A/N: Thanks for the continued supportive reviewage, peops. Y'all approved of the kissing, huh? And yet, Zoe & Wade just had to turn around and screw it up again... at least, for a little while. Read on, dedicated Zade lovers, read on ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see Prologue)

Chapter 20

Sunday 2nd August 1998

Zoe had hoped to run into Wade at church today. She should've known better. The Kinsellas hardly ever showed up anymore, she guessed because even if he managed to stay sober all week, Earl felt the need to indulge on the weekends. She just felt like it would be easier if she and Wade saw each other randomly like that rather than her making a special trip to go and see him. He had told her goodbye like he meant it and she hadn't seen him at all since, not even in town, at his job, or over at the old Hooper house. He had to have been hiding from her on purpose, though Zoe knew that thought just made her as selfish and self-involved as Wade had told her she was. He could just as easily be caught up looking after Earl or taking care of things at the new house or anything like that.

"Dad, I'm just going to take a walk for a while," Zoe told Harley as they came out of the church. "I'll be back before dinner, okay?"

"You finally goin' to go and set things straight with the Kinsella boy?" he asked her, smiling when she looked surprised. "Come on now, Zoe honey, I may be a sight older than you, even than some of the other fathers of folks your age, but I see what's goin' on. You do like him, don't you?"

"I do," she agreed, nodding her head. "I think I have for a long time, it was just easier to pretend I didn't. I'm not so sure he still likes me anymore after... A lot has happened," she said, shifting awkwardly, knowing the last thing she wanted to tell her father about was both the making out she and Wade had done and the fighting that came later.

"Zoe honey, I can't say for sure how things will work out for you and Wade, or for anybody at all. Nobody has that power, 'cept for the good Lord himself," he said with a smile, "and even he lets us have our free will to do what we choose much of the time. All I do know is, I never knew two young people to care about each other as much as you and Wade do, so whether that means you're gonna be friends or... more than friends," he said carefully, "I do honestly think you need to talk about it and work this thing out, before it's too late."

"Yeah, that's what I think too," said Zoe, nodding her agreement. "Thanks, Dad," she said, reaching to hug him then and smiling when he kissed the top of her head.

She headed straight to the Kinsella place then, still a little uncertain of what she was going to say when she got there, but absolutely sure she had to fix this, once and for all. Wade meant way too much to her for this to go on any longer.

When she came through the trees into the clearing, it was a relief to Zoe to find him outside, seemingly just getting done washing his car. She was worried about having to knock on the door if Earl was there too. This really was a conversation Zoe and Wade needed to have alone.

"Hi," she said as she approached him.

"Thought we said our goodbyes already," Wade grumbled, barely looking at her. "Pretty sure I said you and I was best off leaving each other alone," he said, concentrating hard on some speck of dirt on the hood that Zoe was almost certain wasn't actually there.

"I happen to think you're wrong about that," she told him, ready to meet his eyes when he finally turned to look.

"Oh, you do?"

"Yes, I do. Wade, this is so stupid," she told him definitely. "I... I miss you so much. I hate being here but not being able to see you. I hate that you're just so mad at me and that for so long I couldn't see a way to fix it, except maybe one, and honestly? That thought scared me to death."

He didn't say anything, didn't ask her to explain, didn't even really move. He just stood there, turning the rag around and around in his hands, waiting for her to go on, so Zoe did.

"The truth is... the truth is that I like you, Wade Kinsella. I mean I really like you, not just like a best friend, it's definitely more than that, and I know it was stupid of me not to realise sooner, and to pretend for so long even when I thought I did know, but... but I got scared. I just thought, well, that you didn't want a real girlfriend, and that even if you did, it probably wouldn't be someone like me," she said, eyes going to the ground as the lump in her throat grew impossibly large.

It was how she missed Wade closing the space between them and why she was so surprised when she suddenly felt his hand at her face, fingers lifting her chin until she met his eyes again.

"You never asked, Zoe," he told her plainly. "Never once did you ask me what I wanted or anything about what I felt for you-"

"How could I?" she cut in, hating the feeling of tears on her cheeks all over again. "You have all these others girls hanging around all of the time. Really attractive, experienced girls, that-"

"Yeah, but they're just... I was having fun is all," Wade tried to explain. "They're not you, Zoe. They don't matter to me the way you do. I thought I made that clear enough, but every time I turn around, there you are, making your googly eyes at Golden Boy George Tucker again," he said, rolling his eyes at the very thought.

"I don't mean to," Zoe insisted, hands grabbing onto his arms when he looked set to turn away from her. "Maybe I did, but I shouldn't have. I don't know what I was thinking about George exactly, except that he was always nice to me, and I did not like Lemon getting all his attention, but it has been so much worse being without you, Wade," she promised him. "The more I thought about it, the more I realised that if I had to choose between you and George, or you and any other guy in the world, I... I'd choose you. So, I guess what I need to know is, would you choose me? Wade, do you... do you want to be my boyfriend?"

There was a horrible silence that followed her confession and her question. Zoe didn't know what to think as Wade stared at her, wearing an expression she couldn't read at all. Just when she was thinking she had made the biggest mistake of her life, he leaned down and kissed her. It wasn't like the last time, which had all been a little wild and crazy. This was equally as intense but a whole lot more meaningful too. Unfortunately, it was also over almost as soon as it began.

"Zoe," said Wade softly, his forehead pressed against her own. "I'm pretty sure a part of me has wanted to be with you exactly like this since we was ten years old, before I even knew what feeling this way even meant," he told her, smiling as he confessed it all. "You mean the whole entire world to me, and I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear enough to you."

"It's not all your fault," she promised, leaning her cheek into his hand. "I've been pretty stupid about this whole thing, thinking it was better if were just friends. It's not what I really want."

She reached up to kiss him again, mostly because she couldn't bear not to be doing so a moment longer. Now they had got to this place, she wanted to make the most of it, and it didn't exactly seem as if Wade was objecting at all.

"We really should've done this sooner," said Zoe breathlessly as they parted for air a moment.

"Prob'ly should've picked a day when Earl wasn't havin' one of his bad patches too." Wade sighed. "I'd love to take you inside but..."

"It's okay, I understand," Zoe assured him, her arms up around his neck by now. "Not that it bothers me to be around your dad, no matter what condition he's in, but this isn't really something he needs to see."

"I don't know, he'll prob'ly be thrilled about it." Wade grinned. "He has been callin' you my girlfriend for as long as I can remember."

"It's weird, that should've been my first clue." Zoe shook her head. "It never really bothered me when he called me that."

"Me either, 'cept for the fact that it reminded me that you were not my girlfriend, that you prob'ly never would be."

"Well, that just shows how wrong you were, Wade Kinsella, because I am your girlfriend now."

"Yes, you are," he agreed, pulling her closer again and initiating another kiss that went on and on.

.

Sunday 16th August 1998

It didn't seem to surprise a single person in Bluebell when Zoe and Wade got it together. Everyone was happy enough just to see them happy with each other, but it didn't take long for folks to start to wonder what would happen when Zoe went back to New York at the end of the summer.

It was something that she asked herself, more than once, but never brought up with Wade. They had spent more time together than ever in the last two weeks, going for drives, hanging out at either of their houses, walking through town hand-in-hand where everyone could see, then running off someplace else where nobody was watching to be as close as they wanted.

Zoe had half-expected her alone time with Wade to get out of hand. After all, he was used to girls like Joelle who were fine with going all the way at a moment's notice. Zoe wasn't that kind of girl and it seemed as if Wade never expected her to be.

"You're not mad that we don't...?" she checked, lying beside him on a blanket down by the lake, just enjoying the sunshine, the peace and quiet, and each other's company.

"What kinda guy would be mad at a girl for that?" he asked, propping himself up on one elbow to look at her. "Zoe, that ain't me."

"I know," she agreed, looking a little shame-faced that she even suggested it. "It's just, the other girls that you used to see-"

Before she could get another word out, he had silenced her with a kiss and Zoe didn't mind that at all.

"I told you before," he said as they parted. "Those other girls didn't matter to me the way you do. They were looking for a good time and so was I, and before you ask, that does not mean that I don't have a good time when I'm with you," he said fast before she could interrupt. "But Zoe, you and me, what we got's more'n that. Least, I think so."

"It is," she agreed, reaching up to pull him close enough for another lingering kiss. "Hmm, I'm going to miss you when you go back to school tomorrow," she admitted as they parted.

"Well, maybe I won't go." Wade sighed, lying down beside her again. "I mean, I'm sixteen, if I was to drop out-"

"You are not dropping out of school just so you can make out with me." Zoe giggled, shifting closer and pillowing her head on his chest.

Wade's arm went around her, keeping her right there. "It's not just for that. I mean, if I gave up on school, I could work full-time. Might make things easier on old Earl."

"I don't think that it would," Zoe told him honestly. "You know, from what I can tell, he drinks because he feels badly, mostly about losing your mom, but for other things too. The things he says sometimes... I don't know, I think if he thought he was a reason that you dropped out of school, it might just be one more thing for him to feel bad about. One more reason to drink."

Wade was quiet a while and then he sighed. "Maybe you're right," he admitted, kissing the top of her head. "Maybe I'll try and stay in school. Even if it does mean seein' less o' you."

"For two weeks," said Zoe softly. "Then we won't see each other at all, not for nine whole months."

She curled her body into his a little more, tears beginning to soak into the familiar red and black of Wade's plaid shirt. She hated this part, hated even having to think about leaving him. It had been bad enough before when they were friends, but she knew it would be ten times harder now they were so much closer.

"Hey, don't start frettin' about all o' that right now," Wade urged her, shifting until he could see her face and dry her tears for her. "Baby, there is nothin' in this whole world that's gonna change how I feel about you, and if you feel the same-"

"You know I do," she promised him faithfully.

"Well, then, nine months, a few hundred miles, none o' that means a damn thing, Zoe. You leave here, I'm gonna miss you, just like I always do, but I can handle that. Can't you?"

"I hope so," she said, nodding her head. "It's just... How can I ask you to...? I'm not really giving anything up, but you..."

She didn't know how to say it. She knew what she meant and wished she could put it into words without blushing like a fool. Thankfully, it seemed that Wade understood, and apparently, he was going to be strangely cool about the whole thing.

"Zoe," he said, making her look at him again, holding her face in his hands. "You are the only girl in the world that I could ever feel this way about. Understand me? I don't need anything else. I don't want anyone else. From here on out, I wanna wait for you."

Zoe was pretty sure she had never heard a more perfect speech from anyone ever, and she certainly never expected to hear such a thing from Wade Kinsella, of all people. It made her feel so happy that he cared for her that much, and so ashamed of herself for not seeing how amazing he was sooner than this. There was no way for her to verbalise any of what was going on in her head, so she was glad when he didn't seem to need her to.

"So, how about we stop talkin' about what we're not gonna do or not gonna have, maybe concentrate on just being here together like this while we got the chance, alright?"

"That sounds good," Zoe agreed, right before he kissed her one more time.

.

Saturday 29th August 1998

"I didn't think leaving here could get any harder than it already was," Zoe forced out, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why did we wait so long, Wade?"

"'Cause we're a couple of fools," he told her, smiling through the pain as he held on tight to her for just as long as he could. "Don't you go forgetting what you said to me, okay? No getting back to New York and decidin' you like them city fellas better than me."

"That's never going to happen," she promised, sniffling terribly. "You're the only guy for me, Wade Kinsella. The only one," she swore, kissing him soundly.

"That's good to know," he said the moment they parted. "Because I don't want any other Alabama girl."

She giggled through the tears at the sound of his old nickname for her. She loved it still. She loved him, she was sure of it, but it seemed like the wrong time to confess, too soon and too late all at once.

"Hey, I got somethin' for you," said Wade then, reaching into his pocket.

Zoe blinked hard to better see, confused by what seemed like a box containing jewellery that Wade pressed it into her palm. She glanced up at him, saw him nod his head to tell her to go ahead and open it, and then she did exactly that. Inside was a pair of earrings, heart-shaped studs in gold, each with a tiny red stone. They were simple, understated, but nonetheless beautiful.

"They're nothin' fancy, I know," Wade told Zoe as she stared into the box still, "but they were my momma's."

Zoe's eyes flew up from the earrings to look at him. She opened her mouth to tell him no, she couldn't possibly, but he must've seen it coming because he cut in first.

"Before you say it, yes, you can," he said definitely. "You know, that one time Momma met you, she thought you were the sweetest thing. Didn't shut up talkin' about you for weeks after," he recalled with a smile. "I believe that if she was here now, you two would prob'ly get along like a house on fire and she would be pleased as punch that you and me were taking a shot at this. Hell, she'd prob'ly gift you somethin' like that herself if she could."

"Thank you," said Zoe, the words barely any more than a whisper. "Thank you so much."

She closed her hand around the box, throwing her arms around Wade's neck and hugging him like her life depended on it. He squeezed her back so tightly that Zoe could hardly breathe, but she didn't care. If he never let go, that would be just fine by her.

"Uh, Zoe honey?" said Harley from over by the car, waiting until she prised herself away from Wade and turned to look. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but we really have to go now."

"Okay," she said, nodding her head. "One minute?"

Harley nodded right back and slid into the driver's seat, his back to the teens as they said their final goodbye. Zoe turned back to Wade, putting the box into his hand while she removed the earrings she was wearing, switching them out for the ones he just gave her.

"They look good on you," he told her, his hand at her cheek. "Zoe..."

She dreaded him actually saying goodbye, so she pushed herself back into his arms and kissed him before he got the chance. They were lost in each other for as long as they could be, until the moment came when they knew they had to part. She had to go.

Pulling back, she looked up into his eyes one more time, a smile curved her lips in spite of everything and the words fell so easily from her mouth, she wondered how she ever struggled before.

"I love you, Wade Kinsella."

Of all the smiles she had ever seen on his face, the one she saw then was the biggest and brightest, no doubt.

"And I love you, Zoe Hart," he promised her. "With everything I got, I swear I do."

One last, brief kiss and then she ran for the car, knowing if she didn't leave in that moment she might never.

Wade shoved his hands in his pockets and watched the car disappear down the street, keeping his eyes on the vehicle until it pulled around the corner and out of sight.

Zoe was gone. Again.

.

Friday 4th September 1998

"Mail!" Earl called to Wade the moment he came out of his room, throwing a package into his son's hands - it was a miracle he caught it.

Wade frowned at the box, wondering what on earth it could be. He didn't get much mail at all, and even less was anything more than junk mail and such. Turning it over, he saw the sender details on the back and his heart expanded. A New York City address.

"Zoe," he said to himself.

"That from your girlfriend?" asked Earl with a grin.

"Maybe," Wade told him, unable to keep the smile off his lips for more than a second.

Carrying the box back to the privacy of his room, hardly knowing what to expect, Wade ripped into the package, finding first a piece of paper and underneath a well-padded cell phone. Frowning some, he unfolded the paper that had his name written on it and began to read.

'Dear Wade,

I miss you. I knew it was going to be hard leaving you behind, especially after everything, but it's even tougher than I realised. We have to go nine months before I can come back to Bluebell, and I know with things being the way they are with your dad, you'd never be able to come to New York, even when my dad does. The not seeing you is awful, but at least there might be a way for us to keep in touch.

I know what you're thinking. I can hear you yelling at me about spending money on something like a cell phone for you when you could easily get one yourself. Well, you'll be happy to know, I didn't really spend anything. My mom insisted on my having a new cell, so I've sent you my old one. You know that's the truth because you'll probably recognise it since you've seen it before. It's all set to go, my number is in there, and I'm the only one that has your number, so if you get a call or a message, you know it'll always be me. Unless you want to give anyone else the number, which is fine, but for right now, it's just us.

Please don't be weird about this, Wade. I know you're going to see it as too much, but it's not. It's really a selfish gift because I need to be able to hear from you, to talk to you. Calls all the time would get expensive, but there are text messages, and it'll be worth it, I know it will. Besides, the gift you gave me the day I left (which I'm wearing right now, by the way) was so special, so completely priceless, a cell phone is nothing in comparison.

Please don't be mad and please call me soon.

I love you,

Zoe.'

"You comin' outta there, boy?" Earl called from the living room. "Your breakfast is gettin' cold."

"I'm not hungry!" he yelled back, scrambling to get the phone from the box and switch it on.

The battery was already charged, everything set up ready to go. Just as she said, the only number in the contacts was Zoe's own and Wade clicked on it immediately. He listened to the line ring once, twice, and then when she finally picked up, he didn't even give her a chance to say hello.

"I love you too, Alabama girl, and thank you."

To Be Continued...