[000] the beginning of dolly & rich

                                If it was for Dolores saving Richie's ass from getting beat, they probably would've never met.

                                Dolores Ayorinde had been sixteen years old when she first met Richie. And needless to say, it hadn't exactly been a pleasant experience. Not because he had said anything to her. Richie had been doing a whole lot of talking but it had been in front of a couple guys, trying to impress them. It didn't work out, however. They'd end up seeing through his story. And instead of apologizing and admitting his wrong, Richie insisted they were the dumb fucks who just couldn't understand because of all the shit in between their ears.

                                Obviously, that resulted in Richie getting his ass beat by the group of guys.

                                Dolores had been walking back home from the grocery store, deciding to run some errands for her mom. That's when she had seen the fight and Dolores rushed in to help, despite a voice telling her to stay out of it. But Dolores was way too kind to do that. She'd find a way to break up the fight, threatening to call the cops which ultimately scared the guys away. And then she'd drag an unconscious Richie back to her place, thankful that her parents weren't home.

                                 By the time Richie woke up, he'd see Dolores cleaning his wounds and even helping to apply to his face.

                                "Who the hell are you?" is the first thing that he asks her.

                                "The girl that saved you from getting your ass beat," Dolores commented. "But you can just call me Dolores. Hello to you too, by the way."

                                "Dolores, huh? I'm Richie. You didn't have to help me. I had it handled myself," Richie frowns, trying to sit up. But he only manages to make the pain shoot throughout his body and he groans before sitting right back down.

                                "Sure you did," Dolores scoffs, rolling her eyes.

                                Richie scoffs before looking around, wincing in pain once again. He didn't seem to learn his lesson. "Shit, where are we?"

                               "My house. Or rather, my bedroom," Dolores answered. Now it's officially dawned on her that maybe she shouldn't have let a total stranger into her house. But Dolores had allowed her impulses (and her savior complex) to take over and save Richie. And technically, with the way Richie had been jumped, she doubted he'd be in any shape to try and harm her.

                               "I thought I'd have to take you out to dinner first or something. That's the proper way to go about it," Richie teases her.

                               That actually gets a laugh out of Dolores. "I didn't think someone like you could have the energy to make jokes during a time like this."

                              "Can't help it. I never know when to shut my mouth," Richie shakes his head.

                              "Huh... at least you're self-aware, you can't find a lot of guys like that these days. Now keep holding the ice over your eye and you should be fine. I mean, I'm no doctor. But I'm ninety nice percent sure that you're gonna live after this," Dolores nods.

                              "Thanks, Doc," Richie nods. "Are you studying to become a doctor when you grow up or something?"

                              "Nope, I actually want to become a chef. I want to start my own bakery right here in the city," Dolores states with a smile.

                              "Can you actually cook?" Richie asks, causing Dolores to frown.

                              "Of course I can. But I want to learn more and make all those fancy desserts you see in the movies," Dolores answered.

                              "Well, if that does happen, I'll be there as your first customer," Richie says and that's enough to put the smile back onto her face.

                              "Uh, would you like to stay over for dinner?" Dolores questioned a moment later. "You look a little skinny."

                             "First off, I'm working towards getting muscles. And secondly, are you sure your parents would even allow me to be here?" Richie questioned.

                            "As far as they know, you're a friend of mine. And my parents would never let a friend of mine go home hungry. And until you get that muscle from working out, I suggest you eat some real food before the wind manages to blow you away," Dolores answers, a teasing look in her eyes.

                           "I'm Italian... sort of. I've had real food," Richie insisted.

                           "Sort of? I've never met anyone that's sort of Italian. Either you are or you ain't," Dolores scoffed.

                           "Alright, I'm not. But I'm close," Richie says, figuring that was more than enough for him.

                           "You wanna have dinner over here or not?" Dolores huffed.

                           "Yes please," Richie answers without hesitation. He wasn't stupid enough to turn down free food.

                           It's during dinner where Richie and Dolores officially get close. Her parents seem to grow fond of him, even if they're a little concerned as to how he showed up to the dinner table with a black eye and a cut on his lip. But he was happy to eat everything that Dolores's parents gave him. And he was welcomed back.

                          After that, the two of them started hanging out all the time. And it wasn't long before they became best friends. It'd even be through Richie that Dolores met Mikey Berzatto and the rest of his family. Throughout the years, they had still managed to remain close. Even when Dolores went off to culinary school so she could become a proper chef and start her own bakery. Just like she always dreamed of. They relied on each other with everything and no matter how many times they'd fight over stupid shit, they'd always find their way back to each other. They were basically soulmates. 

                          They remained close even when they managed to fall in love with other people - Dolores with Anthony and Richie with Tiffany.

                          It had been a shock to everyone that had known them. For so long, everyone was convinced that the two would get together and live happily ever after. They acted like a couple more than anything. Richie had even given Dolores her famous nickname 'Dolly' which only he was allowed to call her. But alas, they seemed to find love in other people.

                           Dolores had met Anthony while she had been preparing to build up her bakery, fresh out of culinary school and flat broke. He had been a real gentleman in the beginning. He helped Dolores with the bakery - finding a place, getting the money, etc. And he basically swept Dolores off of her feet. By the time the two got married, the bakery was ready to open.

                          After Dolores and Anthony got married, that's when things fell apart.

                         Anthony became controlling, dictating where she could go and who she could hang out with. Dolores was really only allowed to work and make money before coming back home. Although Anthony didn't want Dolores around any of her family and friends, he really had a problem with Richie. He had never liked how close the two of them were. He couldn't stand it actually. Anthony was convinced that if he didn't watch over the two of them, something would happen. Even though Richie himself was married and had a daughter of his own that he loved.

                         For six years, Dolores had tried to make it work. After all, she tried to see the best in everyone. She took all the controlling behavior and the jealousy and the paranoia and the greed and all the isolation until she couldn't anymore. Finally, Dolores decided to put her foot down and divorce Anthony. Much to her relief, Anthony signed the papers and abandoned Dolores which showed just how much he really "loved" her. Dolores was tired and exhausted after it was all said and done but she was finally free. And that was what mattered the most.

                        Shortly after that, Richie and Tiffany had gotten divorced too. While Richie loved her, he wasn't in love with her. Whether he wanted to admit it out loud or not, his heart belonged to his very own best friend. Just as hers belonged to his. And after years of not seeing each other (thanks to Anthony), they reconnected, and it was like no time had passed at all. They were able to pick right back up from where they had left off like it was nothing. 

                       Richie always made sure to stop by Dolores's bakery to try whatever new dish she had made, hanging out and telling stories. Dolores would even stop by The Beef to pay Richie a visit and hang out with the rest of the crew. Dolores was also close to Mikey too or rather, she thought she had been. While Dolores did know about the money problems The Beef was suffering, she didn't know about everything else. At least... not until after Mikey killed himself.

                       The news had devastated Dolores. And the first person she thought of was Richie, the two of them relying on each other for comfort during the tough time. But neither Richie nor Dolores knew just how difficult times would get. And with the arrival of Mikey's little brother, Carmen, things were about to completely change.

                      For the worst and for the better.

( 🍰👩🏿🍽️ )

word count: 1584
notes: i hope you all enjoyed the short little backstory into dolores and richie's relationship!! let me all know what you thought please!