A/N Thank you for all your comments! I hope you enjoy the first part of the evening…

Note: Mer's dress is not big and pouffy *giggle*. Nothing in the style of Izzie's prom dress. It's Herve Leger after all.

Enjoy…

"Crap."

Meredith tried to inconspicuously pull her dress as far down as she could. It was ridiculously short for her standards. She was far from being a prude but she felt so… naked in that flimsy thing. It barely reached her mid-thigh and showed way too much cleavage. Her shoulders were practically covered but it didn't stop her from feeling totally exposed.

Not caring much for appearing gracious, she plopped on one of the benches in front of the hospital to change her shoes. She wanted to put off as long as she could the moment to wear the enormously high heeled silvery sandals Izzie left her. They supposedly matched the dress. Pity they didn't match her legs.

Meredith pulled the trainers from her feet and grinned wickedly. It was her little vengeance on Cristina. Those shoes were her favorite pair.

She lifted them up in the air by the laces and moved over the trashcan. "Bye bye!" she murmured with satisfaction and dropped them down. They landed in the pile of rubbish with a satisfying squash.

With a less happy sigh, she donned her sandals and tried to stand up. Success. She made a few steps forward and almost fell flat on her face, tripping over the ridge between the pavement blocks.

"Are you all right, Miss?" an elderly man in tuxedo caught her by her arm and her waist.

"I am!" she gritted out wrenching away. Damn, he could be one of the hospital benefactors... "I mean… yes, thank you. I'm such a klutz," she grinned at him and moved to let him pass.

She gritted her teeth in helpless rage as soon as he walked away in the direction of the main entrance.

Determination written on her face, she marched inside, stumbling only a little on the way. Her hand gripped her little purse protectively. She had slipped the heart pendant and the ring into a little pocket inside, this way they would still be close to her.

THE GEEK AND THE REBEL

Derek mingled through the crowd, his eyes frantically scanning the surroundings for the familiar pink haired head. Maybe Meredith would let him keep her company tonight. It wasn't like they would be alone… They were people all around… Yet he never felt more lonely.

The vacations seemed like a blessing. Well, not in comparison to how they were supposed to spend it. They were to go for their honeymoon abroad and this time they opted for South America given the fact that they had already been to Europe for a month. At the moment, he could only hope Meredith would allow him to spend some time with her, work on rebuilding their relationship. However, he had more and more doubts if they would ever achieve the incredible state of union and trust they had shared for so many years and which he ruined so quickly.

He couldn't spot her beautiful face anywhere. She had a free day, maybe she didn't arrive yet. He halted near the table to grab something to drink in hope of calming his nerves. He cringed when he realized he stopped very unfortunately, a few feet behind Addison Montgomery and the other whiney intern, April Kepner or something, who seemed to be currently in sobs.

"I'm surprised they let me come at all," she choked out blowing her nose loudly.

"You're not fired," shrugged Addison. "You just failed your intern test. You're gonna try next year."

"But it's so… humiliating!" she sobbed.

"Well, it kinda is," admitted the red head unhelpfully. "But wipe those tears, for God's sake. You'll be surely fired when you scare off potential investors. Especially now."

"Why especially now?" asked April with a calmer voice.

"They're expanding the neurosurgery department," Addison whispered conspiratorially. "That's why Evans is here."

"Oh! Oh no, I love neuro! I will be too far behind to catch on!" whined April.

"That's why I'm thinking of trading vaginas for brains but… I don't think I have chances anyway…" snorted Addison.

"Why? Why not?"

"Evans has already chosen a favorite."

"Who?" gasped April.

"The same one everyone else is drooling over, Shepherd, Avery…" sighed Addison, making Derek frown and stop listlessly to listen in further.

"Meredith Grey?" April opened her mascara-marred eyes wide in surprise.

"Yep, he likes her… very much, if you know what I mean," snorted Addison. "And now that she's broken off things with Shepherd, he's got green light. It fits pretty nicely, Evans arrives, she's no longer interested in the intern…"

Derek's blood boiled in his veins at the insinuation. He was just about to interrupt their gossip time when April exclaimed, "And she's here… Wow!"

"That's Grey?" Addison Montgomery was in obvious shock. "She looks… almost like a woman…"

Derek's head whirled in the direction of the entrance. He couldn't help letting out a gasp of surprise.

Meredith looked totally uncomfortable. And totally gorgeous in the snuggly fitting pink dress, a whole shade lighter than her hair. Her legs seemed never ending, accentuated with the shortness of the dress and the high heels. He knew she wasn't used to walking in such shoes. She swayed slightly with every step but it only added to her sex appeal. His legs started to carry him to her hypnotically.

THE GEEK AND THE REBEL

Meredith felt her skin burn in humiliation as many heads turned upon her arrival. She was gonna kill Izzie and Cristina. She was not a freaking socialite! Horrifying images of Paris Hilton showing her underwear while getting out of a car flashed in her mind and she fought the urge to tug down at the hem of her dress.

"Meredith?" her mother stopped in front of her with a disproving frown on her forehead as she scanned her appearance. "What in the God's name have you done with yourself?"

"What?" she barked out challengingly even though her cheeks flushed. She should have known her mother didn't transform into a Mother Theresa overnight.

"Why do you look like a clown in a circus?"

Meredith squinted at her with annoyance. Smartass, Ellis was wearing a simple black jacket and knee-length pencil skirt.

"I haven't got anything else," she grumbled. "A friend brought it for me…"

"You sure it was a friend?" she snorted and walked away, a glass of champagne in her hand. She didn't go far when she felt a pair of eyes fixed at her and it wasn't the death glare her daughter was sending her. She glanced around to spot a young Asian woman openly staring at her.

"You! Who are you?"

"Cristina Yang, Dr. Grey," she walked up to her reverently.

"Was that supposed to tell me anything?" spat Ellis.

"No, no, of course not…"Cristina quickly shook her head. "I'm… I'm… Meredith's friend…"

"Hm, so you are the one responsible for that idiotic dress?"

Cristina paled slightly. "No… that was… another friend's doing. Izzie Stevens, that's her fault."

"You're an intern, aren't you?" squinted at her Ellis. "Why are you even talking to me?"

"I'm not an intern, Ma'am," she denied quickly. "I'm a second-year resident."

"You are an intern if I say so," smirked Ellis. "You have the doe-eyed intern look. It's not a resident look."

"Oh! I have an intern look? What should a resident look be like?" Cristina rattled off. "By the way, there's a bet around the hospital…"

THE GEEK AND THE REBEL

"Mer!"

Derek appeared at her side and she felt immediately calmer. He was probably the only person in the vicinity to fully know how uncomfortable she was feeling.

"Mer, why…?" he asked looking at her dress pointedly.

"Izzie," she replied sourly. "I'm gonna kill her when I get my hands on her."

"Well, this brings back memories," he chuckled. "Fond memories, I'd say. You wearing a pink dress…"

She smiled at him gently, the events of her Sweet Sixteen flashing in her mind.

"Derek, I miss you…" rolled of her tongue before she could stop herself. It was his turn to smile at her admission. "I think… we need to talk after… this whole thing is over… I mean, tomorrow maybe? I can't tonight," she said remembering about her meeting with Nancy. She hoped to show herself to the Chief and sneak out fairly early to talk with her sister.

"Yes, okay," he nodded quickly. He was giving her time but now she was ready to talk. "By the way, you look great, you know," he sent her a tiny smile, his eyes sparkling.

"Really?" she snorted. "Because I'm pretty sure I feel ridiculous."

"Would you like something to drink? I've already had one so I shouldn't drink more. I'm still technically on my shift, but I-"

"Dr. Grey!" Richard Webber appeared beside them out of nowhere. "Meredith, thank God you've changed your mind!"

"I haven't… yet," she cleared her throat feeling increasingly guilty she had kept Evans's offer quiet from Derek.

"Never mind, never mind," Webber said distractedly, clearly not registering her answer. "I'd like you to meet someone. Dr. Shepherd, if you excuse us!"

"I'm sorry," Meredith mouthed to Derek apologetically as Richard steered her away.

He sighed to himself, his eyes following her every move. Chief led her to a little group of people whose outfits screamed loaded. His lips went to a thin disapproving line as one of the men went further than shaking her hand and dared to plant a little gallant kiss on her fingers. His frown deepened as no other than Evans appeared at her side, gently catching her elbow as he introduced her to new people.

Suddenly Derek's heart experienced a panicked drop. It was as though a light bulb was lit above his head. Why didn't he see it earlier? Webber didn't offer her the chance to specialize in any department, he told her to specialize in neuro, under Evans… He shuddered at the thought. Perhaps it was Addison's once in a life time chance to be right… The neurogod was too much interested in Meredith to Derek's liking.

And all the time… she didn't say a word about it. She told him nothing about Evans…

He thought he was going to suffocate as another realization hit him hard. Meredith's neck was bare. Naked. Not a trace of the heart pendant. Not a trace of the ring. She took them off…

She wanted to talk to him tomorrow… Did she want to tell him she gave up on him? That it was the end?

He glanced around for a drink desperately but the beeping of his pager prevented him from drowning his sorrow in the bitterness of alcohol. With the last look at Evans and Meredith, he hurriedly made his way through the crowd to check up on his patient.

THE GEEK AND THE REBEL

FLASHBACK

"Okay," Meredith breathed out, her eyes sweeping around almost nervously. "Can we go now?"

"We've been here for five minutes," chuckled Derek. "I don't think so."

"Count in that ten minutes we spent standing before the hospital and it will be a quarter of an hour," she quipped.

"Mer. It's an intern mixer. We're supposed to… mix," he chuckled observing with amusement as she turned on her heel in order keep her back to the older black man he knew was Chief Webber. "And… you will have to face him sooner or later."

"I prefer it to be later," she shrugged.

"Why didn't we get something to drink?" he proposed smiling at her as she readjusted the strap of her dress for the millionth time. Thankfully Mia was of the same size, she didn't have to buy a dress for one event. "And you look beautiful."

"You've told me that three times already," she sighed. "I doesn't make me feel any more comfortable. I hate dresses!"

"I love them," he eyed her hotly. "I mean, on you."

"Really?" she raised her eyebrow ironically. "Wouldn't you prefer me to not wear anything at all?"

"I would," he confirmed quickly. "But not here. Here, the dress is… sexy."

"Feast your eyes then," she chuckled. "It might be the last time you see me in a dress before…" she trailed off.

"Before?"

"Before the wedding…'

"I think that particular dress won't stay too long on you…" he promised, his eyes twinkling.

"I'm taking your word for it," she smirked.

"I can assure you, I will never get lazy with fulfilling that share of marital obligations."

She sent him the last smile before they reached a long table with drinks and snacks, where a group of interns seemed to be engrossed in a conversation bordering on an argument.

"Hey! You two!" a young Asian woman pointed at them unabashedly. "Are you surgery?"

"Yes."

"Cristina Yang," she introduced herself. "And you?"

"Meredith."

"Derek Shepherd."

"Meredith who?" insisted Cristina, narrowing her eyes.

"Grey," grumbled Meredith.

"I knew it! I knew it!" hissed Cristina. "I knew that rumor about Ellis Grey's daughter was true!"

"Shut up! You're Ellis Grey's daughter?" gasped a curvaceous blond standing next to her. "I'm Isobel Stevens, but everyone calls me Izzie."

"Who's… who's Ellis Grey?" a shorter guy piped up shyly.

"Where did you finished your med school, Bambi?" snorted another, taller and more muscularly built.

"I hope you're not another Tinkerbell," Cristina eyed Meredith critically. "So far, the women here suck, whiners, trust fund babies, models…"

"That's because vaginas are not hardcore," the arrogant guy smirked again. "You fit right in with nurses."

It was the time Meredith felt she needed to step up. "You better watch your mouth, Evil Spawn," she hissed harshly. "This time tomorrow you'll be crying bitch baby tears."

"Finally a sane person," Cristina sighed with blissful relief.

"I see you're feeling better," chuckled Derek, putting an arm around her waist.

"Why is he so clingy?" Cristina eyed them curiously. "You're sure fast, Grey."

"We're engaged," Meredith rolled her eyes.

"You're what?" she spluttered.

"Really? You're together?" grinned excitedly Izzie bombarding them with questions. "When did you meet? When is the wedding?"

"First day of high school," laughed Derek. "And next summer."

"Oh my God, this is sooo romantic!" exclaimed Izzie, her face beaming.

"High school sweethearts," cooed Cristina, fake admiration in her voice. "I think I'm gonna puke…"

"And look who's here!" a boisterous voice stole all their attention. "If it isn't Derek Shepherd himself!"

Derek frowned at the newcomer. "Mark… Mark Sloan…?"

"Who else," he laughed and reached out his hand. Derek shook it cautiously, exchanging puzzled looks with Meredith.

"The world is damn small!" went on Mark while Meredith rolled her eyes. Actually, the world must be not only small but insane if Mark Sloan not only went to med school but graduated with good grades apparently.

This year certainly looked interesting. Thank God she had Derek at her side.

END OF FLASHBACK

THE GEEK AND THE REBEL

A whole hour passed before she was able to free herself from the clutches of the high society. Her chance came when Webber, accompanied by Evans, led off one of the tuxedo guys to his office in order to show him the financial plans. Apparently, they already caught a huge fish.

She looked around in search of Derek. She was almost already late for her meeting with Nancy but she didn't want to leave without saying a quick goodbye. Instead, she spotted Cristina leaning back against the wall and seemingly talking to herself.

"Bitch!" she hollered into her ear making her flinch. "Has your inner insanity finally started to show?"

Cristina only shrugged and made a kind of grimace with her face. "How was it?" she asked eagerly.

"How was what?"

Cristina scrunched her face again. "The resident face? Was it okay?"

"No, I thought you were having a seizure," Meredith replied, deadpanned. "What the hell is wrong with you today?"

"Your mother, not Shepherd Mama, Grey Mama, told me to practice the resident face if I don't want to look like an intern anymore," Cristina recited excitedly.

Meredith's eyebrows rose skeptically. "I'm sorry to inform you… no, I'm actually not sorry to inform you, that you've just been screwed over by the Ellis Grey."

Cristina stared at her, wide eyed. "Oh. Well, it's still the Ellis Grey…"

"It's great that you're in such a good moon today," smirked Meredith and decided to lay her cards on the table. "Maybe you won't even feel that lonely…"

"Lonely?"

"Yeah, you know you favorite Nikes?" she grinned wickedly.

"What about them?" Cristina gritted in sudden fear.

"They went on a trip," smiled Meredith. "To the city dumpster."

"No!" gasped Cristina. "Where did you throw them, bitch?"

"In front of the hospital," shrugged Meredith checking the time. "If you hurry maybe you'll manage to say goodbye before the limo arrives to collect them…"

Cristina whizzed past her, elbowing her way to the exit while Meredith stifled her wicked laughter. Payback was a bitch… With a grin, she inconspicuously fled the stuffy room, thankful that no one stopped her to chat. She used up her year limit of polite nodding and fake smiling.

THE GEEK AND THE REBEL

When Derek was back some time later, a shift in the gathering was very much palpable. Everyone, no matter if they were guests or hospital staff, seemed much more relaxed, more frivolous and more intoxicated. He was sure it was one of the nurses that an old guy with a golden signet on his pinky kept flirting with. Hell, even Meredith's mother and Chief Webber looked like they would use a hotel room right about now…

Meredith. He mingled through the crowd craning his neck left and right. She was gone. Her pink presence was nowhere in sight. His heart beat faster. His eyes nervously sought Tom Evans, without success… His spirits couldn't sink any lower. His breathing was short and rugged as his mind kept fabricating sadistic scenarios. Meredith and Evans were gone. Both…

A couple on the dance floor French-kissed right before his eyes…

He felt himself falling into a never-ending chasm. But he must have crashed into hard rocks numerous times as every cell of his body was in an agonizing pain. Worse even, he was dying, slowly, bit by painful bit. Meredith said she couldn't talk to him tonight, she had plans already…

His final intern shift being done, he walked out of the hospital without a second glance and crossed the street to get himself a bottle of scotch at Joe's. He was like a sleepwalker. No, he was more like a walking corpse. He was so numbed he didn't even notice the curious sight of Cristina Yang going through every trashcan in the vicinity.

A/N Part 2 to follow…

Please, comment…

Em :)