Need You

Chapter 24

I had lived with Derrick for four days, spending most of my time at his house hoping that I would soon be attending another job interview.

In the living room, my phone rang and I hesitated before answering.

"Hello." Nikki said.

"Hello."

For the entire time that I had been at Derrick's, I had ignored calls and texts from both Nikki and Amanda. At first it was because I was angry but with how long I went ignoring them, I became ashamed and I let the possible awkwardness of talking to them again prevent me from reaching out.

"How are you? I haven't heard from you in a while."

"I'm okay."

I apologised for ignoring her calls and texts and then she said, "It's fine. I just wish you hadn't left because of that. We knowing of your time in jail didn't change how we felt about you before you told us, and it still didn't change now that you have."

"You knew before I told you?" I asked, sounding curious.

"Leo mentioned it a while back. He said he overheard it from a conversation you Derrick. I honestly didn't care because it changed nothing."

"Mm."

"You've become a really good friend in the time that we've known each other and I'd be really hurt if you distanced yourself because you were in jail. We don't care that you were."

I smiled. How I imagined they'd react to finding out about my jail term was completely different from this indifferent reaction.

"I hope I'll see you soon."

"Yeah, you will."

"Good. I'll see soon. Bye."

"Bye." I responded and ended the call.

In all honesty, I had missed being at the house and seeing those three amazing women daily. In those couple of months I stayed with them, it felt like we had become family. I wanted my life back and thought Derrick would help with that but they did.

I went to check who was at the door when a knock came at it.

Surprisingly, it was Amanda. Standing comely in her dress, the strap of her purse over her shoulder and a brown bag in hand.

Our eyes met and she said softly, "Hi Harry."

"I'm sorry." She said, raising the brown bag. The bottom was wet.

"Hi." I made way for her to enter and followed her into the living room.

The silence last for a few seconds when we sat. "I am sorry." She said. "For how I handled things when I found out you were in jail. You are my friend and I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

I exhaled heavily, smiling at her. "Um... thank you for that. I also am sorry for how I responded, and for lying to you when you asked."

After I had gotten over my anger from what happened, I realised that Amanda was only doing her job and as understandable as my reasons might have been, I was being selfish by not telling her the truth, putting her job at risk.

"I understand why you would want to hide that, and I'm sorry that the company has such a stupid policy. If I could do anything to change it, I would."

"It's fine. I just hope that I get employed again soon." I sighed.

"You will." She smiled.

"So, I got you something." She grinned. Picking up the brown bag, she pouted. "It melted. Sorry."

She handed it to me and looking inside, I saw a bowl of ice cream. I smiled. "Thank you."

We had never hugged before but in that moment it just felt right. Opening my arms, suggesting a hug, she wrapped her arms around my back and it just felt very nice.

"So what have you been up to?"

"Asides looking for my next job, I finished your story."

"You still think of it as a bedtime story?" She smiled.

"Well, I read it when I wanted to sleep so, yes."

She nudged me and told me to give the book back to her. I quickly got it from Derrick's room and gave it to her.

"You didn't give the story an ending."

"I didn't?" She opened the notebook.

"What happened after Lily went on that blind date?" I asked, concerning the story.

"Mm."

I heard the door open and knew Derrick was back. "What's the time?"

"It's almost six." Amanda replied.

"Hi." Derrick said when he came in. I noticed the grim look Amanda gave him. "I wasn't expecting you to be here."

"I was just about leaving." She said sharply as she got her things.

"Tell Nikki I said hi." Derrick mentioned as we were about to walk to the door.
She didn't respond.

"Are you okay?" I asked her as I opened the door for her.

"Yes." She smiled. "Should I be expecting you back at the house soon?"

"Um... I don't think so."

"Why not? I know you left because of what I did but..."

"Maybe I left because of what happened but I'm deciding not to go back to the house because eventually I'd have to move out and I've done that already. I think it's better for me to just stay here and find out what's next for me."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Anyways, thank you for the ice cream and please Ethel and Nikki that I said hi."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye." I closed the door and got back to the living room.

"Are you two good now?" Derrick asked.

"Yeah."

"That's good." He paused. "So when are you moving back to their house?"

I looked at him confused and answered, "I'm not."

"What do you mean? You just said you two are good."

"We are; but that doesn't mean I'm moving back to their house. After all, it's not my house and I only lived there because they were helping me out since I had no where to stay."

"And now you do?" He quipped. "Unless you enjoy sleeping on this couch, I will advise that you find your own place soon."