Everything has Changed

Chapter 4.

Derek continues to stare into me for a few moments longer, before speaking up.

"So, about class," he paused, "I'm going to try and learn, so please stop trying to talk to me. It's very distracting."

My half smile dropped in an instant when I processed what he said. How could he say that I was distracting him?! He wouldn't stop clicking his damn pen and staring at me the entire time.

"I'm sorry what? Distract you?" The surprise in my voice wasn't from hearing him be rude, it was from hearing him blame me when I did nothing wrong. I'm the one who was trying to pay attention!

"From what I remember, it was you that was distracting me! You kept staring at me and clicking your pen, I could hardly focus."

Derek sat there looking at me with a straight face. He was hard to read. I couldn't tell if he was surprised that I talked back to him, or just an asshole who didn't care what I had to say. Then he laughed, really laughed in my face.

How could he laugh in my face? How could he just ignore everything I had to say?

"You know, Derek, I was starting to warm up to you. You came over here, smiling and coming across nice, and then you just laugh in my face and tell me I'm a distraction! You're the biggest asshole I've ever met." I was so furious. No one has ever been this rude, or played hot and cold with me like this.

"It's funny how you think I care at all," Derek said as he got up from the bar and returned to his booth.

I hate Derek. I've never said I hated someone, but I hate him. I continued telling myself I hated Derek and I downed two shots of tequila.

"Woah, slow down Mer," Cristina said laughing and taking her place in the seat next to me, where Derek had once been. "I'm gone all but 5 minutes and you've have downed both of our shots," she couldn't help but laugh. Her laughing reminded me of Derek laughing, which reminded me that I hated him, so I took another shot.

"Something must be wrong, if you can down three shots of tequila and hardly have a reaction to it." Cristina was staring at me, trying to fish out whatever my problem was. Derek shouldn't be my problem, I shouldn't have to care what he think of me, except, I do care about what he thinks of me.

"I hate him. Derek, I hate him."

"Okay."

After about 5 minutes pass, Cristina and I leave. I get a cab and she walks home, her apartment is close by. Cristina texts me that she is home and was fine, which was a relief, and I do the same when I get home. After I changed out of my dress, I decide to call Finn. April wasn't home, so we could talk in private.

"Finn? Hey," I said when he picked up.

"Oh, uh, hey Meredith. What's up?" He sounds kind of frantic, like he was surprised by my call. I know that I didn't warn him I was calling, but I never do.

"Nothing, just wanted to call." I sounded cheery, overly cheery. I'm pretty sure that is the alcohol talking for me.

"Oh well that's great. Uh, hey I gotta go. I'll call you whenever okay."

"Okay, bye-" He hung up. It didn't make me angry, as much as sad that he hung up. He has never done that before.

I try to get it off my mind, so I decide sleeping would be best. I put my phone on its charger, and crawl under the covers. Before I know it, I'm fast asleep.