What they're missing

"Boys, come over here." Jane called to the boys as they walked across the yard close to the fence.

"Damn." They all mumbled walking over.

"You guys have managed to keep quiet all day." She said crossing her arms. They just shrugged looking at the ground. "Come." She walked across the lawn with them coming slowly behind. "Meredith?"

"What? No." Mark whispered. "Don't do this to us."

She glared at them as Meredith came over. "Meredith, I want you to re-introduce you to, Mark, Derek, and Preston." She said pointing to each of them.

Meredith forced a smiled. "Hi."

"Hi." They mumbled refusing to look at her. Jane rolled her eyes.

Meredith's phone started to ring. "I have to take this." She said walking away. "Thank God for you."

"What did I do?" She asked.

"You avoided me a very bad conversation with Derek, Mark, and Preston."

"See, I knew you couldn't survive without me."

"Shut up." She snapped. "What are you up to?"

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"We've got to get them to be in the same room together." Jane sighed. "They are being way to immature about this."

"Way ahead of you." Nina smiled.

"Oh? So what's the plan?" Ellis joined.

"Well how many bedrooms are in your town houses?" Nina asked

"Four in each." Ellis answered.

"Well it seems that the new staying arrangements will be Meredith, Mark, Derek, and Preston in one house and the rest of us in the other." Nina smirked.

"Oh, I think it might just work." Carol smiled.

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She sat at the end of the table on one side. Dennis sat across from her. Richard sat at the very end, and Nina sat next to her. Staring at her food, she ate slowly feeling eyes on her every few seconds. Putting a bit of food in her mother, she glanced up at her brother who was too busy talking to Richard to notice. Looking back down at her hands, she felt like she was alone, stranded on an island. She didn't even want to be there. Sure, it was great seeing Nina, Carol, Steven, Larry, and Jane, but she felt like a little kid again. Receiving all the glares and not being included like she was being shunned from the group just because she was an annoying six year old. It's stupid for them to even hold it over her head. They're supposed to be mature nineteen-year-olds, but they haven't grown any more mature since she saw them when they were eight.

She glanced up to see Mark glancing over at her. His eyes quickly turned into a glare and returned back to Derek and Preston.

"I should have brought Christina." She mumbled to herself. Trying to focus on what she had told her before she headed to Boston, but she felt herself becoming insecure. Standing up, she looked at Nina. "Where's the restroom?"

"First door on the hall off the kitchen." She smiled back. Meredith gave her a soft smile before walking into the house.

Shutting the door to the bathroom, she dialed Christina's number. Pacing the floor, she hoped she would answer.

"Hello?" Christina's voice came.

"I need a pep talk. I need you talk me down from doing something irresponsible."

"McAsses being McAssish."

"They won't stop glaring at me."

"Have you even talked to them?"

"No. This is all because of what happened when I was six."

"So they aren't just jackasses they're immature jackasses who hold a six year old accountable for being an annoyance."

"Yes." She sighed.

"Well, don't pay attention to them. Eat the food. Then go to the Bahamas and enjoy yourself as if they weren't there… and make them realize what they're missing."

Meredith giggled. "Thanks."

"Now, I have to stop being all nice before I break out in hives."

Meredith laughed. "Alright. I'll call you later."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye." She hung up and smiled. Christina could always make her feel better.

'Make them realize what they're missing." She repeated in her head as she smiled at herself in mirror before heading out.

Walking back into the backyard, she took her seat. Sitting up a little straighter than she had the last time.

"So I hear you live with your friend, Christina?" Steven said who was sitting across and down too. Meredith nodded. "Any boys living there?"

Meredith giggled uncomfortably looking at Richard and Ellis who were looking at her sternly. "No."

"Good." Larry laughed as Richard let out a sigh of relief. Meredith smiled shaking her head.

"There better not be… not for a long time." Richard added.

Meredith rolled her eyes.