Looking at you side ways

31

[i]Derek couldn't believe it. She was there. Right in front on him and they were alone. He felt his heart beating fast and knew he had to say something quickly, before she ran off.[/i]

[i]Meredith felt like she was holding her breath. Probably because she was. She felt like she couldn't breathe. She sensed Derek move closer and then he was standing inches away from her. As close as possible without physically touching.[/i]

"Meredith." Derek said reverently.

[i]She couldn't help it. It was like a caress.[/i] She shivered a little and bit her trembling lower lip.[i] She couldn't answer. Her throat was dry and she knew nothing would come out anyway. Her body reacted on its own.[/i] She forced herself to take a deep breath and as she did, she unconsciously shrugged her shoulders a little and now she could feel his hot breath on her neck. His head was mere inches from hers.

"Meredith. I won't ask you to forgive me. What I said and how I have behaved is unforgivable and inexcusable. All I can say is that I didn't mean any of it. I was just being an ass because I was...I was jealous of Jaake. I care about you. I care about you a lot and I am so sorry. I understand if you won't let me, but I hope you will let me try to make it up to you."

The elevator stopped and a short, stout woman in a business suit walked on. Meredith scouted out and Derek asked helplessly as he leaned out of the elevator, "We'll talk later?"

Meredith slowly turned around and nodded her head imperceptibly as the doors closed.

Derek let out a huge sigh of relief as the woman in the elevator stared at him.

The woman eyed him shrewdly and asked, "What did you do to her?"

"Excuse me? Do I know you?"

"Not yet." She eyed him up and down and took notice of his name.

The elevator door opened on the next floor and the woman and Derek both got off and went in opposite directions. Derek wondered [i]how she knew he did anything. Women were a mystery. Derek thought clearly, he did not understand woman. [/i]

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Meredith drove home slowly.[i] Her brain was shutting down and she tried not to think about Derek. Especially about what Derek said. Jealous of Jaake? What did that mean? Did it mean he liked her more than a friend? Why didn't he just say so? Right Meredith she thought. Why didn't you just say so? She just could not process anything at this point.[/i] She walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. There was a single serving of spaghetti there with a post it note on it that said Meredith. She allowed herself a small smile as she realized [i]that Mark would not even consider that a serving of food. But it was perfect for her. She couldn't remember the last time she ate. [/i]She heated it up and got herself a drink. She sat at the table and ate and knew she had to get into her bed fast.

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She woke up and it was dark. She was disoriented and didn't have any idea of what time it was. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was only six PM. She had slept for ten hours. She felt like a bear waking up from long winter hibernation. She decided to take a long hot shower and used all her favorite bath products. She pulled on her Pj's and ratty big robe and decided to watch TV in her room. She was sitting up in bed flipping through channels when she heard the garage door open.

She thought, [i]oh God, he is home. Maybe he'll see her closed door and leave her alone. But did she really want that? Whatever he said or did, she still felt this attraction and pull towards him that she had never felt before in her life. Was it companionship? Was it family? Was it lust? Was it love?[/i]