Chapter 16

Joy. What is the real definition of it? Everyone has different meanings of that single word. Some could tell you what joy meant to them, while others will tell you what the dictionary says. There are so many ways to describe it, and yet it is missing from many.

"Hey. I just got invited to a party." Christina said. "You guys want to go?"

"Who's throwing it?" Izzy wanted to know.

"The Shepard brothers," Meredith said off-handedly, "something about their parents away for a conference or something."

"Score." Christina said pumping her arm in the air, "Their house is sweet."

"How do you know?" George asked wonderingly.

"Derek asked me a few days ago."

"What?" Izzy yelped. "You got invited to a party by one of the McDreamy brothers and you didn't tell us?"

"Oh, I wasn't even going to go." Meredith said drifting off. "Sorry I forgot to tell you guys."

"What? You aren't going to go?" Izzy asked.

"I guess I'll go. That is if you guys go." Meredith sighed.

"What's wrong?" George asked worried.

"Nothing. I'm just not in a party mood I guess." She said. "But whatever, I guess I'll go."

Meredith reached the Shepard residence before anyone else did, it seemed. It's because the house was silent except for the sound of hurried movements of the people inside.

Meredith looked at the Shepard's house in awe. It was as huge as Christina had said it was.

She walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

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Derek, Jack, and a couple of their friends were rushing around the house to put in the last minute touches and lock up anything that could break.

They had put out liquor, picked out good CDs, and invited a lot of people.

Derek was really hoping that Meredith would show up. Although he would never admit it, he really liked her.

Jack just couldn't wait until Sarah came.

And Charlie couldn't wait until Claire came.

"This part is going to rock!" Derek told them. "Aren't you glad we're having this party?"

"Bloody, hell ye-" Charlie started to say before he was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

Derek opened the door to find Meredith standing on the door step.

"Hey, Meredith." Derek said looking a little flustered. "What are you doing here?"

Meredith frowned a little, "Well, you invited me. Remember?"

"I meant what are you doing here so early?" Derek corrected himself.

"Hey Meredith!" She heard Jack say. "Nice to see you again. Glad you made it."

"Yeah." She said. "Do you guys need some help setting up? Since I'm so early, I might as well help."

"Sure." Derek said.

After about half an hour, more people started to arrive.

By the time Christina, Izzy, and George arrived together in Izzy's car, the house was flooded with people, and music was screaming from the speakers.

They all went in to look for Meredith.

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"Hey, Meredith. I haven't seen you in a while." Charlie shouted over all the noise. "Why are you here?"

Meredith had been sitting in a corner before Charlie found her.

"Oh, I just don't feel like talking to any one." Meredith said as she drank another shot of tequila. "I wasn't even going to come, but my friends wanted me to, so what could I do?"

"Yeah, I know." Charlie said. "When you hear this type of music at this volume, you would just kill for peace and quiet."

"Hey why don't we go upstairs?" Charlie said. "I mean it's quieter and it will give us time to catch up."

"Sure."

Charlie wrapped his arm around Meredith to keep her steady because she was a bit tipsy.

Derek took another long sip of his bottle of been as he watched Charlie lead Meredith up the stairs. He felt his heart shatter into a million pieces.

He turned away from the sight when he saw her.

Her long red hair flowing freely as she walked towards him.

"Hey." She said. "I'm Addison. I just transferred. You're the mastermind of this whole party right?"

"Yeah." Derek squeaked out. He cleared his throat, "I mean, yeah. Hi, I'm Derek."

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Okay, well I hope you liked this chapter. Its only part one though.

I was going to make this chapter about Thanksgiving but my deadline kind of gave out considering it is Thanksgiving and I haven't finished a Thanksgiving chapter for it. So yeah. Well, since I can't give you a Thanksgiving chapter I'm just going to post a new one. Hoped you liked it.

Review and tell me what you think. Part two will be up soon.

As my sister would say, MERRY TURKEY DAY!

Hope you eat lots and lots of turkey,

- H