Author's Note: Last chapter of the night. Okay, so technically it is after midnight, so I posted the others yesterday, but still. I hope you enjoy, and since this is all I have so far, I could use any inspiration I can get. Therefore, if you feel tempted to review, do not fight that temptation. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I forgot to put a disclaimer. I do not own Hart of Dixie or any of the characters from the show. If I did, the Bluebell battle would have gone very differently. Probably not how you would think though. If you are curious, shoot me an email about it. I would love to share my thoughts on the subject. However, all in all, I think the writers do an excellent job. If they did not, I would not be suffering from withdrawal pains right now. Did you hear it does not come back until October. October! Fan-fiction is my solace. Again, read, please review, and I hope you enjoy. Have a nice day.

Chapter Three

The first thing Zoe noticed was the boy who was coming over. He was smiling, this huge, unbelievable smile, and for the first time in her life, Zoe felt a little bit weak in the knees. It was a strange feeling, and so unlike her, but she kind of liked it.

Next, she noticed that the girl from the principal's office, Lemon, was standing next to him. Their hands were locked. Zoe remembered what Lemon had said, "My boyfriend missed handing in a homework assignment because I was … well … distracting him." Of course this guy was taken. It would be too easy if he wasn't. It would mean the universe was actually cutting her a break, and clearly, that was not going to happen.

"Hey." Lemon spoke first, "Guess you found your way around, huh?"

Zoe nodded, "Yeah, well, it's a small campus."

"Right. Private school. Bet you had gargoyle statues and everything." Zoe attempted to smile, "Well, this is my boyfriend, George." Zoe attempted a second smile for him. He smiled and shook her hand. It was a good, firm handshake. It made Zoe swoon a little, though she thought she hid it well, "And I see you've already met Wade."

"Yeah, we-"

Zoe interrupted him, "We met just after he decided to draft me."

Wade looked at her, confused, and she prayed he would not say anything. She was not sure exactly why she did not want their first meeting to become public knowledge, but her instincts told her that the less these people knew about her, the better. Wade had seen her vulnerable. It was not a story she wanted told.

"Uh, yeah." Wade said after a minute, "Well, I figured nobody else is going to pick the new girl; thought I'd save you the embarrassment. Sorry I couldn't introduce myself out there, but you know, game goin' an' all."

Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. She had no clue why Wade was going along with her, but she was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"That's fine."

"Come on. Let's get goin'. Lunch is the only subject you want to be early to."

George chuckled at his girlfriends comment. He and Lemon walked off. Wade made to follow, but Zoe stilled his arm.

"Hey," she said in a whisper, "Thanks. For, you know, not saying anything."

"Sure." Wade said with a shrug, "Can I ask why, though? I mean, it's not as though we had sex or anything."

Zoe rolled her eyes, "I just," she paused, trying to find the right words, "I just don't want to be pitied."

Wade nodded, "I get that."

"You slowpokes comin'?" Lemon called from up ahead.

Lunch with Wade, Lemon, and George was fun. George was kind, considerate, compassionate, funny, and gentlemanlike. Zoe had to keep reminding herself he was taken. He and Lemon asked a lot about New York, and Zoe did her best to answer. Her throat was a little sore, but considering how little she had been using it lately and how much she was using it today, that was not surprising. She was determined that these people would not know the silent, sullen, orphaned Zoe.

Lemon seemed a little spoiled to her, but she this stubborn independent streak. She was something of a rebel, and Zoe felt a slight admiration for her. Wade was the only one she could not really figure out. For part of the lunch he was loud, joking with George about a bunch of inside things, part of it he spent flirting with the cheerleaders, and part he spent just watching her, George and Lemon talk. He looked almost like he was studying what was going on, analyzing it, and committing it to memory.

One part of the meal that stood out in her memory was when Lemon had been in the bathroom and George had gone to get napkins. Before he got up, he had told a hilarious joke and given Zoe that tingle-inducing smile. She could not help but watch him as he approached the condiments counter, until Wade leaned in close and said, "Think you're droolin' a bit there, Zoe." So turned her gaze to him, embarrassed. She wiped her mouth, but no drool came off on the napkin. Wade let out a chuckle and she gave him a scornful glare. "What?" he asked with a shrug, "Just thought you should know how obvious your leerin' is. Better watch out though," he said, leaning in again, "Lemon'll have you drawn and quartered." Then Lemon had come back, and shortly after George had. For the rest of the meal, whenever Zoe laughed at a joke George made, or returned a smile, Wade gave her a mischievous knowing look.

The rest of the day was pretty standard for a first day at a new school. Nobody knew about who Zoe really was or why she was in Bluebell. She just hoped that it stayed that way.