Author's Note: I was worried it had been a really long while like with some of my other stories, but it actually hasn't been that long. I mean, it wasn't recent, but it hasn't been that long. Unfortunately, this chapter is not that long either, and neither is the following one. Still, I hope you enjoy it.

To Those Who Reviewed:

Sarah,

Welcome to the Fandom then.

That's very nice of you to say. Thank you.

Here is the update.

Thank you for reviewing.

Guest from March 4 2015,

Thank you. That is very sweet of you. Here is the more.

Thank you for reviewing.

Matlyne,

Thank you. I do not really know what Nicholas Cage as to do with anything, but I appreciate the enthusiasm.

Thank you for reviewing.

Luke,

Thank you. That is very flattering. I am glad you like it.

I actually considered doing that for this chapter, but I picked this order to start with, and I feel like it would balance out weird if I started switching it around. I'm not sure if that makes sense.

Well, here is the update. I hope you enjoy it.

Nicole,

That's nice. It's fun when people read it all at once.

I am glad you enjoyed it. That is very flattering, thank you. I kind of am too. I mean, he is in a band in the show, but they don't do much with that fanfiction-wise.

Thank you. I was a little nervous starting out, but I just loved Flipped, and I really wanted to try my hand at it. Plus I wanted to try something new, experiment with different styles and whatnot.

I really like those chapters too. There's more going on with Zoe and Wade than just each other, which is always fun. Can't say there's as much of that in this chapter, but hopefully it is still enjoyable.

The different in their financial status is sort of addressed in the show, but it would definitely be a bigger deal at that age, what with them both being dependant's still, and with Zoe being so sheltered. He is definitely proud, and probably always was, and I figure she probably would have been naïve, at least in that regard.

I have plans for the directions it will go in, because this is a two part story, and part one needs to go a certain way or else part two doesn't work. I like that you are speculating.

It is a funny thought, because Wade's usually the pessimistic one.

That's a shame, but I guess people are probably more interested in Zoe and Wade than original characters, and I did ask, so, what can you do?

Thank you. As I'm sure you've noticed, I have been updating.

Thank you for reviewing.

MP,

I am glad you really like the style and find the plot original. That's what I was going for.

Here is the update.

Thank you for reviewing.

Kwack,

That is very sweet. Thank you.

I updated Dearly Beloved recently, and Second Chances is finished. I appreciate your enthusiasm.

It kind of calls for it.

Thank you for reviewing.

Chapter Seven

Fresh Air

Zoe's POV

I'm not really sure how to feel about my little run-in with Wade, I mean, on the one hand, he was sort of a jerk. But after that he apologized, and he was sweet, and charming, and funny. And it's not like I have any real reason to be mad at him. Not that that stopped him from being mad at me. Him being the bigger man and apologizing to Roy is sweet; he did not seem like the type of guy who would do that. I may not know him well, but after our talk about how much money he has, I get the feeling that pride is a big issue with him. It's nice of him to offer to apologize. Does the fact that he's letting it go and being nice to Roy mean he's just a sweet guy, or does it mean he's not interested anymore? I mean, you'd think if he was interested, he wouldn't go so far as to apologize to my date. That is, unless he's trying to score points. Thinking about it makes my head hurt, so I just head back over to Roy.

What I see shocks me. Roy is talking to my mom. That is the last thing I need right now. He looks uncomfortable, and I don't blame him. Nobody's ever really comfortable around Candice Hart. I know I never am. I wish my dad were here. He always made these parties more bearable.

"Hi." I say cautiously as I approach them.

"Sweetheart. I was just getting to know your young man here." She says to me sweetly. "I can certainly see the appeal." She jokes in a way a mother should never joke with her daughter.

"Oh yeah?" I ask, embarrassed.

"That hair of his would be just perfect for a shampoo commercial."

"Thank you Mrs. Hart." Roy says politely. She nods.

"I'm going to go get more champagne. You kids have fun."

I watch her walk off, stumbling slightly. I can't help but wonder how much she's had.

"Sorry about her." I say to Roy.

He shrugs, "She's not so bad. All parents are embarrassing." I shoot him a grateful smile, "So, do you think I should be in a shampoo commercial?" He asks jokingly.

I shake my head, "Actor's are lame. You should be something with substance."

He laughs, "I'll think about that. Join me on the dance floor?" I nod, and he grabs my hand. It's nice. He's fun to dance with.

My eyes land on Wade for a second, but he's not looking at me. I turn back to Roy. "So, before my mom tried to recruit you, what were your career aspirations?" I asked, partially because I'm curious, and partially because I'm looking for a conversation topic.

He shrugged, "Dad wants me to run the store for him once he's gone."

"But you don't?" I asked, noting his tone.

"Very perceptive." He said, smiling down at me, his dreamy eyes meeting mine, "I mean, it's not a horrible way to live or anything, but it's just not what I want. I want … I don't know, more, I guess."

I nod, "You'll figure it out."

"So, how about you? You're mom try talking you into modeling?"

I laugh at that, "On more occasions than you can imagine," I say, "But that's not me."

"Why not? You're gorgeous."

I can't help but blush. I mean, who could, right? "Thanks. And it's not about that really. I just … it's so superficial, ya know? Plus, my interests lie elsewhere."

"And where's elsewhere."

"Science. Medicine. I'm going to be a doctor like my dad."

He nods, "That's cool. Doctor's are pretty great. They save lives and stuff." I smile, it's a simple answer, but a nice one, and he's not wrong. "So, where is he?"

"Who?"

"You're dad? Is he here?" He starts looking around, which doesn't exactly make sense, because it's not like he knows what dad looks like, but still.

"No, he's … he's got some big surgery." Probably. He usually has some big surgery. Not that he would be here anyway. This is mom's thing, and sure, sometimes they pretend to still like each other at parties with mutual friends who do not know that they are separated, but this is not that kind of party. This is a work party, and mom can handle it fine on her own. Plus, this way, she can flirt shamelessly. She used to do that sometimes when dad was here too, but at least she was subtler about it. I get that's its business, but it seems pretty gross to me.

"Zoe?" I look up. I guess he was talking, but I missed it. I hate when I get spacey. It's so embarrassing.

"Sorry, what?"

"I asked what kind of doctor he was."

"Oh, um, surgeon."

"Should I assume you plan to be the same-"

"Can I cut in?" I hear Wade say. I didn't notice him coming up, but there he is. He looks a little off though. I wonder what that's about.

Roy looks at me, "Oh, um, maybe the next one." I say. I wouldn't mind dancing with Wade, of course, but it seems rude to leave the guy I came with to dance with someone else before the song is even over.

"Whatever." He says. Then he starts to stumble off somewhere.

Roy and I watch him go, "Looks like somebody's had a little too much to drink." Roy says.

"You think?" I examine Wade again. He's trying to make his way back to his band, or the guys that I assume are his band anyway. It's a little painful to watch. I'm thinking Roy may be right. Wade seems a little drunk now that I'm looking for it. Maybe I should help him. I mean, I know it's not my responsibility or anything, but I figure he's probably here, at least in part, to get a record deal, and stumbling around like a drunken moron won't help his case much. "Excuse me." I say. Roy nods, and I start after Wade.

He's staring at one of the soda fountains, seemingly fascinated by it.

"Hey." I say causally.

He looks up at me and smiles, "How does it do that? It's like it's dancin'."

I laugh. Yep, he's definitely wasted, "Um, why don't you come with me? I want to, uh, show you something."

He nods, taking my hand. I feel a current of electricity go up my arm, "Lead the way." He says.

I lead him up to the roof, figuring he could probably use some fresh air. He gasps at the cold the second we step outside.

"What is this place?" He asks, totally in shock.

I can't help but chuckle. It's kind of fun seeing Mr. Cool and In Control taken down a peg or two by alcohol.

"Are those your friends?" He asks, pointing up at the sky, "Is this how you get back to your kingdom?"

"Um, sure." I really have no clue what he's talking about. It's the most bizarre gibberish I've ever heard. Still, it's kind of cute. He steps behind me, and starts … I don't know how to explain it, like touching the air or something. He seems totally mystified. I don't really know how to react.

"What's it like up there?"

He asks. I just shrug, but then he looks so disappointed, like a kicked puppy. He keeps looking up at the stars, so I figure I'll tell him about those. I know about stars. Science is my thing. I start to talk, but he stops me, saying he needs to get comfortable. Once he's sitting, he motions for me to continue. I tell him about what stars are made of, and what the constellations are called, and he sits there, looking up at me, like I'm telling him the best bedtime story I've ever heard. When I first met him, he seemed so, I don't know, grown up, experienced. Now he seems almost like a child. I kind of just want to take care of him.

"Will you take me there someday?" I laugh again. He's hilarious drunk, "I like that sound." He says, causing me to blush. Then he lies back on the roof, and motions for me to join him. For some reason, I do. He grabs my hand again, and it feels nice. We look up at the stars for a while. "I guess I wouldn't be allowed." He says.

"Are you the sort of guy who lets permission stop you?" He didn't seem to be.

"No." He says, turning to look at me. His eyes hold mine, and I can't breathe. It's a scary feeling, like being on a rollercoaster, but I kind of like it. "Let's just fly away from here." He says, "Let's fly off away from parents and problems. Just you and me."

"Sure." I say, smirking as I try to placate him.

"I'm serious!" He says. He seems kind of offended.

"Shhh." I say, putting my finger to my lips, "Let's just watch the stars."

I wake up to a groaning. Wade is shielding his face, trying to block out the world. I can't help but laugh.

"Glad my pain is so amusing to you." He quips.

"Sorry." I say, "But it serves you right for getting so drunk." I can't help but add.

He shakes his head, wincing. I stand, and head over to him, "Come on," I say, offering my hand to help him up, "We'll find you some aspirin."

Reluctantly, he takes my hand, and I lead him back downstairs. Thankfully, we left the door open so it couldn't lock us out. The place is empty, of course. According to the clock, it a quarter past nine. A small part of me is disappointed that my mom never came to look for me. Still, I'm not really surprised. It's so her to get too caught up to remember she has a daughter. It used to be dad's job to keep me out of trouble at these parties. I let out a sigh, thinking of dad. It would have been nice if he were here.

Wade sits down the second he sees a place to sit, and I had for the coatroom. I have a bag there, with a first aid kit and I think some aspirin is in there. It takes a minute to locate, but I find it. And voilà, there it is. I come back to find Wade

"So, uh, how did we end up on the roof?" He asks once I get him his aspirin.

"I thought you could use some air." I tell him, recapping how drunk he was.

"Well, thanks for that."

I shoot him a nod, and we sit quietly for a minute. There is something I've been wondering about, and while I don't want to be a pain, I can't always reign in my curiosity, "So, how did you get so drunk?" I know I should have at least built up to it a little, but I'm not exactly the most tactful.

He shrugs, saying something about how he's not used to champagne, and how the alcohol content is different or something. I'm not sure that's true, but he does seem like the type of guy who would know what he's doing when it comes to drinking. That's what confused me so much. I figured he'd know his limit, so if he got drunk, I thought he must have wanted to. Maybe I was wrong, but something was clearly bothering him outside the bathroom, and then up on the roof, he just looked so sad. I start to ask him about it, but then stop. I mean, I know it's none of my business. But then he encourages me, so I figure why the hell not.

"I guess I just thought … maybe you did it on purpose." I say, trying to sound casual, "You seemed kind of," I hunt for the right word, "upset." I finally land on.

He starts to look a little panicked, "What, uh, what exactly did I say when I was drunk?" He asks. I don't know how to answer. I'm not completely sure about everything he said. Most of it made no sense. Then there was the part about my laugh … but that was mine to keep.

"Nothing of consequences." I say, trying to pass it off likes it no big deal.

He's quiet for a moment, eyeing me up. "I think my ma may be cheatin' on my pop." He finally says. My eyes go wide. I was not expecting him to say anything like that. Things just got really real really fast. "I take it from the look on your face that I didn't bring this up last night?" He asks, he sounds angry, and I want to be offended, but then I remember how I felt when my parents told me they were separating. I can't really blame him for being angry, even if I'd rather he didn't take it out on me.

He looks like he's about to leave, and I don't want him to. Not like this anyway, "My parents are separated" I say quickly, "I think they're probably going to get a divorce."

"Oh." He says, seeming to deflate.

"They're keeping it this big secret," I say, picking up steam, "I guess it makes them look bad or something. But then, my mom is getting it on with guys half her age, and my dad is in another country, so I doubt anybody buys it."

"That sucks."

"Yeah." I say, looking down at my shoes. "So, what makes you think your mom is cheating?"

He let's out a sigh, "I was checkin' in at home, and she was actin' really weird. There was a guy at our house who is not my dad, and she seemed like she was hidin' somethin'."

"Maybe it's not what you think." I say, even though it sounds exactly like what he thinks. After a moment, I add what we're both thinking. "Parents kind of suck anyway."

He let's out a laugh. It's more bitter than not, but it's something, and it feels good to make him smile, "Yeah, sometimes." We stay like that for a minute, and then he speaks up, "I should probably get goin'," He says, and I try not to be too disappointed, "find out where the rest of the band got to."

"Yeah, me too." I say stupidly. "I mean, not the band, obviously, but, I should get going." I babble.

"Okay." He says, shooting me a smile. It's a real smile this time. It's a great smile too, and my heart rate speeds up a bit. "I'll see you around."

Author's Note: So, what do we think? I know it's short and not a lot happens, but hopefully it is still interesting.