Chapter Three
"Ok so when you said barbeque I thought we were just having us for that" Meredith said as she followed Izzie, who was madly cleaning the house, down the stairs
"What are you talking about? We have to have a house warming" Izzie argued
"House warming yes…but not how many people did you invite? I know what you are like with inviting people" Meredith said, standing in front of Izzie so that she was forced to stop cleaning
"Ok so there is us plus Burke, Sarah, Alex and the guy from across the street" Izzie said, moving around Meredith to put the cleaning stuff away
"You invited the axe-murderer? Why would you invite the axe-murderer?" Meredith stated, having not learnt her connection to the man across the road, but having heard about his 'hotness' from Izzie and Christina all week.
"He's not really an axe murderer" Izzie stated, in a blonde moment "besides Burke invited him, not me" then realizing her mistake she covered with "I think he thinks we will be safer if we know a couple of people around the house-you know neighborhood watch and all"
"We know people" Meredith said, still following Izzie
"Mrs. McGlochlan next door doesn't count-she is like ninety!"
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Later that evening as the housemates were getting ready for their guests to arrive, Meredith swung around Izzies door, hoping for a minute of girl talk. Although Christina was going to be a great doctor, Meredith knew there were certain things that Izzie was much better at-girl talk being one of them.
As Meredith lay on her bed, Izzie knew something was up. "What's his name?" she asked, deciding to get straight to the point, as she finished painting her toe nails.
"How do you know I'm thinking about a guy?"
"Meredith you get the look you have had for the last couple of days when ever there is a new guy" she said, screwing the cap back on the bottle and waddling, toes up, to the bed. When Meredith lay silent for a minute, Izzie decided to take a stab in the dark and guess. "So how is Dr Sheppard going?"
"What! Why would you think I'm thinking about Dr Sheppard?" Meredith replied too quickly
"Because you two have been inseparable all week…and you are going bright red" she stated, checking her toenails.
"We were working" she tried "It's just a crush", knowing there would be know way of getting out of it now that her body had given it away "I mean he is just so…and I'm just having a little trouble…that's all. It's nothing-just some harmless flirting" she concluded, trying as much to convince herself as she was Izzie.
They both heard the ding of the doorbell and started to get up off the bed, reaching the door Izzie turned, "You know he asked to be left as your intern, he didn't have to-he chose to"
Meredith followed Izzie downstairs to see the first of the guests standing in the kitchen; George was introducing Alex, a fellow student, to his girlfriend Sarah, but as she reached the table the doorbell sounded again and she jumped up to get it.
"Dr Sheppard!" she exclaimed, upon opening the door "What are you doing here"
Enjoying her astonishment he replied, "Good evening Dr Grey, how are you?"
"Good thanks" she stuttered
"And in answer to your question I was invited…it seems I live across the road from you"
"You do?" she asked, stepping aside and letting him enter
"Hmm, didn't Christina tell you? I asked her what I should bring the other day, after working out she was Burke's girlfriend" he replied, motioning to the salad and bottle of wine he was carrying
"No she didn't" Meredith replied as she turned and saw a blonde and a black head pull back around the corner into the kitchen.
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After dinner the group moved into the lounge room to watch a movie, half way through George left to take Sarah home and by the end Burke had carried a snoring Christina to bed while Izzie had decided to continue the night with Alex at the local bar. As the credits rolled across the screen Derek stole another quick glance at Meredith who was curled up at one end of the sofa, rising from his chair he walked to over to the stack of DVD's on the shelf "Want to watch another?" he asked, flipping through the cases.
"Sure, you pick, I'm sure you loved watching Dirty Dancing" she said, wrapping her arms around the pillow and squeezing it tighter to her chest, in an attempt to slow her racing heart.
"I'm use to it" he said as he pulled another DVD from its case "I have four sisters, I have seen more than my fair share of chick-flicks" he smiled, grabbing the remote and pressing play. After adjusting the sound up a little he sat down again, but this time on the other end of the sofa Meredith curled up on.
Meredith did not mind this development at all as it meant she could unnoticeably lower her eyes and look at him, she was caught however when she laughed when he jumped during one of the fight scenes. It was late when the second movie finished, Izzie had called out goodnight as she made her way past them on her way from the door to the stairs, she rose sleepily from her spot on the couch and walked him to the door "Good night Miss Meredith Grey" he smiled, bending down to kiss her cheek "we will have to do this again some time soon"
"Good night Dr Shepp…Derek" she smiled back, her eyes soaking in his smile
She watched him walk back across the street and returned his wave when he reached his porch, stepping inside she let her back fall against the door as her hand went to the cheek he had kissed, knees slowly buckled beneath her and she lazily sat on the floor, grinning to herself as she remembered his statement about hanging out again soon.
From across the street Derek watch as Meredith walked inside, through the glass door he saw her slowly slip to the floor, he laughed out loud when he watched her jump up thirty seconds later and run up the stairs. Monday morning is going to be great, he thought to himself.
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A/N
Happy? They kissed-kind of…
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