The Write Match // Bill Hader

Twenty-Six

"Why are you in such a hurry?" I ask, pulling my compact out of my purse, checking my makeup in the taxi. 

"What are you doing, Meredith?" He asks, and I close the compact, looking over at him. 

"I'm having fun, something he always wanted me to do and I'm doing what he did. I'm getting over him by getting under someone else." I say, smiling and ignoring the feeling in my chest as I think about what I'm actually doing. 

"Who's your 'friend'?" John asks and I sigh. 

"Zach, and I don't want to hear a word from you. I don't need you trying to make me feel bad about it. He went out with her last night, he made his decision and I'm making mine." I tell him and he shakes his head. 

"I'm not saying that Bill going out with her was okay, but you doing the same thing isn't going to help either. If anything, it's just going to make things more complicated and it's not going to change how you feel about him." He tells me and I ignore him. 

"It's not going to hurt to try." I say. 

"I love you and you have my full support in anything you do, but please be safe and smart. I don't want to be an uncle just yet, but if you decide that it's time for me to become Uncle John, please let my nieces and nephews be with Bill and Bill only." He tells me and I roll my eyes. 

"If you and my mom don't leave me alone about having kids." I look forward and he laughs. 

"Your mom and I are smart, however Meredith, you're being an idiot right now, but I can look past it. Have fun, be safe, and please be as nice as you can." He says and the taxi stops in front of the restaurant. 

"I can be whoever I want. This is New York City!" I hold my arms out and spin once we get on the sidewalk and walk into the restaurant. 

I walk in, seeing Bill and the others standing around the bar and behind them, I see Zach. I wave, Bill waving back, but I walk right past him, straight to Zach. 

"It's been a while, Meredith. I'm glad that you thought to invite me out tonight." He says, his voice deep. 

"I'm glad that you decided to come tonight. I've been busy with SNL, with all of them." I say, motioning to the group of people in front of me. "Hi guys!" I yell out and they turn, looking at me and I know Bill has already looked. "This is Zach, and Zach this everyone." I tell him and he looks at Bill. 

"Shit, you're Bill Hader. I love your work, I'm a big fan of Superbad." He hold his hand out and Bill glares at me before looking at Zach and shaking his hand. 

"Thank you." Bill says, smiling and I know he's being fake. 

"This is John, my best friend, and these are the rest of my friends." I tell him. 

"I actually need to run to the bathroom, I'll be back soon." Zach tells us and walks away. 

"Can I talk to you for just a second, Meredith?" Bill asks. 

"What?" I ask, sighing. 

"When you said that you were meeting a friend, I thought it would be someone from college. I didn't think it would be someone you slept with." He says and I shrug. 

"We're both still seeing people that we used to sleep with. How coincidental." I give a fake laugh and roll my eyes, trying to walk away but he stops me. 

"You can't say that Meredith, that's not fair. You haven't given me the chance to-" Bill starts, but I stop him. 

"No, Bill, you don't get to explain. If you're going to do something, knowing that you'll have to explain or ask for forgiveness afterwards, you shouldn't be doing it. But you did Bill, you went out with Erica and did God knows what." I tell him and he raises his eyebrows.