Zoe looked up at the building that held her future. It was terrifying to know that in a few short hours she could be leaving. Each step she took, slowly killed the fun-loving girl she was. Why? That was the only question she wanted to ask her mother. Was it to hurt her? To keep her from Wade? Which was a bit extreme. Or was it to hurt Harley? If that was the case, this was a sick and twisted game her mother was playing and she didn't want a part of it, but she was stuck in the middle.

"We have to go in now, Zoe." She looked at her father. She had been on a roller coaster with her emotions the second she woke up. She could see fear and hope behind her fathers eyes. She nodded, taking his hand needing to feel the comfort a father gave his daughter. She didn't care about looking childish, she needed her father and he needed her.

She sat in the hard plastic chair, watching people hurry bye. Harley was off in the corner talking to Mr. Tucker. Her mom was nowhere to be found. Zoe kept an eye out for her. She was ready to pounce on her when she did show. With each second that ticked past, Zoe had a feeling her mom wasn't going to show up.

"Sweetie, your mom couldn't make it. They rescheduled for next month." The words seemed hollow to her. Would it be like this until she turned 18? Surely the judge would throw the case out or even give Harley full custody. It wasn't that hard to see who the better parent was.

"They could have waited until after Christmas." She sounded mad, but really she was happy that she had another month with her father. Yet again she was hurt and mad at her mom for not showing up. This wasn't some joke, this was her life.

"We still have Planksgiving," Harley reminded her, earning a smile.

"I can't wait!" She beamed. She hated that she had ditched her yet again. This was important, but she wouldn't let that ruin her mood. She had so much to look forward to. She didn't have time to mope around. She wasn't going to spend her time in fear. She wouldn't miss out on her life because her mother didn't know what she wanted.

"What happened? Wade asked running to the car. It wasn't like he was being a stalker or anything. He had graciously asked if he could mow the lawn for some extra cash. He had done the neighbors as well. He had went school.

"She didn't show. Go figure," she shrugged. It was easier to act like it was no big deal. She was use to her mom, not showing up. "We go back next month. So what's the plan?" Zoe asked, ready to move on from the days events and have some fun.

"We can find some trouble to get into," Wade smirked.

"No gettin' into trouble," Harley warned walking into the house.

"We won't call him, to bail us out," Zoe remarked, slipping her arm through his.

"How are you really?" He asked. He wasn't going to push her on this, he just knew that there was more going on inside her head then she was sharing.

"Hurt, confused," Zoe shrugged. "How am I suppose to be?" She asked sitting in the gazebo. "Hurt because yet again, she didn't show up. Hurt because she just doesn't care. Why take him to court if you're not going to show up?"

"I really don't know. Maybe you could do something about it on your own." Zoe looked at him waiting for him to continue. She had no idea what he was getting at. "That way you could get emancipated."

"Yea, but that's more trouble then it's worth," Zoe sighed. It was one of those times you wished you were older. She was in no hurry to grow up what so ever. Staying young seemed like the perfect idea, if it wasn't for her mother trying to ruin her life.

"I know, which means you get the joys of dealing with this bullshit your mother is trying to pull," he huffed. Zoe smiled pulling his arm around herself, cuddling into his side. Just having Wade around, made her happy. He got her, he made her world bright. Problems seemed to vanish when she was with him.

"You do know since we're dating, you get to suffer through each rant and problem," she smirked.

"Nah, I just get to help you feel better." She kissed his cheek, feeling touched, he thought like that.

"Your secret is safe with me," she whispered.

"What secret?" He asked with a smirk pressing his lips against hers.

"How did the hearing go?" Lemon asked walking up with George and Annabeth.

"It didn't happen."

"There's a party at Malcom's house tonight. You guys in?" George asked.

"Hell yes!" Zoe remarked. It was just enough to cause a little trouble. The last time he had a party, the police had broken it up. Wade was great for making her forget for a few hours. She wanted to have fun, with no worries about parents.

"Zoe, you can't be careless and mess up. That'll give your mom all the ammo she needs." She hated that Wade had to be the voice of reason.

"I won't drink or do any drugs. But it'll be fun."

"Fine, but I'll drag you out at the first sign of trouble," he warned.

"When did you become your parents?" Zoe asked slightly freaked out. That thought scared Wade. He was by far to young to turn into his parents. He was going to go and have some fun. There was a time to be responsible and a time to let go. This was that time to let go and have some fun.