Okay, remember how I said I love Sharon? I do love her a lot. And ever since I caught "Out of Africa," I've been fascinated with how well her and Richie seem to get along most of the time. (I'm discounting "Sons of the Fathers," but notice in "Static Shaq" that she's the one who is worried about him during the attack at the party.) It's a relationship I feel isn't explored enough so...that's why there is this.

This is my personal theory about something concerning Richie as well, because I so can't see his father...well, you'll see. It's in no way canon. So please don't treat it as such.

Again, thanks for all of the kind words. You guys really make this worthwhile.

Interlude: Late summer right before the Big Bang

Being an incoming freshman, Sharon Hawkins thought as she perused the course catalogue of Dakota University, was a difficult prospect. How do you challenge yourself with your education and still leave time open for hanging out with friends and the all-important party scene? Did she want to take the highest-level classes she could all the way through school or did she want to make sure her social life seldom suffered?

Although having a heavier course load would cause her to spend more time at the library, which would mean she'd be out of the house and thusly away from the little brother more.

The idea had a lot of merit.

Sighing out loud, she went back to picking out a Phys Ed requirement. Did she want to try yoga or do something more hardcore like rock climbing? The doorbell snatched her out of her thoughts.

"I got it!" She opened the door, blinking a few times when she saw who was on the other side. "Oh. Virgil's not here."

Richie Foley fidgeted for a moment. "Yeah I know. He's at Frieda's or whatever. I um…I'm actually here because…because I'd like to talk to you."

There are times in movies that contain party scenes where a character will say something shocking, causing the music to stop with the sound of a needle being pulled off of a vinyl record. It also causes all of the other party-goers turn and stare.

If that had somehow happened at that moment in reality, Sharon would not have been surprised at all.

She knew her jaw was hanging open, and yet she could not bring herself to shut it. "You…want to talk to me?"

"Uh yeah, if that's uh cool and stuff." He looked kind-of scared. Which, granted she normally would have enjoyed. Not that she hated the kid or anything; she'd never admit to it but she really thought of him as a second little brother. He was pesky and underfoot and if anyone ever did anything to harm him, she'd rip their face off without hesitation.

She collected herself finally and held the door open. "Well? You gonna come in or what?"

He pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled. "Okay"

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They sat a short while later at the kitchen table with a plate of cookies between them. Sharon had a mug of coffee and Richie was sipping a glass of milk.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

He looked up with a milk moustache and a startled expression. "I need some advice, I guess. No wait…" He shook his head, clearly unhappy with that particular train of thought. "Okay. Um…how do you feel about people that...?" He shook his head again. "What I mean is…I'm starting to think that I might…that I'm…"

Sharon rolled her eyes. "Richie, it'd be really useful if you could finish a sentence. Then I might actually know what you're talking about."

"Right. Sorry. Um." He started shredding a napkin in his hands, his words coming out in a rush. "OkayIcan'ttalktomyfolksaboutthisandyouwerethefirstpersonIthoughtofsinceyou'regoingtobeacounselorlikeyourdadandIhate toputthisonyoubutI'mprettysureI'mgayandIdidn'thaveanywhereelsetogoandpleasedon'ttellanyone."

She was about to snap at him to use English when her brain finished its translation of what he said. Her eyes widened and she put her mug down.

Hello!

She looked at him. The pieces of his napkin had been placed into a neat pile and he was very obviously trying to avoid her gaze. "Oh, Richie…" The gentle tone in her voice made him look up, and her heart ached because he looked so…scared. Like he was afraid she was going to recoil in disgust or throw him out or something. "There's nothing wrong with that. Or you."

"There's…not?"

"No, there's not. There's nothing wrong with loving someone, regardless of what gender they are or even just what they look like. And there's never anything wrong with being yourself."

Instead of being reassured by her words, he winced. "That's…not what my dad says. He says that…that people shouldn't flaunt certain things. And I just figured you'd agree. Most people seem to."

Well, that explained where the fear came from. She pursed her lips. "Okay, I'm not your father or the rest of the world. And frankly, I don't give a shit what he or anyone else says. I can't dictate your feelings anymore than you can dictate mine. If you love someone and they make you happy, then that's none of my business or anyone's really. You being happy is that's important, got it?"

The weight of the world off his shoulders, he smiled. "Really?"

"Yeah, really." She gave him a warm smile back. "Why? Am I the first person you've told or something?"

He took another long sip of his milk. "Yeah."

Wait a minute. "Virgil doesn't know?" He paled at her words, which Sharon thought was odd.

"No. And I…really don't want him to know."

She stared at him with a confused frown on her face. "How come? You two do everything together…why aren't you gonna tell him?"

"He just…he can't know. Okay?" Richie's eyes were panicked again.

"But…" Sharon had never been much of a believer in women's intuition, but she suddenly had a huge flash of insight. Oh, wow. Virgil's been spending all of his time chasing some dumb crush on Frieda and all the while…poor Richie. I can't even imagine what he's going through. She couldn't help but sigh because his train of thought made a lot of sense. Telling Virgil he was gay could lead to Virgil asking too many questions and that could probably ruin their friendship.

"Okay, Richie. I promise I won't tell him, but you really need to eventually. Even Virgil's not that clueless; one day he'll wonder why you never ask girls out or drool over a supermodel or whatever. Besides, he's your best friend. Best friends don't hide from one another."

Richie finished off his milk with a thoughtful look. "You're right. I'll tell him." Surprising them both, he hugged her. "Thanks, Sharon. I just…thanks."

She hugged him back and when they let go, she couldn't up but muss his hair with a smirk. He swatted her hands away and made a show of putting it back where it belonged. Things were too serious…they needed to go out somewhere and liven things up.

"Get up, Nerd Boy." She put the cookies up and went to the kitchen door. "Daddy, I'm going out for a while. I'll be back for dinner!"

"Okay sweetheart!" Robert Hawkins called back.

"Where're we going?" Richie was perplexed.

"The mall. Come on!"

-----

After getting some ice cream, the unlikely pair found themselves mostly window-shopping through Dakota Mall. They made casual conversation, although Sharon couldn't help but point out a few hotties here or there. ("What about him?" "I um…wow. Yeah okay he's…really hot.")

"Anything you wanted to do while we're here?" Richie's cone long since demolished, Sharon slowly made work of her dish of pralines and cream.

"Um well…" He pointed to Claire's. "I've always wanted to get my ear pierced, but…"

Sharon cocked her head to the side, staring at him appraisingly. "You know, I can see it. I can totally see you rocking a hoop. I mean…they'll make you wear a normal stud at first but…yeah. A hoop is way more your style." She grinned at him. "You got money right?"

"Well, yeah but…" Richie just blinked at her. She couldn't possibly be serious…could she?

Grabbing his arm, she said "Then let's move."

"Wait, but I have to be eighteen…!"

"Or with someone that is." She winked at him, and then turned serious. "You wussing out on me boy?"

"No, I just didn't think we'd get away with it. Although, my dad will probably freak when he sees it." He got a huge grin on his face. "Let's go for it."

"Great!" She grabbed his arm again, and as they ran into the store they were laughing loudly

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Friendship: a building contract you sign with laughter and break with tears.
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