Chapter Three: College Days

Derrick stood outside his college class, we were checking his book analytics and smiled cheerfully. Roger approached Derrick and tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to jump in fright. "Hey don't do that, you could have given me a heart attack"  hissed Derrick angrily, Roger shook his head, "Apologies, I excepted you to look up from your phone" replied Roger in a jokey tone. Derrick rolled his eyes, "It's 2024 dude, nobody looks up from their phones anymore, that's old fashioned" joked Derrick as the pair stood chuckling to themselves.

Amelia approached the two young men and smiled, "Hey guys, what you laughing about?" she asked in a friendly way. Derrick smiled cheerfully, "It's just banter, don't worry about it" he replied, Amelia nodded her head, "Oh okay fair enough, so what are you guys doing for the next two hours? I was going to go find somewhere to sleep, I'm exhausted" she stuttered as she waved her hands as she spoke. "We were going to get something to eat, if you want to come" said Derrick cheerfully. Amelia looked at Derrick with a wide-eyed expression, she had never been invited out before so she had no idea what to say.

Amelia bowed her head in shame, "Thank you for the offer Ricky, it's very kind of you, but I'm not in the best financial situation right now, my landlord has doubled my rent so I'm stretched really thin, I can't even afford to pay my bills, I'm sorry" she stuttered as she tried to stop herself getting overwhelmed with anxiety. Derrick put his thumb under Amelia's chin and made her look up at him, "Come on Amelia, let me buy you lunch" joked Derrick cheerfully.  Amelia turned bright red, she was embarrassed and didn't know how to respond, "I want to come, but I don't want you to feel like I'm using you" she stuttered, feeling more of a pull towards Derrick by the way he treated her.

Amelia stared at Derrick with a loving stare, a huge gleeful smile forming on her face, "Derrick, why are you being so nice to me?" giggled Amelia. "It's how Derrick is, he's probably the nicest person I know" said Roger cheerfully. Derrick nudged Roger, "What do you mean probably? I am the nicest person you know" joked Derrick cheerfully.  Amelia nodded her head, "You're the nicest person I've ever met, well except my father, he called me Ani because I love animation, and he would always be kind and adapt to whatever I needed. You remind me of him in a lot of ways" stuttered Amelia anxiously as she felt herself getting emotional.

Derrick puts his hand on Amelia's shoulder, "Hey, are you okay?" he asked sympathetically. Amelia bowed her head, "I will be fine, I'm alive, I'm surviving, I guess I just miss being held when I was sad" she stuttered as she moved her hands as she spoke. Derrick put his arm around Amelia's back, "Hey I'm here for you Ani" stated Derrick in a kind voice. Amelia looked into Derrick's eyes, "Thank you for being kind to me" she stuttered a huge smile plastered on her face. "Geez, get a room you two" joked Roger, Amelia stopped staring into Derrick's eyes and looked away from him, trying to not make her feelings obvious. Derrick smiled cheerfully, "Oh shut up Roger, you know I have rules about the girls I date" he joked.

Amelia looked back at Derrick confused, "There are rules to who you date?" she asked, trying to not sound disappointed or interested. Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah of course I have rules to who I date, I always have to take them on a date first" he replied cheerfully. "Great now I don't stand a chance" whispered Amelia under her breath as she started to daydream. Roger looked at Derrick puzzled, "Hey we all still getting food?" he asked, Derrick nodded his head, " Yeah of course, hey Amelia you coming?" said Derrick, Amelia snapped out of her daydream, "Are you sure you want to pay for me?" she asked anxiously. Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah of course" he said cheerfully. Amelia nodded her head, "Okay, fine I will come, just know I will work my hardest to be able to pay you back" she stuttered as she mumbled several of her words.

Derrick nodded his head, "Don't worry about it, where do you want to eat?" he asked cheerfully. Amelia looked at Derrick flat-faced, "Can we go to that new chicken restaurant? if that's fine with you guys?" she asked anxiously as she pulled on her fingers. Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah. that's fine with me" he replied cheerfully. "It's fine with me as well" stated Roger calmly as well. Derrick nodded his head, "Great, I'm just going to run to the loo then we'll go" he stated as he walked down the hall to the men's toilets.

Amelia stared at the ground, she was alone with Roger and didn't know what to say. "You're attracted to him, aren't you?" asked Roger politely. Amelia turned bright red, she didn't know how to respond and didn't want Derrick to find out. Roger saw Amelia turn red and smiled at her in a friendly way, "Hey I'm not going to tell Rick, he's my best mate but he doesn't need to know this, not yet anyway and it's your place to tell him" he stated. Amelia slowly nodded her head, "Why is he so nice to me?" she asked, Roger let out a deep sigh, "Rick is nice to everyone, he's rich and is a good businessman, but he also can't catch a break, in the last year he's gone through seven breakups, he was used and lied to, yet he is desperate to find someone who loves him the way he loves them" he stated calmly.

Amelia nodded her head, "Do you think he'll go for me?" she asked anxiously as she pulled her fingers, "Amelia you literally met him when me and him were discussing you, however, you probably have to ask him out though, Derrick might act confident around women but he never wants to be the one to ask the question" stated Roger. Amelia felt herself getting overwhelmed with emotions as she realized she might have a chance. Derrick emerged from the men's toilets and started walking towards Amelia and Roger. Amelia saw Derrick out of the corner of her eye and stood up straight trying to stop her mind from wandering.

Derrick smiled at the duo, "Hey you guys ready to go?" he asked cheerfully. Roger shook his head, "Sorry mate, I can't, something has come up with my little sister, I've got to go sort it out for her, but you and Amelia should definitely still go, you two go and bond, let me know how it goes" stated Roger as he winked at Derrick and Amelia before turning around and walking away. Amelia blushed in embarrassment, "Why you little" she whispered under her breath. "Hey Amelia, you ready to go?" asked Derrick cheerfully. Amelia nodded her head, "Yes sir, I'm ready" she mumbled. Derrick nodded his head, "Okay, great, let's go" he said cheerfully as he started walking towards the exit of the building. "I wonder what's going on in his head" she whispered under her breath before chasing after Derrick down the hallway.

When Amelia and Derrick walked into a local chicken takeaway restaurant, Amelia immediately regretted her decision, the restaurant was loud and was overwhelming her senses, Amelia covered her ears with her hands as she tried to numb the noise around her. Derrick noticed Amelia was overwhelmed by the noise and dug into his trouser pocket, Derrick pulled out a pair of wireless earbuds and handed them to Amelia, "Here, use these" he said calmly. Amelia looked up at Derrick and nodded her head, Amelia put the two earbuds in her ears and stared at Derrick with a thankful grin, "Thank you, Derrick, that's a lot better" she stuttered. Derrick nodded his head, "It's fine, what would you like to eat?" he asked. Amelia looked up at the menu above the counter and sighed, "Can I just get some chicken strips? That's the best type of chicken" she said as she tried to stop herself from flapping her hands.

Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah sure thing" he said cheerfully as he walked up to the counter and placed his and Amelia's orders. Amelia looked at Derrick surprised, "You ordered the same thing as me?" she asked, "Yeah of course I did, I like chicken too" joked Derrick. Amelia smiled at Derrick cheerfully, she could tell he was trying to flirt with her.  After receiving their food Derrick and Amelia walked out of the restaurant and walked over to the local park to eat. Derrick and Amelia sat on a bench in front of a statue, the sun was shining and there was a nice cool breeze.

Amelia smiled to herself before looking up at Derrick, "Thank you, Derrick, you are extremely generous and I appreciate you" she stated as she opened her chicken box. Derrick nodded his head, "Of course, you told me about your struggles and I wanted to help" he replied cheerfully. Amelia bowed her head, "Rick, thank you for being kind to me today, is there any way for me to repay you?" she mumbled as her words jumbled together. Derrick smiled at Amelia cheerfully, "You don't need to, you know I always try to help people whenever I can" he said.  Amelia smiled at Derrick warmly, she could think of a thousand things to say to him in that moment but decided to stay quiet.