Wake Me Up

Meredith, reluctantly, went back to her home for the summer to "attend"-more of supervise-another keg party. Something told her that James Neal's parties were a lot better than this. With food laid out and the beer flowing, Meredith slipped down to the basement. Lindsay had specified that wine was strictly for them and fancy occasions. Carefully selecting a nicely aged bottle, Meredith pulled the cork and filled the rather large wine glass she had found upstairs. She smiled to herself, happy with the sip she took, and carefully snuck to the back patio.

James, Michael, and Drew all decided a nice night in was called for tonight. They had all pushed themselves pretty hard at the gym that morning. James kept glancing out the long row of windows that looked out across the lake, and the back of Meredith's lake house. Childishly, he kept hoping Meredith would appear at the back door and tell him she would rather be with him. Drew Doughty, his other roommate for the summer, said, "Dude, you keep looking over there. I have to meet this girl!" Michael laughed. "You should've seen him! I don't think I've ever seen him so..unNeal-like." "I don't know how to explain it." James said. "Meredith is just so different."

Deciding he was done with getting crap from Drew and Michael, James headed to bed for the night. Unfortunately, his bedroom window faced out to the rather loud party that was taking place next door. James pushed the window open. The noise was louder but the fresh air felt nice. He looked out the window, and noticed a figure standing alone on the back porch. The light was behind the person, casting dark shadows, hiding. James could have sworn it was Meredith. The long ponytail came just past her shoulders. She had one arm wrapped around herself, and a glass thst was not meant for beer was in her other hand.

Not even knowing if it was her, James had to go find out. He shimmied back into his shorts and threw on a white v neck. Just before walking out the door, James slid his feet into a random pair of flip flops. He tried to look casual, walking across the slightly damp grass, but on the inside he wanted to sprint. The figure on the porch put a hand across her forehead. "James?" He heard the voice that could only belong to Meredith. "Hey, I thought I saw you." James had the biggest, dorkiest smile plastered on his face. "Well if you want the shirt that bad.." Meredith said and started to fake removing his shirt. "As tempting as that sounds, you can keep it." He chuckled. "Thanks," she smiled. "So what's up?"

"Uh, I just wanted to see if these parties are all they sound to be." James smiled. "Well, it depends on what the standards are." Meredith looked like she wanted to leave. "You probably don't want to hear my standards." James got a super douchey-and fake-smile on. Meredith rolled her eyes, but played along. "What are these standards?" She laughed. "Dance party. My place. Right now." James stated. "Hmm, I don't know. I mean, I told Chad I would show him my bedroom.." Meredith giggled. "I'm in!" James laughed and said, "Then let's go!" She took off, down the deck and across the grass. Chasing after her, James hollered "You cheater!" Meredith was on his deck and retorted, "I wasn't even racing!" She stuck out her tongue, like they were in fifth grade. "That's fine, I'm probably a better dancer than you." James pushed open the door and led Meredith inside.

Michael and Drew were no where in sight, thank God, James thought. He grabbed his phone and plugged it into the stereo system. He skipped around, till he found the perfect song to set the mood. "You ready?" James turned to face Meredith. She was looking at the jersey from the All Star game a few years back James had worn. It was in this glass box hanging on the wall. "I know someone who would look great in that." James said. "Who?" Meredith looked quizzically at him. "You." He simply said, opened the box, and removed the jersey. Before she could protest, James pushed the jersey over Meredith's head. She giggled and slipped her arms into the holes. It was huge on her.

"Am I an All Star now?"

James smiled, "Yep, and I have the perfect song." He walked back over to the stereo and pressed play. By the first note, Meredith recognized the song "All Star" by Smash Mouth. "No freakin way!" She laughed. "You did this on purpose!" "I did not! Now dance!" James started to move his hips and started to really get into it. Meredith started to, as well and before she knew it; she was belting the lyrics. "HEY NOW YOUR ALL STAR. GET YOUR GAME ON, GO PLAY!" They yelled over the speakers. "THE ICE WE SKATE IS GETTING PRETTY THIN. THE WATER'S GETTIN WARM SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL SWIM! MY WORLD'S ON FIRE, HOW ABOUT YOURS? THATS THE WAY I LIKE IT, AND I'LL NEVER GET BORED!"

The music break started and they both started jumping around. It looked terrible, but neither one of them cared. They're private dance session was broken up by a half naked Michael Del Zotto. He belowed, "What the hell, Nealer?!" Meredith collapsed on to the couch, she couldn't stop laughing. Michael's eyes were squinty and his boxers hung off of bare hips. His bare chest was puffed out a little. James laughed hysterically and Michael stood there, looking bewildered and upset. "Sorry, sorry," Meredith finally got herself under enough control to get up and turn off the music.

Meredith smiled more in the almost two minutes of childish fun with James then she had at any keg, frat boy filled, party. "James, I should go. I'll see you later?" Meredith smiled softly. James wanted to tell her to stay, but just said "Yeah. I gotta get the angry bear, over here, back to bed." She grinned and let herself out.

Arrviving at the bottom of the stairs, Drew looked at James then Michael and laughed. "MDZ, our boy here has it bad. The Real Deal doesn't show off his lack of dance skills for just anybody."

Notes