Chapter 6: A Friendly Enemy

"So, how can you come to school in the daytime?"

"I wear as much clothing as I can and put sunscreen on every morning; only on clouded days."

"And your 'tomato soup' you have for lunch every day?"

"Carlisle sneaks a transfusion pack every now and again for us, but we try to live off animals."

"How many of you are there?"

"Seven, including my parents."

"Do you sleep in coffins? How do you keep your fangs hidden? Can you turn into a bat? Do you vomit at the smell of garlic?"

Derek let his head hit the table as Meredith drilled him with question after question. It had been a full week since their initial agreement, and after a full weekend of debate, Meredith finally let her curiosity overtake her. It was, needless to say, quite an oddity to come to terms with the fact that your biology partner is in fact an inhuman creature. Of course, the blatant fear of the aspect of him killing her in her sleep was still in existence, but she figured that if he was going to kill her, he probably would have done so the night she found out. So, that Monday at lunch, she sat at Derek's table, pelting him with a relentless interview. Derek pulled his head up, pursing his lips together and rubbing his temple. It was quite obvious that he was stopping himself from strangling her.

"Remind me again why I'm answering all of these stupid questions?" he asked, eyes still shut.

Meredith recalled herself. Annoying a blood sucking demon wasn't the smartest way to start off the week. "Um…" Her voice fell a bit. "I just… I'm curious is all… I'm sorry…" She looked down at her food, her hands on her apple that came with the meal. She usually never ate it but figured it might be a good way of shutting herself up for his sake. So, she brought the fruit to her mouth and took a bite, her eyes on the tray before her.

"Do you haveto chew that loud?" he snapped; eyes open again. Meredith paused, a piece of apple in the side of her cheek. She gave it a few seconds before slowly masticating the rest of the piece. She then set it down and cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry I'm asking so many questions," she repeated. "I just… well I've never met a vampire before."

"Well now you have. Whoopty do."

Meredith frowned. "You don't have to be so cynical."

"Why not?" said Derek, propping his chin in his hand. "I have the right to be cynical if I want to." Meredith pouted, folding her arms across her chest. However, the action didn't seem to affect Derek. He just stared at her, vaguely. "So, is that all?"

Meredith shook her head. "I have a few more questions to – hey!" She watched as he stood up, putting his thermos of blood into his bag. Without a hint of apology, he turned and strode off. Meredith hopped up to chase him, when someone took hold of her arm. Jessica had caused her to turn around on her heal.

"Ok, spill," she said automatically. Meredith blinked in confusion, though it only seemed to make Jessica irritated, and she flipped her sandy hair over her shoulder. "Why are you hanging out with Derek Creep-o?"

That made Meredith's mouth turn slightly. "He's not that bad..." He did leave her alive that night, after all. Something she guessed not many vampires would do without a very good reason. That told her that he had at least some ounce of humanity beneath that scowl.

"Doesn't answer my question," Jessica pointed out. "What are you doing with him?"

After about two months of knowing her, Meredith quickly found out that Jessica was apt to spread gossip. Any gossip would do. The last thing Meredith wanted was for the spotlight to be shined on she and Derek. Not only did she hate to be the center of attention, but she knew Derek just might actually kill her if anyone else found out, or got too close. So, she made up a little white lie to cover herself. "He's my lab partner, remember?" she reminded her friend. "I'm having a little trouble with an upcoming project." Not completely false. There was indeed a formal lab report due in a week or so on molecular density. It wasn't exactly Meredith's strong suit. Jessica looked as though she didn't quite believe her, but she pushed it aside.

"Well, anyway," she started up again. "What are you doing Saturday?"

Meredith thought for a bit. "Nothing, I don't think... Why?"

"A bunch of us were planning a snowball war at Mike's place," Jessica explained. "You game?"

"I've never been in a snowball fight," Meredith admitted.

"That's ok. We'll teach you, Boston girl." Meredith smiled slightly at the nickname the others had christened her with. It was only a moment or two before the bell rang. After saying their goodbyes, they split off, Meredith heading off to PE. They had been focusing on basketball because of the snow. Meredith was never exactly the athletic type, but she managed to stay on her feet, even though she almost never caught the ball. She was heading down the hall, when she spotted the black draped figure that was Derek Shepherd. She moved forward to speak to him. She did still have questions about him. However, she stopped as the scene in front of her progressed.

Derek had turned from his locker, when he accidentally bumped into one of the football jocks, causing the boy's folder to fall from his hands. He and his friends apparently didn't like Derek to begin with, so he gave the vampire a shove against the lockers to reveal his annoyance. Meredith could hear him order Derek to watch where he was going, calling him a freak in the process. And Derek – who probably had the ability to kill them with a flash of his fangs – just stood there, blankly. He didn't even flinch when he was pushed, his forehead hidden by his hood. Meredith felt her heart clench.

He really is alone, isn't he? came the thought. He sat alone every lunch period. He never spoke to anyone as far as Meredith noticed. The rumors about him were numerous. People moved out of the way as he walked down the hall. There wasn't a single person who had smiled at him in the two months that Meredith had been there. It made her feel a sense of loneliness as well, as though she was the one outcasted by the school, and not he.

She sighed and moved forward as he secured his locker. With a slight twinge of caution, Meredith tapped his elbow. He turned to her, surprised by the physical contact. Meredith cleared her throat and mustered up the kindest smile she could. He seemed even more taken aback by that. "Um... what's the weather report for this weekend?" He stared at her. "I mean... do you think it's going to be sunny on Saturday?" He thought for a minute.

"No," he said finally. "Why?" He shifted the strap on his shoulder, his thin lips turned into a frown.

"Well... my friends and I are going over to Mike's house for a snowball war..." She kept her smile, despite his confusion. "Would you like to come?" His lips parted as a very familiar pause entered into the conversation. He seemed to be shocked, to put it simply.

"You're... inviting me somewhere?" he clarified.

"Sure," said Meredith, hands on the straps of her backpack. "Why not?"

His bemused gazed turned back to his usual brood. "I don't know. Maybe because you're my main food source?"

"I'm not afraid of you," Meredith half lied. Derek lofted a brow.

"Oh?" he asked. Meredith nodded. About three beats passed, before Derek leaned forward, a low hiss coming from his throat. He curled his lips away, revealing his fangs. Meredith felt her heart plummet and she backed up into the water fountain, staring at his face. The memory of that night came into view, and she clutched her straps tighter.

For the first time, a tiny smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.

"You're a terrible liar," he concluded, turning to leave. Meredith felt her face grow hot and she scurried up beside him, hitting his arm. He rubbed it, but probably more out of habit then pain.

"You're a jack ass," she said, frowning. She then turned, standing in front of him to stop his pace. "So, what do you say?" Her smile returned. "It'll be fun. You can watch me get pelted with snowballs." He seemed to consider it. He then shook his head, but not as an answer to the question.

"You're so weird."

With that, he turned and left, heading to his next class. Meredith huffed. "You're one to talk!" she shouted after him. He didn't answer in words, but gave a little wave just as he turned the corner. Meredith let out a chuckle. "I'm the weird one. Right." She then turned the opposite way and headed towards the gym. All the while, she hoped that Derek would swallow his pride and do something social for once.