"Meredith, wake up!" A harsh voice came interrupting her sleep.
"Go away." She mumbled waving the person away and burying her head in her pillow.
"Meredith Ann Grey, get out of bed."
Groaning, she rolled onto her back and slowly opened her eyes only to see her mother hovering around her bed. "Mom, I'm sleep."
"We adults are going out to dinner."
"Okay, have fun." She yawned rolling over again.
"That includes you, Meredith."
"I'm not an adult. I'm a whiney little kid." She said knowing it wasn't worth the battle.
"Knock it off, Meredith. I'm not going to tell you again. You have to get up."
Letting out a loud, annoyed sigh, she pushed herself into the sitting position. "What is Dennis going to do?"
"Christina is watching him."
"Mom, you can't make my person become the babysitter."
"She offered."
"She wouldn't offer. She hates kids."
"Well, she did." She said sharply thumbing through the dresses Meredith had in the closet.
"I can dress myself, Mother."
"Then prove it." She said turning to look at her. "Get up. Get a dress. And come over to the other house. The girls are getting ready there. The husbands and Preston, Mark, and Derek are going to stay here."
Meredith groaned. "Why do they have to come? They hardly classify as teenagers let alone adults."
"Knock that childish stuff off. I'm sick of you four complaining all the time about each other."
"Well, I can't help it. You guys are the ones who locked me up in this hellhole."
"It's your house in the Bahamas. That hardly classifies at what most people your age would call a hellhole."
She rolled her eyes. "That's not what I meant. I meant them."
"Well get over it, Meredith, and get out of bed. We have reservations at six."
"Fine! I'm up and I'll be right there."
"Thank you." She responded in an annoyed tone before walking out.
--
"Can you zip up my dress, Nina?" Meredith asked.
"Of course." She smiled and zipped up the back of her dress.
"How do I look?" She asked turning around. She was wearing a black v-neck dress with a little "twist" at the base of the neckline. It fit her perfectly snug around her stomach hugging her curves exactly like it should with a flowing skirt.
"Gorgeous." Nina giggled. Taking her hand, she smiled warmly. "You've become such a gorgeous young woman."
"Thank you." She smiled brightly hugging her tightly.
"You better go do you hair."
"Thank you for everything, Nina."
"You're always welcome, Mer."
Giving her one last smile, she turned and went off to do her hair.
--
"Dad you can't seriously make us go out tonight." Mark whined walking into the kitchen fiddling with the tie that lied untied around his neck.
"I can, and I am." Larry said sharply tying his tie.
"I hate dressing up." He groaned. "And I hate stupid ties."
"Get over it." Larry rolled his eyes. "Your mother wants this."
Mark rolled his eyes. "Doesn't mean we have to do it." He mumbled leaning against the counter waiting for Derek and Burke to come.
"Shut up. If I hear you whine one more time, I might have to strangle you with my bare hands." Christina said walking into the kitchen. Larry instantly cracked up while Mark glared at her. She made her way across the kitchen to the fridge.
"Can we please not go?" Derek whined as he, Steven, and Preston walked in.
"What is with you guys and whining?" Christina groaned annoyed greatly before stomping out of the room. "Dennis what do you want on your pizza?"
"She's just a ball of sunshine isn't she?" Larry chuckled, standing up. "Mark tie your tie."
"I am, I am." Mark grumbled quickly tying his tie. He looked between his own clothes and his friends. They were all wearing full suites and ties. Stuffing his hands in his pants pockets, he gestured for them to go ahead. Richard was saying goodnight to Dennis who would be asleep by the time they got home.
"Thank you so much, Christina." Richard said for the umpteenth time.
"No problem." She shrugged taking her eyes off the TV long enough to glance at Dennis and Richard before her eyes settled on Preston who was leaving the kitchen.
--
"You coming, Mer?" Jane said playfully as the woman gathered at the door. Meredith smiled pulled on the heels that she would be wearing.
"Are you guys going to tell me where we're going?"
"Nope." They all answered at once.
"I'll be right out. I have to grab my car keys."
"I keep forgetting you're driving now." Carol giggled. "You won't mind driving the guys then would you?"
She silently groaned as a pained look came across her face. Receiving a glare from her mother, she plastered a smile on her face. "Sure."
Remembering the last time they went out to dinner, she shook her head. It was Dennis who keep things from being awkward. Tonight, Dennis wasn't coming and she would be alone.
The other women walked out in their various dresses to meet their husbands. Letting out a sigh, she pushed off the couch and walked over the mirror. Her make-up was done limitedly, and her hair was in loose curls that framed her face giving it an angelic look.
Deciding the get the night over with quickly, she grabbed her keys and walked out.
It was only five-thirty, but the sky was slowly turning a pinkish color. The air was warm but chillier than it had earlier that day. A breeze was going which instantly started picking her skirt off the back of her legs and blowing back behind her. Quickly turning the key her mother had left in the door, she turned and instantly noticed Mark. He wasn't paying attention and talking to Derek and Preston who had their backs to her.
"You look pretty, Mer." Dennis called from the porch beside her. Giggling, she shook her head.
Mark lifted his head and looked at her. His face quickly brightened but hid it well. Derek and Preston turned to look and quickly turned back to Mark. But Mark didn't look away from her as she walked down the stairs and crossed the pathway to where her parents were standing. After saying a few words to them, she turned and walked to the garage. Soon her black convertible appeared in the driveway.
"Oh boys…" Carol called.
"Oh god no." Derek mumbled.
"You're riding with Meredith." She smiled at them before the adults left to get into their cars.
"Great." Preston sighed out as they walked over to the car.
"I'm driving." Mark quickly said.
Rolling her eyes, she glared at them. "I told you already… my car, I drive." They stared at her for a second. "Get in the damn car."
Groaning, they trudged to the other side of the car.
"I get the front seat." Mark quickly called causing Preston and Derek to groan again as they got into the back.
Christina, who had come outside, walked down to the car. "You look good, Mer."
"Please, I look hot."
Rolling her eyes, she sighed. "Don't sleep with anyone in the bathroom."
Giggling she shook her head at her person. "Can't promise you too much… Don't kill my little brother."
"Whatever." She smiled before stepping away from the car. "Remember, legs closed."
Giggling, she rolled her eyes again. "I'll try, Chris."
She waited for her parents' car to pass her before following them.
"Bathroom sex? Sounds like your parents don't know a lot about you." Derek said from the back seat.
She rolled her eyes. "Why are we talking about my sex life?"
"So you're admitting you have on?" Preston asked raising his eyebrows.
She glared at them from the review mirror. "Are you trying to get dirt on me? If you're really that desperate, then fine. I'm not a virgin."
She thought about saying something insulting like 'Can't say the same for you' or whatever, but she decided against it. The car fell completely silent by the time she pulled up to a red light. Her parents were right in front of her since she still had no idea where they were going. Her eyes traveled down to the radio that had seemed to be playing nothing but commercials. None of the guys seemed to object to it staying on the station, but if she changed it they would probably pounce on her for doing so. Even though the stupid announcer voice was getting on her nerves, she kept her hands off of it and stared at the light waiting for it to change which seemed to be taking forever.
Her phone started to ring. She had quickly replaced her old one after she smashed it against the wall with a more stylish model. Christina's number flashed across the screen as they started across the intersection.
"Hey." She answered it.
"You do have condoms though, right?"
Giggling to herself, she rolled her eyes. "There is no need for any."
"I know you though, Mer. And there is always a need for one."
"Shut up." She giggled. "I think I can survive."
"Well, I don't know if I can. Brandon has got a hunk over there and oh my god he's gorgeous."
"We're going to have to get rid of the look don't touch rule with him. Some of those guys are… just so… hot."
"That's understatement."
"Okay, I have to think about something else before I turn this car around."
Christina laughed. "Whatever you say, Babe. You might be enjoying fancy dinning, but I am enjoying pizza and a show."
"If it didn't sound so stalkerish, I would tell you to tape it."
"I might do it just so I can watch it later."
"Whatever. Just keep an eye on Dennis."
"Mer, I am perfectly capable of babysitting."
"Alright, I better go."
"Have fun. I know I will."
"No guys in the house with my brother there, Chris."
"Whatever, bye."
"Bye." Rolling her eyes, she shut her phone. She and Christina had always played the back and forth game of mocking each other's sex lives. They never took anything each other said offensively. But that had been the way it had been since they started college. They would have one night stands since relationships were too complicated especially with schoolwork, jobs, and their busy lives. One night stands with no strings attach were easy as long as you played by the rules and never got attached.
She blocked out whatever the guys were talking about… probably her, and followed her parents' car into a parking lot. There was no building, no restaurant… just a boat.