Chapter Seven: Amelia's Mistake

Derrick was sitting on his sofa when he heard a loud SMASH! sound coming from the kitchen,  Derrick stood up and sprinted to the kitchen to see Amelia on her knees surrounded by glass, "Hey are you okay?" asked Derrick worriedly as he helped Amelia to her feet. Amelia bowed her head, "I'm sorry, it was an accident" she stuttered anxiously, Derrick looked around the kitchen and realized what had smashed, "It's fine, accidents happen, are you okay?" he asked calmly. Amelia shook her head, "I'm so sorry, is it possible to repair it or replace it?" she mumbled as she pulled her fingers anxiously. Derrick kneels and picks up a shattered picture frame with a torn photo, the picture shows Derrick, another boy, and two girls.

"Don't worry about it Ani, it's fine" he stated as he tried to not get upset, Amelia shook her head, "The picture, those people, can you call them and retake the photo?" she stuttered anxiously. Derrick shook his head, "It would be pretty hard, we haven't spoken in years, not after Ruby passed away" he stated. Amelia looked at Derrick with wide eyes, "Is she one of the girls in the photo?" she asked in an anxious voice, Derrick nodded her head, "Yeah, Ruby is the girl in the middle of me and her brother in the picture, the other girl is my sister Jessica" stated Derrick as he slowly stood up. Amelia bowed her head, her eyes watered, "I am so sorry, I shouldn't be forgiven, I will leave if needed, I want to help, I didn't mean to upset you" she mumbled.

Derrick shook his head, "Amelia, it's fine, I'll be fine" he stated as he walked out of the room and into his bedroom, Amelia bowed her head, "I messed up, I've hurt Derrick, I need to fix this" she muttered as she noticed Derrick's phone on the kitchen side, "I shouldn't go on his phone, but it's for the greater good" she stuttered anxiously. Amelia unlocked Derrick's phone and found his sister Jessica's phone number, Amelia sent Jessica a text off of Derrick's phone and got a response seconds later after a few minutes Amelia convinced Jessica to bring over a copy of the photo before putting Derrick's phone on charge. "What are you doing?" asked Derrick skeptically. Amelia bowed her head, "I wanted to try and make things right, I have asked your sister to bring over a copy of the photo, please don't be mad I just want you to have the memories" she stuttered.

Derrick nodded his head slowly he looked at Amelia with a blank stare, "Amelia, go sit down I want to tell you a story" he stated softly. Amelia nodded her head and walked over to the sofa and sat down, Derrick walked over and sat down next to her. "Ruby was a friend of mine and my sister's since we were ten, my sister was in love with her since then Jessica has sworn off dating as she doesn't want to lose someone again, she also has demanded to meet every single girl I date and test them to see if she thinks they're right for me, if she doesn't think you're a good match she'll attack you" sighed Derrick. Amelia felt goosebumps form on her arms, she was now very frightened, "But she won't attack me right?" she stuttered as she pulled her fingers.

Derrick let out a deep sigh, "Amelia, Jessica sees any woman I talk to as a threat, she will probably make some sly comments, joke about you, and see if she can trigger you, if she triggers you don't react because she will use it as something against you" he stated nervously. Amelia bowed her head, "I will do my very best to not react to her mocking and insulting me, I promise" she stuttered as she pulled on her fingers anxiously. Suddenly there was a loud KNOCK at the door, "It's open!" shouted Derrick.

Amelia held her breath as Jessica walked in, her hair was blue, she was taller than Amelia, wore a suit, and had a soulless expression plastered on her face. Jessica looked at Derrick and smiled, "Hey bro, I got the picture you asked for, just be happy I always keep a spare" she joked in a playful voice. Jessica looked over at Amelia and rolled her eyes, "Really Derrick is this your new girlfriend? Hi, I'm Jessica, Derrick's older, wiser, and more mentally mature sister" said Jessica the tone of her voice sounding more authoritarian than playful. "Jessica this is my girlfriend Amelia. did you bring the photo?" replied Derrick calmly. Jessica nodded her head and handed Derrick a framed picture, "Here you go bro, don't break this one" she joked. Derrick nodded his head and looked at Amelia, "I'm going to hang this up, try not to get hurt" he whispered.

Derrick walked out of the living room and into the kitchen, Amelia watched him anxiously as he disappeared through the doorway. Jessica looked at Amelia with an evil glare, "So in what dumpster did my brother find you?" she joked. Amelia bowed her head, "He didn't find me in a dumpster, he found me in a coffee shop, we connected and now we're here, I love him more than I have ever loved anyone" she stuttered as she pulled her fingers anxiously. Jessica grabbed Amelia's arm and pulled her to her feet, "Ow, please don't do that, I'm very sensitive" whined Amelia as she found herself face-to-face with Jessica's evil glare. "Oh poor naive Amelia, you make it sound like I care, are there any disabilities or health issues I need to know about which Derrick knows or doesn't know about?" hissed Jessica.

Amelia bowed her head, "I-I-I'm on the autism spectrum" she stuttered, she is uncomfortable and her thoughts began to overwhelm her. Jessica smirked at Amelia menacingly, "Well I did assume there was something you were hiding, do you know what it means? That you are trying to date my perfectly normal brother, you belong with your parents or on the streets, you don't deserve my brother" she hissed as she spat on Amelia's shoes. Amelia felt herself getting angry but she didn't want things to get violent, "Please be reasonable, just because I'm different doesn't mean I'm not human" stuttered Amelia, now on the brink of a breakdown. "You're subhuman, Derrick deserves a real woman, not someone who is going to be a plank of wood in emotional situations but get overly emotional when someone calls her out?" said Jessica coldly.

Amelia broke down in tears, "Oh get a grip" hissed Jessica as she pushed Amelia back onto the sofa causing Amelia to hit her head on the wall. Derrick walked in and rushed over to Amelia, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, "Hey it's okay, tell me what happened"  stated Derrick calmly. Amelia pointed at Jessica and screamed, "Monster!" as she continued to break down, Derrick looked at Jessica with a furious stare, "Jessica, get out!" he demanded. Jessica shrugged her shoulders, "Whatever you say, baby bro, I was just looking out for you" she joked as she walked out of Derrick's apartment.  Amelia looked up at Derrick, she felt embarrassed and her cheeks were bright red, "You were right, she is awful, I am sorry I ever got her to come over" she mumbled. Derrick grabbed Amelia's hand, "I'm sorry I left you two alone, did she hurt you? What did she say to you?" he asked in a supportive and caring tone.

Amelia bowed her head, "She spat on my shoes, and she mocked me for my condition, and said I'm subhuman" she mumbled, still feeling overwhelmed by her emotions. Derrick let out a deep sigh, "Amelia, don't worry about what she thinks about you, you are special to me and you always will be, I love you for who you are, your disability makes me more sympathetic to you when times require it, just know I love you forever and I will always be by your side" he stated softly. Amelia nodded her head, "You have a way with words, Rick, you always have done, I appreciate you, your love is what keeps me going, I have lost so much and today I realized you lost someone as well, would you like to talk about it?" replied Amelia calmly.

Derrick nodded his head, "We were fourteen when it happened, we had a group chat and well one day Ruby seemed to have a breakdown and started spamming us with a message saying how much we meant to her and she would see us on the other side,  we went to check up on her but it was too late she was gone, we didn't know what happened till her father read the note she left, she felt like she was a burden and decided to take herself off the board, that's why I  keep the photo, to remind me to not let something like that happen again" stated Derrick tears building in his eyes. Amelia wrapped her arms around Derrick, "It's okay Rick, I won't ever put you through that and I will always do my best to help you" she stated calmly.

Derrick nodded his head and flashed Amelia a thankful smile, "Thank you, baby, I'm always here for you too" he stated in a calm and loving voice. Amelia nodded, "I had no idea that you had battled such an event, it makes it clear to me that me and you are perfect for each other, I love you and I appreciate you opening up to me" she mumbled as she pulled her fingers. Derrick nodded his head, "Thank you for listening, I haven't told anyone this story since it happened, I'm just glad I could get it off my chest" he stated calmly. Amelia flashed Derrick a cheerful smile, "Did I make you feel relieved?" asked Amelia cheerfully, Derrick nodded his head, "Yeah, you have Ani" he replied cheerfully. Amelia clapped her hands excitedly, "That's good, it feels good to know that I could help" she squealed excitedly.

Derrick smiled at Amelia cheerfully, "You are such a child" he joked, Amelia shook her head, "Due to my circumstances I had to grow up really fast, it's why I was so desperate to have my own home, but now I have something better, I have you" said Amelia as she smiled from ear to ear. Derrick nodded his head, "I'm happy too, you're an amazing woman and you deserve the best" he stated softly, Amelia locked eyes with Derrick, "I love you" she stuttered anxiously, "I love you more" replied Derrick cheerfully, Amelia shook her head, "Not possible, I only have space in my heart for one person and that is you" she mumbled. "Well that explains why there is only room in my heart for you too" said Derrick in a playful and teasing manner. Amelia's cheeks turned bright red, "Do you really mean it?" she asked anxiously, "Yeah, I do" replied Derrick cheerfully, Amelia leaned forward, she clearly was expecting Derrick to kiss her. "What are you doing?" asked Derrick, Amelia got embarrassed, "I thought, you know that we were gonna kiss" she stuttered, Derrick nodded his head, "Is that what you want?" he asked softly.

Amelia's face was now completely red, "Am I allowed?" she asked anxiously. Derrick nodded his head, "If that's what you want then sure" he stated cheerfully, Amelia nodded her head, "Then please can I have one?" she asked. Derrick nodded, "Sure thing baby" he said cheerfully as he lightly kissed Amelia on the lips, Amelia started giggling, "Thank you, I feel loved" she stuttered. Derrick nodded, "Good, I'm happy about that" he stated cheerfully.