This picks up after Wade leaves Zoe's place and what I hope would happen to get them back to a place where they could be together. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Hart of Dixie characters, I'm just trying to get some of them to behave better.
The minute he walked out of the carriage house, he knew he'd screwed up, but he was taken off guard. After all the pranking, he couldn't switch gears. But he had taken it too far and, now, he couldn't take it back. He pulled his hand through his hair and shook his head. He watched through the window as Zoe stood, almost frozen, in the same place. He should go back and apologize, but he heard Joelle calling for him. He looked at the hundred dollars in his hand and headed back to his place. He'd make things right with Zoe tomorrow, he thought.
She stood there replaying the scene over and over in her head. She knew she handled it all wrong. She was no full of herself in the way she broached it that she all but ensured he'd deny it. She just couldn't get over the sting of his words and him waving the money in front of her. Money he was going to spend on Joelle.
She looked back at Rose and then around the carriage house. Who was she kidding? No matter how nonchalant she acted, she couldn't hide her hurt that the town had bet against her. And Wade, not only was part of it, but rubbed her face in it. She started pulling out her suitcases and putting her things from the carriage house in them. Once she finished she put them by the door and then went to sleep on the couch. When she pulled the blanket over her she found it still smelled like him. She could feel the tears and squeezed her eyes shut to will them away.
She woke early when Rose shook her. "What are those suitcases for?"
The look on the young girl's face was angry and sad in one. Zoe sat up and patted the seat next to her. "I'm not leaving Bluebell, yet. I'm just going to move into Harley's place above the practice for the time being." Zoe looked towards Wade's place before finishing. "I think it would be better I don't live here."
Rose looked at her and knew something must have happened after she fell asleep. She looked Zoe in the eye. "What happened? And don't tell me, nothin'."
Zoe explained what had happened to Rose. After Zoe finished, Rose narrowed her eyes. "That low down, immature creep. And to think I was rootin' for him."
"Yeah, he's a jerk but I wished I'd handled it better too." Zoe sighed and then stood up. "It doesn't matter now. I'm going to head up to Lavon's and talk to him about moving out. Maybe he can give me a ride into town with my bags."
Rose stood up and gave Zoe a hug before heading towards the door. "I'll leave you to it. I'll call you later." She stopped before she left. "Hey Zoe, thanks for taking care of me last night. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you though."
Zoe smiled at the girl and waved her off. "No need to thank me – that's what friends do. And don't worry about me. I'm fine."
Rose walked out. She looked over at Wade's place and shook his head. "Idiot," she mumbled.
Lavon convinced Zoe to wait on bringing her bags to the office until later. Bluebell was already aflutter with the news of her break up with Judson. No need to add anything to the grist mill. After he pulled everything out of her about Wade he offered to give her a ride to the office, but she wanted to walk and clear her head.
When she came into the office Addie was at the reception. "'Morning Addie, is Brick in yet?"
Addie looked up and couldn't notice that Zoe didn't seem like herself. Probably just the Judson situation, she thought.
"Yeah, he's in his office."
Zoe walked towards Brick's office and smiled weakly at Addie as she passed. "Thanks."
She knocked on Brick's office door and waited for him to say, "Come in."
When she opened the door, Brick looked at her. He really didn't want to deal with Dr. Zoe Hart this morning after the night he'd had. "Well Dr. Hart what can I do you for this mornin'?"
"'Morning Brick, I want to move into Harley's place upstairs. I just wanted to check in with you before I did."
Brick was puzzled. Something about her seemed off. She wasn't full of piss and vinegar like she usually was. Hell, she was checking in with him before she moved into her father's place upstairs as if he could object.
"Everything okay over at the Mayor's place? Why the sudden move?" He couldn't help but be curious.
"Oh yeah, Lavon's great. I just want to be closer to the practice. I don't have a car and I think it will be easier."
Brick didn't buy it, but wasn't going to push. "No problem here."
She looked relieved. "Great. Lavon said he'd bring my things over later after we close up." Then she looked at Brick and noticed he looked really tired – like he hadn't had any sleep. "Hey Brick, you okay?"
Brick was a little startled by the question. "Uh, yeah I'm fine. Just a little tired. I may head home early today."
Zoe nodded at him. "Sure. If you need anything, let me know."
With that she left his office and Brick stared at the door. "Who the hell was that and what did they do to Zoe Hart?"
Wade walked out his door and looked at the carriage house. He had sent Joelle home after he left Zoe's last night. After what happened, he found he wasn't really interested in Joelle and wanted to be alone. He sucked in a deep breath and planned how he'd make things right with Zoe. He made his way over to her door but noticed it was dark inside. He looked in through the window and saw the suitcases by the door. "Awww, Damn!"
Wade blew into Lavon's kitchen like a tornado. "Lavon!" he yelled.
"In here." He heard Lavon's voice call from the other room.
Wade blew into the TV room, not losing any steam. "Where's Zoe? I saw the suitcases. Where is she going?"
Lavon put down the joy stick for the X-Box and looked up - shaking his head at Wade. "I think you best stay away from Zoe Hart, Wade. You can't help but screw things up where she's concerned."
Wade looked at Lavon, but dropped his eyes. "She's leavin'. Ain't she?"
Lavon took in Wade – he was on the verge of pathetic. "She ain't leavin' Bluebell yet. She's moving to Harley's place over the practice, but I get the feelings she's two steps away from high tailing it out of here. Largely thanks to you. How could you do that Wade? Rubbin' the town pool in her face. Makin' a joke of having any feelings for her."
Wade kept his eyes on the floor and shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno. She came at me and said I should admit I liked her, but didn't give nothin' away on her end. It took me off guard."
Lavon shook his head at him again. "I told you to have the sense to tell her how you feel and the only thing keepin' you from bein' with Zoe Hart was you. Well she put it out there on a patter for you and you gotta go and be bad. Except this time you didn't just pull her pig tails, you spit in her eye."
Wade looked at him then. "Look Lavon, you weren't there. She ain't perfect neither."
"Yeah, she may have put it wrong, but don't worry. You more than knocked her down a peg or two." Lavon responded.
Wade winced.
Lavon felt sympathy for Wade, in the way you do for someone who shoots themselves in the foot. He stood up and patted Wade's shoulder as he walked out. "Just leave her alone right now. It's like my momma always says, 'If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all.'"
Wade thought about what Lavon said. He had to go see Zoe and fix things.
Wade stood in front of the doctors' office and took a deep breath before he opened the door. He stepped over the threshold and walked towards Addie.
"Hey Wade. What can I do for ya today?" she called to him.
Wade smoothed the front of his white shirt nervously. "Uh, I was looking for Dr. Hart."
Addie eyed him curiously. Then Zoe came out of the exam room with young Caleb Foster and his mom. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Wade. She pulled herself together quickly but Addie caught the look on her face.
Zoe quickly looked away from Wade and finished with her young patient. He waited until she finished and then walked towards her.
"Um Doc, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute."
Zoe didn't look at him. "I can't Wade."
She turned and walked back into her office.
Addie took in everything and looked at Wade. "You damn fool. What did you do? Are you the reason she has been walking around here all day like someone ran over dog?" Addie paused and put the pieces together. "Of course you are. She and Judson broke up and now she's out the mayor's carriage house, which is next door to you. I should have known. Nothin' changes but the date with you."
Brick had just come out of his office and heard Addie. Wade looked at both of them and turned to leave.
Addie's eyes shot daggers at him as he left. Brick looked at Addie. "What's goin' on?"
"I think I know what's wrong with Dr. Hart." She said as she walked to Zoe's office and knocked.
Brick nodded slowly as he caught up on what happened. He suddenly felt sympathy for Zoe. He knew how it felt to get kicked in the gut by love. "I'm heading out Addie, but tell Zoe to holler if she needs any help movin'."
Wade walked into the Rammer Jammer, yanking off the new white button down shirt so he was in his typical T-shirt. He saw Joelle talking to Shelly at the bar. Aww, man. Not now.
"Hey baby, I was just checkin' to see if you were feelin' better." Joelle said as she came over to him and put her arms around him.
Wade backed away from her. "Hey Joelle, yeah I'm feelin' better, but I gotta get in back. Runnin' late."
Joelle looked at Shelly who just shrugged her shoulders. She grabbed her purse and told Shelly, "Well, tell Wade I'll call him later."
"Will do." Shelly said.
As soon as Joelle left, Shelly followed after Wade. Something was up with him this morning. She wondered if it was the news of Zoe and Judson breaking up. But Wade just kept avoiding any conversation with her beyond what needed to be ordered and who's table needed service.
George came in later in the afternoon looking wiped himself. He sat at the bar and Wade brought him a beer. "Thanks. I sure need that." He said tilting his glass to Wade as if to toast.
"Yeah, what's up with you?" Wade was happy to have someone else's problems to talk about for a moment.
"Aw just some stuff with Lemon. Wedding planning." George didn't think Lemon would want him telling Wade about her Mom.
Wade nodded. "Yeah, well you two are lucky you got each other. Don't forget that."
George looked at Wade curiously. "Huh, no ball-and-chain comments, been with the same girl forever jokes. You alright?"
Wade nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'm alright."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I've just been thinkin' maybe I need to get a little more serious is all."
"Where's this comin' from?" he asked Wade.
Just after George asked the question, Judson came in the door and walked towards Wade.
"Aww no." Wade mumbled under his breath.
Shelly walked by them and gave George a look.
"Hey George. Hey Wade, you got a minute?" Judson said as he approached the two of them.
George nodded at Judson and then looked at Wade.
Wade nodded. "Uh yeah, let's grab a table."
George and Shelly watched as the two of them took a table close to the wall.
"What can I do you for?" Wade asked, trying to be nonchalant.
"You probably heard that Zoe and I broke up." Judson said.
"Uh, yeah I did. Sorry things didn't work out." Wade wondered where this was heading.
"You sure about that?" Judson asked. "'Cause the reason I was here was to let you know I'm bowin' out."
"What ya' talkin' about Doc?" Wade asked.
Judson looked confused. "It was pretty obvious you two have a thing for each other. I told Zoe that last night when I ended things. I'm not gonna play a game I can't win."
"Huh, you told Zoe that?" Wade asked before he realized what was coming out of his mouth.
Judson stood up and smiled at Wade. "Yeah, I did. I just hope she's not another one of your flings. She's deserves better than that."
And with that Judson walked out. Wade sat at the table and resisted the urge to slam his head against the table. He was an idiot.
George watched Wade when Lavon and Brick walked in the door. Lavon looked at Wade and shook his head. Brick gave him a look that said you're a jackass. Wade sucked in a deep breath. Damn small town.
There wasn't much stuff to move, but Zoe was surprised to find Lavon, Addie, and even Brick helping her to settle in Harley's old apartment. Addie worked with Zoe to get Harley clothes bagged up and make room for Zoe's things. Brick and Lavon brought the bags down stairs to donate to the church and brought Zoe's things up. With the help, Zoe had herself settled into her new place in no time at all. After Addie and Brick left, Lavon stayed behind to keep Zoe company on her first night in her new place.
"Well it sure is gonna be strange not have you poppin' up in the kitchen in the morning." Lavon slid on to the lumpy couch.
"You can come over here for breakfast." Zoe offered.
"So you're not gonna come out to the plantation no more, huh." Lavon said
Zoe scrunched her nose. "I'd prefer to avoid a possible Wade run-in. He came by the office today."
Lavon was surprised. "He did. What did he say?"
Zoe shrugged. "He asked to talk to me. I just couldn't."
"Well you're gonna to see him at some point. This is Bluebell." Lavon said
"I know I will Lavon. But this whole Wade – Judson thing is just another example of me thinking of what I should want and ignoring my feelings. It's like being a cardiothoracic surgeon, my last boyfriend. My whole life I have done what I thought I was supposed to do." She sat next Lavon then. "Remember you told me that if I ever let myself really go, I might fly. Well, here I am again – not flying. More like crashing and burning." She looked at her hands.
Lavon put his hand on her shoulder and turned her towards him. "So what are you gonna do?"
Zoe took a deep breath. "I came to Bluebell and said I'd be here a year. Well, I've got eight more months and I think I am going to take some time to figure out who I am, not who I'm trying to be."
Lavon smiled and nodded. He let go of her shoulders and leaned back onto the couch.
"You know, what Wade said really hurt. But if I hadn't acted so full of myself when I asked him, maybe he wouldn't have been such a jerk. That doesn't mean what he did wasn't totally awful - especially since I thought he was at least a friend."
"Yeah, well he's gotten an earful from me on that. And I heard from a few other people too." Lavon said.
Zoe smiled for the first time. "You're a good friend Lavon Hayes."
He put his arm around her. "And you know, I think you may have a few more friends than you thought."