Chapter Eleven: Derrick's Twentieth Birthday Bash

Derrick woke up to the sound of knocking on his bedroom door, "Hello?" he said curiously, "Can I come in?" asked Amelia from behind the door. Derrick stood up from his bed and walked over to the door, "This isn't going to be you pranking me right?" he asked calmly, "No, I wouldn't prank you, I have no reason to, why would I do such a thing?" asked Amelia as she moved her hands as she spoke. Derrick smiled at Amelia warmly, "You're sweet, I don't know what I would do without you" stated Derrick calmly and lovingly. Amelia nodded and flashed Derrick a warm smile, "Happy birthday Rick" she stuttered. Derrick nodded and smiled at Amelia, "Thank you, baby, what are you up to tonight? I'm thinking of hosting a little party to celebrate" he stated. Amelia bowed her head, "I have no other plans, but I would love to come to a party, just remember I'm a little socially awkward so I may need you to introduce me to any of your friends or family members who may come" she stuttered as she slurred her words.

Derrick smiled cheerfully, "I've invited Roger, my sister Jessica and a few other mates that were on the same college course as me a few years back, I know you and Jessica have somewhat resolved your issues so I hope you two get along tonight, so if anything happens then I will cut her off, you're my top priority and I would rather spend time with you than her"  he stated. Amelia nodded her head, "I hope the party is good, I've never been to a college party before, how do they work?" she asked skeptically.  "Essentially we have a few drinks, we talk about what's going on in our lives, we dance, you know the usual stuff" joked Derrick cheerfully, Amelia bowed her head, "I think that sounds like fun" she said, Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah it will be, I've got to go and buy some stuff for the party if you want to come with me?" he replied cheerfully. Amelia shook her head, "I would love to put I want to rest before the party, especially since last night I had to do a huge shift last night so I'm still pretty tired" she stated anxiously. Derrick nodded, "It's fine I understand, I'm going to go get the supplies, I'll see you in about an hour" he stated as he walked out of the apartment.

Amelia was now alone and walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror "He is having a party, I just hope that he doesn't bring any alcohol. I can't go back to rehab, not again" she mumbled under her breath as her eyes started to water. "If Derrick finds out I'm an addict then he will hate me and judge me for my past" she stuttered under her breath. Amelia grabbed a pink flannel from the sink and ran it under the tap of the sink she was standing at, "I love him forever and I don't want him realizing how much I grapple with addictions and mental issues, not more than he already does" she stuttered as she broke down in tears, fearful for her future with Derrick if he realized how much she struggled. Amelia washed her face and felt herself start to panic, her breathing sped up, "Breathe Ani, Breathe!" she shouted at herself. Amelia was able to slow her breathing down and took a moment to think, "If anyone brings alcohol I will avoid drinking, it'll be tricky but I'll be able to do it" she whispered under her breath as she walked out of the bathroom and into her bedroom.

When the time of the party rolled around Amelia had found herself a lovely blue dress and Derrick was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a pair of shorts. Derrick opened a cupboard in the kitchen and took out a bottle of cider, Amelia watched him anxiously. Derrick looked at Amelia with a concerned look, "Hey are you okay?" he asked, Amelia nodded her head she was too embarrassed to admit her past to Derrick, "Yes, I am fine, I'm just wondering when people will arrive" stuttered Amelia as she slurred her words. Derrick smiled at Amelia with a loving and kind expression, "They'll be here soon, you look stunning by the way, my jaw is hitting the floor just by looking at you" he stated calmly. Amelia turned bright red, and she felt herself getting warm, "I love you Rick" she mumbled as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, "Happy birthday" she continued.  Derrick embraced the autistic woman in his arms, hugging her tightly, "Thank you my darling" he stated warmly.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, Derrick and Amelia broke off their warm embrace, "I'll get it" stuttered Amelia as she walked over to the front door and opened it to see Roger, Jessica and two men Amelia had never seen before all four of them were dressed in smart clothes and Roger and one of the other men had brought carrier bags which were clearly full of bottles of alcohol. Amelia felt herself getting more and more anxious at seeing the amount of alcohol that was being brought into the apartment. Derrick walked over to the door and greeted his guests, "Ah Marcus, Justin, Roger, Jessica, you all came, that is brilliant to see" he stated cheerfully. Marcus nodded his head, "I wouldn't miss your party for the world mate, especially since you always throw a great party" he joked, Derrick signaled to the guests to walk in and make themselves feel at home, Amelia watched as the carrier bags of alcohol were placed on the kitchen side, feeling herself being pulled towards the beverages.

An hour into the party Derrick, Marcus, and Amelia were sat in the living room, Marcus looked at Amelia with a confused expression, "So if you're Derrick's girlfriend I doubt he's told you about the challenge I give all of his friends and family" joked Marcus cheerfully. Derrick nudged Marcus somewhat aggressively, "I don't want you challenging Amelia to that, I don't want her getting drunk" he stated. Amelia's eyes widened, "I could have some drinks" she stated, Marcus smiled at Amelia and then at Derrick, "Come on Derrick we're all adults here let Amelia do the shots contest" pleaded Marcus. Amelia looked at Marcus aggressively, "If I have to drink you under the table I will" she stuttered as she slurred her words as she spoke. Derrick let out a deep sigh, "If you want to take the challenge it's your decision, I'm just trying to stop you from potentially getting alcohol poisoning" he stated calmly. Amelia nodded her head, "I understand but I want to prove to your friends that I am good enough for you" she stated as she pulled her fingers anxiously.

Marcus put two shot glasses on the living room table, took a bottle of tequila from his jacket, and poured out two shots. "First person to ten shots win" stated Marcus as he handed one of the shots to Amelia who downed it immediately, "You're on" joked Amelia excitedly. After ten minutes Amelia had downed nine tequila shots and Marcus had downed seven, Amelia was clearly beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol. After drinking her final tequila shot Amelia laid back on the sofa, "I have beat you" she joked as she smiled cheerfully. Marcus let out a deep sigh he was not a gracious loser so he stood up and walked out of the room. Amelia locked eyes with Derrick she was bopping her head and had a big goofy grin plastered on her face, "Hey are you okay Ani?" Derrick asked in a concerned voice. Amelia nodded her head and started giggling hysterically, she was clearly drunk which made Derrick extremely worried.

Roger walked into the room and looked at the state Amelia was in before shaking his head, "Once an addict always an addict" he stated. Derrick looked at his best friend with a look of confusion, "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked. Roger rolled his eyes at Derrick, "I assume she hasn't told you she has been to rehab due to having an alcohol addiction?" he replied in an annoyed tone. Amelia looked up at Roger and shook her head, "Hey please don't talk about me Mr. Chicken Nugget, you still haven't given me my jetski" she mumbled almost inaudible. Derrick looked at Amelia with a concerned look, "I was unaware of her addiction" he stated his heart beginning to sink and guilty beginning to eat him from the inside. Amelia got up from the sofa and stumbled over to Derrick and Roger, "Hey don't threaten my Rick, he is mine, if you upset him then we will have issues" mumbled Amelia slurring every word as she spoke.

"Amelia you're drunk, you need to get some water to help you avoid a hangover in the morning" stated Derrick calmly. Amelia smiled at Derrick cheekily before resting her head on Derrick's shoulder, "I love you, I love you so much, I want to marry you someday, I never want to lose you" mumbled  Amelia as she began to cry. Derrick put his hand on the back of Amelia's head, "Hey we will get married someday, I love you more than anything or anyone ever, but you need to go to bed and get some rest, I don't want you to have anything else to drink tonight unless it's water" stated Derrick as he signaled to Roger to go and get Amelia a glass of water. Amelia mumbled something under her breath which Derrick didn't understand. When Roger returned with the glass of water Derrick took it off him and gave it to Amelia, "Here drink this, it should help" he stated. Amelia nodded her head and drank every drop of the water before putting the glass on the living room table.

Amelia started rubbing her eyes, she was clearly tired and drunk. Derrick grabbed Amelia's hand and squeezed it tightly. "I love you Ani, I'm going to take you to bed and send everyone home, I don't want them celebrating if you're clearly not doing well" he stated as he picked Amelia up and held her in his arms. Amelia rested her tired, drunk head on the top of Derrick's chest. When Derrick carried Amelia into her room and laid her down in her bed, Amelia looked up at Derrick and looked like she was about to break down into tears, "Thank you, I love you forever Rick" she mumbled as she slurred her words. Derrick nodded his head, "I love you forever too, now please Ani go to sleep and rest you'll hopefully feel better in the morning" he stated as he tucked Amelia in and kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight Ricky" stuttered Amelia, "Goodnight Ani" replied Derrick as he walked out of her bedroom.

Derrick gathered his guests in the living room, "Sorry guys I'm going to have to end the party early, Amelia needs to rest so she can feel better tomorrow" he stated calmly. Marcus, Justin, and Jessica all walked out, Roger walked to the door and turned to face Derrick. "If you want me to tell you anything about Amelia just ask, I'd rather you don't end up putting her back in hospital whilst she withers away waiting for a kidney transplant, she had one once, she's lucky to still be alive" stated Roger as he walked out of the apartment. Derrick shut the door and locked it, he was very concerned about Amelia's health now, as he walked to his bedroom he heard Amelia make a noise in her room, Derrick peeped through the small gap between the door and the doorframe and saw Amelia tossing and turning, "Please don't be mad, Rick don't leave me, I love you" she whimpered. Derrick walked into Amelia's room and sat by her bed holding her hand, "It's okay babe, I love you too" he whispered as Amelia stopped tossing and turning, "Marry me" mumbled Amelia. Derrick smiled at the sleeping woman, "I intend to" he whispered softly.