"Hey, Mark... my bag is in there I came to get it but it seems they are having a serious conversation so I didn't want to interrupt them," Meredith said nervously as if she was caught red-handed doing something bad.
"Who could he be talking with? Just go in there and get your bag let's go have dinner," Mark said. Meredith was reluctant, Mark pushed the door open and walked in majestically and didn't care to hide his expression.
"Whoops! Who do we have here? Marisa Fernald," Mark smirks, he never likes her, no one does.
"No... no it's okay. You can continue whatever you were doing, Meredith here only came for her bag," he said as he fixed his gaze on both of them, especially Marisa, and hummed. Meredith quickly grabs her bag without looking at them.
"Hm, it seems you are in deep thought. Don't worry we didn't hear anything," Mark scoffs as Marisa rolls her eyes, turning her head away and wiping the drop of tears left in her eyes.
Matthew was focused on his work and let out a sigh of relief when he finally submitted the final result to the board. Mark chuckled and suggested they leave them alone, walking away with his back to the door. It was unusual to see the usually arrogant queen bee in such a vulnerable state, and Mark made sure she knew he had witnessed it all.
"I'm done here, I'm coming with you guys," Matthew pouts finally looking up.
"What! Shut up, Mark! I told you not to talk to me ever," she spat.
"Wow, sorry you could at least let your anger out on the person who provoked you not on innocent people," Mark grumbles looking at Marisa.
"Please don't start, get out of my way!" Marisa scowls as she pushes Mark out of her way and slunks out of the room.
"So it's Marisa again meaning, she came to see Matthew the other day at the hotel. I can't believe even a glamorous and elegant lady like Marisa will be a victim of Matthew's whim." Meredith thought gazing at Marisa's back.
"l wonder what is so special about him that every girl is going crazy over him, goodness he makes me want to vomit," Meredith whispers to herself as she joins them.
The six of them sit at one table in the restaurant as they eat dinner together. Eddie is constantly staring at Meredith and making corning jokes.
"So how long have you been here Meredith?" Mark asked shoving a slice of beef in his mouth.
"Um, not long," Meredith hissed lowering her gaze.
"Really, but you really look familiar with the place," Gabby muttered raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, I used to come for vacation but I'm here for good now," Meredith sobbed without looking at them but at the plate of salad and beef set before her.
"I see," Gabby replied resuming eating her meal. Eddie gets a call and he suddenly grows nervous.
"Get your silly ass back home before I make you!" a loud hoarse voice said over the phone. "Who called Eddie?" Matthew's face dropped when he saw Eddie's face.
"It's the old man, Sorry guys I need to leave now," he whispers getting up from his seat as he gives Meredith a weak smile.
"Alright man, please call me." Matthew whimpers he is genuinely concerned.
"Is he going to be okay?" Gabby asked.
"Yes don't worry his dad probably ordered him to come home," Matthew said trying not to talk too much about it.
Gabby, Mark, Jim, Matthew, and Meredith had a lot to drink. Mark drove Gabby home.
"Will the two of you be okay? I'm leaving," Jim mumbles as he struggles to stand on his feet.
"Yes Jim, we are also leaving, I mean I'm leaving too I don't know about him," Meredith whispers. She was forced to take just a shot of whisky but took 5 more.
Like everyone, she was wasted but not enough to do anything stupid, She wasn't used to alcohol and could barely hold up but when it comes to Matthew being around her, she is fully awake. it was as if she had this huge bell that rang each time he came close to her.
"Go home Jim, I will take her," Matthew hissed as he took her hands by force and dragged Meredith to his car.
"I'm not entering into your car, never so just forget about it," Meredith growls walking on the empty and dark street. It is chilly outside and her phone is dead she can't order a cab. Meredith would rather walk than get into his car.
"Why are you so stubborn get inside the car, it's late and we are going to the same place." Mathew pouts driving slowly.
"That's none of your business. I don't need you to take care of me," Meredith pouts.
"Not that I care about what happens to you, but I have a lot of problems in my life as it is, everyone knows you were with me if anything happens to you, I will be the one held responsible, so please spare me some more trouble and get into the damn car," Matthew said and smirks.
Meredith still ignored him and kept walking. Matthew was done trying to convince her. He drove off to the junction.
"Such a jerk, he really did leave, moron, idiot, stupid," Meredith cursed as she struggles to walk in her heels. She wrapped her hand around herself since she couldn't stand the chilly weather, she was freezing to death.
A car passed by as she desperately tried to stop it but the car didn't stop. Now she regrets letting Matthew go because of her stubbornness. When Meredith turns right on the junction a firm hand grabs her.
"Let go of me?" Meredith barked. She turns to have a closer look a the shadow. It was Matthew.
"Y-you," Meredith stammered.
"Yes me, now get in the car," Matthew grabs her and forces her inside the car. He fixes her seat belt and stands to straighten his shirt letting out a relieved sigh.
Meredith was glad, she was finally out of his grasp. She couldn't stand being that close to him. Meredith squinted her eyes at him as he drove off.
"About this morning, I'm sorry I called you stupid," Matthew whispers as Meredith rolls her eyes.
"He thinks I was angry because he called me stupid, such a jerk if only he knew what happened to Maria because of him," Meredith murmured not loud enough for him to hear.
"How would he know? He cares about no one but himself," Meredith whispers to herself as she turns her head to the window.
"Strange girl," Matthew thought swallowing his pride. He lowered his status by apologising to him yet she ignored her. he still couldn't understand why she ignored her. He slept with her friend and so what? they are not sisters and he didn't force himself on her so she had no right to be angry with her. it wasn't as if he promised her marriage.
"What at all is her problem?" Matthew's mind was filled with a lot of questions trying to understand.
As they ride in the car, he turns on some music in an attempt to ease the tension. Meredith rests her head against the window and is reminded of memories from her past, specifically her luxurious vacations. She had what many would consider a dream life, with the world at her fingertips from the moment she was born. However, now she feels a sense of emptiness.