Chapter Five: Amelia Loses Herself

Derrick and Roger walked around the town city, it had been two weeks since Derrick had started dating Amelia, who was currently working. "So how is the wife?" joked Roger, Derrick rolled his eyes, "I'm not married yet" he joked, "Yet being the keyword" replied Roger cheerfully. Derrick nodded, "Well you never know what will happen in the future" he joked, Roger smiled, "This will hopefully be the last romantic relationship you get involved in, Amelia is very kind, at least from what little I've heard about her" he stated in a friendly way.

Derrick nodded. "She is really sweet, she'd never hurt a fly," he said cheerfully.  "Hey you want to stop by Carl's Coffee and grab a drink?" asked Roger,  Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah sure, Amelia might be working as well and it'll be good to check up on her" he stated. When Derrick and Roger walked into Carl's Coffee they realized it was relatively busy and Amelia was rushing around looking stressed and sweating heavily.

Amelia was carrying some empty coffee cups before tripping over her own feet and falling on her stomach, the two coffee cups had smashed on the floor in front of  Amelia when she tripped. Several customers looked at Amelia with a surprised expression, Derrick ran over to Amelia and helps her back to her feet, she had several small marks on her arms from where the cups had smashed. Amelia started trembling, she was already anxious but didn't know what was going to happen, "Hey are you okay?" asked Derrick in a concerned voice, Amelia nodded her head, "Yes, I am fine" she mumbled as her manager burst out from behind the counter and stormed over to her.

"AMELIA!" yelled The Manager furiously. Amelia bowed her head, "I'm sorry sir, it was an accident, please don't yell" she stuttered, she was clearly scared and was still trembling. "You know I should have thought twice before hiring you, your special needs make you impossible to work with" hissed The Manager angrily. Amelia's bottom lip trembled, "Sir, please don't talk to me like that, I'm sorry, I will do better" she stuttered on the brink of tears. "You're special needs, it's why I pay you less than my other employees, you have two options now get your stuff and leave or you can stay and I'll call the police" he snarled. Amelia broke down in tears, "Sir, please, I need this job, I need to pay my rent" she whimpered. Amelia's Manager rolled his eyes, "You should have thought of that before you recked the joint" he snarled.

Derrick walked up to Amelia and stood between her and her manager, "You know sir, you should be more respectful to your workers, Amelia tripped over and made a small mistake, but it's clear you aren't happy about her because she has a disability, you should hire a lawyer because you're going to need one" stated Derrick coldly.  Amelia grabbed Derrick's arm, she was surprised that he was coming to defend her. Amelia's Manager looked at Derrick angrily, "And who do you think you are?"  he snarled, Derrick rolled his eyes, "Derrick Dun, owner of Rebook Digital, I suggest you apologize to my girlfriend or I'm going to run the entire company out of business and get you blacklisted" hissed Derrick coldly.

Amelia's Manager glared at Derrick angrily, "You're banned, now you and your mentally challenged girlfriend is fired, you have five minutes to leave or there will be consequences" he hissed. Derrick gently tapped Amelia's arm, "Hey go get your bag, I'll deal with this" he stated calmly,  Amelia nodded her head still anxious about the situation which was unfolding. When Amelia left to get her bag Derrick made his move, "I tried being nice but now I guess I'm going to have to run you out of business, I find your comments towards Amelia to be gross and unacceptable,  you will be dealt with" stated Derrick coldly as Amelia returned carrying her backpack in her hands, she looked defeated and as if she'd lost everything.

"Okay Rick, I'm ready to go" mumbled Amelia, Derrick put his arm around her and walked with her out of the coffee shop, Roger closely following.  Once outside Derrick signaled to Roger to leave them so he could comfort Amelia. "You're going to be okay, I can help you, anything you need, you'll have it, money, food, a roof over your head, you just need to say the words" stated Derrick calmly.  Amelia grabbed Derrick's arm and squeezed it tightly, "I-I-I can't accept your offer, my Grandma always said that I needed to learn how to fend for myself" she mumbled anxiously. Derrick tickled the back of Amelia's neck with his finger, Amelia looked at him with a flat-faced expression, "Rick, please don't do that, it overwhelms my senses" said Amelia in an embarrassed voice, pulling her fingers as she spoke.

Derrick nodded his head, "I know, but hear me out, let me help you, my business is doing well, I can afford to look after both of us" he stated.  Amelia bowed her head, "Thank you Rick, but I don't want to feel like I'm using you, I would do anything to pay you back, but I will be in debt to you for the rest of my life" she stuttered as she slurred her words. Derrick smiled at Amelia sympathetically, "I understand, but you need to accept help, last thing you need is to lose the roof over your head and go back on the streets" he stated in a calm and loving tone.

Amelia felt a feeling of shame and embarrassment growing inside her, "I would rather go back on the streets than have to depend on you for my survival" she stuttered anxiously. Derrick put his arm around Amelia's back, "Amelia, you don't understand how a relationship works do you?" asked Derrick in a soft voice. Amelia shook her head, "I'm going off what I heard in movies and saw on TV" she mumbled as she pulled her fingers as she spoke, Derrick smiled, "Well when you're in a relationship you're supposed to support one enough, that's what I want to do for you, so let me help you" he stated calmly. Amelia nodded, "Rick, I appreciate you" she mumbled as she wrapped her arms around Derrick and hugged him.

Derrick gently patted Amelia on the back, "Hey, I love you" he stated in a soft voice. Amelia stopped hugging Derrick and looked at him with wide eyes, "I haven't heard anyone say that to me since I was nine" she stuttered as she pulled her fingers and tried to avoid slurring her words. Derrick smiled at Amelia, "Glad I could change that" he said cheerfully, Amelia flashed Derrick a small smile, "You're the kindest person I've ever met, I love you too" she mumbled. Derrick smiled at Amelia cheerfully and began to chuckle, "Well since you're free for the rest of the day you wanna go grab something to eat? I'm buying" said Derrick in a playful way.

Amelia nodded her head, "Yes, but I also want to speak to my landlord about extending my tenancy, even if I can't afford it" she mumbled. Derrick grabbed Amelia's hand, Amelia stared at Derrick with an anxious expression, "Have you ever lost your job?" she asked skeptically. Derrick nodded and let out a deep sigh, "Yeah I have, it's not all bad, yeah it sucks, to begin with, but you'll bounce back eventually" he stated in a calm tone. Amelia looked at Derrick with a flat-faced expression, "What was the job you lost?" she asked softly, Derrick let out another deep sigh, "I used to work with a group of my friends to run a free ad-supported streaming service for public domain films, I was pushed out of the company after a falling out" he sighed.

Amelia bowed her head, "I am sorry to hear that Rick, is that why you went on to republish public domain books instead?" she said. Derrick smiled at Amelia cheerfully, "Yeah that's right, I've made my money, they've made theirs, it's nothing I lose sleep over, now come on I know a burger place that you will love" he replied. Amelia nodded her head, "Thank you, it must have been hard, not only did you lose your business but you lost your friends as well" she stuttered as she jumbled half of her words together. Derrick nodded, "Yeah I lost a lot from that incident, but it was also a learning experience, think of this as a learning experience for yourself, now you're free and you can find a job that fits you more than this one did" he stated calmly. Amelia flashed Derrick a thankful grin, "Thank you for sharing, it is very appreciated" she stuttered as she pulled on her fingers.

After Derrick and Amelia had gotten something to eat, they headed back to Amelia's apartment, once there Amelia sat down on the sofa and stared at Derrick. "Hey are you okay?" asked Derrick in a concerned tone, Amelia blinked three times then nodded her head, "Yeah I'm fine, please tell me what is it like for you?" she asked in a soft voice. Derrick looked at Amelia with a confused expression, "What do you mean, what is it like for me?" he asked, Amelia bowed her head and pulled on her fingers, "What's it like to be neurotypical? You know, non-autistic?" asked Amelia nervously. "Amelia, that is something I cannot comment on, I've never had to walk in the shoes of an autistic person so I can't tell you how different it is, what I can tell you is you're the most amazing person I've ever met" stated Derrick in a soft, gentle voice. Amelia nodded her head and flashed Derrick a small smile, "Thank you, I appreciate that answer" she stuttered as she slurred her words.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, Amelia walked over to the door, "Who is it?" she mumbled, "It's your landlord, Mr Numbles" said the voice from behind the door. Amelia froze in place, she knew what Mr Numbles was going to say but didn't want to face it, "One second" squealed Amelia who was inches away from the door. Derrick walked up to Amelia, "Hey are you okay?" he asked calmly, Amelia shook her head, "I'm going to get evicted" she stated, Derrick put his hands on Amelia's shoulders, "You'll be okay, I'm here for you" he stated. Amelia nodded her head and opened the door. Mr Numbles a six-foot-tall man with a friendly smile and a blue suit walked into the apartment. "Ah Amelia, my favorite client, how are you?"  said Mr Numbles cheerfully, "I am fine sir, how are you?" replied Amelia awkwardly. Mr Numbles spotted Derrick and smiled even more cheerily, "Ah and you must be the new boyfriend I've heard about, the book publisher right?" said Mr Numbles as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Derrick looked at Mr Numbles and declined his handshake, "Yeah I'm Amelia's boyfriend, you must be her landlord" he said coldly. Mr Numbles nodded his head, "I sure am, now do you know if Amelia can pay off her debts?" he asked. Amelia shook her head, "I am sorry sir, but I can't pay off the debt, I lost my job today" stuttered Amelia as her eyes started to water. Mr Numbles looked at Amelia and let out a deep sigh, "Amelia I think you're a sweet girl, but I need that three thousand and five hundred pounds in rent you still own me from over the last five months, if you can't pay it off then I'll have no choice but to evict you" he stated in a cold heartless tone. Amelia fell to her knees bawling her eyes out, she felt like a failure and that she had just lost everything.

Derrick couldn't bare to watch Amelia cry and turned to Mr. Numbles, "Maybe me and you can come to some sort of deal?" asked Derrick. Mr Numbles looked at Derrick sceptically, "Sorry sonny boy, all I want is the rent that's owed to me, once that's paid Amelia is out" said Mr Numbles coldly. Derrick rolled his eyes in annoyance, "I was going to ask if I could pay off Amelia's debt, I have the money and I can write you a check, all I need is a couple days to help Amelia move her stuff out" stated Derrick calmly. Mr Numbles looked at Derrick with raised eyebrows, "You want to pay off her debt? But why?" asked Mr Numbles in a state of shock and confusion. "Because she is important to me and I want to provide for her, please sir let's make a deal" pleaded Derrick.

Mr Numbles nodded her head, "If you turn over a check then I will give you six days to get Amelia moved out" he stated calmly. Derrick nodded his head and took out his checkbook, Derrick wrote out a check for three thousand and five hundred pounds. Mr Numbles took the check and nodded his head, "Amelia has six days to move out, anything she doesn't move out by the end of those six days will be trashed" stated Mr Numbles coldly as he walked out of the apartment. Amelia looked up at Derrick and she was extremely emotional, Amelia stood up and stared at Derrick, her eyes never left Derrick. "Hey are you okay Ani?" asked Derrick, Amelia shook her head, "You did that to help me, that didn't help" she stuttered. Derrick looked at Amelia confused, "What do you mean? I've just erased your debt" he asked awkwardly.

Amelia bowed her head, "You didn't erase my debt, I am now almost four grand into debt to you, I don't know how to repay you, I don't think I ever will be able to pay you back such a high sum" she mumbled as she held her hands over her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Amelia you don't have to pay me back, I did it to help take that burden off of your back, you have a disability and you don't need your impending financial ruin bouncing around in your head" stated Derrick calmly. Amelia moved her hands away from her face, her eyes were red from her crying, "I love you, I genuinely do, I owe you my life" she mumbled as she rushed to get the words out.

Derrick smiled at Amelia lovingly, "Don't mention it, besides you have to make a choice, you can either move in with me or I can find you somewhere else to rent" he stated softly. Amelia looked at Derrick with a flat-faced expression, "Is your apartment big enough for the two of us?" she asked nervously. Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah it is I have Roger there right now setting up the second bedroom to make sure you have a nice comfy bed to sleep on and a wardrobe to keep all your clothes in if that's what you want of course" said Derrick calmly. Amelia nodded her head, "I want that, I want to be able to see you every day without fail, I will get another job and try to pay my way where I can I have an idea for something we could do as well to make loads of money if you want to do that" she mumbled anxiously.

"Tell you what, you pack some stuff that you need from your room and we'll discuss your idea when we take them to my flat" stated Derrick cheerfully. Amelia nodded her head, "Yes Rick, thank you Rick" she mumbled as she walked out of the room and into her bedroom.