The Odd Block Part 7: Derrick's Reunion

Synopsis: After Derrick is bullied by the other tenants, he receives a visit from another spider-person. Avery lets them in, and that is only the start of their troubles
Avery touched the webbing covered wall. It was a complicated pattern of thin white strands, and beneath that a thick gunk that seemed discolored, and beneath that probably plywood. At least Derrick was working on fixing the wall in his apartment, in his own way.

“I think I found it,” Derrick said from deeper in the apartment.

Like the last time she was there, the whole place was barely lit. Maybe it was part of being a spider, or maybe it was him being a shut in, but adequate lighting wasn’t part of his aesthetic.

The midday sun was penetrating the thick drapes over his windows enough that she could see him standing on a chair next to a bookshelf. He was reaching into the highest part, feeling on a shelf that just had a few boxes on it from her vantage point.

“Why are you on a chair?” Avery asked as she took careful steps toward him, “Can’t you just spider up there and grab it?”

Derrick looked over his shoulder, both hands still digging around. At the same time, another hand was there to make a gesture to spell out his uncertainty.

“Honestly, I’ve seen your expression when I reveal myself. I don’t like scaring you, Avery.”

She gasped, “Scared? You don’t… well it is more like alarm, than fear.”

Derrick turned back, “Besides Avery, I wouldn’t have to climb up, I’m taller than this whole…”

He stopped as he pulled out a brown square box a little bigger than a VHS case. He stepped down off the chair, and a photo flittered down off the top of the box and landed on the floor.

Derrick didn’t seem to notice, instead he opened the box to reveal the contents to her. It looked like a general board game set, with old heavy-looking dice next to a stack of pearly dominos. There was a cup in there on its side, and a small set of blue-backed playing cards.

“We can play with these,” he said, “they are balance tested, and this way we can be sure Ivan isn’t cheating.”

Avery rolled her eyes, “You were the only one who accused him.”

His grip tightened on the old box, “He was being suspicious, like usual.”

As far as Avery was concerned, it was her fault for trying to get the boys to all get along. She planned a game night, for all four of them to come up to her apartment and bond. She forgot, of course, that Alan often confused cats and dogs, so learning the complex rules of board games took longer than she expected. Then an argument between Derrick and Ivan flared up, with accusations of cheating turning into loud angry declarations.

Before she could get them to stop, Alan had joined in too, possibly just to be as loud as the other two.

“Either way,” Derrick said, “Now the game can continue unimpeded.”

As he walked out, Avery knelt down and picked up the photo. It was hard to see the picture in the bad light, but the picture looked like three people, all about the same skin shade as Derrick’s dark brown.

“Is this your family?” Avery asked, stopping Derrick in his tracks.

He grabbed the picture from her hand, making Avery gasp in shock and annoyance. He looked down at the picture, and for a moment was silent.

“I’ve never seen anyone else like you,” Avery said, “Are there a lot of you guys in the city?”

“No.” Was all Derrick said as he pocketed the picture. He turned, and started back downstairs.

His tone, Avery had the feeling it was a sore topic.

The one in the middle had bright and styled hair, and looked like a young girl. The other two were only different in build, their hair was identical, not all that different from the simple eye-covering style Derrick still had. She couldn’t help but wonder who they were.

She followed behind him, heading up the stairs until she could hear Alan and Ivan talking from down the hall. Which was impressive, since she shut the door behind them when they left. Avery feared for the worst, the boys in some all out brawl over her honor. She wouldn’t put it past either of them, Ivan was oddly protective when he wanted to be, and sometimes Alan was no better than a hound.

She passed Derrick with a little desperation, opening the door, tension building in her chest.

“It’s fine as is, you dingus!” She could hear Ivan yelling.

It took a moment for Avery to pick out Ivan’s pink wristband, floating near Alan’s face. He was stuffing his finger in Alan’s face, she could tell despite his invisible condition.

“It is terrible, unconscionable!” Alan replied. He seemed taller than usual, his eyes intense and more anger in his expression than she had ever seen before.

Avery raised her arms above her head, “Hey, calm down you two!”

They both turned toward her, and she could see Alan deflate a little.

“Oh, you two back already?” Ivan chimed. She could hear him squashing the quiver of anger in his voice.

“Yeah,” She said walking closer, “we are. Now what the hell was that?”

Ivan made some motion she couldn’t recognize, “Nothing to worry about, just a little passion between men, you know…”

“I don’t like the paint,” Alan said, blunt.

Avery’s shoulders drooped. All of this because of her paint job?

“Seriously?” Avery groaned.

Derrick went over to the cheap plastic table she bought for her living room, and started changing out the dice on the table with his own.

“I told him!” Ivan snapped, “He didn’t have to see how old man Avery lived, he wasn’t there!”

Alan looked down on Ivan’s wristband, “I saw Avery. He was a delight to see.”

She waved her hands in the air, “Okay, okay. No more. Grandpa Avery is gone, the walls aren’t 70s brown, we’re all going to live with that.”

“I’ll do what I must,” Alan said, biting his knuckle as he walked back to the table.

Avery went to sit down as well.

“So captain accusation is ready to play again?” Ivan said as his chair slid out from the table, “we could have just switched games if you were so sure.”

She shook her head before Derrick could reply to him, “Games with dice are good. That way even if Derrick thinks up some master strategy, I can still beat him with a good roll.”

Derrick’s face shifted, from his mild annoyance with Ivan, to a soft smile. She didn’t get to see him smile enough. He was always so quiet, and typically hiding, even if in plain sight. It was the opposite of the problem with Ivan.

“I guess it’s important to stupid-proof game night if you and calamari are going to be playing,” Ivan said as he adjusted some pieces on the board.

Alan’s face twisted up, “That was meant to be smart.” She wasn’t sure if he was questioning the fact, or if he was making his own comeback at Ivan.

Derrick shook his head no, slowly, dramatically.

“What’s wrong,” Ivan said to Derrick with mock concern, “You do know what calamari is right? That one wasn’t aimed at you.”

Derrick’s fist balled up. A low chittering filled the room.

Ivan took the dice on the table, and started to twist them around in his hands, “Uh oh, someone watch out. The house spider is mad again.”

Derrick stopped clicking, and let his fist relax. “You just never know when to shut up, do you?”

Ivan let the dice clatter across the table, and let out a chuckle.

Avery knew she was the reason for all the tension. It didn’t matter what she did, as long as the three of them had her at the center, there was going to be frustration and hatred between them. She just hoped that maybe they could find a little time to laugh, and have fun.

“Are you going to roll?” She said, hoping to ease everyone up.

Ivan sat up, his chair shifting back a little. She didn’t bother looking at him, she focused her eyes on Derrick who was still watching Ivan intently.

The dice floated up again, and juggled in the air before floating closer to her.

“You want to kiss them for luck?” Ivan asked.

Avery rolled her eyes.

“How about you?” Ivan said to Derrick, “Any bitch’ll do.”

“You sonova…”

“Derrick,” Avery snapped in a hushed tone. Any yell was likely to set them off, any sign she was okay with them breaking into some fight. Honestly, she was a little afraid for Ivan. He was invisible, but as far as she could tell, he was just an asshole. Derrick could be bigger than four Ivans, give or take.

Derrick chittered again, looking away from Ivan and watching her. Then his eyes fell to his lap.

“Whatever,” Ivan said, “I’ve got enough luck of my own.”

He threw the dice, and they bounced along the table before settling on a 6.

“Yes!” Ivan shouted, and his piece lifted up and started to move across the board.

Alan let out a groan and covered his face with his hands, “He keeps moving, always moving.”

Ivan was twice as far along the board compared to the others. It didn’t surprise her Derrick suspected something was up, his rolls always got him the best results, free cards, extra points. The game was all but decided.

“Derrick,” Avery said, “Your turn.”

She was watching the dice, waiting for his hand to come out and roll. Instead she heard his chair scoot away from the table. She looked over and saw him stand up and walk away.

“Just go on without me,” Derrick said, his head turned down as he headed for the door.

“Derrick?” Avery stood up, “Derrick.”

Alan picked up the dice, “That makes it my turn, yes?”

She saw Alan was smiling at her, and smiled back, but she couldn’t hide the frown that snuck in right after as Derrick walked out the door. As Alan shook the dice in his hands, Avery squeezed her fists and tried not to freak out on Ivan at the table.

The game didn’t last much longer. Within two turns, Ivan made it to the goal and had twice as many points as her. Alan packed the game up, and Avery put the table away.

“What do I get for winning?” Ivan asked, hanging around the kitchen, “Did we agree on a kiss? Seems appropriate for sitting through all that.”

Alan handed over the box once it was full, and lingered there a little long. Avery pulled it free, and realized he was staring at her.

“Good night, Alan,” Avery said, putting a hand on his sleeve, “We have a jog tomorrow right?”

He snapped out of it, “Yes, of course. The same path, though not quite.”

Alan left, and Avery turned to the floating band in the kitchen, “Your turn now Ivan.”

“I like the sound of that,” He came toward her, his band moving with a wide gait as if he had some swagger in his walk.

Avery put her hand up at face level, “I mean time for you to get out.”

“What!?” Ivan gasped, “I put in all that work, won the whole game, and I don’t get so much as a friendly squeeze?”

“Oh, is being an ass that exhausting for you?” Avery replied.

He scoffed, and took a step back, “Whatever. You were into it.”

“You hurt Derrick’s feelings,” She barked, “You don’t get so much as a handshake.”

He crossed his arms, “Oh so giant Raid-bait gets sad inside and I suffer for it? He is a grown man, not your son. You coming to his rescue shows just how useless he is. That the kind of ‘man’ you go for?”

Avery threw her hands up, and groaned, “Why is everything about my relationships with you?”

“I’m just saying,” Ivan shrugged, “You some sort of dom? If you need a little whipping boy, I can do that once a week. I’m on top besides that though babe.”

Both her fists clenched by instinct, and she gritted her teeth. Was this what Derrick felt like before he started chittering? She almost wished she could chitter.

There was a buzz by the door, it was the front door buzzer.

“Get out!” Avery said as she took a wide swing that hit Ivan in the side, “Get, you dick. Go put some pants on.”

“Ow!” Ivan said as he backed away with each swing, “Your’ gonna hurt someone you crazy bitch.”

“And stop calling me a bitch! You know what, don’t let me even think you’ve been in my apartment for the next three days, or I’ll evict you!”

He ran to the door and opened it as he headed for the hall. He turned back just outside, “You can’t do that! What would old Avery say?”

She slammed the door in his face, “I’m not my grandpa!”

She took a deep breath, then hit the button on the door buzzer.

“Hello?” She asked.

When she let go she could hear the street, then a woman began to speak. “Hello? I’ve been trying to buzz Mr. Hunt, but he isn’t responding. This is his friend, Donna Rider. I know this isn’t normal, but can you help me check on him?”

Was Derrick not answering? There really wasn’t a lot of time for him to leave his apartment after he left the room. Also, she had yet to see Derrick go outside. More of a house spider.

“Sorry,” Avery said, cringing as she spoke, “It really isn’t my place to force someone to take guests, you know?”

There was a pause, then the woman got a little quieter, “Look, Derrick can be a little bit of a recluse… and that wasn’t a joke. If he isn’t answering for me, I’m real worried he might have done something terrible.”

Avery hadn’t thought of that. Was Derrick in a bad state of mind? Here was a friend of his, a female friend even. It occurred to her that she didn’t know enough about Derrick to even make the call. She could try calling him and checking for herself. But if he wasn’t answering his buzzer, then why would he answer her?

“I’ll come down,” Avery said, “We’ll go up to his place together.”

She calmed herself, and headed down toward the front door. Hopefully this friend, Donna, would be able to help bring Derrick out of his bad mood. That was how she had to see it. A visit from someone he knew would take his mind off Alan and Ivan.

Avery took a breath when she reached the landing, then opened the door to a tall woman with a dark brown complexion. Her hair was a veritable rainbow of color, focused in on pinks, purples, and blues. It flared out below her ears, but Avery couldn’t miss a few important details.

Her hair was covering her eyes. This woman, Donna, she was like Derrick. She was taller, and judging from how toned her arms were past her short sleeves, she was generally bigger. Avery’s first thought was the girl in the picture. That meant she did know Derrick. At least she didn’t have to worry as much about that.

“Donna,” Avery said while holding a hand out, “I’m Avery, the landlord.”

“Avery!” Donna said with a smile. She grabbed Avery’s hand and gave it a soft shake, “You must be related to… well…”

Avery nodded, “Yes, he was my grandpa.”

“I heard about him,” Donna frowned, “He sounded like a good man.”

It seemed like Derrick talked about grandpa. She didn’t really discuss grandpa Avery with Derrick as much as she did with Ivan, or even Alan. Considering how long Derrick had lived in the apartment, he would have known grandpa for some time.

“Thanks,” She said with her eyes down, “Well, we better go see how Derrick is doing, right?”

Donna nodded, “Oh yeah, thank you for this by the way.”

Avery closed the door and Donna started up the stairs. She was wearing a dark skirt. It would have looked short on Avery, but Donna had the long legs to pull it off. There was probably some weird spider trick there. Maybe she just wanted that excuse.

“So you’ve known Derrick a while?” Avery said as she caught up on the stairs.

Donna looked down at her, brushing her hair away from her ear, “Since we were kids in the old countryside.”

The old countryside? Derrick had never talked about where he came from. He wasn’t from the city it seemed. Which was weird, he seemed like such a city boy.

“He doesn’t talk much about the past,” Avery said, trying to mask any hurt in her voice.

Donna shrugged, and gave a toothy smile. Were her teeth sharp? No, Avery was imagining things.

“We all made it out,” Donna said, “I’m not going to gossip though. I’m sure if you run a place like this, you know a thing or two about the trouble people like us face.”

She didn’t. It didn’t occur to her until that point that she should. To her, the people in her apartment building were outliers, strange. Were there many others? What did they go through? If they didn’t talk about it, she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to find out. She would ask Derrick when she had a chance, if she had a chance.

“Yeah,” was all Avery said.

They were getting to his door, “Here he goes.”

Donna grabbed Avery by the shoulder. When Avery turned, Donna had two arms out pleading for Avery to stop, despite having a hand on Avery’s shoulder. She tried not to think about it.

“Oh, don’t tell him I’m here, okay?” Donna said, a nervous smile on her face.

Avery got a sinking feeling, “What? But you wanted in to see him right?”

Donna nodded, “Yeah, but then he decides he doesn’t want to answer his door buzzer? He doesn’t really take visitors, and if he isn’t looking for any outsiders, then he is just going to lock himself in harder if he knows I’m out here. But you’re his landlord, he sort of has to answer you.”

She had a point. Plus, she had a master key, so there was also that. Also, well… she thought back to the moments they had shared recently. They were humiliating, but they were special, nonetheless. If she wanted to help Derrick, and she wanted him to get to see Donna again, then maybe that connection could help.

“Can you do that for me, Avery?” Donna said, back to two arms.

“Gladly,” Avery smiled, and walked the few steps over to the door before giving it a soft knock.

“Derrick,” She said, “You in there? I want to talk.”

There was no answer. Not even the sound of him moving around on the other side of the door. That was weird, usually she could at least hear him moving around in there. She put her ear up to the door, nothing.

“Derrick?” She repeated, then gave another knock. “I know what happened earlier was annoying, stupid even. Please, can we talk about it?”

Still, nothing. Avery looked over to Donna, who was bent forward slightly as if trying to make herself small in the hallway. She made a motion to urge Avery on, mouthing the words ‘more’.

What else could she say, especially in front of Donna. There was a lot she needed to say, a lot she had on her mind from earlier in the day. But it would feel so foolish to spill it all in front of Derrick’s ‘friend’. Still, what was worse, being embarrassed, or Derrick hurting himself?

Avery knocked harder, “Derrick, please! Look, if you consider me your friend, please open this door. I… I should have stood up for you better, at the table. I’ve been thinking about it, and I kept telling you to calm down when I should have just told Ivan to shut the hell up then and there. It isn’t because I thought he wasn’t wrong, Derrick. I… well…”

The door cracked, and Avery nearly fell in on it. It was dark inside, and all she could make out was the outline of Derrick against the light coming in from the hall.

“Avery,” Derrick said, quiet, hesitant, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stormed out. It seemed like the best…”

He was interrupted by the door shoving in on him, and Avery gasped in surprise as Donna shoved in behind her.

“There he is!” Donna said as Derrick scrambled to a seated position behind the door. “I was worried about you Rick.”

Avery shoved out into the hall, past Donna. She couldn’t understand what was going on, so she distanced herself from the sudden violence. Was this just something they did with each other?

“Donna?!” Derrick snapped as the light from the hall shined in on him, “What? How? You’re here?”

The look of shock on his face, he wasn’t happy to see her. The way he backed up further into his apartment, something was wrong.

“I was looking all over for you,” Donna said, “You’re a hard guy to find, you know that?”

Donna passed through the door, and Avery moved inside a little to get a better view of Derrick past her. For a moment, Avery saw them both as large, terrible, multi-legged, fuzzy.

“What’s going on?” Avery said as she tried to approach them.

Donna turned her head back, a loud chittering noise coming from the room, “Try it bite size. Make my day.”

Avery scrambled backwards, until she fell out into the hall. This wasn’t some rude meeting, this was a fight. She screwed up, she gave Donna access to Derrick when who knew if she would have ever got to the shut in without breaking into the building. She fucked up.

There was the sound of a struggle between giants in Derrick’s room. A loud banging, followed by something made of glass shattering, and then a heavy impact against wood. Was she going to kill him?

Avery got back to her feet, and took a deep breath. She caused this, and she had to fix it. There was no way she was going to let someone be hurt on her property, especially if it was her fault.

She moved back to the apartment, trying to catch a peek at the battle raging inside. When she looked through the doorway, she found Derrick pinned under Donna, her straddling his torso, her arms holding him to the ground.

They were laid out over the top of Derrick’s coffee table, now a mess of splinters on his apartment floor.

Avery stepped into the apartment, trying her best to avoid making noise.

“Well well,” Donna said as she leaned over Derrick. They were struggling with each other, but she was still smiling down at him. “Not so easy when you can’t just trip me up and run off, huh?”

“Donna…” Derrick struggled to get out.

She hushed him, “Oh don’t worry, pipsqueak. I can feel how much fun you’re having, already popping a chubby huh?”

Her teasing cut at Derrick, his arms going flaccid, his face turning away from her.

Avery took another step into the room, and the carpet beneath her feet felt squishier than usual.

Both Derrick and Donna turned their heads to look at Avery.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay out of this?” Donna snapped, “Don’t think I won’t fuck you up little girl.”

Donna looked mad, but like a mad woman. She wasn’t some giant creature, or terrifying monster. At least for the moment, she just looked like some girl who was full of herself. That, at least, Avery could deal with.

“Who the hell do you think you are?!” Avery shouted back, taking another step into the dimly lit apartment, “This is my building, you’re lucky I haven’t called the cops on your trespassing ass!”

She could tell she was red in the face, and could feel her heart beating faster. She didn’t like getting in fights. She also didn’t plan to fight people who were maybe also giant spider monsters.

Donna chuckled, and looked down at Derrick, “If you move, I’mma gut your little side chick here.”

Then Donna got up off Derrick, and started a saunter in Avery’s direction. Avery cursed herself for forgetting how much taller the girl was than her. Plus, despite her training with Alan, she wasn't exactly an MMA fighter.

“Look here, Dyke name,” Donna said with a swish of her hair and a sharp-toothed smile, “This isn’t a pumpkin spice latte, ugg boots, or a spray on tan, so it doesn’t concern you. But if you really want to figure out how we settle things where I come from, I can lay you out in your own apartment building.”

She punctuated with points of her finger, keeping her hands on her hips at the same time. Her head swayed as she laid out the threat, and Avery could feel her chest getting warmer.

Donna turned back to Derrick, who hadn’t moved except to watch.

“Is this little thing really what you’re into now Rick?” Donna said before turning back to look Avery up and down, “She couldn’t catch a fly, and definitely couldn’t hold you down long enough to finish the job. But you better believe she can catch all these hands.”

Avery swallowed, “You sure do talk a lot for someone that looks like a ghoul school reject character.”

Donna expression widened in surprise, “Oh you think you’re funny huh?”

Avery opened her mouth to reply, but instead caught a wide slap across the face. The pain echoed through her whole body and made her stagger back toward the door. She held her cheek, and bit back the tears that came to her eyes.

“What, no joke for that?” Donna said with another smile and wag of her head, “I didn’t think so. You’re not even a stepping stone, little girl. A man like Derrick requires a real woman. You think he likes you? He’s only here because he is afraid of the real woman in his life, and now I’m here to finish what I started.”

Finish what she started? Avery was one slap too deep for full rational thought, she couldn’t imagine what happened between spider monsters that required Derrick to go deep into hiding.

“If playground slaps are all it takes,” Avery began, “I think I can handle you.”

Donna’s mouth twisted up.

At least this time Avery saw it coming. The extra hand appeared out of nowhere, furrier and darker than the rest. Donna moved in and slapped Avery again, pushing her against the wall near the entrance to Derrick’s apartment. They were messing up Derrick’s attempt at apartment repairs.

“Look at you,” Donna said with a laugh, “You couldn’t handle one of your own men, don’t try to steal one of ours. You don’t have what it takes.”

Avery could swear Donna was flexing. She was real proud of her strength. It seemed everything about this had to do with how much bigger and better Donna was than Derrick and Avery.

A thought hit Avery, did female spiders kill their mates?

This was more dangerous than she thought. She needed help, maybe she would have to run.

If she did though, who knew what would happen to Derrick. He had already given up, pinned, defeated by the larger spider woman. She never took Derrick for the submissive sort, though maybe in his society that wasn't a choice.

Thinking back to the incidents between them, he liked control more than most men she knew. It was when he was emasculated that he got frustrated.

She needed Derrick’s help here.

Donna went for another slap. This time Avery was ready for her. She caught the hand, and countered with a slap of her own. The look of shock on Donna’s face as Avery’s hand swept across her cheek was almost enough for Avery to dive into the spider monster’s gaping maw with a satisfied smile on her face.

“No wonder Derrick left you,” Avery said, “I’ve never seen someone so clingy they would pretend to be their friend, then ambush them in their place.”

“Shut up!” Donna said as she stood up straight again, “You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Avery rolled her eyes, “I must know something. I don’t have to impersonate someone tolerable to get Derrick to come back to me.”

Donna clenched her fist, and a terrible chittering left her mouth. All her fists were clenched, and she seemed taller than ever.

Avery took a step back, “Maybe if you could deal with a strong man, you wouldn’t be here getting slapped around.”

Her mistake was blinking, at least she had to imagine that caused it. Donna went from being an angry woman, to being a massive spider creature with a woman’s torso in a moment.

“Die!” Donna shouted as she checked Avery in the chest and sent her flying into the door and then out into the hall.

Avery tried to sit up, but a pain went up her back, and she could barely manage staying conscious.

The outline of the spider creature was on the other side of the door, moving forward.

Then Avery spotted another outline behind her, a second spider.

Avery laid her head back on the hallway floor.

Then there was another crash and thud, as the two spider creatures struggled again.

“NO!” Donna cried out in a monstrous voice, “NOT AGAIN!”

When Avery opened her eyes again, she could tell a little time had passed. She was inside Derrick’s apartment now, laid out on his couch. She couldn’t help but remember the last time she was there, it brought a heat to her chest.

Derrick was looking down at her, his many eyes peeking from behind his hair.

“You okay?” He asked, “You’re awake?”

Avery groaned and nodded, “Yeah, what was all that?”

Derrick helped her sit up.

“Oh whoa!” Avery said as she noticed Donna, hogtied with webbing in the center of the room, stripped down to her underwear.

“Sorry,” Derrick said, “I guess my past caught up with me.”

Donna was conscious, but her mouth was gagged.

“But why… I don’t think I get why she would come all this way to try and hurt you,” Avery said.

Derrick handed her ice wrapped in a towel.

“Well,” Derrick muttered, “when you understand the mating habits of spiders… and the aftermath…”

Donna responded to the line of conversation with violent convulsions and muffled cursing.

Avery started to put it together, “You two dated, and you ran away before your first night?”

Derrick stared at Avery for a moment, “Well, no. It was after. I tied her up, and left her like that.”

Avery’s imagination conjured the image of a young couple, with a teenaged Donna tied down to a bed and flinging insults at a fleeing Derrick. She couldn’t help but laugh, so loud and hard that it hurt her head.

Derrick joined her with his own light chuckles.

“So what are you going to do with her?” Avery said, “Are the police on the way?”

Derrick shook his head, and helped Avery to her feet, “We have people who take care of this kind of thing. I mean, if you don’t mind.”

“Is she going to be gone?” Avery said as she locked eyes with Donna.

“Yeah,” Derrick said, “for good.”

There was a strange sense of finality in his voice. Though with the ringing in Avery’s head, in that moment, she wouldn’t argue it. There was still a lot she didn’t understand, but right then wasn’t the time to grasp at it.

She headed for the door, and Derrick followed behind her. When she got outside, she turned back and saw that Derrick wasn’t following her out.

“Avery,” Derrick said, “I wanted to thank you.”

Avery shrugged, “I wasn’t going to just let her hurt you.”

Derrick shook his head, and was quiet for a moment, “Not that. I mean, I was just going to take it. I know you were just trying to make her mad, but thanks for defending me.”

Avery smiled, and then nudged Derrick in the shoulder, “Well what would I do without my handyman, right?”

They both gave a weak chuckle, and stood there for a moment longer.

Then Derrick stepped out and wrapped his arms around her, too many arms. They held her close, at her lower back, around her shoulders, one at the back of her head, and they kissed. His lips met hers, strong but warm. She could feel his tongue, taste him, their breath mixing as the moment got away from her. She hugged him back, holding him close as they tried for a moment to melt into one another.

His breath was hot, his touch was soft, but he was in full control. For a moment, she was afraid he was going to keep going right there in the hall, where anyone could walk past.

Then he let go and vanished back into the shadow of his apartment.

“I won’t forget it,” he said, “Thank you.”

Then the door closed.

“Thank you,” Avery mumbled.