. To them, it was a love song. To me, it was a goodbye.
♫ So you can keep me♫
♫ Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans♫
♫ Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet♫
♫ You won't ever be alone ♫
♫ And if you hurt me♫
♫ That's okay, baby, only words bleed♫
♫ Inside these pages you just hold me♫
♫ And I won't ever let you go♫
♫ Wait for me to come home ♫
Raj was openly weeping now, not even trying to hide it. He leaned his head heavily onto Howard's shoulder, murmuring something about "pure, unadulterated longing." Howard looked horrified, trying to subtly shimmy his shoulder away without making a scene. When that didn't work, he just sighed and awkwardly patted Raj's head. "There, there. Don't get snot on the turtleneck, it's a Dickie."
♫ Wait for me to come home♫
♫ Wait for me to come home♫
♫ Wait for me to come home ♫
I softened my voice, bringing the volume down for the bridge. The room felt smaller, intimate. Even the takeout smell seemed to fade away, replaced by the resonance of the strings.
♫ Oh, you can fit me♫
♫ Inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen♫
♫ Next to your heartbeat where I should be♫
♫ Keep it deep within your soul ♫
Penny brought a hand to her mouth, a rogue tear finally escaping to track down her cheek. She didn't wipe it away. She just watched me, completely captivated, looking like she was seeing the concept of romance for the very first time. Even Sheldon seemed to have stopped analyzing the lyrics; he was just watching, his head tilted in that bird-like way he had when he was puzzled by human emotion.
♫ And if you hurt me♫
♫ Well, that's okay, baby, only words bleed♫
♫ Inside these pages you just hold me♫
♫ And I won't ever let you go ♫
♫ When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me♫
♫ Under the lamppost back on Sixth Street♫
♫ Hearing you whisper through the phone♫
♫ Wait for me to come home ♫
I strummed the final chord, letting the last note ring out into the silence of the apartment until it naturally faded away.
For a solid three seconds, nobody moved
Then Penny whispered, almost to herself, "That was beautiful."
The room breathed again.
I lowered my guitar, hands still warm from the strings, and finally let myself smile.
Maybe this world really did have a place for me.