The next evening, Meredith could once again hear the girls outside playing as she sat at her desk colouring in her colouring book. The boy she saw yesterday was also out playing too and she got up to see what was going on as she heard screams and laughter coming from them. He was chasing them around the grass, running quickly after them, she watched them pass her house before turning back to her desk. She could hear her father talking downstairs but she wasn't sure who too, as far as she was aware no one else was in the house.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by a knock on the door, she didn't answer at first because her dad would normally but when the door knocked for a second and third time, she decided to go downstairs and open it for herself.

"Hi!" Amelia was at the door, Derek standing behind her at the bottom of the path.

"Um hi." Meredith said shyly.

"We was just wondering if you wanted to come play with us? I'd love to be your friend!"

Meredith had never played outside of her house before, she had never met any of the other kids on her street but she wanted too so badly. She didn't want to go in and disturb her dad and his conversation so after she agreed to play with Amelia and the others, she left the house unannounced, closing the door gently behind her so it didn't make a sound. The excitement ran through her as she looked at the siblings in front of her, her first friends.

"So, how old are you?" Amelia asked as the skipped beside Meredith.

"I'm 6." She smiled.

"I'm 6 too! We can be best friends!" She jumped on the spot, "Derek's 9 though so he can't be our best friend." She giggled and Meredith giggled when Derek rolled his eyes at his sister.

"Shut up Amy." Derek said as he began chasing her. He stopped and let Meredith catch up to him as Amelia kept running.

"I thought her name was Amelia?" Meredith asked him confused.

"It is, but I call her Amy." He smiled, "So, what do you want to do?"

"Um.. can we go on the swing? It always looks fun."

"Sure. Have you ever been on one before?" Derek asked her.

"Nope." Meredith replied, popping the p which made Derek smile.

"Is Kathleen your teacher?"

"Who?" She asked as she climbed onto the tyre.

"Ka-" he stopped before realising that she wouldn't know her as that, "Mrs Adams."

"Oh, yes. She's my favourite teacher ever."

"Really? She's my sister." He began pushing the swing.

"That's lucky. I don't have any sisters.. or brothers."

"You don't want any, trust me, they are so annoying." Derek laughed.

Meredith smiled at the boy, he seemed so carefree but he had no idea how much Meredith wished she had a sibling to keep her company, her house was very lonely.

"Derek, go away from my friend you dork." Amelia said as she ran up to the swing with another red headed girl.

"See. Annoying." He raised his eyebrows at Meredith making her giggle.

"I'm not annoying, you are DerBear." She snickered.

"I told you to stop calling me that." He said as he jumped off the swing, allowing the other two girls to get on.

Amelia rolled her eyes, "Meredith this is Addison, she lives in the houses behind us."

"Hi. I love your dress." Meredith said as the girls all sat together.

"Thanks, my grandma got me it." Addison smiled, examining Meredith.

"Cool."

All four of them began playing on the grass and Meredith was having so much fun, she was really happy that she had friends that she could play with now, she didn't have to play on her own anymore. Hee cheeks were hurting from all the smiling and laughter she was doing.

"Meredith Elizabeth Grey!" Her smile fell from her face so quickly when she saw her father approaching them.

She stood up quickly, not even saying goodbye to the group as her father grabbed her wrist tightly and dragged her back inside their house. His knuckles white with the force he was using on her tiny arms. The other kids looked at one another in shock as they heard him shouting at their friend all the way back to her house.

"Why are you outside!?" He shouted as he slammed the door. Meredith couldn't get her words out. "Answer me!" He slammed his hand down on the desk.

"I- I, friends." She stuttered.

"You don't have any friends Meredith!" He spat, the scent of strong whiskey being blew at her.

"I do." She muttered quietly. "Can I go back. Please?" She asked, tears shining in her eyes.

"No. Get up the stairs, now!" She didn't move.

"Please daddy, please." She cried.

"I said no!!" He shouted and before she could move he slapped her across her cheek, the sting burnt as she turned around quickly and ran up the stairs to her bedroom. "Little brat." Thatcher shouted up to her.

Meredith didn't come out of her bedroom for the rest of the evening, not for dinner, not for the bathroom, not for anything. She was scared, scared that if she did leave her bedroom her dad would get angry again. Her small figure shook in her bed as she cried herself to sleep for another night.