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"This already sucks," Alex muttered, slipping into the seat next to Izzie and winking at her. "Maybe it's not too bad," he whispered into her ear and she giggled, tucking a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. They enveloped into their own little world and Meredith and Cristina shared a knowing glance.
"How's your first day going?" Meredith asked, opening her bag of chips and taking one.
"Okay," she said, looking up and locking eyes with Preston, as he walked into the cafeteria, walking past their table with a simple nod to her, moving to sit over with some other sophomores. Meredith watched the exchange between Preston and Cristina with a smile.
"Who's that?" Meredith asked, leaning closer to whisper in her ear.
"No one," Cristina said curtly. Meredith raised an eyebrow and Cristina took a deep breath, about to tell her, when Derek slid in to the seat next to her.
"What are you doing eating this crap? Come on, I'm taking you out." Meredith rolled her eyes at his advances, taking another chip.
"I'm not going out with you, I don't even know you," Meredith said with a giggle, unable to deny the fact he was just so attractive. Cristina pinched her side, and Meredith swatted her hand away.
"Well then we should get to know each other, then we can go out," Derek persisted, moving in closer to her. Meredith's heart skipped a beat, their faces only a breath apart.
"Maybe," she found herself saying. Derek grinned, pushing back his chair, standing up. He ran his hand through his messy black hair, looking back at Meredith.
"That's good enough for me," he said, winking at her, and heading off. The table was silent as George and Lexie walked up, doing a double take at the scene.
"Who was that?" George asked incredulously, jealousy seeping into his voice.
"No one," Meredith said, blushing as she looked down. Lexie looked at George, jealous of his jealousy and sat next to him, looking down at her plate as she tried to avoid Meredith's eyes. Lexie knew that her dad had been married before, and that it had ended badly. But she never knew about Meredith. Lexie couldn't help wondering if her Dad even knew that Meredith had existed; if he did, then he wasn't the dad that Lexie had always believed he was. She shook her head, turning her attention to George; god, he was cute.
"Addy!" Mark called down the hall, eliciting the stares of his classmates, but he didn't care. He needed to see her, to hold her. She turned, a flush creeping up her face at the sight of him.
"What do you want, Mark?" She asked, putting on the front that she was angry, but secretly pleased at the attention. Derek had never been this attentive and caring.
"Addy, you know what I want," he said sadly, stroking her arm. "I want you." Addison felt her heart thump in her chest, and before she knew it she was telling him, "Meet me at the Starbucks on Elm Street after school. We'll talk," she said turning on her heel and walking away. She wasn't sure if her heart was beating for him, or for the attention.
"Mom!" Meredith groaned into her phone, pacing on the front lawn of the school. She paused, listening to her mother's excused.
"Well if you had a surgery, you should have told me, so I could have taken the bus! You said you were going to pick me up!" Meredith waited for her mother's response, rolling her eyes.
"You know what? I'll walk home. It's not like you even care that you have a daughter anyway," she said, slamming the phone shut. Tears threatened to escape from the corners of her eyes, but she squeezed her eyes shut, willing them away. She refused to let herself cry, especially at her school. Her phone started to ring again, but she pressed ignore, unwilling to listen to her mother's empty apologies. She hiked her backpack up and headed for the road, when a black car pulled in front of her. The window on the passenger side rolled down and Meredith rolled her eyes when she saw Derek's face peering out at her.
"Need a ride?"
"No thank you," Meredith said stubbornly, continuing to walk.
"How far do you live from here? Come on, let me drive you."
"No," Meredith snapped, trying desperately to get away from him. A crack of lighting sounded and she looked up, her brow furrowing as raindrops began to pour on her head.
"No? Well I guess," Derek said, beginning to roll up the window with a smirk.
"Wait!" Meredith cried, grabbing at the handle, and sliding in, before she became completely drenched. "Thanks," she said, softening a little and giving Derek a small smile. Derek grinned back, noticing her beauty one more time. His palms tingled as his hands itched to touch her, wondering if her skin was as soft as it looked.
"So, where to?"
"Just turn left out of the parking lot. It'll be a while before you have to turn," she said, fluffing out her wet hair. They drove in silence for a while; Meredith giving him directions, before Meredith hesitantly cleared her throat.
"Yes?" Derek asked with a grin, knowing she wanted to say something.
"Why… do you keep coming after me? You don't even know me," she said quietly, feeling her face flush as she even asked the question. They pulled up at her driveway, and they sat, the rain falling in droplets around them.
"I know, but I want to. And I think you're beautiful," he said, turning to face her. Meredith felt her heart beat a little faster, and put her handle on the car door, indicating that their conversation was over.
"I… have to go. Thanks… for the ride," she stuttered and Derek reached out a hand to stop her.
"Wait," he said, pulling her back into the seat. She blushed and looked past him, unable to meet his eyes. "Will you just go out to lunch with me tomorrow?" She hesitated, making the mistake of looking into his eyes, and almost at once, her heart just melted.
"Okay," she said, dashing out of the car and running to her door. Derek grinned, watching her go, falling more in love with her by the second.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Mark asked, coming to the table with their drinks.
"Me? You were the one that wanted to talk to me during school."
"So I guess we have no idea why we're here," Mark said with a grin, making Addison laugh. "See… look how easy this is?" He said, reaching over the table and holding Addison's hand. "Was it ever this easy with you and Derek?" Addison was silent, unable to argue that point with him. Derek was so calm and calculated and mature all the time, but Mark was fun. She leaned over the table and softly pressed her lips to his, and he kissed her back, his heart exploding with joy.
"Lexie? Are you okay?" Her mom asked, watching Lexie push food around her plate aimlessly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Lexie said with a sweet smile as she took a bite of her broccoli.
"Are you sure, Lexie?" Thatcher asked and Lexie's smile faded.
"Fine," she said, giving him a glare. Her parents exchanged a look and her dad reached across the table to squeeze her hand. Lexie inched away from the contact, not looking at him.
"Lexie Grey, what on earth is going on with you?" Her mom asked, surprised to see Lexie so unfriendly.
"I don't know, what's going on with Meredith, Dad?" Her dad's round eyes bulged, surprised at the name.
"Who's Meredith, Daddy?" Molly asked her Dad, her sixth grade mind unable to comprehend what was going on.
"No one, sweetie," Thatcher lied, shooting a glance at Susan.
"I'm finished," Lexie said, throwing down her fork on the table and heading up to her room. She slammed the door shut, clenching her fists into tight balls of anger. She had a sister that no one bothered to tell her about. Forget about her – what was Meredith going to do when she found out? Lexie was worried that Meredith would see her as the replacement daughter, and would never forgive her. There was a soft knock at her door and Susan poked her head in.
"Did you know about her, mom?" Lexie asked quietly, folding her hands in her lap.
"Yes," Susan said softly and Lexie felt her anger swell again.
"How could you two not tell me about her? She's my sister!"
"Honey, I know. But your dad's and her mom's relationship didn't end well. Meredith's mom had an affair. And basically threw your dad out of the house. Meredith wasn't even a year old. And Meredith… looks so much like Ellis, your dad couldn't bear to go to that house, that woman. Just… don't be too hard on him, okay?" Lexie sat in silence for a moment, before looking up at her mom.
"I'll try."