Thank you for all the comments guys. I'm not feeling well right now, so I know this is short but I'm writing more so hopefully I can get the next update up soon.
Maddie
Disclaimer: So Season 4 is now out on DVD which is great and fun except apparently Lauren Stamile does a commentary on an episode. I'm sorry, but if I owned the show, I would not have an 'extra' do a commentary, especially when the actor's character isn't very much liked. But I don't own it.
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Flashback #3
20 years ago..
..
The night had gone alright and she couldn't believe it was over. Her Jr. High experience was done. Meredith knew she should be focusing on the fact that next week she would be graduating but as she walked home that night all she could think about were his eyes.
Izzie had told her to look, really look at him and she would see it. And she had. She saw the spark that was somewhere in his eyes as he stared at her earlier that evening. When he walked gracefully over to her, grabbed her hand and asked her to dance, his eyes began to glow when she nodded and walked with him to the dance floor.
And she had seen it as they swayed lightly to the soft cheesy music playing in the background. She had felt his hands hold her hips softly, yet in a protective manner. After all these years she had finally seen him. So why was she so confused? Why couldn't she decide how she felt? She knew she needed to, and quick. Because she had a feeling he was going to ask or do some romantic gesture to let her know he had feelings for her.
Right now, she was walking home, a few yards away from her house but she was not alone. Derek walked beside her, occasionally resting his hand on her lower back. It had gotten chilly out so he had taken his jacket off and handed it to her without even asking. She wasn't surprised though. It was a very typical thing for him to do.
They were approaching Meredith's steps, and he had still yet to say anything. He had been silent there whole way there. Meredith didn't know what to take from it. Was he thinking about what he would say? Was he nervous? Did he regret asking her.. or even dancing with her?
He was making her go insane. Usually they'd talk. About life, or existence. Derek would usually start cracking jokes or something and.. nothing. He wasn't saying anything and it was driving her crazy.
"Okay, you need to say something!" she finally blurted out, as they stood outside her front door.
He laughed slightly, "Right sorry. Just kind of out of it."
"Yeah it was- a long night." she sighed. "Can you believe it's over?"
"It's not over yet." he sighed. "We still have 4 years together."
"Hey! Be nice." she giggled, "I'm sorry you're still stuck with me."
"Hmm." he sighed, looking into her eyes. "It's not so bad."
She stared at him, trying to depict what he was saying.
"Meredith.. there's.. there's something I sort of want to say to you."
This was it. She knew it was coming. And she had prepared herself for what she would say. She continued thinking and she nodded, letting him know he could continue.
"I like you." he smiled. "I've liked you for awhile now. And I know- I know we're friends. I know we're best friends, but I can't hide it anymore. I want- I need you to know."
She nodded slightly as tears started to form, of which she had no idea where they came from.
"I'm sorry." he sighed. "You're crying and.. I'm sorry if I upset you."
"No." she said as she grabbed his arm. "You didn't upset me. I just- I'm not ready." she breathed.
"You're not ready?" he questioned.
"Derek." she sighed, worrying he wouldn't understand where she was coming from. "You've.. you've had time to think about this. And I just- I don't know. It's not that I don't like you- because you know I do. You're my best friend. We're.. we're starting high school and I just.. I need my best friend."
"So you're.. you're not ready."
"I'm- I'm just.. no. I'm not ready. But I.. I could be." she said as his face lite up.
"You could be?" he smiled.
"I.."
She was confusing herself now because she hadn't planned on saying that. But the more she thought about it, she could be. She could get ready.
Derek's call about the dance a week ago was such a shock she couldn't even think on it. Could she like Derek? She loved spending time with him. He was her person. So she could be ready.. she just needed time. It was just going to be a big adjustment.. going from best friends for 9 years to some sort of couple.
"Yeah." she smiled. "I could." she said, actually believing herself.
"Oh." he grinned. "Okay."
"Okay." she smiled.
"So, not right now.. but we're saying, someday?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "Someday."
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