A/N: I have realized that I haven't thanked you for your nice reviews and I should so - thank you all for reviewing this and my other stories. It means a lot.
I would also like to say that this story is what I thought might happen back when I knew they were going to break up. I didn't like Wade as the only bad guy. I wanted both to be at fault and Zoe has a tendency to overthink/overreact and put her foot in her mouth. I promise that everything will be fine in the end, but there will be more angst before the payoff. Then the payoff will also be sweeter.
I know Wade should have spoken up and explained himself but at first he thought he might get the chance, but then the things Zoe said shocked him. She thought right away that he cheated and actually didn't give him a chance to defend himself. Also Wade does feel guilty for getting himself into the situation with Claudette.
I hope you enjoy this chapter aswell.
Disclaimer: I don't own HoD, but I wish I did.
Wade woke up alone, the memories from last night still vivid in his mind. The whole town must have heard by now. He felt like crap. Should he go and talk to Lavon? Maybe he hadn't heard yet and he would like his best friend on his side. No, of course he had heard by now, he was at the wedding, he thought to himself, and since he didn't come over last night after the wedding it meant he believed he did cheat on Zoe. Could this get any worse he thought as he got dressed? Then he remembered the church fundraiser. He really didn't feel like facing anyone right now, but if he just hid in his house everyone would think he really did cheat. It was an impossible situation. He walked to his door and saw Zoe leave her house and walk towards Lavon's. He definitely couldn't face those two right now, not in the same room anyway. He decided to head for the Diner on the road towards Mobile and eat there, away from all the judging looks.
...
The Rammer Jammer was filled with people setting up for the fundraiser. Wade walked in avoiding looking around to see the turned heads and headed straight for Lavon hoping to get a chance to talk with him.
"Where have you been, you're late?" Lavon said without looking at Wade. Ok, so Lavon knew and was mad at him, great, just great Wade thought.
"So... what are we doing here today?" Wade said hoping for something fun to keep his mind off his problems.
"I am a blackjack dealer as you can see by my outfit; you will be in charge of collecting entrance fees. You think you can manage that without screwing up?" Lavon said with a pointed look.
"Can't I be in charge of the craps table, you know I always loved to play Yahtzee when I was a kid," Wade said trying to lighten the mood with a joke.
"Babs Foster already called dibs on craps. She got a new craps stick," Lavon said firmly.
"Then I'll work the blackjack table," Wade suggested trying to get out of his assigned job involving greeting everyone coming to the fundraiser. That was the last thing he wanted to do today.
"I already said I'm workin' the blackjack table. And I'm the Mayor, I get to say."
"Fine, you got somethin' to keep me from dyin' of boredom while I collect old ladies' entrance fees?" Wade said getting a little annoyed with Lavon's attitude.
Lavon just handed Wade the metal lock box and said "The donations go in here. And if Old man Henderson wants in, pat him down for loaded dices."
Wade huffed and walk away hoping he would get a chance to talk to Lavon later to sort out the situation.
...
A few hours had passed and although Wade had gotten some looks, at least nobody had spoken to him, which in his situation, he was happy about. Then Frank came up to the table.
"That will be ten dollars, Frank."
"Sucking up to God won't make up for what you did to Zoe. God hates you," Frank said with the same look he had been getting all day.
Reverend Mayfair overheard and decided to help out since he knew Wade's side of the story. He hadn't told anyone about their talk before the wedding as that was between Wade and him. He did hope though, that Wade eventually would get over his insecurities and defend himself. Wade was a good man, The Reverend thought to himself before he spoke.
"No, no... Not true. God doesn't hate Wade. God loves everyone."
"Maybe officially, but you just know he has a list," Frank said trying to emphasize how much he disliked Wade and what he did.
Before the Reverend or Wade can say anything a young woman named Nessie spoke her mind too. "I have to agree. God hates cheaters. Why do you think my sister got the shingles last year?"
Wade had had enough of this rock throwing. He might have shown some poor lack of judgement leaving the bar with Claudette, but he didn't deserve this. "You know what? I think I need a little potty break. Excuse me," Wade said and put up a sign Back in 15 minutes and walked off leaving The Reverend, the two nosy townspeople and the box with the entrance fees behind.
...
Sergeant Jeffries walked away from the poker table having just stopped a fight between two players accusing each other of cheating. All that yelling had made him dizzy and he decided to break for lunch. He spotted what he thought was his lunch box, grabbed it and headed outside to his car. He had a spot at a nearby lake in mind for his lunch break; a place where no one could bother him while he enjoyed his meal.
...
George had overheard the conversation at the fundraiser and quickly realized that Wade hadn't talked to Zoe and that Lavon didn't know the truth either. He decided if Wade couldn't stand up for himself, he would and walked to Zoe and Bricks' practice where he found Zoe sitting at her desk. Someone had to stop this madness before it reached the point of no return. He knocked on the door to Zoe's office.
"Zoe, we need to talk."
"I am kind of busy George," Zoe said shoveling some paperwork around on her desk.
"Yeah, I can see that," George said sarcastically "but this is important."
"Okay, what is it George?" Zoe sighed and looked at him.
"Have you talked to Wade about what happened after the Battle of the Bands?" He knew it was a rhetorical question but didn't know how else to begin.
"Oh, believe me I talked to Wade, that cheating bastard," Zoe said angrily.
"Did he tell you his version of the story?" Zoe rolled his eyes.
"What version is that? The version where he accidentally fell into bed with another woman or the version where he did her on the hood of his car?!" Zoe answered even more upset than before. She had heard a lot of different versions of the story from her patients all day.
"Hmm, I can see you are upset, but I talked to Wade yesterday and he swore that nothing happened."
"Of course he would say that, he.." George cut her off.
"And I believe him." Zoe raised an eyebrow.
"I also called and talked to Claudette. That's the girl he left the bar with, and she told me she kissed him but he pulled away, saying he was in a relationship with a girl he really liked," Zoe gasped feeling her lunch about to surface. She looked frantically around the room.
"I.. I.. I need to go George.. I need to talk to Wade" Zoe grabbed her purse and headed for the door,
"Rose, I am leaving for the day" Zoe shouted just before the door slammed behind her.
...
Wade returned to the fundraiser only to find the metal box containing the money for the church missing. He looked everywhere; behind the bar counter, under the tables and in the back office. He finally gave up and looked over at the blackjack table where Lavon was acting like he was in a real Las Vegas casino with his vest and cap. He knew he had to tell him about the box. Could this day get any worse Wade thought to himself as he approached Lavon.
"Hey Lavon, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"I am kind of busy here, Wade," Lavon said turning his focus back to the cards on the table.
"I know; it is about the money for the fundraiser," Wade almost whispered. He didn't need the whole town to know about this too.
"What about them," Lavon asked, but Wade just motioned with his head that he wanted to talk in private.
"Fine.. Gentlemen, Lavon Hayes will be back shortly." He got up and looked at the men at the table "Don't get any funny ideas; remember this is for the church."
Wade and Lavon took a few steps away from the crowd. Lavon looked at Wade with his arms crossed.
"I kinda lost the money.. or I mean... I can't find the box containing the money," Wade looked at Lavon anticipating the worst.
"You.. you lost the money? This is a church fundraiser. Those were the raised funds," Lavon said loudly.
"Geez, take it down a notch" Wade said afraid everyone was going to hear their conversation.
"No, I've held my tongue. When are you gonna stop trying to prove that all you can do was disappoint people?. We believe you. You can stop."
Beat, hurt and mad, Wade walked away, blowing past Reverend Mayfair and out of the Rammer Jammer.
"Wade... Mayor Hayes? Everything okay?" The Reverend said.
"Yeah, just some unexpected bumps." Lavon sighed.
"Tell me about it. I just found Sergeant Jeffries with this," The Reverend said handing Lavon the lock box. "Apparently he thought it was his lunch box. I don't think it took anything from the miracle of God's creatures to say that some of them are just plain nuts."
Reverend Mayfair patted Lavon on the shoulder and walked past him. Lavon got a distraught look on his face and walked with haste towards the exit, determined to find Wade.
...
Wade was kicking rocks and swearing as he walked to his car. How the hell did his life get turned upside down in just a matter of days? It felt like the whole town was against him. He got angrier and angrier by each step. He was angry at the town, angry at Zoe and Lavon that was supposed to be on his side but mostly he was angry at himself. Why was it so hard for him to just stand up for himself and tell his side of the story? He reached his car when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. He turned around finding Lavon looking at him with an apologetic look on his face.
...
Zoe walked with hastened steps towards the Rammer Jammer. She felt horrible and was going over the words she yelled at Wade last night in her head. That didn't help at all; it only made her feel even worse. She picked up the pace when she saw Lavon approaching Wade and Wade turn to talk. She ducked behind a tree and listened.
...
"Hey Wade, we found the lock box, it seems Sergeant Jeffries mistook it for his lunch box. I am sorry man, I am sorry for yelling at you back there."
All the anger that had been building up inside, came to the surface and Wade couldn't hold it back any longer. "And that is suppose to make everything alright," he paused. "I expected this much from the gossip happy and judgemental people in this town, but not from Zoe and especially not from you Lavon. Wade must have taken the money and Wade must have cheated on Zoe, because that's who Wade is, the womanizing screw up he had always been. Things never changes around here and I am sick of it!"
"So.. so you didn't cheat on Zoe?" Lavon said confused.
"No, of course I didn't! I would never do anything to hurt Zoe. Claudette kissed me and I pushed her away, nothing happened. It might have been wrong of me to have Claudette give me a ride home and perhaps I should have suspected her intentions were less than honourable but that is all I am guilty of. Now if you will excuse me, I am gonna get in my car and go home and don't bother me again." Wade had said his peace; now he just wanted to get the hell out of there.
He turned around and saw Zoe who had come out from her hiding place. "And that goes double for you, Doctor Hart." Wade said, pointing a finger at her. He then got into his car and drove off.
Several seconds went by and Zoe just stood there with a shocked and distraught look on her face.
"We messed up Z," Lavon said, breaking the silence.
"I know, I just talked to George and he told me what really happened. I feel horrible, but why wouldn't Wade tell me that nothing happened?" She looked at Lavon for answers.
"I don't know Z, did you give him a chance to explain?" he gave her a pointed look.
"Well I.." She paused ".. I guess not," Zoe looked at her feet. "How do we fix this Lavon?"
"I am not entirely sure, but I know we need to talk to him and apologize." Zoe nodded.
"Let me talk to him first and get the brunt of his anger," Lavon said walking into the Rammer Jammer to excuse himself from the event. He came out moments later and drove them both to the plantation.
...
Lavon approached the gatehouse, the lights were on and Wade's car was there, so he had to be home. He walked up to the door and saw Wade sitting on the couch inside fiddling with his guitar with one hand and a beer in the other. There were already a few empty bottles on the table.
"Wade, can we talk?" Lavon asked.
"Go away Lavon," Wade yelled from the couch.
Lavon opened the door and walked in. Wade saw and rolled his eyes. He made a mental note to get some locks for his door from the hardware shop the next day.
"What part of go away didn't you understand," Wade said angrily.
"Wade," Lavon started. "I am so sorry for doubting you about everything. I know you are a good guy, but when I heard about Claudette from Zoe, I believed her, I had no reason not to at the time. Why didn't you didn't you just tell the truth?"
"I thought it was a waste of energy. Who is going to believe me over Zoe?"
"But why didn't you explain it to Zoe?"
"Didn't get a chance. From the moment she started yelling to the moment she stormed into the church again I couldn't get a word in and I just thought.." he paused.
"Yeah she can be a bit overwhelming at times." Lavon said with a little laugh trying to lighten the mood. "So friends again?" Lavon asked with anticipation.
"Yeah, but you owe me big-time and don't think I won't collect" Wade said with a smirk. Lavon laughed; glad to have his friend back.
"Now about Zoe," he looked at Wade. Lavon knew how strong Wade's feelings for her were. He also knew Zoe had a tendency to overreact and Wade to just run and hide. He hoped the insecurities of theirs weren't going to break them up for good.
"What about Zoe?" Wade said indifferently. Ever since they fought in front of the church and he didn't defend himself, he had been thinking about what to say to her once he got the chance. Problem was he still didn't quite know. He had tried so hard to grow up and be a better man for her, and it was like she hadn't noticed at all.
"She knows the truth about what happened and she feels horrible. She is at her house waiting for her chance to talk to you. I hope you will hear her out Wade," Lavon said. "You both deserve that."
Lavon got up from the couch and started to walk away. Wade got a determined look on his face, got up and walked after Lavon. He caught up with his friend on the porch.
"You know what Lavon, I think I am going to go over and talk to her instead," Wade said and gave Lavon a look he couldn't decipher. He wasn't sure what Wade was up to, but he was sure he'd hear about it in the morning. He walked back to his house.
...
Wade walked with determined steps towards Zoe's house and knocked on the door. Zoe came to the door with a shy look on her face. She opened her mouth to speak and tried to open door but Wade cut her off before she could say anything and held the door closed. He couldn't have her close to him right now.
"I don't want to hear what you have to say, Doc," he began. Zoe's face turned pale and her heart was in her throat.
"But.. but..," She was startled by the icy tone of his voice.
"Dammit Zoe, I said, I didn't want to hear it," he said this time with anger in this voice. He ran his fingers through his hair to calm him down. Damn this was maybe the hardest thing he had to say in his life.
"You hurt me Zoe, more than..." He paused trying to find the words. "After all that has happened, after all we have been through, you still think of me as the Neanderthal, immature screw-up that blew your fuse on your first day here. I thought you saw me differently now. I thought you trusted me and apparently I was wrong. Meanwhile you haven't changed at all. I know that now and I can't do this anymore," he paused and looked into her eyes. "Goodbye Zoe." With that he took his hand off the doorknob and walked away.
Zoe, too stunned to move a muscle, finally opened her mouth. "Wade!" she yelled. She wanted to run after him but wasn't sure what to say. Was he right? Had he changed and she hadn't? She yelled after him again, but he didn't turn around. She struggled fighting back the tears as she watched him return to his house and close the door behind him. She turned around, walked back into her house and picked up Wade's shirt that she wore in his bed mere days ago when everything was as it should be... when they were happy. As she sat down on her bed and clung to his shirt, she couldn't fight back the tears any longer.
Post A/N: So to mirror Redhawk, plz don't hate me hehe. I promise Everything Will Be Fine in the end. :)