A/N: I haven't forgotten about my other stories but I had to write this one after some of the new spoilers and descriptions came out. They pissed me off to be frank. This is going to be a two- or threeshot. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to review!

Corn and wheat fields flew by as the red Mustang muscle car tore through the landscape of Southern Alabama. The sun, almost at the peak of its path across the blue sky, was quickly drying the earth from the rain the day before. The heat haze in the horizon proof that, in Alabama, nothing stayed wet or cold for long. Well, except for the cold words from one petite doe eyed doctor in a town now many miles away. Those were stored in a place the sun's scorching rays couldn't reach, couldn't thaw; inside the heart of the blond, plaid-wearing driver.

With one arm resting on the frame of the open window, he changed gears and sped up. Swirling dust engulfed the car as he, seemingly aimless, drove through one small town after the other. He didn't care if his reckless driving caused damage to his beloved car or if he eventually would spend a night in jail. That just meant he had a place to stay for the night.

The few hundred bucks in his wallet were all the money he had. They were all he had time to grab from the register of his business before he took his car, made a quick stop at his house, grabbing his guitar, fishing gear, some clothes and headed out of town. It wasn't a well-thought out plan by any means, but at the time, he wasn't really thinking. He was reacting. Reacting to the events in the 36 hours leading up to that moment. The moment he realized that it had all been a lie. He had been living a lie for so long.

The words spoken, the actions taken, flashed before his eyes and he clenched the steering wheel hard with both hands before stepping on the brake. The car came to a screeching halt and he let out a frustrated groan. The people on a bench nearby watched with curiosity as the stranger inside the car let out his frustration by hitting the steering wheel repeatedly. They watched as he exited his vehicle, slammed the door shut and went into the bar across the street.

Wade let out an ironic laugh as he took a seat at the bar. Not long ago he left his own bar and hours of aimless driving later he found himself back in one similar to his own. Life was just one big circle with a lot of small ones in between birth and death. He snorted and looked at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar. He was covered in dust and literally looked like he had been working in a field all day.

"Hey stranger, what can I get ya," a female voice said. He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a familiar face smiling and chewing gum.

"Shelley! What are you doing here in…" Wade looked around perplexed. He couldn't recognize the bar and he had been in plenty. He realized that he really had no clue where he was.

"Boykin," Shelley chimed in. "I just kinda ended up here after I left BlueBell."

"Yeah me too." He looked as beaten as he felt. "Fetch me a beer, will ya."

"Coming right up."

Shelley had known Wade long enough to know something was clearly bothering him. Her friends in BlueBell had kept her up to date since she left, but they hadn't told her anything that would make Wade Kinsella walk into her place of employment looking like something the cat dragged in. She also knew he probably wouldn't share, but after watching him for a few minutes, her curiosity got the better of her. "Trouble in paradise?" She asked and leaned on the counter. Wade sighed.

"No offense Shelley, but I'd really rather not get into it." He took a swig of his beer and looked around the establishment. The bar was about the same size as his own; the clientele clearly locals.

"Zoe," she said knowingly. Wade quickly turned his head at her and gaped. "Just because I don't live in BlueBell anymore doesn't mean I don't hear the gossip."

"So you know about..."

"The cheating…" she interrupted. "…I still can't believe you were that stupid Wade!" She shook her head.

Okay good, she hadn't heard the latest, he thought, and he wasn't really in the sharing mood. When was he ever?

"Is that why you are here? Taking a break from the judging looks?"

"Sumthin' like that," he said, looking down, avoiding the question.

Shelley noticed and decided not to dig any further. "I heard you bought the Rammer Jammer. With Lemon of all people." She chuckled. "You sure she can handle everythin' with you gone?" She left to service an elderly man at the other end of the bar.

That's when it dawned on Wade. He really hadn't thought this through at all. With two fingers he dug out his phone from his right front pocket. After an incident with a disgruntled customer and an angry Wally, he always had it on silent mode when he was bartending. He had been bartending this morning and he had been too preoccupied by getting the hell out of there that his phone's call mode was the last thing on his mind.

Seventeen missed calls, most of them from Lemon, probably wondering where he was and why there were only small bills in the register. A few from Lavon, one from George, but none from Zoe. Of course, why would Zoe Hart of all people care where he was? The only person Zoe Hart cared about was Zoe Hart. And then him. It had always been him. Why had he called? To gloat?

Focusing his thoughts on Lemon once again, he began texting her. A phone call wasn't an option. He couldn't deal with a yelling Lemon right now. He knew he'd have to face the music when he returned, but right now, he had no clue when that was. All he knew was that he couldn't be in BlueBell right now.

Hey Lemon. Went fishing. Took the money for bait and beers. Sorry I didn't tell you. You can yell at me when I get home. Reception is crazy bad here so you probably can't reach me. Tell Lavon for me will ya. Thx.

He pressed send and turned the phone off. It wasn't exactly a lie but it wasn't the truth either. He did plan on doing some fishing, but he felt bad for leaving her to manage the bar on her own. He knew what he was doing was selfish, but dammit, he didn't care right now. All he cared about was to forget the last two days, heck the last two years.

"Is there a cheap motel or a campin' spot I can park my car in 'round here?" He showed his thin wallet to Shelley, who'd replaced his empty beer with a full one. "Kinda left in a hurry." He shrugged.

She studied him for a moment, pondering if should ask why. She decided against it. "You could stay with me."

He looked inquiringly. "You realize I have almost no money, so I can't pay you much."

"That's okay," she smiled. "There are other ways you can pay me." She winked and laughed.

"Shelley," he sighed heavily. He wasn't in the mood for games.

"I'm kidding, sorta. I could use your bartending skills. My boss is on vacation and left me in charge." Wade raised an eyebrow. "Hey, you're not the only one that knows how to run a bar!" She slapped his arm. "But it ain't no picnic handlin' this place on my own, so if you want, you could help me during peak hours, and I'll let you sleep on my couch."

He thought about it for a second. He could use the distraction and while he loved to fish, the many quiet hours alone on a lake would mean more time to think about everything and that wouldn't lead to anything good.

"It's a deal. When do I start?"

"Well, how about tomorrow? You ain't in any shape to be servicin' anyone today. Let me you get my spare key."

After a long shower and ingesting some leftovers from Shelley's fridge, Wade felt exhausted. He dropped onto the couch in Shelley's small apartment, closed his eyes and hoped the events of the previous days wouldn't haunt him in his sleep. He was wrong.

"Hey doc," his voice soft and a small smile on his face as she came to the door of the carriage house.

"What are you doing here?" she said annoyed, crossing her arms. Not a good sign he thought.

"I brought a bottle of wine." He held it up for her to see. "I thought maybe we could continue where we left off yesterday." He smiled nervously as the rain continued to soak his red plaid shirt.

"We had sex Wade. It didn't mean anything."

Did she really think he was just talking about sex? Perhaps last night was just sex, but he thought it meant more. She had come to him after all. "Maybe we could just hang out, talk."

"No! I don't want to talk. Go away." She was getting agitated.

"So yesterday was just a mistake huh? Just a romp in the sack with a familiar body?" He bit his lip, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Something like that. Wade please leave me alone okay?" Her voice a little softer now, almost pleading.

"It didn't feel like a mistake to me. I know I hurt you Zoe, but I want to be with you. I'll do anything. I have been wantin' to come over every night to beg for forgiveness. I just didn't think I'd a chance but after last night I thought maybe..." He paused.

"Well, you thought wrong!" The anger back in her voice.

He winced at her retort. "So you don't have feelin's for me anymore?" He felt physically ill asking her.

She snapped. "No I don't! I never have! Now leave me alone!" She slammed the door leaving Wade frozen in the pouring rain.