AN: I cannot wait for tonight's record breaking episode. Enjoy this next chapter to kill time before the episode airs.

Meredith walked into English class, took her seat and took out Hamlet, the book they started reading. Next to her sat Owen Hunt who was sitting tall and straight in the chair, in sharp contrast to the other teenagers slumped over in their seats. He had on a collared shirt and jeans and always looked put together. She couldn't figure him out. In class he was quiet and reserved, yet somehow at lunch he had not one, but two pretty girls sitting with him, it made no sense. She also heard rumors he wanted to enlist in the army and become an army medic, but she didn't know how true the rumors were.

"You know, I can feel you watching me," he said turning to face her with a smile, startling her from her thoughts.

Meredith blushed, "I'm just trying to figure you out Hunt."

His eyebrows raised in surprise, "What do you mean?"

"Well, I see at lunch you have two girls sitting with you who obviously both love you and you're so quiet in anatomy I just can't put the two images together into one person."

Owen let out a laugh, "You know, I appreciate your bluntness Grey," He paused before continuing, "At lunch I sit with Teddy, who you know, and Amelia. Amelia's actually Derek's younger sister and has been best friends with my younger sister, Megan, forever. Teddy is my best friend but I don't see her that way you know. But last year I asked Amelia out and we've been together ever since. She's amazing" he sighed, a dreamy look on his face.

Meredith nodded at him in understanding, "Wait so that girl is Derek's younger sister?" she asked.

Owen nodded, "Yup, their dad died when they were younger and Derek is really protective of her but he knows I would never ever hurt her so he's cool with it."

Before Meredith could get anymore information about the Shepherd family out of Owen, their English teacher started class.

From English, Meredith went to lunch where she had become accustomed to sitting next to Alex Karev and they surprisingly got along relatively well. He wanted to be a pediatrician which took Meredith by surprise the first time he told her.

"Wait, you want to work with kids? Really?" Meredith asked in disbelief.

Laughing he nodded, "I know it seems nuts but I want to work with kids and help those who need it."

Meredith sat back, "Damn, who would've thunk it, Alex Karev is actually a good guy?"

They laughed again and then he grew serious, "My parents have issues and I want to be the type of doctor that helps those kids with screw ups for parents you know?"

Meredith nodded, "When I have kids, I'm gonna make sure they know they are wanted, something my mother never did."

Alex turned to her and raised his eyebrows. A mutual understanding passed between the two which was interrupted by no one other than Christina Yang plopping down at their table. They both turned to her in surprise as she never had sat with them before.

"Tell me all about the Grey method, I need to know all about it" she said seriously.

Meredith raised her eyebrows, "Well, what do you want to know?"

"I don't know, everything I guess. How'd she think of it? How'd she get it to be noticed back then? Just everything."

Meredith sighed. This probably was the first time in her life people actually wanted to know about her mother and her medical achievements. Meredith had a funny feeling that this was going to be a common occurrence within her career. Prompted by Christina's inquisitive gaze, Meredith launched into the story of the birth of the Grey method which she had heard many times over the course of her lifetime.

"And that's pretty much it," She finished slightly breathless.

Christina let out an amazed breath, "Wow, that's incredible. I want to be your mother but in cardiothoracic surgery."

Meredith smiled and nodded as the bell rang signaling for them to leave to go to their respective classes.


The next day, Meredith sat at her lab table jotting down notes when she felt Derek sit down next to her. She turned and flashed him a smile in greeting before returning to her notebook.

"How'd you do on the quiz?" Came Derek's voice from beside her.

She turned to him with a triumphant smile on her face, "98"

"Damn," he cursed, "I got a 97! How come you always beat me?" He asked frustrated.

Meredith just smiled at him and shrugged, "I don't know, maybe I'm just better than you."

"That's probably true," he laughed.

"Alright you guys," said Dr. Bailey, "Today I am assigning topics for your presentations with your lab partners. Since we have so much information to cover, this will have to be done outside at school. Where you complete it is no interest to me but the due date is in 2 weeks."

Meredith's eyes grew wider as she realized what this meant. She and Derek would have to spend one on one time together outside of school. That thought scared her senseless as she was already slightly crushing on her taken lab partner. Meredith could feel Addison's gaze against the back of her head and she didn't want to look at Derek.

The sign up sheet went around to sign up for topics and Meredith and Derek were researching the nervous system, much to Derek's delight. The pair exchanged phone numbers in order to set up a date to meet for the project and then turned their attention to Dr. Bailey's lesson for the day.

As Meredith was leaving the class, April called for her to wait and they started walking to their next period classes together.

"So how's working with the Jackson Avery," Meredith answered, a slight tease to her voice.

April let out a giggle, "It's amazing, he's so great. We get along really well and I really like him."

Meredith raised her eyebrows, "You like him or you like him?" she asked, bumping April with her hip.

"What? No..." April sputtered and Meredith just laughed.

"Oh you totally like him!"

April flushed red before retorting, "Well at least my crush is single, unlike some people!"

Meredith gasped, "What! I don't like Derek!"

April scoffed, "Yeah right, I see you going from talking to him inches from his face to avoiding his gaze like the plague. You're totally into him, but terrified of his girlfriend."

Meredith grew quiet and April smiled triumphantly, "I knew it."

Meredith blew out a breath of air, "Fine, you're right. I'm screwed."

April patted her shoulder in sympathy as they moved onto their next class.

AN: As always, R&R!