"Kiss Test" - Young Sheldon fanfic
There's always the kiss test. Sheldon frowns as he keeps rereading the same line from Leonard's chat transcript. He'd told his pen pal about how Missy believes Sheldon has a crush on Paige since he has all the signs of a crush in her magazine's quiz.
Leonard had replied with suggestions from his sister Angie's experiences. He'd described the kiss test as kissing a platonic friend while in the same vicinity as the potential crush. Sheldon has two issues with the test: 1. he only has 3 friends and 2. hygiene.
He can handle the hygiene issue if he and his friend either brush their teeth or pop a mint directly before and after the kiss. But then there lies the issue of having a friend. The Sparks siblings are his neighbors but neither is a friend. And Missy is his sister. He can't kiss Paige since she's the potential crush. And he can't kiss Leonard because they live many miles away halfway across the country.
When he and Missy run into Paige the following day, Sheldon admits that he might have a crush on her, and he invites her to have lunch with him at the university library courtyard. She claims that she might have a crush on him also, agreeing to meet him.
Shortly after, he calls his third friend who is still in high school.
"I require a participant in a scientific experiment on the effects of physical touch on oxytocin levels? I am studying the impact of kissing on hormonal responses, and I would like to invite you as a volunteer for this research project. Would you be comfortable participating in a brief kissing experiment as part of my study?"
There's an awkward beat on the other side of the phone. And then...
"You want us to kiss for science?"
"Yes. Preferably during lunch at the East Texas Tech library courtyard this afternoon."
There's another short silence and then, "Okay."
Several hours later, Paige finds Sheldon sitting on a bench near a fountain. He's reading comic books with an older boy, and they glance up when she approaches.
"Here I am," she announces like something should be happening, "where the data led me."
"Is that our cue?" Tam asks, directing his question to Sheldon instead of Paige.
"I believe so," Sheldon answers.
He closes his book without further acknowledging Paige's presence. He and Tam turn to face each other, and Paige watches in disbelief as their faces move closer. Sheldon closes his eyes as his lips meet Tam's. It's a soft, hesitant touch, both boys unsure what to do next. Sheldon can feel his cheeks burning as he pulls away, his heart pounding erratically.
Tam's eyes flutter open, a blush coloring his cheeks as he looks at Sheldon. "That was... interesting," he says softly.
A small smile dances on Tam's lips. Sheldon nods, his words failing him as he diligently tries to process the mix of emotions swirling inside him.
Next to them, a permanent marker clatters to the ground, and the boys sharply turn their heads toward the sound. They'd forgotten about Paige, and she gawks at them.
"I thought you'd never kissed anyone," she tells Sheldon in an accusatory tone.
"And now I have," he responds, feeling his face turn red. "Paige, meet Tam. Tam, Paige."
They wave at each other, unsure what to say. The experiment was a success. Sheldon definitely has a crush. It's just not with Paige.
