If I owned Grey's Anatomy, Meredith and Derek would be getting for action than the people on Bones. So, I do not.

The bright sunlight beamed through the window, burning Meredith's eyes and jerking her awake. I definitely need to unpack some window treatments. She glanced over at the red numbers on her alarm clock. It was seven a.m. Too early to get up. Especially when my internship will be starting soon, and four a.m. will beckon. She turned over, covering her head with the heavy blanket. Now she had to pee. Damn it. Sleep was not coming. If I can get there with my eyes closed, I can do it. I can come back here and sleep. She climbed off the side of the bed and began her blind walk to the bathroom. Little did she know that one of her unpacked boxes was in her path, causing her to catapult through the air, and onto the floor. Shit! She opened her eyes. It was a failed attempt, she was definitely awake now.

After getting out of the shower, she had no idea what to do. Her life had always been busy. First it was grade school, high school, then college. It never ended. Now she had a month to do what she wanted, and she had no idea what to do with it. What the hell do normal people do? Ah ha. She was going to the coffee shop. That's what she'd do. Start her day with a good cup of coffee, sit and read a book. Watch the people of Seattle. Yep, I'm gonna be a people watcher. She grabbed a book and jumped in her car.

The coffee shop was busy, but most of the people were grabbing and going. She was staying. She ordered her usually mocha latte and sat at a table in the corner. She picked up "To Kill a Mockingbird", and started to read. She hadn't read the book since Junior High. She found it in a box, it was the only book she had on hand. She looked over at the line of people waiting for their coffee. She notices a dark-blonde haired man. He looked interesting. Very clean, polite. She found herself staring. No Men! Absolutely no men, Meredith! The stranger caught her stare. Shit, now he probably thinks I'm some kind of freak. A stalker. She looked down at her book. No Men. She stopped looking, and starting reading. She didn't even notice that the good looking stranger was now sitting a few tables over, watching her intently.

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Meredith jumped in her car. It was another coffee shop morning. She grabbed her usual, sat down at her table. This time she wasn't watching the people. People suck. Especially men. She quickly ate her scone, and sipped her coffee. She didn't even notice the man walk up to her table.

"Hi, I'm Chase." Said the good-looking stranger from the day before.

"Um, Hi." Meredith answered, not knowing what to say.

"Do you come here often?" He asked, flashing a big smile. She notices his perfect teeth.

"This is my second time." Meredith answered, pretending that she wasn't interested. She looked down at the pages of her book. She wasn't reading, she was trying to tell him telepathically to go the hell away.

"I knew that. See, I come here everyday." He joked. "You're ignoring me."

"Uh, yeah. I guess I am." She chuckled, not looking up from the page of her book.

"You shouldn't. I'm a a catch. A great guy. Smart, good-looking, successful..." He boasted.

"Self absorbed, arrogant..." She retorted, as she looked up.

"Ahh, I got your attention, and a smile." He joked, her smile quickly fades. "And it's gone in a flash."

"I'm reading," She simply stated.

"Yes, you are. So, did you notice that your book is upside down?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Actually, I did. I like reading upside down." She quickly stated.

"Oh. Hmm. So, I was wondering if you'd like to go out for coffee sometime. Oh, I guess this is well- Dinner, would you like to go to dinner?" He asked, hopeful.

"No." She quickly snapped.

"Just like that." He stated.

"Just like that." She stands up and walks out of the coffee shop. "Now that was close." She muttered to herself.

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Today. Today I am smarter. Today I am going to that damn coffee shop fifteen minutes late. Then maybe I will miss him. He's so damn persistent. I can't help but look at him. I just can't help it. He's a man, a hot man. Luckily he hasn't noticed. I am not having anything to do with that man. No men! Her face quickly dropped. There he was, sitting at the table. My table. He took my table. This is not happening. That is my table! She gets her coffee, a muffin and storms over to her table, sitting down.

"This is my table" She ranted. "My table."

"I don't remember seeing your name on it. But then again, I don't know your name." Chase answered with a sly smile. "So dinner."

"No." Meredith stated simply.

"Come on. What do you have to lose? One dinner. A free dinner. You have to eat. If it is horrible, you will never see or hear from me again." Chase said convincingly.

"One dinner?" She asked.

"One dinner."

"I will never see you again? You won't ever come to this coffee shop again?" She debated.

"Never. It will be renamed 'Coffee shop of Girl who had one crappy date with Chase Carter and will never have another.'" He joked.

"One date. You and I. Friday night. At eight. We meet at the restaurant." She stated, as she handed him her number, written on a napkin.

"I can't wait." He answered. "Oh, what is your name?" He chuckled.

"Meredith." She answered.

"Ah, Meredith." He walked out with a extra bounce in his step. She had to giggle at the sight.

"Crap, now what have I done?" She quietly asked herself.

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Meredith was nervous. She rarely got nervous. It was a date. A date that was going to go horribly, only if it went well. She didn't want it to go well. No more men. One hundred percent focused on her career, on her life. This was putting a wrench in her plans. She pulled out her dark blue dress. It fit her perfectly, hugging her every curve. She should have warn the dress that her mom bought her for prom. The prom that she refused to go to. It was absolutely hideous. He would have run out of the restaurant. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting it lay softly on her shoulders. She could do this.

When she arrived at the restaurant, he was already seated. She noticed his sparkling smile from across the room. What the hell am I doing? This is so ridiculous. I could have just found another coffee shop. Screw coffee. I hate coffee. Okay, I could run out, right now. I could turn around. Shit. I'm here.

"You look, amazing." She stated, wide eyed. "You clean up pretty nice."

"Thanks, I guess." Meredith said, nervously twisting her hands together. Finally she sits down.

"So, tell me about yourself." Said Chase.

"Not much to tell. I was born and raised in Seattle. I went to college, now I'm back." She said simply. None of it was simple. "Now you."

"Interesting. You are really open, you really like to talk, don't you? I grew up in Michigan. I have one sister. I went to Stanford, graduated at the top of my class. I am a Cardio-Thoracic surgeon-" He told her, his eyes never leaving her green ones.

"Where? What hospital?" She asked him.

"Seattle Presbyterian. What do you do?"

"I um, well. I start my surgical internship in a month." She nervously answered.

"Really? So you're a doctor." He asked, without blinking.

"Well, I will be, I guess."

"Where at?" He said.

"Seattle Grace." She answered, taking a sip of her wine.

"Impressive. Do you have any siblings?" He pried.

"No. Look, I agreed to a date. One date, in fact. We don't have to do this. Talk about each other's hopes and dreams or whatever." She snapped.

"I, um- Okay." She drew back, taking a sip of his wine. "So what do we do?"

"I only know how to do one thing, and well- Never mind. Fine. I have no siblings."

"Alright. I'm a nice guy, Meredith. You should give me a chance." Chase pleaded, taking a bite of his appetizer. "Someone really hurt you, didn't they?" She looked down, and then took a bite of her food.

"So, top of your class at Stanford, huh?" She asked.

"Yes. Where did you go."

"Oxford." She answered.

"As in Great Britain, like England? That Oxford?" He asked with wide eyes.

"That would be the one." She smiled.

"What made you go there?" He asked with a smile.

"That is a very long story. But I was happy to go there. I don't regret it. I moved there when I was eighteen." Meredith explained.

"You, Meredith are very interesting. Full of surprises." He chuckled.

They ate their dinner. Meredith had opened up to him just a little. She really like him. She hated to admit it, but it was true. He told her about how he had always dreamed of being a cardio-thoracic surgeon. How his Dad worked extra hours to help him pay for medical school. Meredith told him about her father not being around. That was not something she shared with people. The date ended with him kissing her on the cheek. He was good looking, and she wanted to take him home. He was a gentleman, and didn't make her feel like she had to take him home. She climbed in her car, smiling.

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Meredith hated to admit it, but she was impressed by Chase. He was a genuine guy. If she were looking for someone, she would definitely be interested in him. But she wasn't. One date, that was it. No men. She took a quick shower, then laid down in her bed, tossing and turning all night. Maybe she should give him a chance. No. She was not doing it. Her heart had been broken too many times.

"So how was your date?" Ian, Meredith's husband asked.

"It wasn't a date. It was a drink, at the bar. I'm married, remember." She answered "It's against the rules. Just sex, that's what you said, right? He didn't show, anyhow." She was sad. He was never late. She had a sinking feeling in her gut.

"So he stood you up." He suggested.

"No. He probably had something to do." She snapped. She liked Nate. Nate was a nice guy. Ian was just her husband. Their marriage was a complete joke. It wasn't a marriage, it was sham. She heard Ian chuckle. He knew something. Little did she know that she would never see Nate again. And the thought of that, it crushed her. It hit her like a ton of bricks, she was in love with Nate, and now he was gone.

No, she was never falling in love again. She did, and the man that she loved. He just vanished, walked away. She saw something about him winning an award, in the newspaper. That made it worse. She had always wondered what happened to him. She cried many nights thinking he had gotten hurt, or was dead. But the truth, that he had just left her. Dumped her off like a bag of trash, not even giving an explanation, it hurt more than if he had died. Nope, she was never falling in love again.