Need You

CHAPTER 11

Derrick and I got into his car. I didn't care to ask where we were going when he started it.

"Why didn't you tell me you were selling the house? You shouldn't have done that without asking me. First, you stopped visiting and your number stopped working. Then I come out expecting to return to my house, only to find out the house has been sold!" I burst out.

Breathing slowly to calm myself, Derrick said, "Look it happened quickly. I didn't have time to do all that."

He didn't have time to do all that? "How long does it take for someone to tell their best friend and roommate that he's leaving for France?"

"I don't understand why you seem angry." The nonchalance in his voice was annoying. "What difference would it have made if I had told you? I was going to France and it wasn't like you would be out of jail anytime soon then."

"I was homeless!" I yelled.

"Calm down. I knew you would have been released by the time I got back. Teling you would have changed nothing. Sorry."

"Sorry bro." He repeated and streched his hand to me.

We looked at each other briefly and then with a sigh I put my hand in his.
I was assured I was good and that was a relief.

I had just gotten comfortable in the seat when he asked, "Now that you're out, what do you want to do?"

I answered, "Well, I was expecting to get back to my house, a job -"

"Don't you have that?" Derrick interrupted. "You're not homeless and you told me you work at the restaurant."

"As a busboy." Guilty about how ungrateful I sounded, I quickly added, "There's nothing wrong with it but I'm not supposed to be a busboy with the qualifications I have."

Derrick nodded and turned on the radio. An unknown funky tune filled the car and soon we were pulling into a driveway in front of a green house.

"Is this your house?" I asked him when we got out of the car.

"Yeah." He said as he led me inside. It was about the same size as our old place. This one was more luxurious.

"How many bedrooms are in here?"

"One." Derrick replied and disappeared into a room.

The living room was spacious with a big blue L-shaped sofa against the white wall and the TV on the opposite wall. The gray carpet described the large area in between.

Getting comfortable on the couch, I closed my eyes as my feet sunk into the carpet.

"Yo." I opened my eyes just in time to catch what was being thrown at me. Derrick had changed into a black T-shirt and a pair of gray shorts.

Looking at the box I was holding, Derrick mentioned, "I hope you remember how to set up a phone."

"Is it mine?"

He nodded as he switched on the TV. "Thank you."

This was why I wanted Derrick around so badly. It would be easier putting my life back together for the better.

After I had setup my new phone, I checked my email and there was no message from either companies that had interviewed me.

They would reach out. I put the phone down and turned my focus to the football match which was being played on the TV.

I wasn't a big fan of football but the team in the white jersey was familiar. It was Derrick's favourite team. There were a lot of new faces on the team.

According to the scoreboard, Derrick's team was down by two goals. "It seems your team is losing." I commented.

"Oh they'll bounce back. That cup is ours." He stated enthusiastically. "The second half hasn't even started."

In the second half of the match, the players in the white jersey had equalized and as it neared it's end, Derrick kept screaming "Yes" as the players moved the ball into their opponent's half and into their net. "Goal!" He exclaimed moving his bent arms vigorously.

"I told you the cup is ours!"

As I laughed, I heard the notification sound. Quickly, I reached for my phone and as I hoped for, it was an email from Hardware House.

Reading the message they had sent me, disappointment welled up in me. They didn't choose me.

I reminded myself of the other company I was yet to hear from and decided to keepmy hopes up.

Derrick seemed to be on the field with them as the players celebrated their win. I allowed myself to be distracted by the jovial sight of him praising the players and mocking the opponents.

Breathing heavily after everything was done, he said he was hungry. Why wouldn't he after all the movement and yelling? I wasn't doing any of that but I was too.

"Do you have any food here?" I asked.

"No. I just ordered rice. It's thirty minutes away." Derrick said. "You owe me forty bucks."

"For?"

"The food. Have I ever paid for yours?"

He hadn't. I reached into my pocket and gave him the money. We sat there and waited for the delivery longer than the thirty minutes Derrick mentioned.

I heard my phone's notification sound when Derrick went to get the door.

"Damn!" Banking Investments didn't employ me.

"What's wrong?" Derrick asked, carrying a brown bag.

"I wasn't hired for either of the jobs I applied for."

"Oh?" He muttered as he unpacked.

I continued, "I thought the interviews went well. Both men who interviewed me seemed to appreciate my honesty."

"What do you mean?"

"I told them I was in jail."

He turned his head to me with shock on his face. "You did what?" His expression soon changed from shocked to amused.

"They seemed to appreciate your honesty?" He laughed. "Bro, no one is going to hire an ex convict. That's just stupid."

"You actually thought they'd hire you when they know you've been in jail." He continued laughing.

Listening to Derrick, I understood why neither hired me. It was pretty stupid of me to think telling them of my status as an ex convict, would make me appear honest and trustworthy. Who would trust someone who spent three years in jail?

"Harry." I turned to Derrick. He still had the amused look. "Aren't you going to eat? Just so you know, I'm not returning your money if you don't eat."