Chapter 1. Welcome to Colorado Springs
It was the summer of 1996, the intense heat of Texas fell onto his head, and there were still hours left before leaving the hottest state of the country. Sheldon sighed, leaning on the car while Mary gave the final instructions to Georgie, who will keep in charge of the house and Missy, for the next few days.
Sheldon had been waiting for this day for weeks, he had checked references and it was proof that it was the best science camp in the country. He was excited, although he had many reservations, one of them was sharing a room with so many people at a time. It wasn't the first time he shared a room before, he had a master with his twin sister Missy for eleven years with her laughs, music and disorder, and last year with Yin, his Chinese co-worker in the internship in Germany. He was very tidy, but incredibly open to nudity in the room, and that was unacceptable.
Since his father, George, died two years ago, Sheldon was trying to avoid going home more than necessary, he knew he should support his mother more, but being at home and not seeing him there, was too much to deal with at this time of his life.
Last week was especially difficult for him, since it was his mother's birthday, and all the family comes to town to celebrate, too many Coopers together in one place. Now, all he needed was to get as soon as possible to Colorado, and to spend the next four weeks doing what he liked most in the world, science.
- "God, don't let them burn the house, please". Mary sighed, entering into the car and placing the rear-view mirror well, while the car, gently, started on the road.
- "Mother, I already told you, I can go by plane, it's not necessary to drive me there, it's a long trip and you know as well as me that Georgie and Missy shouldn't have the house for themselves". Sheldon said, taking his book out of the glove compartment and checking his seatbelt.
- "No, no, my baby has just returned from Europe, we haven't had time to talk, and don't worry Meemaw is on her way, they will not believe that they will be alone, right?". She said proudly, winking at him.
Mary looked at his son beside her, in this last year he had changed a lot, he wasn't the little kid who let him be wrapped up at night or asked for spaghetti with little pieces of hot dog cut into it. Although, that last one wasn't true, since he had asked for it the night before. Now, he was quite a man, tall, lean, yet well-built and peculiar, especially that. With his 16 years he had already passed the university and had his own PhD, although she was sure that it wouldn't be the last one.
- "So, Sheldon". She said, calling his attention. He closed the book he was reading, and supported it on his knees. "Why this camp? You've been doing science stuff all year, don't you want to rest a little at home before going to Caltech next fall?".
- "First, mother, I don't do science, I study the universe and everything it contains". Sheldon buffed. "And I'm not tired of it, I don't need a break of something I love".
- "Alright". She rolled her eyes and continue. "It's just that, next year you will be on the other coast and I thought you would spend the summer with us, I know isn't as fancy as the camp, but we really missed you this year".
Sheldon looked at her mother, her blue and beautiful eyes which he had inherited, were full of love and tenderness."I missed you too, mom". He simply said, looking down at his book again. "But I really need to do this, sorry".
- "I know, sweetie". Mary replied, returning her attention to the empty road.
Sheldon wasn't the kind of son who express his love openly, it was counted the times that she had heard an "I love you" from his lips, but deep down, Mary knew that his heart was so big that it was difficult to express everything he feels in it, and that his love for her was beyond anyone, and for her, that was enough.
Amy closed her book and rested it against her chest, sighing and closing her eyes. Love novels were not her favourites, but Jane Austen always make her spill more than one tear. In a move of her neck, she pushed her long and dark hair back to over one of her shoulders, and started playing with it between her fingers.
Through the window of the bus she could see the vast and dry desert of Nevada with a big and bright sun shining in the clear blue sky. There were still more than 10 hours left, but the emotion invaded each of her senses. This trip was the farthest she had ever be from California in her life, and as far from her controlling and overprotective mother. It had taken her fifteen years, but finally she had managed to get out of her.
Next autumn she would start his first year at Harvard, on the other side of the country. She had worked so hard, and this was the final reward, four long weeks away from everything, from her city, her stupid high school classmates, her relatives and from all of those who had make fun of her, day after day. In Colorado nobody knows her, is a new start, no more Gorilla-Fingers Fowler, as those dumbs had nicknamed her, she would be simply Amy, and she will get her first friend, and not any friend, her best friend ever.
She smiled, resting her head against the back of the seat. "My first best friend or bestie, whatever she wants". She whispered.
One day and too much hours in the car later, Sheldon and Mary arrived at Colorado Springs. A beautiful and huge camp surrounded by tall green leafy trees. At the entrance, a large sign welcomed them, and dozen of buses filled the parking lot.
- "I think this has been a mistake, it is too far from the next city". Sheldon got out of the car, looking around in horror. "What if a bear attacks me?".
- "Honey, there are no bears in this part of the forest, besides, everything is walled, there is no danger". Mary approached to her son, surrounding him with her arms to calm his anxiety. "We will do one thing, you enter, and I will spend the night in a hotel near here, I will go home when the sun rise in the morning, if you regret to be here, you just have to call me and we will go home, alright?".
- "Okay, but don't get too far away from the hotel phone, I don't think I can stand here tonight". He said, as he placed his backpack over his shoulders and kissed his mother on the cheek.
Mary leaned on the hood of the car, watching as her son walked in terror to what would be a dream summer for Missy or Georgie. "Please God, take care of my little one, I've done it for 16 years, now it's your turn". She prayed, entering in the car, and driving away.
Sheldon walked through the camp, heading towards the center, where the rest were laughing and chatting among themselves. As he looked around a young blonde with a big smile approached jumping to him. She was wearing what looked like the uniform of the camp, brown tight shorts and a yellow t-shirt with the logo, too small and notched for his taste.
- "Hello, and welcome to the Colorado spring summer camp!". She exclaimed with a smile, shaking her head and moving the blond hair of her ponytail. "I'm Penny, and I´m one of the cheerleaders of the camp, you can leave your backpack there with the others, and enter the auditorium, our director is about to say his speech of welcome".
- "Hello Penny, my name is Sheldon Cooper, and there is no way I will throw my backpack onto the dirty floor, I'll take it with me until they assign me a room".
- "Ok, well, as you wish, Sheldon". She said confused, placing her hands on her hips. That young man was tall, more than the average of nerds who usually come to the camp every summer, although not one has as serious as him. "Now go to the auditorium, I will see you later".
- "I doubt it". He murmured, walking away from her to where she had indicated him, with still his backpack over his shoulder.
Penny watched as that lanky and tall boy walked away from her, he didn't seem much older than her, but he spoke in a very adult and pedantic way. She rolled her eyes as a young red haired girl with the same uniform approached to her smiling.
- "Who was him, Penny?". She asked. "I haven't seen him other years".
- "Me neither, maybe he is one of the new additions of this year, but I swear, he is quite arrogant".
- "It will not last long, you know how the boys are, give him time and in a few days he will be drooling for us like the rest of those nerds".
- "Ugh, Karen, stop it". Penny laughed, and both girls walked to a new group of boys who were entering to the camp with bright smiles to them.
The auditorium was overflowing with teenagers screaming and laughing. Sheldon sat on one of the few free places that remained free, leaving the backpack on his feet, and praying for the seat be properly disinfected. Suddenly, the lights went out and in the center came a big light that pointed to a tall man in his early twenties that smiled at them.
- "Welcome to Colorado spring camp everyone!". The man said from center of the stage, with a big speaker in his hands and dressed like the girl from before. "My name is Dr. Eric Gablehauser, but you can call me Eric, and I will be your director for the four next weeks of fun!" He shouted, and the rest of the audience cheer at him.
- "I am PHD in physics, so I encourage my team to win the science cup this year, go physics, go!".
- "Physics, physics!". Many of the boys began to cheer, clapping along.
- "What cup?". Sheldon asked a young man sitting next to him.
- "It's the science cup, each science department competes against the others and the one who gets the most points at the end of the summer win the cup. It's a tradition, but physics hasn´t won for years, this may be the year". The young man explained.
- "You can bet on it, now that I'm here that cup will be ours, my name is Sheldon Cooper, by the way, and I'm on the physics team".
- "What a coincidence, me too, my name is Leonard Hofstadter, nice to meet you". Sheldon looked at the young man, he was much shorter than he was, even sitting. His brown hair was wild and curly, and has a pair of big round glasses on his small nose.
Sheldon returned his attention to the director's speech, who was explaining the basic rules of the camp. Sheldon, of course, had already read and memorized them during his trip, and he even had some new ones that they should be add to the list.
An hour later, the welcome speech was over and the boys leave the auditorium along with the rest. Leonard accompanied Sheldon to the registration office to be assigned to his room, a process he had done just before meeting him. As they walked by into the small office, the smiling young blonde from before greeted them with her hand.
Leonard stood motionless staring at Penny who returned him the smile, without knowing very well what to do. She was much taller than him, blond hair and sun tanned skin. Her eyes were large and bright green, and she had a cute orange flower with glitters holding in her long ponytail.
- "Hello, Sheldon". She shouted. "We see again, I told you".
- "If you say so". Sheldon sighed exasperated, raising his eyebrows. "I come for my assign room, here is my reservation number". He said, giving her a small paper.
- "All right, just wait a second, sweetie". Penny said, entering into a small room behind the desk.
- "You know her? Oh my god, she is so beautiful!". Leonard groaned, turning toward Sheldon with wide eyes.
- "Yes, I've seen her once, she welcomed me at the entrance of the camp". He said, without understanding very well what was happening.
- "And she remember you?". He sighned. "Oh my, how lucky are you, I'd give anything if she will talk to me".
- "Oh, Leonard, I think your priorities are disturbingly poorly selected". Sheldon said, as he watched how Penny was returning with some papers and a key in her hand".
- "Thanks for waiting, boys". She gave the papers and the key to Sheldon. "Here are the rules, your entry forms and the key of your room, is the number twelve, you will find the cabins on the right side when you leave from here, and if you get lost there are maps post scattered around the camp". She said with a smile. "Welcome to the camp, again".
- "Thank you, Penny, see you later". He simply said, but then he saw Leonard's face that looked fixed at her like a puppy. "Oh, yes, Penny, this is Leonard".
- "Hi!". She smiled at him.
- "Hi!". He quickly replied.
- "Hi?". Penny asked as she watched how he started to breathe very hastily. "Are you okay, Leonard?".
- "He is ok, we need to go". Sheldon said quickly, grabbing Leonard, and leaving the office as fast as they could.
- "Why did you do that?". Leonard asked with his voice still faltering.
- "Do what, taking you out of there?". Sheldon asked confused.
- "No, introducing me to Penny, I wasn't ready".
- "I thought that was what you wanted".
- "Yes, it was, but not like that, now she'll think I'm stupid, you don't understand".
- "I really don't". He said, swinging his head. "But she may only think that you have a respiratory problem or anxiety".
- "Great, on top of stupid, sick, that is what girls like the most". Leonard said exasperated. "Let's go to find the cabins".
- "Now you owe me something". Sheldon said as they walked.
- "What are you talking about?". Leonard stopped in tracks, looking at him with wide eyes.
- "You said that you would give anything if she speak to you, well, she spoke to you thanks to me, therefore you are in debt to me, but don't worry, I still don't have in mind what will be". Sheldon says proudly while Leonard rolled his eyes and keep walking.
The two young found their way to the cabins. A large and dark wood house, with a staircase at the entrance, and a sign with the number to which they corresponded. After walking a few more meters, they found the cabin, which fortunately for them corresponded to both. Inside there were four bunk beds, a few closets and the camp uniform on top of the beds. Sheldon looked around, it was clean enough to let it go by now. He thought, looking for the right bed, and leaving the backpack on it.
After unpacking their belongings and changing into the uniform, Leonard and Sheldon went out to enjoy the first day in the camp, the only day which was not programmed with activities. Both decided to do a tour around to get familiar with the place.
Sheldon felt weird going with his new clothes. Brown shorts pants, up to the knee, a white t-shirt with the logo of the camp and matching socks. His white sneakers were the only thing he could wear from himself, apart from the underwear, of course.
The two friends walked through the camp, discovering where the laboratories, the conference rooms, the dining room and the dressing rooms were. They talked about their studies and hobbies, and began to discover how much they had in common, although for Leonard, Sheldon was still too similar to his controlling and demanding mother to consider him a possible friend.
- "So, you start working at Caltech this fall?. That's awesome, I just got admitted to Princeton, I hope I can work at Caltech someday, maybe we'll become co-workers".
- "That would be interesting". Sheldon said, smiling. And Leonard noticed, that it was the first time he saw him smiling since he met him hours ago.
- "And Sheldon, is there any girl waiting for you in Texas?". Leonard asked with curiosity.
- "Well, there's my mother and my meemaw, and if you want to count my sister, Missy, but I don't think she miss me as much as my mother always says".
- "No, I mean if you have a girlfriend, or a special friend". Leonard explained laughing.
- "Of course not, I'm not interested in any kind of love relationship with anyone, I'm committed to science".
- "Oh, well, maybe when the time comes, and you find a good girl, you'll change your mind".
- "Why, do you have someone waiting for you in New Jersey?".
- "Me?. Oh, I wish. No, for women I'm totally invisible, but I don't lose hope, surely the perfect girl is close, it's matter of time, budy".
- "Not for me, I assure you". Sheldon concluded.
As he walked he turned around without looking, colliding head-on head with a girl who fell abruptly onto the muddy ground in front of him. Sheldon crouched quickly, seeing as the girl was sitting, with her long hair on her face, and full of mud that covered her legs and arms.
- "I'm so sorry, are you okay?". Sheldon lifted her up, while looking around while the rest of the people were laughing.
- "Perfect, this was what I needed, this day couldn't get any worse". She exclaimed pissed, as she pushed her hair away from her face.
Sheldon stared at her with wide eyes, her long and dark hair fell on one side, so long that it almost touched her waist, her eyes had an intense green shadow, a color which he had never seen before, and her lips were thin and pink. A large pair of glasses cupped her nose, that many would consider big, but Sheldon found it particularly cute.
- "I'm so sorry, do you want me to help you clean?. Sheldon said, taking a handkerchief out of his pocket.
- "No, leave it, I don't need anything else". Amy shouted, turning and heading towards the cabin, trying to suppress the tears in her eyes.
For Amy, the day start totally worse. When she woke up in the bus this morning, she noticed that her bag had been stolen, with all her clothes inside. The police said that she might not recover it, and her mother only made it worse, trying to convince her to come back to California. The box with more clothes will arrive in a few days, but now, thanks to this guy, she doesn't even have clean clothes for the first day.
Amy left the bathroom, after washing as much as she could her legs and arms for all the mud, but unfortunately her clothes were still covered with it. While walking to her cabin, she saw the laundry room. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea if she would wash her clothes and wait inside. After all, nobody was around and she couldn't make friends if she is the mud girl of the camp.
Without thinking twice, she entered to the laundry room, and as she had anticipated, it was totally empty. Carefully, she opened one of the washing machines, taking off her pants and t-shirt and turned it on, while she sat in front of her, just in her bra and panties.
Looking around, Amy found a science magazine by her side. "At least my luck is changing". Amy sighed, opening it and starting to look through the articles.
Sheldon walked through the camp looking for the mysterious girl, he felt really bad for pushed her into the mud, he more than anyone, knew how horrible it is to feel humiliated, and dirty. He walked with firm steps, looking for a closet or room where he could find new clothes for her and could be able to ask for forgiveness. Suddenly, he saw the laundry sign, surely there will be extra clothes for this kind of situation, he thought, opening the door and entering without looking first.
- "Oh my god!". Sheldon exclaimed, when he saw the girl standing next to one of the washing machines, with only a pink underwear to cover her bare body and her long hair over her shoulders, covering the most part of her bra.
- "Get out!". She screamed, covering all her bare skin with her hands that she could.
Sheldon closed his eyes at that instant, "I'm so-, ouch!". Sheldon screamed, whirling around and hitting himself hard with the door behind him into his face.
- "Are you ok?". Amy ran to him, watching as the boy covered his face and growled in pain, blood began to fall between his hands. "You're bleeding! Let me see".
Sheldon pulled his hands away from his face, and when he opened his eyes the girl was in front of him, looking worried at him and having completely forgotten that she was practically naked.
- "Yo- you are naked". Sheldon stuttered, looking away while his cheeks flushed.
- "Men are really incredible, you are bleeding and that's what you saying?". Amy protested, seeing how his nose was the one bleeding from the blow. Carefully she guided him to the floor, placing his head forward, "Stay like this, I'm going to take some paper".
Amy moved around the room, picking up some papers and creating rolls for his nose. She then, sat in front of him, raising his head softly, and pulling the paper soflty into his nose.
- "Thank you". Sheldon said in a low voice due to the clogging of his nose.
Amy noticed for the first time his eyes, they were intense blue, as the sky she saw on her travel, the same one that captivated her. Even with the paper on his nose, he wasn't a looking bad boy. His skin was white and soft, and his hair was scrambled, in a fun and cutevway.
- "You're welcome, I wasn't going to let you bleed no matter how angry I am". She said with a smile and he returned to her.
They both stood for a few seconds looking at each other, regardless of the blood, and that Amy was still wearing her bra and pink panties. It was a strange feeling, as if they, somehow, knew each other before, from another life or a vivid dream.
Suddenly, the door of the laundry room opened wide, and a scream came from there, making both of them turn suddenly to face one of the camp assistants.
- "What are you doing?. Director!". The boy screamed, running from there.
- "No no no!". Both shouted at once, rising from the floor.
Hey, thanks so much for reading this new story. As a lot of you know, this was a crazy idea from a dream I had last night, I ended writing a whole chapter and a storyline for the rest, so don't tease me too much if it's not good enough!. Thanks to my beta Linda, she encourage me to write it and she beta all a few minutes ago, she is the best!.
Note: I know the characters, as Penny or Amy are younger in the serie, but here all the characters have the same age :) (It's an AU guys, keep it cool). Penny and Amy 15 to 16 in december and Sheldon and Leonard already the 16.