Aria groaned as noise filtered through her door.
Not just noise — chaos.
Loud voices. Laughter. Movement. The kind of early-morning disruption that immediately set her on edge.
Beside her, Alex shifted, letting out a low, irritated grumble as he turned onto his side, dragging the blanket with him.
Aria blinked awake, disoriented for half a second before everything came back — the night before, him in her bed, the way she had fallen asleep tangled up in him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Another crash of noise from down the hall.
Aria exhaled sharply. "You've got to be kidding me."
Alex barely cracked an eye open. "If that's a fire, I'm not moving."
She rolled her eyes, already climbing out of bed. "You're useless."
"Mm," he muttered into the pillow. "Told you that already."
Aria grabbed the first clothes she could find and pulled them on quickly, still half-asleep and already irritated. By the time she stepped into the hallway, the source of the noise was obvious.
Meredith's room.
Of course.
Aria walked straight to the doorway—and stopped.
Sadie.
Standing there like she belonged.
Smiling like nothing had ever happened.
Like she hadn't burned through their lives once already and left damage behind her.
Sadie turned, grin widening when she saw her. "Hello, Ariana."
Aria's entire body went rigid.
"Don't call me that," she snapped immediately, her voice sharp enough to cut.
The room went quieter for a second.
Meredith looked between them.
Sadie just smiled like it was amusing.
Aria didn't look at her again.
She looked at Meredith.
And there was something colder there than anger.
"Let's hope you don't make the same mistakes twice."
Meredith frowned. "Aria—"
But Aria had already turned, already walking away.
Because if she stayed another second, she knew exactly how that conversation would go.
And she wasn't ready for that.
⸻
Downstairs, Derek sat at the kitchen table looking as exhausted as she felt.
Aria poured herself a coffee without speaking, the routine grounding her slightly.
Cristina walked in a second later, clearly just as unimpressed.
"Apparently they went backpacking around Europe together or something," Cristina said flatly. "Before med school. That woman all but kicked me out of the bed."
Derek didn't even try to hide his sarcasm. "That's terrible."
Cristina ignored him. "And Death? Meredith's name is not Death, it's Mer."
Aria let out a quiet huff of amusement despite herself, glancing at Derek.
"I really feel for you," Derek said, rubbing his face.
YOU ARE READING
Shooting Stars
Fanfic"But he's Evil Spawn." "Don't you think I know that. I didn't wake up one day and suddenly decide I was going to be in love with Alex Karev." Being the daughter of a world renowned surgeon was never destined to be easy. The first born of the Grey tw...
