Chapter 2-
In the middle of the forest, right beside the bathroom, the girls were are lain out on stiff beds in a warm wooden cabin. They had just came back from washing up, and their cabin counselor, a perky blonde girl whose name was Arizona, had just informed them that they were supposed to have lights out.
There were six girls in the cabin, if you wanted to count the counselor. Izzie, Meredith, and Christina from the special group (the Willows, according to the camp.) There were two other kids who shared the sleeping space, from the next group up, called the Oaks. Both of those girls had introduced themselves to the group, far more confident than any of the younger ones. The first girl was named Callie, and she had gone around saying hello to everyone, before taking the bunk on top of where Arizona was sleeping. Miranda was much less enthusiastic, barely mumbling so much as a hello before falling right asleep, a feat that seemed impossible to the three smaller ones.
Late into the evening, when Meredith was sure that everyone was asleep, she left her cabin. The night air was cold and crisp, and she only had a thin white tank top and soft pink short, but she didn't seem at all affected by the cold.
She wandered through the forest, straight to a place that Addison had shown them earlier, a hill with bleachers that were built into its sides, with a firepit in the middle. It was meant to be for camp activities, filled to the brim with campers, but right now, it was just for her.
She knew she was useless. Just another face in the crowd, she'd never amount to anything special, she'd only take up space and valuable oxygen on this Earth until one day she'd die. She was perfectly ordinary. It wasn't a sign of depression, or a half-dozen other mood disorders that she could see the school counselors were dying to diagnose her with. It was just what she'd always been taught. Just like some kids grow up believing in God simply because that's how their parents have always taught them, Meredith Grey grew up believing that she was ordinary.
There was a rustle in the trees, just to Meredith's left. She jerked up abruptly, fearing whatever punishment was to come. A young man stepped out from the trees, in a camouflage printed muscle shirt, and sat down beside her on the cold wood.
"What are you doing out here this late?" Meredith didn't say anything, she simply shrugged and gazed back up at the stars, which were shining brighter than anything she got to see back at home, under the thick smog of the city lights.
"Come with me." He said. "I'll walk with you back to your cabin." Meredith followed him through the woods, not even thinking to run. She didn't want trouble, had never intended to rebel. She had just wanted some time to herself, some time to be alone with her thoughts. She felt better now, at least for her.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Meredith. By the way, my name's Derek. I'll be your other counselor, sorry that I wasn't there today." Derek didn't want to enter the cabin of sleeping girls, so he simply stood on the doorstep under the soft light, waiting for Meredith to go in. She did, nodding shyly at him before she stepped inside, closing the door slowly so as not to wake anybody up.
As she made her way back to her bed, Christina rolled over. They didn't exchange any words, only a small smile, but it was a start. Maybe things really could be different. They'd just have to wait and see.