Basement

The houses brought back so many memories making a painful chill run down her spine. She sat in the back of the car staring at the two houses. Richard opened the door and climbed out. She scrunched down in her seat looking at her hands. Ellis helped Dennis out of the seat. They all looked at her. She sighed and slid out. Standing in the middle of the street, she glanced both ways remembering the last time she was there.

"You coming?" Richard's voice pulled her from her daze. Silently nodding, she followed them up the pathway to the house. The porch squeaked with every step on the weathered wood. She thought of when they said goodbye to them eleven years ago. She had coward behind her mother's legs not wanting to face those who hated her more than she thought anyone could hate one person. Richard rang the doorbell which soon opened. Nina stood in front of them. She had aged, as to be expected. Her hair had begun turning gray. She held a warm smile on her face.

"Hey." She said loudly. Hugging Dennis, Ellis, and Richard, who had seen her last year, as Meredith hung back. "Oh my god! Meredith! Look at you. Oh my god." She quickly engulfed her in her arms. "The last time I saw you, you were a small little girl. Now, wow, you're a young woman now." Meredith smiled.

"Thank you." She giggled pushing her hair behind her ear. "Look at you. You look great."

Nina laughed. "Oh, dear, I am getting so old." She sighed. "It's not even funny. What am I thinking? Come in, come in. Everyone… Jane, Carol, Larry, Steven, Meredith's here."

Charles had died almost seven years ago from cancer. Meredith was only ten at the time and was at away school in Connecticut, so she couldn't't come to the funeral, but Ellis and Richard did.

Soon the four people had come in. Each had aged a lot since she had seen them. They all smiled and were giving her complements and praising her for her school thing they had heard from her parents. They complimented how beautiful she was and how smart she was and how pretty her hair was… just about everything they could find to complement her. After a while, she noticed that Dennis had gone missing.

"Where'd Dennis go?"

"Oh, he must have slipped downstairs to see the kids." Carol said.

"Meredith, go down there and get him. He's probably hungry by now." Ellis said touching her shoulder. Meredith fidgeted nervously.

"Down there? Where the others are?" Meredith asked nervously.

"Just go." Ellis ordered. Meredith sighed toying with the bottom of her shirt. Walking a few steps, she stopped and turn.

"Can't I just yell for him?" She asked.

"Go, Meredith." Ellis ordered narrowing her eyes. Dropping her head, she slowly trudged across the room.

The basement was dark. She could hear voices and the clicking of what sound like pool balls or something hard banging together. Fidgeting with the bottom of her shirt, her hands shook slowly. The light from the kitchen cascaded down the dark stairs. Slowly walking down the stairs, she got to wear the slant of the wall and he rail came together. Looking down into the basement nobody seemed to notice a presence. Taking a deep breath, she gave herself a mental pep talk and continued down the stairs. Letting her hands fall to her side, she put on a strong front. Gulping down any fear, she thought of Christina's words. 'You're hot. If they don't think so or if they want to be bitches and passed against you, when you were six, then fuck 'em.'

"Dennis?" She said with all she could muster up. Everyone turned and the balls stopped clicking together. Taking a quiet deep breath, she noticed Dennis turn to look.

"Yeah?" He said.

"Mom said it's time to eat." She said.

"Okay."

She glanced around before turning to head back up the stairs.

"Who was that?" Preston asked Dennis.

"Mer." He said hurrying to the steps.

"Whoa, you mean Meredith Grey." Mark said almost in shock.

"Yep." Dennis answered walking up the stairs.

"Oh…" Derek said.

"My…" Preston continued.

"God." Mark sighed. "That was Meredith Grey. Little Meredith Grey? Annoying pain in the ass Meredith Grey."

"That was Meredith Grey." Derek said in shock. "But… she must still be annoying I mean, right?"

"Yeah, definitely. We should just avoid her." Mark agreed.

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"Gosh, I haven't heard a peep from the boys in a couple hours." Carol observed.

"They're probably just being boys. Don't worry. Tomorrow, at the cook out, we'll all be out there." Nina assured.

Meredith walked into the kitchen and they four woman looked at her.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Jane asked.

She shrugged. "Nothing."

"Yes! Yes! Go! Go! Go!" They heard Steven yell.

Ellis shook her head. "We have some weird husbands."

"No. Video tapping football games and replaying them over and over… totally normal." Carol laughed shaking her head. They all laughed.

"I'm just going to get the nachos." Meredith giggled taking the platter of nachos.

"Hanging out with the guys are we?" Jane raised an eyebrow.

"What can I say?" She giggled walking out. "What's the score?"

"Twenty-one to six." Larry answered.

"Come on. Get it." She said falling back between her step-father and Larry.

"No, pick it up get it." Larry yelled at the TV.

"Get down the field." Meredith yelled. They all sighed falling back against the couch. "Stupid piece of…" She stopped before she got carried away with words she would regret.

"When did you get into football?" Steven asked.

She shrugged. "A few years ago I guess."

A new play started.

"Go!" Richard yelled.

"Yes! Yes!" Larry yelled.

"Watch him!" Meredith yelled. "TOUCHDOWN!"

They all leap up and Meredith started dancing with the other guys. Giggling, she fell back in the seat.