This entire fic will take place in four chapters with each chapter containing a flashback, just to give a heads up. It's set in early-esqu intern year, but you'll get the basic time frame through dialogue. Izzie, George, and Meredith living together is basic important information. I don't own any of the Grey's characters. Tragic, but true. So enjoy me playing with them! And I do appreciate feedback ;-) Thanks for reading!
+++++++++++++Eyes close. Eyes open. Inhale. Exhale. Eyes close. Head back. Eyes open. Reach for bottle. Miss bottle. Draw eyebrows together in confusion. Inhale.
"Mer... Meredith."
Meredith picked her head up to see Izzie standing in the kitchen doorway in an over sized R.E.M. t-shirt and Snoopy underwear. Izzie, arms folded across her chest, walked to the kitchen table and sat down next to Meredith. Meredith smiled, scrunching her nose up.
"Hi." Meredith greeted, quite tipsy.
Izzie stared at Meredith, quite serious, "Meredith, you're drinking alone. At two in the morning. Alcoholics do that."
Meredith laughed, but then stopped herself, realizing how serious Izzie was. Meredith shook her head, "No. I... I, um... never mind."
"Meredith, what are you doing?" Izzie asked.
"Do you know when I started drinking?" Meredith asked, becoming completely serious, but still slurring a few of her words, "I was fifteen. I thought it was a good idea, you know? I stopped after a while, but I started again by the time I was going to college. My liver probably hates me."
"Why don't we get you to bed?" Izzie suggested and helped Meredith stand without waiting for a response from her.
"You're a good friend." Meredith repeated over and over as Izzie made sure Meredith made it up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Izzie led Meredith to bed and helped her get under the covers. Meredith grinned
"You have a beagle on your underwear." Meredith giggled.
"Meredith, go to sleep." Izzie replied, shaking her head slightly.
Meredith gave a nod, "Okay."
Izzie turned off Meredith's bedroom light and left, shutting the door behind her. Meredith closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and realizing how tired she was. She began to drift off.
+++++++++++++She didn't particularly like the taste, but she drank it down anyway, letting it burn. She waited a moment, debating another swig, and placed the bottle to her lips. She sucked the clear liquid in and swallowed, following it up with a shudder and a cough. The bottle clanked as she set it on the coffee table.
A fifteen year old Meredith flopped back on the couch, letting the alcohol settle in her stomach and spread a tingling sensation throughout her body. Her bright pink streaked hair fell across her black eyeliner and mascara masked eyes. She was tired.
Keys jangled outside the front door. Meredith sat up straight in the darkness as her mother swung open the door to their apartment in Boston.
Ellis entered her home, exhausted after working a sixteen hour shift. She set her bag down next to the door and began to take her coat off. With a sigh, she hung her coat on the rack next to the door. She turned to go upstairs when she saw the moonlight hitting a bottle of vodka sitting on the coffee table. Ellis stopped.
"Meredith." Ellis spoke slowly, coldly, as she walked into the living room.
Meredith closed her eyes at the sound of her name. Her mother's voice dripped with disappointment. It always did. Meredith opened her eyes and stood, a bit off balance, and locked eyes with Ellis.
Ellis held Meredith's gaze, "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Meredith replied, bitterly.
Ellis cocked her head to the side, "Don't lie to me, Meredith." Ellis picked up the vodka bottle and held it up to Meredith's face, "What are you doing with this?"
"Like you care." Meredith walked past her mother, heading towards the staircase.
Ellis turned around, crossing her arms across her chest, watching Meredith walk away, "I will not chase you."
Meredith reached the staircase and began up them. She held onto the railing, knowing the alcohol made her unsteady.
"Meredith, come back here right now." Ellis commanded, raising her voice.
Meredith reached the second floor and paused, hearing her mother crossing to the stairs. Meredith smiled to herself, knowing the ball was currently in her court in this game of control. As Ellis came up the stairs, Meredith walked slowly down the hall to her bedroom.
"Meredith, stop." Ellis said as she reached the hallway.
Meredith stopped and turned around, giving her mother the chance to take the ball, which made the game more fun.
"Yes?" Meredith again locked eyes with Ellis.
"I want an explanation." Ellis waited a moment and then raised her voice almost to a shout, "Now!"
"You want an explanation?" Meredith repeated, anger and alcohol causing her cheeks to flush, "I want an explanation. How about where the hell were you?"
"I will not let you speak to me this way, Meredith." Ellis approached her daughter quickly, "I am your mother. And I was at the hospital, earning money so I can afford this home and your clothes and your school."
"Oh, so you working so much is my fault?" Meredith asked, placing her hands on her hips.
Ellis shook her head, "That's not what I meant."
"That's what you said." Meredith retorted.
"This isn't about me and my job, Meredith!" Ellis exclaimed, "This is about you stealing alcohol. What do you think you're doing?"
Ellis waited for a response, but Meredith kept her mouth closed.
"I want an answer." Ellis was becoming impatient.
"Well, you're not going to get one." Meredith replied, with attitude.
"You will give me an answer, Meredith." Ellis said, sternly.
"And if I don't?" Meredith asked, "What will you do to me then?" Meredith waited, but Ellis did not reply, "That's what I thought."
Meredith turned away from her mother and entered her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.