A 17 year old Meredith Grey slid on her dark red tube top and adjusted her breasts in the mirror. Ugh she sighed as she accepted her fate that this was as good as she was going to look. She tousled her wavy sand blonde hair as she yelled to her friend in the bathroom "So where are we going again?"

Her friend emerged from the bathroom, her curled black hair rested on the purple dress she was wearing. "Dartmouth" Cristina answered "Someone in one of my classes, Jackson, his friend is a med student their and I guess there's a big party tonight"

"Med school party? Sounds like a drag" Meredith teased

"eh" Cristina shrugged "even if It does, at least there will be booze"

"True. So how old are we going to say we are?"

"Well, I think I could pass for 21, but you and your tube top may have to settle for 19" Cristina snickered

"your hilarious" Meredith responded sarcastically "lets go" She added as she grabbed a small handbag hanging on her bedroom door.

Sneaking down the stairs, the duo saw Meredith's mom sitting on the couch watching some surgical tape. Knowing her mother wouldn't look up from her video Meredith yelled "mom were going to Cristinas for the night!"

"Jesus, Meredith you see im watching something, just go!" Elis yelled over her surgical tape. Meredith giggled as she snuck out the front door with Cristina in tow.

"damn mer, your moms hardcore!" Cristina said with a laugh as they got into Meredith's Jeep

"yeah, she's uhm, pretty interesting" Meredith said. She was always uncomfortable talking about her mother, especially in recent events. She had began forgetting things, really basic things, and she was being scheduled for less and less surgeries. Although her mother and her were never exactly, close, it was still her mom and she was worried about what was going to happen to her.

As the approached the house of the party, Meredith saw cars lining the street. Wow, these med students sure do know how to party she thought. They walked into the house which was filled with people laughing and having a good time. "Ok Cristina, Where's your friend Jackson at?"

"Oh I don't know if he's here yet, lets just go get drinks, ok?"

While they walked through the party, Meredith saw some people her age. A drunken blubbering mess of a guy was standing at the kitchen island, trying to pick a very pretty blonde girl about Meredith's age. Over by the staircase stood a somewhat awkward guy, not really talking to anyone, just drinking his beer by himself.

"So is it a pour your own drink thing, or….Cristina?" Meredith turned around to find her friend was no longer by her side, she was off drinking a handle of vodka, dancing with some red head guy on a table. Meredith found herself walking over to the table in the dining room that had an assortment of liquors on it. "ah" she said as she found a bottle of golden tequila. She began to pour the liquid into her cup when she heard a dark and mysterious voice behind her.

"Are you drinking my tequila?" The man asked with a smirk on his face

Wow , Meredith thought, He is really attractive. He had dark wavy hair, slicked back away from his face. He was wearing a nice button down shirt with a pair of khaki pants. His blue eyes were more intoxicating then the tequila itself.

"uhm, sorry, I just thought it was for everyone" She stammered

"well, typically, id have to kick your ass if you stole my liquor, but I guess you can be the acception"

"Well, maybe you shouldn't leave it lying around for anyone to grab" she replied.

"I'm Derek" He said, extending his hand "Derek Sheppard"

Meredith smirked, "Well, Derek Sheppard. Im…" She trailed off as she watched a drunken Cristina lose her balance and fall off the table she was dancing on "and it looks like my friend needs me" she added with a laugh "So im going to take my, well, your drink and I will, uh, see you later" She smiled as she walked away to go tend to her friend.

Throughout the night, Meredith could feel Derek's eyes following her- and she very much liked it.

"meeeeeeeer" Cristina slurred "im tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired". A fairly wasted Meredith grabbed her friends arm and dragged her up the stairs of the foreign house.

"Lets just find a bathroom for you, ok?"

As she wandered through the upstairs of the house, the music from down stairs sending a pulse through her feet, she eventually found a door with a line behind it. She grabbed Cristinas arm tighter and pulled her to the front of the line "Drunk girls coming through' she yelled over the hollering of drunken med students waiting to use the bathroom. She slammed her fist on the door yelling "hello? We need to get in there!" The door swung open with a familiar face grinning down at her.

"we meet again" Derek said

"pardon me" Cristina said as she shoved Merdith out of the way, running into the bathroom to empty the contents of her stomach. Meredith lost her balance and fell into Derek. Her hands landed on his chest as his arms wrapped around hers. She looked up for a brief moment, and breathed in his powerful scent. He smelt like whiskey and cologne.

"I, I should go help her"

"what is with you always leaving me for her? I assure you, I can be a lot more fun"

Cristina threw up once again in the background

"Fine" Meredith said as she pulled Derek's arm, "come with me". She pulled him into the bathroom with her and she kneeled down beside her friend, holding her hair back.

"wanna do me a favor?" she asked

"We've only talked twice and your already asking me for favors?" He teased

"Well, it looks like were gunna be here for a while and since you insist on conversing with me, I suggest you grab some pillows, go down stairs, and grab that bottle of tequila of yours because it looks like were going to be here for a while" she sneered.

Derek left the bathroom and returned within minutes. Cristina was still buried in the toilet and Meredith sat on the ground stroking her friends back.

"Lock the door" Meredith ordered "Cristina, are you done now?"

"mmm" Cristina moaned.

Meredith lifted her friend to her feet

"Derek, right? Can you put those pillows in the bathtub?"

Derek gave her a confused look, but ultimately did as he was told. Meredith helped Cristina climb into the bathtub and gave her a blanket. She sank her body down and rested her back against the tub.

"Tequila?" Derek tentatively offered her

"Please" She said with a laugh. She watched carefully as he slid down and close sat next to her

"So whats your story, miss…." Derek realized he hadn't even learned her first name yet.

"No story," she said "just here for the party" she winked

"Well do I get to know your name, I mean its only fair since I told you mine"

"what is this? 'Ill show you yours if you show me mine?'"

"Well, who says I was going to show you anything at all? You're very assuming…."

The two were growing closer and closer. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and it sent butterflies through her.

"you're the one that followed me into the bathroom" she responded

"You looked like you could use some company"

With their thighs now touching, they both leaned into each other. Meredith let her lips meet his, allowing them to melt together. Her tongue grazed his lower lip as he bit her lip. She ignored the snoring sounds coming from her best friend as she climbed on top of Derek. She ran her fingers through his hair, tilting back her neck so Derek could kiss her deeper. She lifted his shirt off as he reached for the hem of hers. She watched as he through her shirt, landing it on the sink. Before things could go much further, there was a knock at the door.

"what the hell is going on in their?"

A very startled Meredith jumped off Derek and reached for her shirt, while Derek remained calm and collected simply chuckling at a frazzled Meredith.

"who is that?" Meredith asked

"that's Mark, the host of the party. Just give me a minute"

She watched as Derek unlocked the door and stepped outside. She sat back down against the bathtub trying to put together what just happened.