Summary: Frieda wishes that she could have someone like that.
Rating: T, for some strong language.
Disclaimer: It's probably a good thing I don't own it- the boys would be too busy making out in the gas station to fight crime.
Author's Note: I really like Frieda. I was worried about doing this, because I want to get her right, but Saturn's Hikari requested it. As for other pairings, leev and nerb both suggested Adam, so if I can think of something to write, I'll do that. And I really liked Athena2693's suggestion of Mr. Foley- I'll see if I can think of anything to do with that. And for everyone that asked about Richie's POV, don't worry, it's already written, but it won't come until later chapters.
Thanks for your reviews!
Platonically
People so need to just grow up. Come on, it's like, the 21st century already. Boys can be so stupid- some boys can't see what's plain, right there, in front of their face- and others do see and laugh and whisper about it. And she just can't see what's so wrong with being in love.
This is about, of course, Richie and Virgil; or more likely just Richie because Virgil happens to fall into that first category of stupid boys. Like when he totally liked her, and she did everything she could to get him to finally just go and ask her out, and then he never even does.
But then there was that day when she found him, the other boy, outside the gym after school. And since then, she hasn't cared, not one bit, that he never asked her and never asked Daisy, either. Maybe it was a bit too bad- she thought Richie was cute, although, come to think of it, she thought he was cuter now, sweet and loyal and so sad and hopeless that she wished with all her heart that it would just be okay for him.
She never told Daisy. How could she? Frieda wished that she could somehow just will her best friend to stop chasing after Virgil, but she couldn't do that and she would never say, because who could possibly forget how he looked?
She hadn't even meant to intrude, but there she was, on her way to journalism, and there he was, skinny white-faced almost like a little boy, just hunched there next to the gym looking at the ground so she couldn't see his face, but she could see the glasses in his hands and the red streaks down the sides of his cheeks. And it was so strange she felt almost sick, like she just wanted to run away, because here he was, the kid who made stupid jokes with Virgil and had just that silly grin plastered on his face, and now he was crying, and oh, god, what was she supposed to do? What could she even say?
Well, she asked him, and he told her it was nothing, but he was never good at keeping secrets, was he? So she just took his hand and then he stood and just sort of followed limply, and it only took one trip for sodas down at Burger Fool for him to start sniffling again and tell her everything, and then he looked up at her and said 'You can't tell anyone, do you understand? Not even Daisy. And especially not- him.' He sort of sighed the last word and that's how she knew she would never tell.
So why did people have to make things harder for them? Like that jerk Nick who just sort of grins at them when they pass by and makes really disgusting hard gestures behind their backs and she knows Richie knows. He's always been smart like that, and she can't see how it doesn't bother him, but it never bothers him, none of it ever wears him down except that one time, and you really have to admire him for it, y'know?
Like, maybe sometimes people think she's kind of a ditz, which is really unfair because they still say it even when she gets good grades and they act like she just took journalism to get to know the football boys when she's really very determined and cares about issues and stuff and wants to be a real reporter someday, right? So she sometimes lets it get to her and gets mad at people, and how much harder is it for Richie? And okay, she has to admit, she sometimes goes through boys a little fast, like she loves him one day and then is so over him tomorrow, and how can he do it? Just sit there and wait and hope and never say anything? It will work out eventually. Virgil really cares about Richie, in a way most boys wouldn't admit they cared, a way that's really sweet, and she has to admit they're way closer and her and Daisy are, and he can't not like him. Well, he's really into Daisy, but he could like the other side, too, right? Just because she really likes guys doesn't mean that she's never checked out Daisy before. And it would be so great and adorable and perfect if they just were together, because it was just so romantic that it all had to turn out okay.
And maybe she feels a little jealous. Why? Well, Richie's great and cute and just such an awesome guy, but so's Virgil, anyway, and it's not like she wishes he was into her instead. It's just unfair because she sometimes has to wonder if anyone could ever sit outside the gym crying over her, and if she'd ever know if someone did, or if they all just thought she was a stupid ditz who ran the decorating committee.
But she isn't going to let stupid boys ruin it for them, and she already learned the hard way not to think that bastard Nick was just some harmless idiot or to be flattered that he liked her or anything. Because once that sort of attention would have been enough to get her giggly, but it just didn't seem enough anymore. So when she sees him laughing his head off with his stupid friends over Richie and Virgil, and then she sees him notice her and give her that big grin of his that is somehow just as gross and suggestive, and she walks by and flips him off and she sees out of the corner of her eye the look that is just frozen on her face, and she smiles.
