Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sheldon was walking past the other dorm rooms to get to his. And of course, there was a dorm nearby with all the loud noises which were obviously having a party. Knocking on the door to file a complaint was obviously what Sheldon was going to do, but when the guy opened the door he recognized someone.

Sheldon moved his eyes, “Paige?!”

The blonde turned around to see who was calling her name, “Sheldon…!”

“You guys know each other?”, the door opener asked.

“Yeah! Give us some time!” She says, taking the door handle and walking out the dorm to interact with the brunette as she closed the wooden door.

They stare blankly at each other. “I see you again at another party, are you drunk?” The boy asked. “Hmmm…Yeah, sure!” Paige says hazily, her body waving drunkenly. ‘Definitely drunk.’ Sheldon thinks.

“Come on! Lets walk~” She grabs Sheldon’s hand, heading to the exit. Her hands felt soft…Sheldon blushed a little, Paige took in on how Sheldon’s physical appearance and voice changed. He was a lot taller, 5-foot-ten-inches to be exact, his voice was much deeper and lower than almost all the adult men Paige knew, more handsome too.

They were out in the dark now, “So, have you still not learned that alcohol is horrible for you? Even after our encounter from last time?”

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“Whatever, Sheldon.” Paige grumbles, ditzing around. “It's just that my life still sucks and..alcohol still does the job for me!” She smiles while talking, the same sweetening smile Sheldon recognizes from afar.

Sheldon raises a brow, “Well, I’m sure there's better coping mechanisms to handle your terrible status in life? Instead of killing brain cells and getting rotten teeth.” Paige rolls her eyes and giggles. “It's not that easy.”

They both make eye contact. Sheldon thinks of options…Let Paige go back to her party and drink more beer, but she’s in risk of being in danger and might wind herself up in drugs or a stranger's bed. So that option is off-limits. The second choice is to lead her back to his room, and make sure she gets some rest. Well, obviously he chose the safer and secure option because he does really care for Paige.

Sheldon sighs, “Well, I cannot let you be in danger with all that alcohol and substances. You need to rest in my dorm room.” He says with a monotone voice as usual. “But-“ The blonde whines, “No buts!” He says loudly. “Fine.”

They both walked to his dorm, which was right at the other end of the dormitories. Paige shifting her weight to the other foot repeatedly and messily, clearly had too much to drink.

“How many drinks did you have?”

“Uh…Like 4? I dunno! I’m drunk!”

“Then clearly you need rest!”

They both reach Sheldon’s single room. He closes the door and pulls the covers over for Paige to rest on the mattress, bringing a trash can over to her side, in case she needs to vomit because of the drinks.

She hops onto the bed, laying her head on the pillow and smiling warmly at Sheldons care for her. She never felt so cared for before. “There,” Sheldon speaks as he tucks her in. “Now get some sleep, you’re clearly very drunk.” He walks off to the door.

Before he could put his hand on the door handle, Paige calls out, “Wait!” He turns his head around to shift his attention to her. Curious to see what she needed to share.

“Thank you.” She lets out. Her tone was honest and thankful, “I mean it, thanks for caring so much.” She grins a bit, looking at him differently. But not in a weird way, a way that Sheldon couldn’t place.

The intelligent boy lets out an uncontrolled smile, an expression he was making that he was unaware of. “You're welcome.” He says before slowly opening the door and walking out.

They both had strange pangs in their heart, a feeling they couldn’t quite recognize.

The next day, Sheldon came back to his dormitory. Seeing a note laid on his neatly made bed that was done by Paige.

He picks it up, unfolds it and reads it.

“Dear Sheldon, thank you for letting me rest on your bed. I threw up a few times in the trash can but don’t worry, I replaced the trash bag! It was really sweet of you to take care of me like that but you really didn’t have to. But thank you again. - Your friend, Paige.”

While Sheldon was reading the grateful letter, Paige was at home laying on her bed and trying to put together her emotions. Questioning it. The genius knew how to solve a lot of things, but her feelings for Sheldon weren't one of them.

Unexpectedly, Sheldon calls her. It wasn’t everyday that he would call her. But, she was happy to answer the phone for him, awkwardly giddy about it. “Hello? Sheldon?” She asks.

“Why, yes, it is me Sheldon. I was wondering how you were feeling after last night's encounters.” He checked in, with a bit of concern in his usually robotic voice. “Haha,” She laughed. “I’m fine. I have a minor headache and that's about it.”

“A minor headache? You know minor can turn major right? Take-“ Paige cuts him off, “I’m fine, Sheldon! I won’t need any pills or something. It's normal for me to get dizzy when I was drunk last night.”

“Well, that's a relief it’s a common experience you have.” Paige smiles. “But you better cut off the alcohol. You’re very smart and I cannot have you making dumb choices.” He says demandingly. “Ugh…Sheldon it's not easy to stop an addiction.” She rolled her eyes, but it wasn’t sassy. She softened at his genuine concern for her well-being. “But…I guess I will try.” Her voice weakens. “Good! Now it’s time for my bathroom break, good to talk to you, Paige!” He hangs up the telephone.

The singular phone call turned into an everyday occurrence. One day it was Paige who called first to check in, then another day it was Sheldon, and the cycle goes on. They started getting closer and closer day by day..

“Calling Paige again?” Missy leans against the stove, watching Sheldon put in her phone number. “Why, yes, I am!” He admits. “What's going on between you two? You guys have been getting lovey dovey.” Sheldon was confused but it placed a small puzzle piece in his mystery.

“Uhm, no we haven’t?” He defends himself. “Oh, yes you have!” Georgie jumps in on the conversation. “You and that Paige chick of yours have been talking a lot.” The mullet head smirked.

“Hey, whose Paige?” Mandy asked. “Oh, she was an old friend of mine and Sheldon. She’s smarter than him by the way!” Missy explained, “Someone smarter than Sheldon, huh…” Mandy squints. “Paige is not smarter than me, and no we are not in a romantic relationship or have romantic interest for each other!” Sheldon blushes.

“You think so! But my eyes tell me a different story!” Missy teases and gets her toast from the toaster, biting into the crispy bread.

That morning had Sheldon thinking a lot about Paige. Did he like her? He has thought he had a crush on her before but that was just a bluff…But this is real. Sheldon refuses to believe that he actually loves Paige.

Paige on the other hand, was better with her emotions and figured that she was attracted to Sheldon quicker. She really wondered how she fell for that quick-witted and rude genius she knew since she was ten. But seeing him now…He seemed to show her better side to her.

Chapter Text

It was May 6th, Sheldon decided to go to Caltech after a snowy disaster that happened when George and him were about to go to MIT.

“Caltech?!” Sheldon yells, due to the loud and heavy snowfall that would’ve made George not hear his son if he talked at a regular volume.

“Caltech!” His father yells back, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as they walk back into the airport.

Sheldon gets home, deciding to call up Paige and tell her about his change in universities. Picking up the phone and dialing her number in.

Paige was on her bed, flipping through a Sassy Magazine. She lifts her head up as soon as she hears the phone ringing. Her arm extends to pick up the telephone and ask who it is.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“Paige, it's me Sheldon.”

“Oh, hey Sheldon!” A smile is suddenly brought to her face, happy to be hearing from the genius like they don’t call everyday. Butterflies swarm her stomach as she says another word. “Are you in Massachusetts now?” She asks, as Sheldon told her about going to MIT.

“Well, I changed my mind. Due to a snowstorm, I decided to go to Caltech.” Sheldon answers back. “I just wanted to inform you about that. I’m leaving Medford in about 21 days.”

She nods, happy for his education. “Well, that's good to hear. Caltech is a very impressive school.” She closes the magazine's thin papers and sets it aside. Completely focusing on Sheldon now. “Are you excited?” The blonde tilts her head

“Very actually! I wonder what adventures await me at Caltech, afterall it has one of the best physics programs in the world! Did you know that the word physics originated from the Greek word “physis” which also means “nature” or “natural things”? The term was used by ancient Greek thinkers to describe the study of the natural world and overtime evolved to “physikē” which means knowledge of nature!” Sheldon went on about the term. But Paige didn’t mind, actually she started to like how Sheldon went on about these things. It comforted her in a way that she didn’t know how to word, it just did.

The call between the two ends. It lasted for about 12 minutes as Sheldon calculated. His dad starts talking.

“You need to stop calling Paige so much, the phone bill just came in and it was whopper.” George says, his southern accent obvious. “Well, it was quite expensive but I think it's nice that Sheldon and Paige are getting along so well!” Mary joins in, smiling at them as she stirs the spaghetti. “He usually dislikes Paige, it’s very sweet to see them get along so well.” She says sweetly, proud that Sheldon is opening up to Paige so willingly. “Yeah, that's nice to hear. But minimize the calls!” George shouts while watching the Football game.

Connie laughs, leaning onto the kitchen chair as she sips a Lone Star beer. “Does moon pie have a crush now?” She teases like usual. Sheldon replies in defense, “W-well, I wouldn’t say it's a crush! Just that Paige and I are finally becoming friends, it's no more than that.” His mind suddenly became hazy, the time when he thought he had a crush on Paige was false, or was it? Because he was genuinely catching feelings for her and now he can’t get her off his mind.

He sits on his bed. Thinking of whether he had a crush on Paige or not, but he was aware he isn’t good with emotions so the best thing he could do is ask other people for help. And his first thought is Missy, he gets up and walks to her room to knock on her door.

“Missy,” he knocks. “Missy,” he knocks again. “Missy,” he knocks the last time. She opens the door and rolls her eyes, “What?!” She says with a tone that very much indicates her being annoyed by Sheldon's sudden disturbance. “I need help. It's about Paige.” As soon as she heard Paige names, she was interested.

“So what is it about Paige you want me to help you with?” Missy asks, sitting on her bed along with Sheldon. “Well, I've been thinking, and I may have…A storm of romantic feelings for Paige.” Missy lights up even more, “Tell me about it!” She says eagerly. “Uhm, me and Paige have been calling and talking a lot. Each time I talk to her, I feel like I like her more and more.” He admits, looking down embarrassingly. Missy smiles and says, “Well this is exciting! Are you like, head over heels in love, or like, is it just a small crush?” Sheldon sighs. “Thats another problem, I wished it was just a small crush but now I feel like I really am deeply in love with her.” Missy adjusts her sitting position and opens her mouth, “Why would you wish that it was just a small crush? There's nothing wrong with being in love with someone. And you shouldn’t be ashamed of that. If you love Paige then you love her.” His twin sister answers.

Sheldon stays silent for a moment, “I guess I do love Paige. And I’m going to tell her that!” But Missy stops him, “Hey! Jeez, you don’t just tell someone you like them as soon as you figure that out.” The brunette boy raises an eyebrow, “Why?”, “Do you want to scare her off?!” She shouts. “Just wait a little longer!”

Three days passed, George was getting ready for work. “What's happening?” He asks, his wife responds with, “We’re leaving for the Bluebonnet picture at 4:00, don’t be late.”, “Wouldn’t miss it.” He turns to Missy, “Hey, you need a ride to school?” “No, I will take the bus…” She said as she was putting her books in her hot pink backpack. “Suit yourself,” His father grabs his mug. “See y’all later!” He yells softly as he opens the door to go to his car. Sheldon isn’t aware about what was going to happen on this exact day.

As they all got ready for the BlueBonnet picture, Mandy and Georgie went to change CeeCee’s diapers as they waited on for George. Mary hears the door ring and sees who it is. Coach Wilkins and Principal Peterson, they both looked depressed and distraught. Mary was heavily concerned, "What's going on?” Her voice was shaking. Wayne responds, “Mary, we got some bad news.” He said in a whispery and rusky voice. “Where's George?”Missy and Meemaw come to see what was happening. “I’m so sorry. He, uh..He had a heart attack.” Principal Peterson said in a tone that was similar to Mary’s and Wayne’s. “He’s okay, right?” Missy tears up. “Hes gone.” Tom says again. Missy and Connie embrace each other in a hug, all three of them were saddened and teary as they got the news.

As they teared up, Sheldon was shocked. His expression was emotionless, his stare was out of pure surprise. He slowly sits down on a chair, thinking about what just happened.

The next day, he started thinking about all the different ways people expressed grief. Everyone had their own way, so did he. He avoided mourning, it hurt him to even think about it. And people coming up to him to tell him how sorry they are for his fathers sudden death just hurt him more.

As Paige got the news from her mom, she instantly ran to call Sheldon. She was concerned and wanted to see how he was holding up. Mary picked up the phone, “Hello?”, “Uhm, hello Mrs. Cooper, is Sheldon there?” Paige asks. “Yes, Sheldon is here, though he’s not really talking to anyone.” She replies. “Well, can I try talking to him?”, “Sure, honey. Let me get him.” Mary says soothingly, calling Sheldon to call Paige.

“Hi Sheldon. I heard about what happened to your dad and I wanted to send my condolences.” She said it in a soft voice, almost too soft. “Thank you.” Sheldon said, if it were anyone else, then he would have avoided them, but Paige was an exception. “Your dad was a nice man.” She complimented, “He was.” Sheldon agreed, reminiscing all their memories together, and how much it hurt thinking about his dad. He wanted to cry, to let the tears fall, but sobbing his feelings out won’t make it any better. He can’t change anything, and his dad is gone forever. “Well, that's all I wanted to say. Have a good day.” Sheldon nods. Hanging up the phone.