First off, I want to apologize so so so so much for not writing. I've been so busy so so so busy with everything and just haven't found the time. And when I do have the time, it's usually spent sleeping, because not much of that has been going on lately. What happened to having a life? Gosh. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter, it's short and kind of crappy, but I really wanted to give you guys something. I feel really bad but I love you guys so much and hope you keep reading!

Disclaimer and Copyright.

As always, read, review, and enjoy!

"Locker 242... That's on the second floor, right?" Meredith mumbled to herself, looking at her schedule. She walked down the crowded hallway, unaware that she was about to run into someone.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Derek asked, reaching to her waist to steady the girl. His breath caught in his throat when he saw what was most definitely the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

"I actually ran into you... are you okay?" she asked, unable to move her eyes from his perfect face.

"Don't mention it... I'm Derek Shepherd," he introduced, holding out his hand.

"Meredith Grey," she giggled, taking his hand. She was also completely aware of the fact that his hand was still on her hip.

"That's a really pretty name... Do you people ever call you Mer?"

"Sometimes," she said, enjoying the way he said her nickname.

"I'm going to call you that, okay?" Meredith giggled and nodded, thinking up her own special nickname for him - McDreamy.

"Your locker is over there, by the way," he said, brushing by her, but turning around for one final thought.

"It was nice to meet you, Mer." Meredith blushed, watching him walk away.

'Maybe it won't be so horrible,' she thought, heading to her locker.

"Already moved on, Derek?" Addison asked softly, as she came up next to him.

"Go away Addison."

"Mark was a mistake, okay? What we have is special! You can't just throw it away!"

"Well clearly it wasn't that special because you did throw it away! And it's not have - it's had. Because we're done," Derek said sharply, as he slammed his locker shut, leaving a stunned Addison behind.

"Addy," Mark called, coming up behind her.

"Don't rub it in Mark. Are you happy now? Did you enjoy the little game that you were playing with me?" Addison asked, tears brimming in her eyes. Mark watched her fight back the emption, empathizing with the girl he was in love with. He pushed her against the lockers and kissed her, gripping both sides of her face with his hands. After a moment he let her go, but left his hands gently resting on her face as he brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.

"Addy, it wasn't a game to me. I love you, okay? I'm in love with you and I know you're hurt because Derek left and I know he's the better guy because... he's Derek, but... I think you're in love with me too," Mark said softly, staring into her eyes.

"I... I...," Addison stammered, genuinely surprised by his words.

"Hey! Get to class!" a teacher yelled and they looked around to see the hallway empty. They exchanged one last electrifying gaze before heading down the hallways in opposite directions.

Meredith settled into her seat, feeling strangely uncomfortable in her new environment.

"Hey," a girl with wild black curly hair sitting next to her said.

"Hey," Meredith said with a shy smile.

"Cristina."

"Meredith." They sat there silently before Cristina spoke again.

"This is kind of lame - I was expecting better."

"Me too," Meredith said with a giggle, feeling her normally strong protective walls coming down.

"Hey, is this seat taken? Thanks - I thought I was really late, but I looks like I'm not," a tall blonde said pushing her hair out of her face and sitting down hurriedly. "I'm Izobel Stevens - but everyone calls me Izzie."

"Hey Izzie," a boy from behind them said and Izzie turned, smiling at the cute boy with short hair.

"Hey yourself," she said with a coy smile, as she pivoted in her seat to face him. Cristina and Meredith exchange a glance, but Meredith secretly envied her.

"How does she do that? I ran into a really cute guy in the hallway, but all I could do was giggle and blush," Meredith said, and despite herself, a smile spread over her face at the thought of McDreamy.

"Boys and crushes are for the weak," Cristina said bluntly and Meredith rolled her eyes at her new friend. She thought about Derek again and how handsome he was. Shivers ran up and down her spine as she shook her head, forcing him out of her mind.

"Is there an open seat here?" Cristina and Meredith looked up at the boy and Cristina smirked, noticing the way his eyes locked down on Meredith.

"Sure thing, Bambi,' Cristina laughed. He sat down in front of them and immediately held out his hand to Meredith.

"I'm George. O'Malley. George O' Malley," he stammered nervously, smiling at Meredith.

"I'm Meredith. And this is Cristina," she politely introduced, oblivious to his broad smile.

"I'm Izzie – and this is Alex," Izzie introduced, turning back around in her chair to face them.

"So what do you think so far, Meredith?" George asked Meredith and Meredith grinned, thinking of Derek again.

"It's okay," she lied.

"What's okay?" Lexie asked, coming up to the group of people. "Hi... I'm Lexie, this is the only seat... Can I sit?" she asked, smiling at George. They all introduced themselves to her as she slid into the seat.

"What was did you say your name was?" Lexie asked Meredith, turning to face her.

"Sorry, I didn't. I'm Meredith Grey." Lexie's eyes widened as Meredith held out her hand to her.

"I have a problem," Lexie said, sliding into the seat next to George during their first hour World History class. "I know I don't really know you, but you seem nice," Lexie said, blushing wildly. "It's about Meredith."

"Meredith?" George asked, suddenly interested. "She's great..." he mumbled to himself. Lexie felt like a deflated balloon as she watched a grin spread over his face.

"Oh... you like her?" Lexie asked, surprised by the sting of dissapointment.

"Well... I don't know," he shrugged. "You were saying something about her though?"

"Never mind..." Lexie sighed, turning to face the teacher. There was no way that she could tell him now.

"Let me take those for you," Derek said, stepping behind Meredith and taking her stack of books out of her arms.

"Thanks...," she blushed.

"So what are you doing this weekend?" Meredith began to laugh.

"Isn't it a little soon to be asking me out?"

"Who said I was asking you out? I could be.... just wondering what you were doing this weekend?" A toothy smile spread over his face and Meredith felt her heart skip a few beats.

"This is my stop," she said, taking her books from him. "Thanks..."

"Don't mention it. And," he said, his face inches from her own. "It's never too soon to ask you out," he said with a wink, and sauntered off.

Addison watched from a few feet away, feeling a prick of jealousy.

"What is it with girls and that guy?" Mark asked from beside her, annoyed. He wanted Addison not to like her, not him. Derek was arrogant, knowing he was attractive, always thinking that he could get whoever he wanted. And the worst part was that Derek knew that Mark liked Addison ever since they were little kids – and he dated her any way.

It had happened sometime between when they were paired together for ballroom dancing in the fifth grade, because they were the two tallest kids at the time, and she didn't mind when he accidentally stepped on her toes. Or when she came to school on that first day of the eighth grade, her hair longer, a whole new figure, and a fierce look in her eye.

"Stop it, Mark," she pleaded, turning to face him. She really hated him for how he screwed her over. And she didn't believe it, anyway. After all these years, after all of the pointless hookups and girls he had been with, she didn't believe him. "Just stop," she said, slamming her locker and walking away from him.

Cristina walked into her sophomore level science class, feeling unbelievably confident and ready to work. She didn't notice any open seats, except one in the front next to an attractive boy who was staring at her. Cristina looked around hopefully, for any other seat, but the bell rang and she was forced to sit next to him.

"Hi," he said, holding out his dark hand. "I'm Preston Burke." Cristina snorted a laugh, but choked it back.

"That's your name?" she scoffed as the teacher began to talk.

"Yes," he said simply, the corners of his mouth turning up in an amused smile. She sighed, resignedly.

"I'm Cristina Yang."

"It's nice to meet you… Cristina," Preston said and Cristina noticed the way her name sort of slipped off his tongue in an effortless spin.

"Preston - could you tell me the formula for finding kinetic energy?"

"E=1/2mv^2," Preston said without missing a beat.

"Very good." Cristina stared in awe at him, realizing she was sitting next to the teacher's favorite student, and possibly the smartest in their class. She faintly smiled, turning her attention to the board – maybe her mother was right.