Chapter Four: Amelia's Request

Derrick stood by the exit of the college building, playing a game on his phone when Amelia approached him. Derrick looked at Amelia and flashed her a cheerful smile, "Hey, you okay?" he asked in a friendly way, Amelia nodded her head she had a flat expression on her face, "Yeah I'm fine, I was just going to ask if you could walk me home? if you don't mind of course" she stuttered. Derrick nodded, "Of course, I don't mind, I assume you can't afford to live in a good neighborhood and that you're a little anxious about walking home alone" he stated calmly. Amelia nodded her head, "Yes sir,  my neighborhood isn't safe and a woman was murdered the other week so my anxiety is very high at the moment" she mumbled as she pulled on her fingers.

Derrick nodded, "Of course, I'll walk you home, I don't want you getting hurt"  he stated, Amelia flashed Derrick a thankful smile, "I appreciate you doing this" she stuttered. Derrick smiled at Amelia supportively, "Hey don't mention it, I want you to get home safe, where do you live?" he asked. Amelia felt a tingle go down her spine, "I live in an apartment on Runned Road" she stuttered anxiously, Derrick looked at Amelia with a shocked expression, "You live there? How are you still alive?" he asked, Amelia shrugged her shoulders, "I just want to go home and lay down, I feel really burnt out and drained today" she mumbled. Derrick nodded his head and flashed Amelia a cheerful grin, "Come on then, I'll walk you home" he stated, Amelia nodded her head, "Thank you Rick" she mumbled as the pair walked out of the college building.

As the pair walked, Amelia tried her best to avoid staring at Derrick and instead kept pulling her fingers, Derrick watched Amelia with a concerned look, "Hey Ani, are you okay?" asked Derrick. Amelia looked up at Derrick and nodded her head, she was clearly very anxious, "Yes, I'm fine it's just we're approaching my street and I'm just a little anxious is all" she stuttered. Derrick smiled a sympathetic smile at Amelia, "Hey, you'll be okay, I'm here and won't let anyone hurt you" he stated. Amelia bowed her head, "Thank you Ricky" she mumbled as she jumbled her words together.

As Amelia and Derrick approached Runned Road, Amelia remained quiet, till she tripped over an overgrown tree root sticking out of the pavement, Amelia fell forward with a loud "THUD!". Derrick ran over to help his fallen friend, "Hey are you okay?" he asked in a concerned tone. Amelia sat up and rubbed her ankle, "I think so, do you mind helping me up?" she asked anxiously, Derrick extended his hand, "Yeah sure thing" he said as he pulled Amelia back up to her feet. Amelia put pressure on her ankle and immediately felt the pain shoot up her body, Amelia's hypersensitivity didn't help and made the pain hurt twice as much as it would a neurotypical person, Amelia tried to hold back her tears as the pain became unbearable. "Ricky, I think I've twisted my ankle, it hurts really bad" she whimpered.

Derrick let out a sigh, "If I can get you home, then I can have a look for you, but we need to find a way to get you home first, I can carry you if you want or I could give you a piggyback ride" he stated calmly. Amelia bowed her head in shame, "Ricky, I don't want to be a bother, I will try and walk it before we go for one of your backup plans" she stuttered as she took a step forward and instantly regretted it. Derrick watched Amelia curl up into a ball on the pavement before bending over and scooping her up in his arms, Amelia looked up at Derrick with wide eyes, "You're carrying me? But why?" she mumbled as she jumbled all her words together. Derrick smiled at Amelia with a supportive expression, "You're hurt, I want to make sure you get home safe, when we get to your house we'll put some ice on your ankle to numb the swelling" he stated in a caring tone.

Amelia digs her head into Derrick's shoulder, she is clearly in a lot of pain but is flattered by Derrick wanting to help her. "I live in that grey towerblock a few buildings down, I live on the second floor" stuttered Amelia as she tried to avoid sounding in pain. "Okay, when we get to your apartment we'll put some ice on your ankle" stated Derrick in a kind tone. Amelia nodded her head, "Thank you, I appreciate your help" she mumbled, knowing how much she wanted to say to Derrick but unsure how to tell him anything.

When they arrived at Amelia's apartment, Derrick took the key from Amelia and unlocked the door.  Derrick walked into the small apartment and gently lowered Amelia onto her torn sofa, "Get your shoe off and I'll get the ice" he stated calmly. Derrick walked over to Amelia's small kitchen and grabbed a bag of ice, when he returned he saw Amelia's ankle was red and sore. Derrick walked up to Amelia and put the bag of ice on her ankle, Amelia jolted from the coldness of the ice but felt relieved.  Amelia stared at Derrick with wide eyes, "Ricky, thank you for this" she mumbled.  Derrick nodded, "It's fine Ani, I wanted to get you home safe" he said softly.

Amelia broke down in tears, Derrick looked at the autistic girl with a look of concern, "Hey what's wrong?" he asked worriedly,  "You're so nice, you're the first person who's been so supportive of me and there's just something about you which I can't get out my head" stuttered Amelia.  Derrick looked Amelia up and down, "Do you have feelings for me?" he asked in a kind tone, Amelia turned bright red and nodded, "Yes, yes I do, I'm sorry if you don't like me in that way, I just want you to know you are amazing" she stuttered, anxious to hear Derrick's reaction.

Derrick smiled at Amelia warmly, "You're attracted to me, that's adorable" he said kindly, Amelia sat up, "Can you please tell me how you feel about me?" she mumbled, Derrick nodded, "What do you think I think about you?" he asked calmly. Amelia started shaking nervously, "I don't know, you've shown yourself to be a really friendly and caring person, but I don't know if you actually like me or not" she stated anxiously. "If I didn't like you then I wouldn't have carried you home, hell I wouldn't have even walked you home, let alone carry you" he said calmly.

Amelia looked at Derrick with wide eyes, "You like me? But is it in a romantic way or a platonic way?" she asked anxiously. Derrick nodded his head, "When you met me I was having a conversation with my friend Roger about you, I flirted with you because from the moment I saw you I developed a crush on you" he stated cheerfully.  Amelia stared at Derrick with a huge grin, "You have a crush on me?" she stuttered, Derrick smiled, "Yes I do" he stated cheerfully.  Amelia blushed, "Would you like to become my partner?" she mumbled as she waved her hands as she spoke.  Derrick nodded "I'd like that a lot" he stated cheerfully,  Amelia nodded her head, "So would I" she stuttered.

"So you're asking me out?" joked Derrick cheerfully,  Amelia nodded her head, "Yes of course I am, you're the first person I've ever had an attraction to, so please tell me, will you date me?" she mumbled anxiously. Derrick nodded, "Yes of course I will, if you want to pursue a relationship with me" he replied.  Amelia smiled excitedly, "Yes of course I do" she stuttered as she flapped her hands excitedly.  Derrick leaned over Amelia and gently kissed her on the forehead, "That's good to hear Ani" he said warmly as Amelia hugged him tightly, not wanting to ever let him go.