Title: Photograph

Chapter: 2

Author: greyeyedgirl

Disclaimer: This fic is in no way affiliated with Grey's Anatomy, ABC, or Shonda Rhimes. This fic is the result of my imagination, nothing else.

Meredith set the picture of her and her father back in the photo album, going to shut the book.

"Whatcha doin, Mer?" Meredith's head shot up as her tall, blonde roommate sauntered into the room. She sat down on the floor next to Meredith in the attic of their house, looking over Meredith's shoulder at the photo. "Is that you?"

"Uh huh, me and my dad."

Izzie laughed. "Your dad looks like George!"

"I think it's George that looks like my dad," Meredith corrected dryly.

"Who's in that one?" Izzie asked, as she flipped the page and pointed at the next photo. Meredith hesitated.

"That picture was taken in...um, 1991, I think? I was 12. That girl to the left of me, that's Jaime Robinson. The one on the right is Darcy Jacobs."

"Where are you guys?"

"Outside my school, Boston Prep. We were about to go to Jaime's Christmas party."

"Did you guys have fun? Tell me about what happened."

It was December 19th, 1991. The Boston air had been cold, and they'd all been bundled up, Meredith in her white down jacket, earmuffs blocking her hearing. Jaime's dark hair was falling down her red coat, and Darcy's thin blonde hair was hanging loosely over her black coat. They'd been laughing over something that'd happened in science class, just messing around as usual, waiting for Jaime's mom to pick them up. Jaime was having a party that night, but it didn't start until 6:30, and Meredith and Darcy were going to help her get ready. Jaime's mom had driven up in her just-waxed Porsche, and had insisted snapping a picture, saying they were just "so adorable." Meredith remembered the uncomfortable feeling of Jaime and Darcy's heavily covered arms resting around her neck, and the big, fake smile she had plastered on right before the camera clicked. They had driven to Jaime's 3-story-mansion, Meredith, Darcy, and Jaime talking quietly in the backseat. "Did you see Mr. Evanston today? He was in the hallway when I went to the bathroom during third period, and I swear to God his toupee was slipping off!"

"So Meredith," Mrs. Robinson's voice had said from the front seat. "How's your mother's career going?"

"Great, Mrs. Robinson. She just invented the Grey method, and she's a shoo-in for Chief of Surgery next month. She just won the Golden Hands award, we're going to the ceremony in the beginning of January."

"Why, that's wonderful, Dear. What about you, Darcy? Your father's business is going well? I spoke to your mother last weekend at the club, she said he's opening another branch."

"Yeah. He's thinking about expanding the business out West, maybe open an office in Detroit or Chicago."

Mrs. Robinson droned on until they got to the manor, as the young girls tried to tune her out. They'd rushed into Jaime's house, shedding their coats and messing around in her room until the party started.

Meredith took a deep breath. "Not much happened, Iz. What do you think goes on at 13-year-old's Christmas parties?"

"come on, Mer, spill. Just something funny that happened. A crowd of 13-year-olds? You guys must have got into some trouble."

They certainly had. Meredith closed her eyes, remembering.

"So Jai, are your parents gone?"

"Uh huh. They said they'd be back around one."

"Wanna raid the wine cellar?"

Meredith had raised her head, looking at the boy who had spoken.

"I brought beer, if anyone wants some. My big brother bought if for me. It better be good, I had to give him nearly a month's allowance."

"Yeah, give me one."

The party had gotten underway, with several kids breaking out the drinks. It was the first time Meredith had seriously drunk. "I think I've had enough," she mumbled, clutching her stomach. Jaime nodded in agreement from her seat on the couch in the living room.

"Dar? You okay?" Mer asked, feeling her friend's tiny head roll towards her.

"Dar?"

"DARCY!"

"Nothing happened, Izzie. A couple kids brought beer, but-"

"Beer? Weren't you guys in like sixth grade?"

"Eighth."

"So what happened?"

"Darcy drank too much liquor and passed out. We were scared to call 911, but we had to. They rushed her to the hospital." Meredith paused. "My mother was on-call." "Oh, no," Izzie murmured.

"What are you doing here?"

"Mom, my friend is sick. Darcy Jacobs? She fainted at Jaime's Christmas party?"

"Meredith! Are you drunk? Is that what you guys were doing? Where were the parents? Why do you have to bother me, EMBARRASS me, while I'm at work?" Ellis Grey was furious.

"Mom, I'm sorry," Meredith whispered.

"I don't want to hear your apologies. I want you to take this," She paused, rummaged around in the pocket of her scrubs, pulled out her wallet, and handed Meredith some cash, "Go outside, and call a cab. Go home and wait for me there. I won't be back till late, so you better be asleep when I get home."

"Yes, Mom."

"And Meredith? I wouldn't count on attending the awards ceremony next week. Not now."

"Yes, Mom." She turned to leave.

"Stand up straight! You're walking, not falling down a flight of stairs!"

Meredith walked dizzily into the cold, dark night.

"Was she okay?"

"Yes. It turned out it wasn't even the alcohol. Her appendix was inflamed."

"That must have sucked, though."

"Yeah."

"Do you still talk to them?"

"Not really. We sort of split up when we got to high school. You know how some kids get. I think Darcy lives in Chicago, her dad opened up a branch of his business there. Jaime moved to Salem right after high school, I think she's still married to the guy she dated in high school."

Izzie smiled. "That's sweet."

Meredith shrugged.

"What are you guys talking about?" George stepped into the room.

Meredith looked up at him and smiled, opening her mouth to tell another story.