"Here we go," Derek said as he walked back into Meredith's room, a hot pizza in his hands. "Straight from the oven."

"Mmmm, yummy," Meredith giggled, reaching forward to take the pizza from his hands. "Thanks," she said.

"You're welcome," Derek said, settling into his place at the foot of her bed. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Meredith set her plate to the side and asked, "Derek, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" he asked, looking up from the textbook spread open in his lap.

"This," Meredith sighed. "For the past week you've been bringing me food and making sure I get to my classes and sitting with me. It's amazing, it really is. But…you're just starting college. You should be out having fun and meeting girls instead of taking care of your crippled neighbor."

"Meredith," Derek said softly, closing his book and setting it on the floor in front of him. "I'm here because I want to be. I told you I wanted to get to know you, and that's what I've been doing. And I love it."

Meredith didn't say anything for a long moment as she played with the crust of her pizza, tearing it into pieces. "Derek, listen," she said. "You're really great. Really really great. And I appreciate everything that you've done for me. But I can't…I can't be your girlfriend. I know that's what you want because even when you're taking care of me you're being all dreamy and perfect, and I just can't do that."

Derek frowned. "Okay, that's not true," he said. "I'll admit when I first met you…that was what I wanted. But now, I just want to know you. I want to be your friend, Mer. If you're not comfortable with anything else, that's fine."

Meredith bit her lower lip, considering his words. "Are you sure?" she asked. "Because I know that most guys are like Mark, who's sleeping with Addison, and that's what most guys want to be doing in college and I just can't let you have that with me. I'm sorry, I really am, but I can't."

"Meredith," Derek said softly, scooting closer to her on the bed. "Will you open that thick skull of yours and listen to me? I'm not Mark. I don't want to sleep around. I'm here for school, to become a doctor. And I just happened to meet an amazing girl who lives across the hall. And right now, all I want is to know you. As a friend. Nothing more."

"Okay," Meredith said softly.

"Okay?" Derek asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Okay," she nodded more firmly. "I just don't want to keep you from doing what you want to be doing."

Derek smiled as he settled back against the wall, reaching for another piece of pizza. "I'm doing it, Mer," he replied.

"Good," she nodded, opening a book and flipping through it.

"Besides, I can't even go into my own room," Derek laughed. "Addison's pretty much taken permanent residence there."

Meredith giggled. "Yeah, she hasn't slept here in a couple nights," she said. "Sorry you've been replaced in Mark's life."

Derek frowned. "I haven't been replaced in his life," he said. "I may be homeless now, but that's okay. I have you."

"Yeah," Meredith said softly. "You have me."

Derek smiled at her as he turned his attention back to his textbook. For the past week, they had fallen into a familiar, comfortable pattern. At some point, Mark and Addison had become completely inseparable, leaving Derek and Meredith to spend the majority of their time in the girls' room, studying, talking, and watching movies. Although Meredith's broken ankle prevented them from doing too much, Derek had realized that he'd never enjoyed any one person's company more than he had enjoyed her. He was trying to ignore the feeling of how much she completed him, because for whatever reason she wasn't letting him into that part of her life. He had to be patient, he knew, because there was something there. Eventually, maybe she would realize how amazing they could be together and everything would work out for them.

From beside him he heard Meredith sigh, and felt her shift uncomfortably for a moment and he turned his attention to her. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said. "I'm just bored."

Derek smiled. "Well, I'm glad I'm such good company."

"It's not that," she sighed. "I just wish I could get out of bed and do something."

"You can," Derek nodded. "You want to go somewhere?"

"I can't walk, Derek," she snapped.

"I know," he replied. "And if I told you that all you had to do was get outside, which I would help you to do, would you want to go somewhere?"

"Yes," she replied automatically. "But where would we go?"

"You'll see," he said, leaning forward to squeeze her hand. "I'm going to go down and get my car. I'll come back up to get you, okay?"

"Sure," she nodded, not sure she completely trusted Derek to know exactly what she would enjoy, but not really having a choice.

"I'll be right back," he assured her as he got up and walked quickly out of the room.

Meredith sighed as she leaned against the wall, closing her eyes as she thought about how much her life had changed just in the two weeks she had been at college. She had never thought that she would become so enamored with a boy, especially one as cocky and annoying as Derek Shepherd. And yet every time she tried to push him away, he ended up flashing her those perfect eyes and dreamy smile and she couldn't remember why she was so desperately fighting this.

With a sigh, she reached for the crutches he had placed next to her bed and struggled to stand up, looking up in surprise when the door opened. "That was fast…" she started but trailed off when she saw Addison rushing into the room. "Oh, it's you."

"Wow, thanks, Mer," Addison laughed. "Who did you think it was?"

"Derek," Meredith sighed. "He's getting the car. He wants to take me somewhere."

"Aw, that's sweet," Addison said. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know," Meredith rolled her eyes. "The idiot seems to think it's okay to surprise me."

Addison giggled. "You hate surprises," she said.

"I know," Meredith replied. "And I told him that. You would think he'd listen."

Addison froze as she put on her make up, looking at Meredith carefully. "What?" Meredith asked.

"Meredith," Addison said, a smile spreading across her face as she set her mascara down. "Are you and Derek…together?"

"No!" Meredith cried a little too quickly. "No. Definitely not. We're not like that."

"He likes you," Addison nodded earnestly. "Mark told me."

"It's…nothing," Meredith shook her head. "Mark. Let's talk about you and Mark. And how I'm completely jealous."

"Well, if you're jealous, you could just be with Derek," Addison shrugged.

"It's not like that," Meredith said. "Sex. I'm jealous of the sex. And Derek…he wants something real. But I can't do that. So friends. We're friends. Me and Derek. Just friends."

Addison rolled her eyes. "Mer," she said. "What is it with you refusing to get close to a guy?"

"Nothing," Meredith replied. "I just…you're that happily ever after person. I'm not. So there's no point in me having anything to do with guys."

"Maybe you are," Addison said. "I know your parents weren't the best example, but… maybe you could be that person."

Before Meredith could respond, the door opened and Derek poked his head in. "Hey, are you ready, Mer?" he asked as he moved forward to help her with her crutches.

Meredith glanced at Addison, ho was watching her with expectant eyes. "Um…actually Derek, I'm not really in the mood to go out right now."

Derek frowned. "You just said you were bored."

"I know," she said. "I changed my mind."

Derek looked at her carefully, confused by her sudden change in demeanor. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine," she said crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly. "You can go back to your room now."

Derek's eyes flashed towards Addison. "Okay," he said carefully. "Um…let me know if you need anything."

"I'm fine, Derek," she said. "Just go."

Derek stood and walked out of the room, shooting her one last concerned glance before he stepped out of the room.

"What the hell was that?" Addison demanded as the door shut behind Derek.

"That was me proving to you and the rest of the world that I don't care about Derek Shepherd," Meredith replied. "Are you going to keep annoying me?"

Addison shook her head. "Whatever, Meredith," she said. "I hope you're happy with yourself for hurting him."

Meredith rolled her eyes as she scooted lower in her bed, pulling her covers over her head and effectively ending their conversation. She squeezed her eyes closed tightly, trying to chase the image of Derek's hurt expression out of her mind, and erase the feeling of pain piercing her heart as she thought of the fear that she had just chased Derek out of her life.