Chapter 12: The Beginning of Hell

Turning her metal key inside the lock of her front door, the sound of a brief click signaling the thick metal clasp sealing her entrance finally open. It had taken a while to get back to the apartment. Her home. As soon as Derek and her injured best friend, Aaron, left the Emerald City Bar, she quickly dashed out the door not bothering to look behind her. No goodbye or wave. Nothing. He didn't deserve and acknowledgment, he didn't deserve even being able to stay in the same spot as her or even speak to her.

He was nothing.

Walking into her suite she footed off her shoes, not caring how unorganized and messy she was. Her lengthy heels just sprawled on the hardwood floor, tossing the keys on the counter before unbuttoning her jeans carelessly. She was alone with Snickers who seem to be taking a nap in his recently cleaned cage filled with carrots, water and some paper shaving for him to nest in. He was comfortable, he liked to nest. Swiftly she made her way to her bedroom removing her clothes in a huff quite frustrated at Derek for the time being. He was treating her like a child. She couldn't deny that at times she did act like a snotty brat, but tonight she was being the girlfriend that did some of his not so childish things that he greatly loved. But he sent her home. Gave her his keys and made her go home. She had tried to argue, hold her ground. But no. N freaking O, no.

Throwing on her grey cotton tank top and leaving on the skimpy pink bikini underwear, she walked off to Aaron's room. His laptop was on top of his neatly made bed. Jumping onto his bouncy mattress, she opened the laptop.

Aaron always knew she used his things without asking, but he still left his belongings out for her to reach. He didn't like it, but he had always hoped that she would learn to ask and respect his property. Though she didn't find any life lessons by his subtle actions, he had his door open anyways. His door was always open. Open for her to talk, just to hang out and make fun of each other. Fight when one of them was being a complete ass, and congratulate each other when something had finally gone right in their lives.

Best friends usually knew everything about one another. He was her person. His number was filled in when she had to go to the clinic as an emergency contact. He was the first person she would have confided in, excluding Derek coming into the picture three months ago. He was her person for all these years, and he didn't know.

He didn't know what happened to her that nine year back in high school. She should have told him. She would have, if the shame and embarrassment wouldn't have influenced her cloud of thought as a mere fourteen-year-old taken advantage of. She needed him back then, but she was too stubborn, too afraid. Why?

Because she knew he was right.

Flashback

It was loud, filled with many young bodies rustling through the hallways of East Boston High. Lockers were being slammed, and cell phones were ringing. Some had class, other skipped them and for the freshman, it was lunch period. Most of the students ate at the quad, a few in the large cafeteria still clean since the seniors hadn't passed through yet. A few smaller groups found their own lunch spot on the school grounds.

"Did you buy your ticket yet Mer? They're going to be sold out soon." Aaron asked taking a bite of his chicken salad sandwich leaning on the trunk of the tree, the large branches covered in ever green leaves providing shade.

"Not yet, but I found some cash lying around at home the other day. Probably my mothers." She shrugged.

"You sure it was hers? She hasn't been home in a while." Stating the facts.

"She was home last night. I heard her car come up in the driveway while I was in my room. I think her friend was with her. Some guy she works with." She shrugged pulling out her lunch from the brown paper bag.
"Oh, boyfriend?"

"God, I hope not. The last time mother dearest was involved with a man, it ended in loud screaming matches and running him out of the house."

"You haven't seen your dad in a while, have you?" he asked rubbing her back for a brief moment.

"Nope. Ten years and nothing. Probably for the best anyways. I know nothing about him, and he doesn't know crap about me anymore." She said, blowing the topic off taking a sip of her root beer.

"You're probably right."

"I'm always right." Sticking her tongue out at him.

"No, you're usually right, but I just agree for my safety. I do not like those punches you throw my way." She muttered.

"You're such a pussy." She teased, receiving a slab of wet lettuce thrown her way.

"And you are probably not going to the dance." He retorted.

"Why do you say that?"

"Some kids are running to the auditorium, their selling the last batch right now. Better grab your money and head off."

"Crap." She muttered pulling out her five bucks from her jean pocket quickly running to the school. "Watch my stuff for me Aaron!" she called out heading on inside.

She walked quickly through the now quiet halls, classes going on in every room by some of the toughest teachers in the building. Running a few cases of stairs, she had finally made it to the third, only to be greeted by a long line of some of her classmates ready to purchase tickets to the last dance of the year. Sighing in defeat, she made her way to the back of the line crossing her arms over her chest waiting.

She did not realize a figure making its way behind her, tall and from the opposite sex. A tap on her shoulder from the individual that was waiting patiently as she was.

"You're Meredith, right?" the deep voice asked. And then she knew. It was a voice every girl and guy knew at the school. Captain of the football team, most popular and most attractive in the entire student body. Parker Sloan.

The Parker Sloan.

"Um..yeah. That's me. Meredith Grey." She confirmed nervously, taking her hair out of the messy ponytail, soothing the messy waves entangles in her mane.

"So, Meredith. You're going to the school dance, I see?" He said, eyeing the line she was in, spinning the hall pass in his hands.

"Yeah. I'm not really big on them, but I just figured since it was the end of the school year I would go." She explained nervously.

"That's cool, but do you want to know something?" he asked, flashing her a smile.

"S..sure."

"These school events are usually a drag. Complete BS. Nothing goes on at dances except maybe some older student messing up the punch bowl. If I were you, I would keep my five dollars and spend it on something else. Don't waste it here." He said quietly hoping the teachers at the front wouldn't hear him, or see him since he was supposed to be on his way back to class.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well…ummm, I was supposed to go with my best friend. We had planned on it, lame or not." She shrugged hoping she didn't come off as a loser in front of Parker.

"You know what you could be doing instead of going to this crapfest?"

"What?" she whispered quite intrigued.

"Me and my friends are going to hang out in the bleachers, drinking, what we usually do. We never had a girl hang out with us before, but I'm sure we can make an exception. Just for you." He replied, eyeing her subtly.

"Really?" her eyes wide in excitement. "You mean I can really hang out with you guys?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Well, I'm a freshman, and you're a senior. I didn't think you even knew I existed." She admitted lamely.

"Oh I have. I've seen you in the hallways. You are definitely something special Meredith. So, what do you say? Are you in?"

She hesitated. She was supposed to be going with Aaron to the dance. She never liked school events, but they had planned on it.

Together for months now. But Parker. He actually asked her to hang out with him, as well as his other senior friends. This was something a normal girl would not have passed up for the so called dance.

"But can Aaron come?" she asked quietly.

"Who?"

"My best friend." She replied.

"Is this Aaron kid a chick?"

"No, he's a guy."

He shook his head without any thought. "Sorry, the invite is only directed to you."

Biting her lips, she knew in her heart that she couldn't ditch Aaron. She couldn't. But in her head there was a big yes floating around.

"Umm..okay." she replied.

"That's a yes."

"Yes." She smiled nodding brightly.

"Good. I'll give you the details tomorrow. Do me a favor, don't tell anyone about this. See ya soon Meredith." He called out jogging down the hall to his classroom.

"See you soon." She replied, jumping like crazy on the inside.

She quickly ran out, nearly falling on her face before meeting Aaron back at their lunch spot under the big oak tree.

"That was quick. Got your ticket?" he asked his eyes traveling to her empty hand.

"Change of plans."

"Change?" he asked in confusion.

"I'm not going to the dance after all, I changed my mind." She winced waiting for his reply.

"Mer! Seriously, you are backing out now. Less than a week till the event. How can you do this to me Mer? I will be the only one there having a horrible time." He yelled.

"Maybe you won't, you don't know if you don't go." She reassured. "Maybe you'll have a great time and dance with some girls." She comforted.

"I don't care. We were supposed to go together."

"I know." She sighed feeling guilty.

"What made you change your mind Mer?"

Parker told her not to say a word, but Aaron was her friend. She told him everything.

"Because, Parker Sloan asked me to hang out with him." She squealed in happiness.

"Hang out? Seriously? You rather hang out than go to a dance and make fun of people grinding improperly."

"Yeah." She whispered, her head down.

"And what are you guys going to do, hanging out and all?"

"I don't know. Talk, do stuff. He really didn't go into detail." She replied wondering herself what was going to go on that Friday.

"We do that all the time." He countered.

"Yeah, but this is Parker Sloan! The Parker Sloan." She explained. "Even you think he's cool."

"Well..I think he's alright. He did lead the team into victory last week. He'll probably be a legend here."

"Exactly. And he asked me to hang out with him. How many times does that happen?"

"Like never." He muttered.

"So I had to say yes, Aaron. Please don't be mad." She begged, her hand going to his shoulder playfully shoving him.

"How about me? Did you ask if I could come along as well?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course I did, what kind of friend do you think I am?" acting offended as she try to hold back her giggles.

"Sorry Mer, but you can be a self-centered beotch at times." He chuckled.

"Hey!"

"I said sorry." Patting her on the head. "And, what did he say?"

She frowned giving him his answer without any words exchanged.

"Well that sucks." He muttered.

"I know, I asked but I guess they just like chicks hanging out with them."

"They consider you as a chick?" he gasped teasing her receiving a smack on the head.

"Surprisingly he does." She stated proudly.

"Ew."

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, the breeze hitting them. Their paper bags flying in the direction of the wind.

"I think this is a bad idea Mer. I just have this feeling with you and older guys."

"You and your feelings." She teased.

"I'm serious Mer. Even though Parker has this good guy thing going, you really don't know anything else about him."

"I'm a big girl." She cut in.

"With bad judgment." He retorted.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"I'm sorry Mer, but it's true. Please, just go tell Parker that you can't go."

"Aaron…" she whined.

"And we don't have to go to the dance if you want. We can go to my place and my mom can make her world-famous macaroni and cheese. What do you say?"

"I say no." she replied. "I'm going and you're going to the dance. We'll both have fun and talk about it all weekend while we braid each other's hair." She giggled.

"Mer, I'm a guy. We don't do that chick thing."

"And what do you guys do?"

"We silently nod and flex our muscles." He said with his cheesy smile.

"That's what I thought." She laughed, messing up his brown hair that had grown over the year.

"You're never going to listen to me, are you?" he asked quietly.

"Nope." She shook her head. "I know you'll always be right."

"You admit it? And you do not take my advice."

"That would be too easy. I like to learn the hard way." She replied.

"Oh, I get it."

"Get what?"

"Proving yourself. You don't have to do it Mer. I already know the bad ass you are." He chuckled.

"There is nothing to prove." He gave her a look of doubt. "Okay, maybe I want to prove something."

"And that is?"

"That I can make my own decisions without it hitting me in the face." She explained.

"How can you achieve this my hanging out with the popular crowd?"

"I don't know. Stop asking me questions." She said walking off down the trail back to the school building.

"Ah, now Meredith the avoider is coming into place. Tsk, tsk." He chuckled, shaking his head at her.

"Oh shut up." She giggled racing him inside. Carefree and wild. No problems. If only she knew, this was the beginning of hell.

End of Flashback

Meredith was bored. She wasn't sleeping and there was nothing on Aaron's computer that could occupy her ever slow amount of time. Not any games or web sites to enjoy. She had left her email account page on while the computer screen went to stand by. His screen saver of Sports Illustrated Women dancing around the screen.

Typical.

He was an art student; anyone would have assumed there would be the random painting of Picasso, or the Mona Lisa and her beautiful smile. His eye of art was the woman anatomy and the way curves contrasted and blended into the world, preferably in bikinis. She dragged her bare, seven and a half-sized feet over to the living room, hearing her furry friend prance around in the large cage Derek had bought. Wide and awake waiting for Meredith to take him out of his cage to hop around its home.

She cooed softly at Snickers, gently pulling him out of his constricted area and placed him on the carpeted floor of the living room, letting him jump around. She knew he wouldn't go far, leaving that second to retrieve a carrot. His orange and healthy dinner and exercise for its front teeth.

She placed it in front of him as he nibbled and gnawed at it gently while she plopped onto the couch mindlessly. She was whistling a tune she had heard over the radio. It was soft, slow, hoping the meaning would catch the audience. The lyrics powerful, choosing the right words to emit the feeling and emotions.

Everything was quiet, her whistling of a light tune slowly ending, shaking her foot in plain boredom. Once in a while she would here the slight movement of Snickers tackling his dinner or hopping around playfully. As nothing came around her, distracting her only thought came to mind. What had happened that evening?

Parker.

She finally talked to him after those nine years, finally told him how she felt about the son of a bitch. It was the anger she had held in for years, for every minute of every day. At times she would luckily forget that night, forget him and what he and his buddies did. She would forget for a moment and actually love her life. It was times like these where she could think nothing less, the sounds, the visuals.

The stale chip smell.

The scotch breath.

The hands.

The lips.

The clothes.

It was all coming back to her as if it was yesterday. It was all coming back.