"Meredith..." Meredith froze in her tracks when she heard his voice... she would recognise that voice anywhere...
She swallowed, but even though she knew he was right behind her and calling out to her she couldn't turn to look at him... how could she when she looked a complete mess and what was he doing here... he wasn't supposed to be at this part of town... she had to leave quickly... She decided and placed her earphones in her ear so she could pretend like she didn't hear him. She started to walk again, but this time she quickened her pace hoping he would go away... "Meredith please wait..." She heard that familiar voice once again and almost cursed under her breath... why wasn't he going away... Meredith froze again just before she could take a turn by the intersection that led to her house because she felt a hand on her arm... "sh*t..." She muttered under her breath and closed her eyes... She couldn't avoid him now... it would be too clear that she was... Meredith drew in a sharp breath and let out a deep one before she turned to look at the person who wouldn't go away... Brian... the person she had a crush on for the past year since she saw him in one of the classes she had taken to gain some extra credits... She didn't have anyone she could tell it to, but immediately she saw him she was sure it was love at first sight... he had the most beautiful smile she had ever seen, and he was the nicest and sweetest person... his personality was as beautiful as his smile... But she could only stare from afar... how could someone like her approach someone like him... he was way out of her league, and she knew it, so she made sure to avoid him at all times... if he was coming from away, she went the other way... It was a harmless crush, and I was able to watch him from afar, not until one day he spoke to her after class... she could still remember the very first words he said to her... "Hi, I'm Brian nice to meet you... you are Meredith right..." She was too stunned to speak for a while and almost embarrassed herself... Ever since that they, he waved at her whenever he saw her like they were friends and even though she knew she shouldn't... she couldn't help but have hope that maybe one day they could be together even though she was aware that it was never going to happen...
"Brian..." Meredith said... a nervous smile appeared on her face as she acted like she hadn't heard him calling out to her... Brian looked out of breath as he stared at her... "I've been calling out to you .. didn't you hear me..." He said and she shook her head... "I'm sorry... I didn't hear you..." Meredith said in a low voice and pointed towards her earpiece... "Oh..." he said, that beautiful smile that made her want to face palm herself and squeal in utter joy appeared on his face, and Meredith fisted her hand... "What are you doing here... do you live here," he asked and Meredith felt like she had been punched in the gut... "No..." She blurted out without thinking and immediately felt like a fool... "I came here to see a friend..." She added and continued with her lie and it made her feel more foolish... "You shouldn't stay here for too long... it's dangerous out here..." He said, and Meredith had to hold back a smile because of how protective he sounded... "I came here to see a friend too... but then I saw you... I wasn't sure it was you at first but..." He looked down at her jacket, and she immediately became self-aware... yeah... the jacket she wore almost every day... of course he recognised her from that... who wouldn't... "You didn't come to class yesterday so I couldn't give you this..." He said and reached into his pocket... Meredith's eyes were filled with curiosity as she stared at him... Brian brought out something that looked like an envelope and handed it to her... Meredith's eyes travelled from him down to what he was giving her, and she hesitantly took it from him... "It's my birthday on Saturday, and I'm having a party... I would like it if you would come..." He said, and her eyes almost grew wide... her! A party... there was no way she was going... especially when she knew all the big deals from the college they went to would be there... what was she even going to wear... her old jacket?
"I'm sorry but..." She started but before she could continue talking he stopped her... "I'm not going to take no for an answer... make sure to be there..." he turned and started to go the other way leaving Meredith completely speechless... she watched as he crossed the road and got into his car before her eyes travelled to the white envelope she was holding in her hand... A slight smile appeared on her face as she stared at her... That hope that she didn't want to have slowly increased... She placed the envelope in her bag and continued her journey back to her house...
Meredith sighed deeply as she walked through the alleyway that led to her neighbourhood... the place she hated the most in the world... the place was like her own personal prison that she couldn't escape from... she had a deep frown on her face as she drew closer and closer to her house... the place she now knew as home... the place that she wanted to leave as soon as possible but couldn't because of college...
When she finally arrived at a building, she stopped in her tracks when she saw a woman standing close to her front door... she felt like turning back, but she had nowhere to run to and hide... so she continued walking... "You are home early today..." The woman who had a lit cigarette between her fingers said and Meredith sighed deeply in disgust... "I told you not to leave your cigarette buds here anymore..." She said the anger she was trying to hold back laced in her voice... "You took too long to return and you know I can't go more than thirty minutes without it..." The woman said, and she almost rolled her eyes at her... Meredith leaned into her bag and took out a brown envelope, and a bright smile immediately appeared on the woman's face when she saw it... she took the envelope from Meredith's hands before she could even hand it to her... "You know, when you wanted to leave here, I wasn't sure you would be able to pay rent, but you are always the first to pay up..." The woman said and started to walk away... Meredith made sure she was gone before she took out her keys and opened her door...
She searched for her light switch and turned on the light in her small apartment... the frown on her face deepened as she walked into her house... she walked to her small bed and sat on it... Meredith reached into her bag and took out the envelope he had handed her... she ran her hand over the design before she opened it and checked the contents... Was it going to be a big party... she wondered... and laid down on the bed... she raised it up... a smile on her face as she thought about his smile...
"I wish I could go..." Meredith muttered under her breath as she stared at the invitation... she just wanted to be like everyone else who was her age... was that too much to ask... maybe it was...