In control

Meredith’s POV:

As a result of my annoyance yesterday, Dixon and I ordered pizza and beers. Well, he had a bottle and I had four. For the first time. There were no complain or protest from him, I figured he knows what’s pissing me off but was never raising the subject. Until I passed out.

I wake up with a dry mouth, burning eyes, and a pounding head as the sound of music assaults my senses. “Oh, shit. I feel like throwing up but there’s nothing to throw up.” I look around and realize that I slept in the living room.

No wonder I had front row tickets to the noise. Dixon has tunes smashing through the floors as I blink awake. A blanket is wrapped around my legs like freaking restraints. I feel like shit, and the table is littered with cold pizza and the scraps of a weird middle-of-the-night scramble for food. Looks like we ate, fell asleep, and woke up at the same time.

“Good morning, sis.” He said with a grin. Looking at the empty bottle of beer beside him like it was a prized possession. “Just so you know, you gave me my first beer last night.”

“I know, no need to rub it in and just so you know, that does not mean you can have beers on a regular basis. I figured its better you try it here at home than with other people. Last time, you did, we got into a real mess.” I reminded him without diving into the details further.

“Point taken.”

“Are you hungry or it’s just me?”

“I am hungry too. Can I ask questions now?”

I shrugged, “it depends.”

“Was that an episode of your first heartbreak?”

“And that is why I stated my first statement. No comment.”

“Whatever you say.”

We raided the kitchen for munchies and watched another movie for, like, an hour while grumpily arguing over absolutely pointless crap because we were both tired. He’s not in the mood to go to school because he doesn’t like cleaning up the gymnasium and I strongly agree.

I groan and look around, spying him in the kitchen, singing to himself as he makes a fresh pot of coffee. ”Hey, I watched you make your coffee, this should taste the same.”

“Ughh, shut up and bring it here,” I yell at him and go back to burying my head under the pillow I have been lying on. Annoyed that I have had no sleep, and he is being his usual happy, chirpy morning person self that grates on my nerves. “And tone that music down!”

My brother is enjoying it. I sit up in a rage, glower at him across the kitchen, and catch him smirking my way. Remote pointed at the stereo with that childish look of a mean boy. Sometimes I love him to bits, and sometimes, like right now, he is a total ass who makes my life a living hell just for the fun of it. I think he gets off on torturing me because he does it 24/7.

“The walk of a very hungover, grumpy little miss,” he jests after me.

I was trying to walk but whoever invented alcohol needed to know that he made my knees soft like jello.

I groan at the fright which awaits me in the bathroom mirror. My hair is bed messy and standing up, tangled crazily. My face looks like I have been face painted as a panda. I look exactly how I feel. Awful.

“God, I need a bath.”

Wrapped in a robe and towel drying my hair, I almost toppled back and exposed myself upon seeing the visitor. I can’t deny that her son had caused me more damage than what I was planning to do with him if I only know what it was.

“I am going to take a bath too,” Dixon says. Asking for help.

“No,” I quickly said, “stay with Anastasia. I need to put on some clothes.”

“Okay,” my brother rolled his eyes at me.

“Fine by me.” Anastasia replied, she’s not her usual bitchy self. “Take your time, dear.”

I pull my clothes on quickly, use my hairbrush to tame my damp hair, and leave it hanging down my back to air dry a little. I at least look clean and fresh but deep inside I was chaos. I did not expect to see her. What the fuck is she doing here?

When I returned, I noticed that my brother impressively cleaned the mess we made last night and the moment he saw me, it was his cue to go. I wonder if they even talked. Anastasia sat on the couch looking oblivious. She smiles at me. I also notice that Dixon made her a cup of tea. Bravo.

“What’s going on?” I walk over and slump beside her.

“I heard Conrad was with you yesterday.” She states flatly.

“Yes, but why?” I pout, that inner annoyance creeping up like it always does when he involved. “If that’s all you want to know, it would be easier if you texted me instead.”

“Because Conrad also told me about Billy ruining the day.”

“She did not ruin anything.” I smirked. “She said she’s with him and told me to learn where my place is. That’s about it.”

Ansatasia repleated her skirt. “You see that’s the thing, they were never an item. I was at his flat last night and my son is devastated and told me you were giving him the cold treatment. You wouldn’t even answer his texts and all his calls end up in voicemail.”

“Because,” I took my phone from the corner of the couch and waved it at her, “my phone is dead.”

“So…you are not mad at him?”

“Why would I? Conrad’s business is none of mine.”

What she says next startles me to the core.

“You like my son. He likes you. What’s the issue?”

“Well, the issue here is that there's someone laying claims.” I gulp.

“Yeah, figured you would say that." Anastasia is texting and I don't have to second guess who she's texting.

She squints at me this time, nudges me back with irritation, and drops her phone into her lap. Annoyed or not, I still managed to get her believe that I am not affected but learning that he likes me too gave me stomach swirls. Her phone vibrates, but she shifts it to the couch and lays it face down. I wait anxiously.

"Please, talk to Conrad. For the first time in many years, we were able to reconnect as mother and son. He was devastated assuming that you will not see him anymore. You don't know how much this means to me, Meredith. This is a game changer. Another chance for us to be what we were before."

"What do you want me to do? Play mediator?" I whine petulantly.

She laughs at me, "sort of, yes.

Time to amp the acting. I maybe enjoying this on a personal level but I also had a job and an agreement to uphold. It's like I am choosing between Conrad and Dixon and the answer is obvious. I force a straight face, "at my expense? Wait, if what you say is true...you should not be here. If he likes me, he should be here and not send his mother as an ambassador."

“True.” She smirks.

"Maybe dinner will help. I will take care of everything. All you have to do is show up and be nice." She smiled at me, trying to pass as a nice lady who was a bitch in real life. Anastasia reached for my hand, I can't believe this is happening right now. "Please, give Conrad a chance. I will take care of Billy."

“Whaaat?” I gasp in frustration, hating being confined this way and getting madder by the second. "Ansatasia, I know how bad you want to your relationship woth Conrad to get better but I hate to say this but there are things that he should do himself. "

“He will, right now, you play nice, nicer than you have ever played. Because I don’t need any drama."

Ah, there it is. The bitch.

I get up and wander towards my room, stopping at the door way. If Conrad thinks he could get away with anything with his mother covering up for him. He's wrong. This whole scenario might be temporary for me but I'd like to leave a mark on him. Throwing back my hair and lifting a stubborn, moody chin to show I am no longer talking to her. And then, I remembered. She's brave enough to impose to me----why can't I return the favor.

"Anastasia?"

"Yes?"

"I don't want Billy to be there. If you can assure that, I see no reason why I won't be there."

It was her cue to leave, "consider it done."

I need to dry my hair and take some time , to psyche myself into being a good little get-along for his sake so he doesn’t resort to more of his mama's boy demeanor. I am so glad that I will only be married to him for a day.