What Was I To You?

Chapter 13

Derek knew that he had to call or text Meredith. He had dropped her off at home just over four hours ago and he hadn't received a single notification from her, this wasn't how they were. The whole month that they had been dating they had always made sure that they communicated with one another, there was never no awkwardness or pressure between them, until now.

He knew that what he had done, or should I say hadn't done, was wrong. He should have stuck up for her, that was his job, to protect her, not that he should have to protect her from his own family but his sister never failed to surprise him. Meredith was the third girl he had introduced to his family and the first girl that had ever experienced a confrontation there. Nancy was usually laid back with his girlfriends and he was confused as to why she wasn't with Meredith. The two previous girls had dark hair and were chatty cathy's and at the very most they were not so innocent. However, Meredith was the complete opposite but still, why would that be a reason for his sister to behave like she did?

He picked up his phone and sent her a quick message.

"Hi Mer, it's Derek. I'm sorry for earlier, please text me or call me so we can sort this out."

Meredith was usually quick on her texts but 15 minutes later, she still hadn't replied.

"Everything okay Mer?" he texted again.

"Meredith please talk to me or at least acknowledge my texts and let me know that your okay."

He was becoming impatient and increasingly worried. An hour later and he still had no response, not even a read message, he was at a lost end and didn't know whether he was overreacting or if something bad had happened. He decided that she was fine and that he was overreacting, she probably just needed some time to cool off and have some space so he went to bed and would text her when he woke up.

***

Meanwhile, everything at Meredith's house was not so great. Ellis was at work which meant Meredith was alone, all night. As soon as she entered the house that evening, she sat on the sofa and let her body become overtaken by sobs. For the first time since her father left, she truly felt betrayed because for the second time, a guy she strongly trusted had failed her.

To anyone else, Derek not sticking up for Meredith may not have been a big thing but to her it was, mainly because as she sat there being interrogated by his sister, he heard the exact same words she did and his lack of response made her believe that he thought the same as his sister. What other reason could there be? Or maybe, he was embarrassed that she was his girlfriend. She shook her thoughts off and calmed herself down, she was overreacting, she trusted him, she truly did and he had always treated her with nothing but kindness and respect. If he didn't feel how he did, he never would have asked her to be his girlfriend, never mind meet his family.

She listened to her phone going off in the background and read each message, but she quickly turned off her read receipts after the second text. All she needed was space and time to think, she couldn't handle being bombarded with messages but she knew that if she texted him back, it would end in a long conversation, a conversation that she just didn't have the energy to have at the moment.

Slowly she dragged herself up the stairs and into her bedroom where she changed into her pyjamas and put on a film. The notebook.

Two hours later, the movie had finished and Meredith had gone through half a box of tissues. She decided to text Derek back.

"Hi Der, I'm okay. Sorry it took me so long to respond, I just needed time to think. Your probably asleep already so I'll just talk you at school tomorrow. Pick me up at 7:30am? <3"

She sent the text and scrolled through her social media for 10 minutes to see if Derek would respond or if he was asleep, when he didn't she set her alarm, out her phone down and went to sleep herself.

***

She was woke up startled by a loud bang from downstairs. Her mom was still at the hospital as she hadn't text her to let her know she was on her way home yet so as soon as she woke from the noise, instant panic set in. She sat up, her legs over the edge of the bed and listened silently to the footsteps that made their way into the kitchen, she called Derek when he heard a draw open.

After six rings, she got no answer and put down the phone. His phone must be on silent whilst he was asleep. She sent him a text just praying he would wake up.

"Der please wake up. There's someone in the house and I'm alone."

"Derek please I'm so scared."

"I'm sorry about our argument, none of it was your fault."

"Der please"

Her heart stopped when she heard a stair creaking, she got up quickly but silently and ran to her door, quickly locking it and dragging her dressing table chair in front of it.

She grabbed her dressing gown and ran to her en-suite, closing the door behind her. Her whole body was shaking with fear as she heard the footsteps stop outside her bedroom door and the handle shake. Her breath court in her throat when the bedroom door unlocked and the chair pushed against the floor, you can imagine the sound.

Her back fell down the tiled wall of her shower and her knees were held tightly against her chest, in her head this was the end. Never again would she see her mom or Derek or any of her family. She was shaking that hard that she was convinced whoever was approaching her could hear the tiles being bashed against.

The bathroom door opened and a voice made her shriek.

"Please don't hurt me, please, stop. Just go away." Meredith begged

"Meredith?" The voice said at the same time.

She looked up.

"Mom! Are you freaking kidding me! You scared the crap out of me!" Meredith shouted.

Ellis walked in to the bathroom.

"Why are you awake?" She asked.

"I wasn't until I heard banging downstairs and then I woke up! I thought you were a murderer or something, why are you home?"

"I dropped the umbrella and I live here?" Ellis replied a slight amusement on her face.

Meredith rolled her eyes as she started to get her breath back, "you usually text before you come home. Jesus mom." she let a nervous laugh.

Ellis burst out laughing at Meredith's face which made Meredith laugh.

"My phone died. Get up you idiot and go back to sleep." Ellis laughed as she helped Meredith up.

"You owe me for this." Meredith laughed.

"I guess I do. Get some sleep Mer, sorry for scaring you."

She got herself back into bed and text Derek once again.

"Um, never mind, false alarm. It was my mom, all is good. Goodnight🙂." She shook her head with a small laugh and went back to sleep.

***
Oopsie, sorry if I scared you