The Night Things Changed

I watched him run to his house from the back of Sheriff Bill's squad car. He pulled his shirt up over his head in an attempt to get dry before he turned around and looked at me. We made eye contact and I felt myself smile. He gave me a small smile in return before retreating inside his house. I faced forward and counted down the seconds until Bill pulled up in front of the carriage house and I would no longer be stuck in these wet clothes with my hair all frizzy. I thanked him for rescuing us and for supplying our ride back into town before darting into the house. I waved back at him as a way of saying that he was okay to leave. He pulled away and I turned to the Gatehouse. His lights were on, he was getting ready for the wedding, I presume. I let a small smile creep up my face before finally seeking refuge under my roof.

I showered, but all I could think about was Wade. Today was the first serious conversation Wade and I ever had, it seemed. He had been so honest with me, and that was a turn on, I had to admit. I got out of the shower and pulled on my fluffy robe. I dried my hair and peeked out the window at the storm. I looked outside to check the weather, but subconscious allowed my eyes to wander to Wade's.

An idea popped into my head and I turned on my new espresso machine. I waited the few seconds until I heard the pop and sizzle of the fuse box. I watched out my window as I saw his lights flick off. The next two minutes I prepared quickly for my rash, last minute decision. I fluffed my hair up and put on a thin coat of lip gloss. Then I heard the inevitable knock on my door and looked up to see him, standing in the rain, dressed in his suit, staring at me through the screen door. I stared back for a second before he took the initiative and pulled the door open and walked over to me slowly. His eyes were soft, but had a flicker of daredevil in them. He confidently put his lips on mine and pushed me up against the wall. He pulled away slightly, only to attack me with his tongue seconds later. The rain poured down on the roof, making a white noise in the background.

I took a deep breath, looking up into his eyes. Then I bit my bottom lip and led him into my bedroom.

I woke up next to a naked Wade the next morning and was mentally cursing myself. Why did I do that? That only complicates my life even more than it already was. I mean, of course I had felt something last night with Wade, but now he was probably going to read into this, and think that I liked him and wanted to have a relationship, which in fact was the opposite of what I wanted. I didn't even know what I wanted anymore. Wade was such a player and we didn't normally go for girls like me, and I didn't normally go for guys like him. I quietly tiptoed out of bed and quietly shut the door behind me, grabbing my clothes on the way out. I slipped them on and went over to the main house.

"Lavon, wake up. Come on! I need you now more than ever! Get up!" I groaned as I poked him in the sides.

"What could possibly be so important that you are at my bedside at seven in the morning on a Sunday?" Lavon asked without even opening his eyes.

"I need your advice."

"There's a big surprise." He said sarcastically, obviously not in the mood to chat.

"Lavon, this is important." I whined, hoping he would observe the urgency in my tone.

"Alright, I'm up. What is it?" He asked, finally opening his eyes and sitting up.

"I slept with Wade last night."

"My boy. Good for him." Lavon smiled, which only made me more angry.

"Lavon, this is no joking matter. This is serious. What do I do?" I asked, sitting next to him on his bed.

"Well, if you really want my advice, I'd say that you should give Wade a shot. George called off his wedding last night, but he didn't go get you; he ran off. Who knows when George will be back, but Wade is here now, and I think he deserves a chance." Lavon said. I nodded, and for once, I think I was going to take his advice. I was wasting my time waiting for George to pick me over Lemon and I wasn't going to be someone's doormat anymore. I stood up and abruptly left the main house and made my way back to the carriage house, only to find Wade awake and dressed, on his way out.

"Trying to sneak out?" I asked him when we came face to face.

"I was going to, but it looks like you beat me to it." He said in his southern accent that made me melt on the inside, though I would never admit it to him.

"Hey Wade, can we talk about last night?" I said confidently, knowing it was now or never.

"Doc, there isn't much to talk about. I think we're on the same page here, right? It was a one-time thing. You don't need to give me any excuses." He smiled and my smile faded when he said that.

"Oh, yeah, right. A one-time thing." I nodded. I guess he really was over me like he tried to convince me in the barn yesterday.

"I'll see you around Doc." He said slowly before walking down the steps of the front porch and trekking back to his house. I put my bottom lip between my teeth and bit down hard. I hadn't realized what I was doing until I could taste blood.

I shook my head, rolled my eyes, and made my way back into my house. So much for giving things between us a shot.

2 months later…

"I'm starting to think that you hang around here just because you're ready for round two." Wade chuckled as he placed a wine glass in front of me.

"Don't flatter yourself." I rolled my eyes, smirked, and took my wine glass over to a table that Rose had saved for us. Things between Wade and I weren't awkward, which was nice, but that didn't keep him from teasing me about that night. Lavon had been disappointed that nothing had become of Wade and myself, but it was nice to just spend time on myself, and my friends, and not have to worry about impressing anyone.

"So Rose, fill me in. What's the latest drama?" I said taking a sip of my wine. After the first few sips though, I didn't feel great. I pushed the wine further away from me, and tried to listen to Rose and block out the onset of nausea that had come over me suddenly. I resorted to breathing through only my mouth, but that didn't work for long. I made a hand gesture to Rose and sprinted outside. I could hear her calling my name, but I knew I would much rather puke outside than inside in front of everyone, including Wade.

I made it to the outskirts of the parking lot when I finally bent over and released the contents of my stomach onto the ground. I crouched down, trying to hold my hair out of my face.

"Geez Doc, you really are just so classy. If you wanted to have another go at this, you didn't have to come out here and impress me like that." I heard his voice, but I wasn't in a state to answer. I had just caught my breath only to feel the bile rising in my throat again. I could hear footsteps behind me, but paid no attention to them. I knew it was him when his warm, rough hands touched my back gently. His smell surrounded me, and it was still undetermined if that was a good thing or bad.

"Hey, let's get you home, okay?" His voice was now soft and comforting, with a hint of concern. I nodded and he led me to his car. I fell gently into the passenger seat and he mumbled something I didn't quite understand and left. I shut my eyes again as the ache in my stomach subsided for now, but an ache in my head replaced it. I put my hand to my head and tried not to think about this sudden illness or the embarrassment I had just caused myself.

Wade finally joined me in the car and put the keys into the ignition. We didn't speak on the way home, and I was glad for it. I think he sensed that I wasn't in the mood for any of his lame jokes, so he kept his mouth shut.

We pulled into the plantation and finally my house. I stumbled out the door and thanked him, only to sense his presence following me up the steps to my door.

"I'm fine, really Wade. Thanks." I said, opening the door.

"Let me jus help you to bed. I'd feel a lot better if I knew you actually made it to the bed and didn't pass out on the floor or something." He said timidly. I didn't object and went to my room to put on pajamas. He came in when I was almost done and I instinctively covered myself up.

"Ain't nothing I haven't seen before Doc, relax." He said putting a bottle of water on the nightstand as I finished pulling a t-shirt over my head. I climbed into bed after swallowing the aspirin I had in my hand. He stood awkwardly in the doorway.

"Well, I hope you feel better Doc. Come get me if you need anything." He whispered and turned the light out. It was only a matter of seconds after that that I fell asleep.