Chapter Two: Hanging With Amelia

Derrick sat listening to music for about half an hour outside Carl's Coffee until Amelia emerged from the coffee shop. Amelia had changed out of her waitress apron and was now wearing blue jeans, white trainers, and a pink t-shirt. Amelia walked up to Derrick and smiled at him warmly. "Hey, you waited for me" stuttered Amelia as she tried her best to avoid slurring her words, Derrick nodded his head and smiled cheerfully, "Yeah of course I did, why wouldn't I?" he replied cheerfully. Amelia shrugged, "I don't know, nobody has ever really bothered with me"  she stuttered.

"Well nobody till now" joked Derrick cheerfully, Amelia nodded her head "Yeah I suppose so, I'm just a bit surprised is all, where's your friend?" she stuttered as she pulled her fingers. "Don't be surprised, he had to go get something sorted, so it's just you and me if that's okay"  replied Derrick calmly. Amelia nodded her head she flashed Derrick a small smile, "Yeah that's fine, I don't mind, you're the one I wanted to speak to anyway" said Amelia slowly as she tried to avoid mumbling her words. Derrick looked at Amelia with a confused stare, "Hey is everything okay?" he asked, Amelia nodded her head, she had a blank expression on her face, "Yes I am, why is there a problem?" she stuttered as she grew awkward at the situation.

"No, I'm just curious why you slowed your speech, is everything okay?" asked Derrick with a concerned stare. Amelia shook her head and stared at the ground, "No, sorry, I have a speech impediment, it's part of my disability" she stuttered, unsure if she should tell Derrick what her disability is. Derrick smiled at Amelia with a supportive look, "If you don't want me to know what your disability is right now then I won't force you, but if it's something that may cause you to require some assistance then please let me know and I'll help"  he stated warmly.

Amelia smiled at Derrick with a thankful grin, her eyes started to water. "Hey, Amelia are you okay?" asked Derrick skeptically. Amelia nodded her head, "Yes, I'm fine, it's just I'm surprised, most people treat me differently because of my condition, it's the main reason my grandma disowned me" whimpered Amelia. Derrick hugged Amelia tightly, "Hey I'm here for you" he whispered before pulling away from Amelia.

Amelia stared at Derrick as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Amelia nodded, "Walk with me and I'll explain everything, I need to vent about some stuff and I want to discuss some things with you, what name do you want me to address you as?" she said nervously. "I go by three main names, Derrick, Rick, and Ricky, it's your choice" replied Derrick cheerfully. Amelia nodded her head again, "Let's start walking" she said as the duo started walking towards the high street.

Derrick and Amelia walked side by side down the street, there was always a large amount of hustle and bustle. "So you're from Cambridge?"  asked  Derrick,  Amelia nodded her head, "That's right, born and raised, so sorry if I come off as a little posh" she said, clearly trying to make a joke. "Well you can't be much posher than me, especially since Oxford is supposed to be a pretty posh place" joked Derrick. Amelia rolled her eyes, "Yeah supposed to be, to be honest, I moved here to run away from my problems" she stuttered slurring most of her words before stamping her foot angrily.

"Running away from your problems?" asked Derrick calmly,  Amelia froze in place, "There were too many painful memories in Cambridge so I snuck on a train and came to Oxford, I don't plan to ever go back to Cambridge, not even when my grandma passes away, she has a cold heart and a dark soul" stated Amelia trying not to get angry at the thought of her grandma. Derrick looked at Amelia with a protective stare, "Do you mind telling me about your painful memories" he asked calmly. Amelia nodded her head, "My parents died in a car crash when I was nine, even after ten years I struggle with the comprehension that both my mother and father died in that accident, my grandma also had me put in an orphanage till I turned fifteen, then she adopted me only to kick me out at seventeen after she found something in my medical records" she stuttered as she tried her best to not get overwhelmed by her emotions.

Derrick looked at Amelia with a curious stare, "Your disability is what she discovered I assume?" he asked. Amelia bowed her head, "Yes it is, she told me that my condition meant I wasn't her biological granddaughter and that she'd rather me die on the streets than look after me, she said my disability makes me less human and I will always be a mental child in her eyes"  she stuttered on the brink of tears. Derrick looked at Amelia with a confused look, "Amelia why did she think that? The only disability I can think of that would make her think that is... autism" said Derrick in a soft voice as he realized what Amelia's disability was.

Amelia nodded her head, she looked as if the colour from her face was drained from her face, "I am yes, sorry if that's a no-go for you, I don't know if you support people with my disability, just please don't hate me for it" she whimpered anxiously. Derrick smiled at Amelia with a supportive smile, "We're going to get on just fine, I'm not going to judge you for something like that, just let me know what your boundaries are and we'll be able to move forward as a team" he stated.

Amelia took a small silver medical bracelet out of her jean pocket and put it on her left wrist, Derrick mesmerized by the bracelet gently grabbed Amelia's hand, "Amelia Fran Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD"  he said out loud. Amelia nodded her head, "It's my name and what my specific form of autism is, I know there are a couple of different conditions linked to autism like dyslexia and ADHD. You're not going to treat me like I'm some sort of freak because of this right?" she asked anxiously.

Derrick shook his head, "No, why would I do that?  Your different but you're not a freak, we're still cool Amelia" he stated in a kind tone.  Amelia nodded her head "Thank you, you are so thoughtful, you're the first person to accept me as a person before even acknowledging my disability, thank you, Derrick, you are beyond amazing" stuttered Amelia excitedly as she started fidgeting with her hands.  Derrick smiled cheerfully, "Don't mention it, we're friends and friends accept each other for who they are right? Sorry if that sounds cliche" he joked. Amelia smiled from ear to ear, "I think so, at least that's how it is in the movies and on TV so that's how I assume it works, I wouldn't know as I'm not very well informed when it comes to social skills or social interactions, but hopefully, I will be able to learn from both you and your friends" she said cheerfully.

As Derrick and Amelia walked onto the college campus Amelia kept smiling at Derrick who was blissfully unaware of what was going on in Amelia's head. "I wonder what Derrick thinks of me, I hope he has mutual feelings for me" Amelia whispered under her breath. Derrick looked at Amelia and flashed her a small smile "I wonder what she thinks of me, I hope she likes me, I feel like we would be a good match" whispered Derrick under his breath as the pair walked into the college building.