Who is Shea from Rainbow Boys and what is their importance?

Shea is Nelson's close lesbian friend, and the person in charge of all Nelson's new hairstyles. Nelson share everything with Shea, but when they have a fight, she claims that their friendship is one-sided. Nelson only talks about himself and his problems, never asking about hers. Shea is in a long-term relationship with Courtney, but they break up before Courtney leaves for college. Just as Shea expected, when she reaches out to Nelson, he is too absorbed in his own problems to listen to hers and she ends the friendship.