SF Chapter 19: TBBT Pilot III
"You didn't?" Penny stared suspiciously at Dani, confused by what he had just said.
He put on an innocent smile. "Dad was afraid I'd fall in love with some actress there and end up changing the script."
"Ohh, now I get it," she said with a knowing look.
"I have the feeling you're thinking something rude about me," he faked a hurt expression and earning a playful stare from her.
"What else do you write?" Penny asked with great interest.
"Hmm, in movie scripts, there's also Superbad. It's about nerds in high school," he commented, not revealing Juno, since he had barely written a few drafts.
She couldn't help but glance at the other two, given the theme of the second movie.
Daniel finished his revelation. "I'm also the writer of Wimpy Kid and Percy Jackson."
"Wow, you're totally an artist!" She got excited. "Wait - Wimpy Kid! I know that one. My brother really liked it."
"So you have a kid brother?" Leonard asked.
"No, he's twenty-five."
Sheldon shot another look at his roommate.
"Whoa, I'm hanging out with a famous person," she joked, leaning back on the couch. Daniel did the same, the two of them stared at each other again.
[Daniel and Evelyn Commentary]
Daniel was sitting on the couch in his and his mother's house.
"Why am I not that famous?" he asked himself. "Even with Wimpy Kid and Percy Jackson?"
He answered his own question, pointing at the woman sitting beside him. "Because of my mother - and my PR team that was hired back then."
Then he explained their reasoning. "Since both books are aimed at children, they thought it was better to keep me anonymous, so my image wouldn't be linked to the works."
"Oh, I didn't start my sex life at thirteen - the age I released Wimpy Kid. I think only my brother Charlie did that. But I was very popular, I-"
His mother cut him off. "They already understand, darling." She looked forward again.
"I've seen this movie before. He was turning into another Charlie, with a slightly better moral compass," Evelyn said, as if that were her accomplishment.
"No parent would want to buy a book written by a degenerate," she added dryly.
"Two sons turning out the same - I was wondering what they had in common," Daniel remarked thoughtfully.
"This one I also blame on his father, even though it's a different one from my oldest," his mother said, completely ignoring his sarcasm.
"Jay might never say it out loud, but he has some difficulties with his other son's sexual preferences. So he might have prayed a little too hard for Daniel to like women."
Daniel shrugged. "Looks like Dad is also God's favorite."
He received a sharp glare from his mother.
[Commentary ends]
Even with two other people present, Daniel and Penny kissed. She pulled away almost immediately.
"What?" This time, he didn't understand.
"My stupid shower doesn't work. I'm all gross from moving," she explained.
"Hey, you can take a shower here," Daniel proposed, turning to the two apartment owners.
"Yeah - it's at the end of the hallway," Leonard pointed over his shoulder, a little grumpy.
"Really?" Penny beamed. "That's so sweet!"
And she walked off.
Daniel stepped closer to the two of them and pulled out his wallet.
"Here - you two wanted some money, that's why you went to the sperm bank. There's six hundred bucks. Just buy me a wine and keep the change."
Leonard took it, and Daniel continued.
"Come on, cuz (cousin) - you broke the Bro Code. I called dibs first, and you were clearly trying to hit on Penny…" He paused. "…in your own way."
"And yet, I'm not mad at you," he confessed. What he didn't say was that it wasn't even a competition.
"Do me this favor, and I'll even ask Penny to introduce you to a friend."
"Really?" Leonard looked surprised – also a little embarrassed and guilty.
"Yeah, I can help, but you need to improve your game a little, Leonard" he nodded. "Also, take Captain Spock with you."
Leonard and Sheldon went out to buy a bottle of wine, while Daniel hurried to catch up with Penny.
"Wait," Daniel waved, preventing her from entering the bathroom. "I'll help with the shower. There's a little trick to get the hot water working."
"Really?" She raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Hey, you could've taken a cold shower, come back wrapped in a towel, and then I'd fix it," Daniel opened his arms. "But I'm a gentleman, and I wanted to avoid that."
But then he proposed, "Since you're doubting my good intentions, let's do it like this: you go in normally, and if you manage without my help, dinner tonight is on me."
"Huh," she exclaimed, but decided to play along. "And if I don't?" she challenged.
"Dinner is still on me," he said, "but after you take a shower, we make out. Just kisses."
He added teasingly, pinching his nose. "Because, girl, you're kinda smelly now."
Penny playfully nudged him, but nodded flirtatiously. "I accept."
Daniel grinned. "Smart girl. It's a win-win situation for you."
"Yeah, for me…" she rolled her eyes, but chuckled.
After a while, Penny poked her head out and, seeing Daniel sitting on the floor playing with a handheld console, smirked. "Okay, smartass, you win."
He looked up at her, calmly turned off the Game Boy, and walked over. "Just to clarify, I waited for you right here," he said, pointing at the floor.
"Because two more friends showed up - Raj and Howard - and I thought it would be awkward if you came out in a towel in front of strangers."
"Such a gentleman," she mocked lightly.
Daniel stood up, stepped into the bathroom, and fixed the shower properly. He was about to leave when Penny remarked,
"Really? You're not even going to try to get in the shower with me?" she teased.
He smiled. "And lose some of the brownie points I've already earned with you?"
But he raised a hand and added, "Although I could help you, rubbing your back."
"Maybe, maaybe, another time," she lightly kissed him.
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Howard Wolowitz, one of Leonard's friends, asked his Indian friend as he came back from the hallway, "So, how was it? Did you see it? How is she? It's been more than an hour since Dani said hi to us."
Raj Koothrappali replied, his accent making it noticeable that he was from another country, "Yes. They are in a heated kiss."
"But how was she?" his Jewish friend asked again.
"I couldn't see very well, they were too close," Raj remarked, a little envious of Leonard's cousin.
Howard complained, "Why does he always get the chicks?"
"Well, he's tall, in unfairly good shape, makes way more money than the four of us combined, and clearly has more confidence," Raj pointed out.
"And he's kinda good-looking," he added, downplaying it so he wouldn't sound too gay.
"I know that! You don't need to rub it in," Howard snapped, then mocked, "If anyone hears you, they'll think you have a crush on him. At least with Daniel you can actually hold a conversation."
"Shut up, Howard," Raj retorted, very annoyed.
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