Chapter 38: Izzie to the Rescue

Meredith stood in the kitchen of Izzie's apartment, attempting to slice a tomato without killing herself. "I had this interview with a hotel, but they want me in the evening and they don't pay worth my while...I can't just leave Dawsyn every night. I can't do that...she's at school during the day… I have a second interview with a restaurant."

"I'm sorry." Izzie sighed, giving her friend a sympathetic look.

"It's fine...it really is. I just wish Dawsyn didn't hate the new school." Meredith replied. "I really think she would love it if she gave a chance. She starts next Monday so...we'll see."

"We could try to have a little get together...invite some new kids that she meets over. It might help." Izzie shrugged.

"I mentioned that...but she's just so upset." Meredith replied, reaching for another tomato. "She was packing her room last night...Sadie came over and they were crying. She doesn't know I heard."

"I actually have an idea that might make things a little easier."

"You do?"

"Yeah."

"Oh..."

"Well...you know how you said you were having trouble finding a place and you have to be out of your apartment this weekend..."

"I know...Dawsyn's five minutes from a meltdown."

"What if you stayed here?"

"Here?" Meredith frowned.

"Yeah...I have the space..."

"Izzie...No."

"Why not?"

"We can't just move in with you." Meredith shook her head.

"Yes, you can." Izzie insisted. "We can split the rent until you find a place. Dawsyn would be closer to her old friends."

"We can't just barge in on you...and I don't have a job."

"It's not barging if I'm inviting you."

"Izzie..." Meredith frowned.

"You need a place to stay fast and...I have the space. It won't be permanent but right now...it's probably good to have something consistent."

"But Izzie...you're single...well until Alex pulls his head out of his ass but...you don't need a eleven-year-old and her mother living with you."

"It'll be fine..." Izzie repeated.

"Izzie."

"I'm serious, Mer. It'll make the transition easier on both of you plus...we'll have fun."

"I know...I just...it's not as easy to have a kid around."

"I've had her around her whole life."

"I can't...Izzie I feel completely awful about this." Meredith whispered, finally turning around. "I want to say yes. You're her aunt and...I really don't want to move her to New York and ask my Mom for help. I haven't talked to the woman in seven years."

"Then accept my offer and stay here." Izzie said, smiling. "It'll be like a slumber party every night."

"I...she would be able to stay at her school for now."

"You know how happy that would make her."

"I know...I know."

"So...will you stay here?"

"Um...okay." Meredith bit her lip. "But not for long...and we go by your rules. You get to kick us out if we do something wrong."

"I'm not going to kick you out." Izzie rolled her eyes.

"You could."

"How's tomorrow morning?"

"Tomorrow...for what?"

"Moving."

"Oh...okay." Meredith nodded, shaking her head a bit. "I...and we could take the spare bedroom?"

"It's yours."

"Okay..."

"And I can help you find a place...there might even be something in this building.

"I need a job first."

"I can help you with that too..." Izzie smiled.

"Right...okay..."

"There are a ton of places in the area that are hiring."

"The hospital gift shop is hiring according to Christina."

"That would be a good place to work...You could see Derek all the time." Izzie grinned.

"Izzie...you know how that worked out."

"You haven't even talked to him?"

"It's a good thing...I swear."

"I don't understand how you can really believe that."

"What do you mean?" Meredith asked, passing Izzie the bowl of tomatoes.

"You were the happiest I've seen in a long time when you were with...when you two were hanging out." Izzie replied, pouring the tomatoes into the salad.

"I'm fine..."

"You say that so much."

"So does Daws."

"It's inherited." Izzie rolled her eyes.

"My apologies."

"I'm just saying...maybe you should call him."

"I can't do that..."

"Why not?"

"I just can't...we're over and he's selfish."

"So you were together."

"Yes...no...we were but we're not anymore." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"He was good for you." Izzie replied.

"Yeah well...he just does things. Things that make me go crazy."

"Like giving you regular sex?"

"Izzie..." Meredith blushed, laughing a little. "It wasn't that."

"But the sex was good, wasn't it?" Izzie smiled.

"Of course."

"And he was a nice guy?"

"Yeah...he was just really sweet and Dawsyn...they adored each other."

"Then I don't understand why you don't call him. You've both had time to cool off..."

"No."

"I swear...You're impossible."

"I think Derek has said that a few times."

"He really cared about you."

"He didn't get things."

"Did you love him?"

"That's irrelevant."

"Did you?" Izzie repeated.

"I...yeah."

"Mer!"

"Izzie!" Meredith mimicked.

"You have to call him!"

"No...no I don't."

"Did you tell him?"

"Tell him what?" Meredith asked, tossing a piece of carrot into her mouth.

"That you love him." Izzie replied, pouring dressing onto the salad.

"I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"It's all...it's not real. People...they think they're in love but then they go against everything you say...love isn't real." Meredith whispered. "I was stupid to even try to think it was real."

"Wow. Someone's jaded."

"I'm not."

"Don't tell Dawsyn what you just told me. You'll ruin fairytales and love stories and all of that for her."

"If you ask Derek I already have."

"It was the heat of the moment and he was trying to help..."

"He doesn't have boundaries...and three months...he rushed everything."

"I know...But..."

"He acts like I've taken away Dawsyn's childhood."

"Speaking of Dawsyn...dinner's ready."

"I can go get her." Meredith wiped her hands on a dish towel. "Dinner with you two should be fun...asking me about Derek."

"I'll stop but just...think about calling him okay?"

"There isn't anything to think about."

"Just get Dawsyn." Izzie rolled her eyes.

"I'll give you time to change your mind!" Meredith giggled, leaving Izzie's kitchen. She felt bad moving in with her, but Izzie made a lot of good points. It made sense and it would be better until they could figure something else out and Daws could stay in her school with her best friends for a while longer. But she couldn't call Derek. She just couldn't.