Chapter 6: Boston Field Trip
Flashback- 1993
Two weeks passed since their first date, and Meredith and Derek were getting closer. They spent a lot of time together. Cristina, Izzie, and Alex were pleased for Meredith. She finally met a guy that worshipped the ground she walked on and treated her like she deserved. If Derek wasn't at Meredith's, Meredith was at the Shepherd's, but tonight was Izzie's last night on the cape before going home to California, so they decided to have a party. They had been at parties at the Shepherd's and the Radcliffe's, so Mer knew it was her time to have a party. She quickly called her mother, needing the number of the caterers that they used. It was a surprise for Izzie. Mark had taken her to Boston for the day. They had spent a lot of time together over the past three weeks, but both knew that this was nothing more than a summer fling for them.
Mark decided to take Izzie to Boston for the day, to treat her, and to show her the wonderful city. Izzie knew little about Boston, she knew it was located in New England and she knew how picturesque it could be. Although this trip to Boston had meant getting up early, Izzie had slept for most of the trip letting her tired body rest and relax. Mark woke her up on entering the city, not wanting her to miss any of it. He smiled looking over at her as she rubbed her tired eyes and tried to smooth out her blonde hair. Meredith had told Mark to take Izzie on one of the Freedom Trails around the city, a trail meant for visitors of any age. It enlightens the visitor on the cities deep history, a perfect introduction to Colonial Revolutionary Boston, and the two hour trail would give insight to over two and a half centuries of America's most significant past, or so Meredith had told them. Izzie remembered learning about some of this in school, but to be honest she had more interest in boys. Visiting some of Boston's Historical sites was also on Marks list of things for them to do. The Boston Common was top of his list, a large public park, the oldest in America open to the public, a place full of serene beauty, a place to picnic, or to just take a stroll with a loved one. Children played in the area, in the summer, splashing in the water the commons fountains had to offer. Students out on study leave came here to soak up the sun, leaving behind the confines of college.
Mark slipped his hand into Izzie's as they strolled along the plush green grass, watching the squirrels run through the trees. Dogs chased them, and Izzie let out a magical laugh as she watched them. Mark watched her for a second and reveled in her beauty. Marks arm slipped around her pulling her in close and he kissed the top of her blonde head. Izzie just smiled, comfortable in his arms and he felt her hand moved to his and their fingers entwined. She looked down at them, wishing that this moment could last forever... but she knew it wasn't to be.
Granary Burying Ground, Benjamin Franklin's statue, Site of the Boston Massacre. The USS Constitution, Constitution Museum and Bunker Hill monument, were all things Mark wanted Izzie to see and experience on their trip. He didn't want her to have any time to think of anything else apart from the places he was taking her and the things he was showing her. Mark took her shopping around some of Boston's finest shops. He showed her the smaller markets where they could find the more unusual items. A town so full of history has a few shops with typical souvenir trinkets to take home. Then he took her to the bigger outlets where Izzie was in her element, Macys, forever 21, all the shops a girl could want, and Mark obliged and went with her into everyone. In turned she walked around the music stores with him teasing him about his taste in music and movies. Izzie was surprised at how different Mark actually was, when she got to know him, the real him, the him he let very few people see, she found she didn't mind him as much and he wasn't that bad of a person. Sure, she knew that he was a manwhore, he had a reputation, and he felt no shame in it. Izzie also knew when she returned to California that Mark would go and find someone else for the rest of the summer, someone else to meet his needs to scratch those male itches.
Izzie was glad that they both made it clear that this was just a fling. She could cope with it, knowing it wasn't going to last much longer than a few weeks. She could mentally prepare herself and enjoy what time she had with him. When she was with him, he treated her right, made her feel like she was the only woman for him, and part of her mind couldn't help but wonder if this was how he treated all his woman. If so, she wasn't surprised he got as many women. Mark knew all the right things to say and moved to pull. He was no novice when it came to getting what he wanted from the opposite sex. She couldn't help but be a bit worried for Meredith, seeing how hard she had fallen for Derek in such a short time, she was happy for her, but she didn't want her to get hurt.
Mark and Izzie were disappointed when they had to leave the city to return to the cod. Izzie was quiet on the trip back, Mark knew that she was thinking about going home tomorrow. She had admitted to him that day that she didn't want to go home, and even Mark found himself wanting her to stay, at least for the rest of the summer. Mark took Izzie's hand in his, and looked over at her giving her a small, sad smile.
Pulling up to the house, they could hear the music, blaring from Meredith's house. Izzie clicked what was happening, once they parked the car, Mark walked around to Izzie side and opened the door, pulling Izzie close to him. As they walked into the house, Izzie's mouth fell open, seeing what they had done for her. She looked around the lounge area, and saw all the decorations and all the hard work that Meredith, Derek, and Alex had put into it, it brought tears to her eyes.