Hey all. Happy Sunday, or whatever day it is for you. I will admit that the inspiration for this one comes from a bunch O' balloons commercial. I, however, didn't except the chapter to be quite this length.

Enjoy!

"What are you guys doing?" Zoe asked, watching Wade, George and Jesse place a tub on her front lawn. She's been watching them all morning going around the neighborhood with a bunch of tubs. She couldn't figure out why or what they were doing it for.

"Oh you'll see," Wade smirked, remaining cryptic as ever. She looked to the other two boys, and they gave her a shrug. "You missed it last year, so it'll be a little welcome to the neighborhood," he chuckled, walking backwards. "You won't be disappointed."

"Does this have anything to do with the block party?" She asked, yelling after their retreating forms, all except Wade as he still faced her. She couldn't see why it had to do with anything else. The block party the only thing coming to mind. It's been the talk of the town for weeks now.

"Oh Zo, it has everything to do with the block party," he laughed, turning around to make their way back to his home. They had a huge game plan to come up with.

"Can I at least have a hint?" She asked, making sure to yell so they could hear her.

"Just think of the most epic fun you've ever had and multiple it by a thousand," Wade yelled back, his smirk still in place.

Zoe frowned taking a look in the big plastic purple tub sitting on her lawn. Nothing was inside of it. How could it be full of epicness if it was empty? She couldn't make heads or tails of it. If they wouldn't tell her what was going on, she'd find someone that would.

"Can I go to the Breeland's place for a while?" She asked her mom, her dad off helping get set up for the block party.

"Be back before dinner," Candice stated. "Actually Zoe," she said, getting her attention before she burst through the door. "Did you clean your room?" Zoe nodded her head; she'd done that after breakfast this morning. "The dishes in the dishwasher?"

"Yes," Zoe replied. "I even went around the living room putting things back into place and took the trash out. Can I go now?" She asked, pleading with her mom.

"Be back before dinner," Candice told her, going back to the work she had been trying to figure out.

Zoe ran from her house, not wanting to be called back for something else. She wanted answers as to what was going on. And if Wade refused to tell her, she'd get the girls to inform her. She'd get to the bottom of it. Lemon didn't live that far from her, but yet she was trying to catch her breath from running before knocking on the door.

"Hello Zoe," Alice greeted, pulling the front door open, telling her where Lemon is without even needing to ask. "Lemon's out back with Annabeth," she informed her.

"Thank you," Zoe smiled, going through the house to where Lemon and Annabeth sat in the sun porch. "You need to give me answers," she demanded, sitting next to Annabeth on the wicker sofa.

"We can't give you answers for a question you never asked," Lemon huffed, rolling her eyes.

"The tubs," Zoe said. "What are the guys up to?" She asked, seeing the smirks on her friends faces.

"Wouldn't they tell you?" Annabeth asked with a laugh. Zoe shook her head.

"No, now are you two going to tell me? Or will I have to declare war against you two as well as the guys come the block party?" She asked annoyed that no one was willing to answer her questions about the tubs and what they were for. Why did she need to be left in the dark for?

"It's for a water balloon fight," AB caved.

"Annabeth!" Lemon huffed, giving her oldest and dearest friend a look. "We promised."

"We promised what?" AB asked. "They didn't want us to tell Zoe, so we'd have fewer numbers. It's all part of their strategic plan. Think about it, Lemon?" AB explained, giving her friend food for thought.

"They wanted the advantage," Lemon nodded. "As much as I would have liked to see your face come the block party, we need you on our side," Lemon stated. "Here's the game plan," she said, pulling AB and Zoe into what they were going to do.

Zoe would act like she knew nothing about this epic multi block water balloon fight. That would be easy for her. Things got tricky after that. She really didn't think the guys wanted her on their team. It was possible, but she wasn't counting on it. If anything she was sure, she would be the one person they targeted first.

She learned there are no rules to the fight. And that it starts as teams, mostly always boys vs girls. By the end of the day, it's really every person for themselves. Even the adults getting in on the action later in the day. She wasn't sure where the endless supply of water balloons were coming from, just that none of the tubs ever end up empty until night fall. There are only two breaks, and that is when it's time for lunch and dinner.

With a game plan in hand, Zoe headed home, excited about the block party. Just thinking of the fun things she's been told about, she wished she would have made it last year. Really, it's just one huge party for everyone. It might be called a block party, but she learnt that it's more of a summer send-off for the whole town. Town square would be set up with a bunch of barbecue grills; coolers would be placed everywhere so people could help themselves to what they wanted to drink. All alcohol beverages would be kept out of reach of minors.

She couldn't help but compare the block party to the festivities for the fourth of July. Games and carnival rides filled most of the town instead of the barbecue grills. They had a big cookout then as well. The set up for the block party being close to the same set up for the Fourth. The biggest difference being the end of the night fireworks.

"Is there fireworks?" She asked the boy waiting on her porch.

"What?" Wade chuckled, remaining where he sat on the porch swing, Zoe sitting next to him.

"At the block party, will there be fireworks?" She asked, rolling her eyes not understanding how he couldn't comprehend what she asked him.

"Once it gets dark there's sparklers, but no, there're not any fireworks," he told her. "Still want to know what the tubs are for?" He asked with a smirk.

"I thought I wasn't allowed to know?" She asked right back, raising an eyebrow at him.

"That's just what everyone is to believe, I have a different idea in mind this year," he smirked.

"I might very well regret asking this," she sighed, shaking her head. "But go on and tell me." She did want to know what Wade has planned, if for nothing more than to stay clear of him for the day, not wanting to be his target.

"Everyone is going to be busy running around with balloons and sure I'll use them as well, but I've got some super soakers just for this," he chuckled. "Want to be my partner in crime?"

"What do I get out of it?" She asked him. If it means that she won't be the target for him, and that she gets to have the upper hand in this little turf war of theirs, she was all in. If it meant that, while she wasn't sure, the idea of having water guns over a water balloon appealed to her just a bit more.

"Protection," he remarked. "I'll watch your back, and you watch my back. Especially when we need to refill them. Deal?" He asked her.

"Deal!"

Zoe found that she could hardly sleep, up before the sun on the day of the block party. Having lived in New York City for all but one year now, block parties were something she saw on TV. Now to be a part of one, excited her. There might be a small chance that the excitement has to do with the new war Wade and her would be waging today. He told her that he grew tired of just water balloons, it having been that way for a few years now. He wanted to add a new element to it.

She got ready for the day, when she noticed the sky starting to lighten up outside. Making her bed when she heard her dad moving about the house. After a year of living with her parents, she's learned that where her father is an early riser, her mom likes to sleep in. Getting her beauty sleep, as Candice calls it. Zoe rolled her eyes at that, she didn't want to waste her day by sleeping when she could be out having fun.

"Couldn't sleep?" Harley asked with an amused chuckle, as he stood in front of the stove working on making them french toast for breakfast.

"Nope," Zoe told him, quickly shaking her head. "I'm too excited for the days' activities," she shared.

"Does this have to do with the scheming you have been doing with Wade?" He asked, flipping the egg soaked bread in the frying pan. Zoe shrugged. The truth is yes and no. "You won't be making your friends mad at you will you?" He asked, glancing her way at the kitchen counter.

"Why would they be mad?" She asked with a frown. Sure they made a plan together, but they could easily change it on her as well.

"Maybe because you promised to be on their team," he replied.

"It would be silly to be mad at me over something so small," Zoe retorted. "Besides it won't take all day for everyone to turn, and it be everyone for themselves," she explained.

"That may be so, but you can't ever be so sure of how other people are going to respond," he told her, giving her something to think about.

"I know that," she responded rolling her eyes at her father. "But it's not like I am picking favorites or anything," she tossed out. She wouldn't be mad at her friends if they made a different plan up, resulting in them turning on her. It's a game, for fun. Feelings shouldn't be involved as deeply as her dad is talking about. Not in a silly game involving water balloons and water guns.

"Honey, we all know that Wade is your favorite friend," Harley chuckled, seeing how red is daughter's face had gotten over the small teasing comment.

"That's not true," she huffed, scowling at her dad. She spent just as much of her time with Lemon, AB and Crickett. Didn't she? Sure she liked spending time with Wade, doing things she's never done before and that has been the thrill of it. He gets her in a way the rest of her friends don't. And yes, if given the choice, she'd pick hanging out with Wade. But that didn't mean he was her favorite friend.

"Oh, don't you give me that look," Harley chuckled. "I was only teasing you," he stated, placing the last french toast onto top of the plate with the rest of them, pouring the scrambled egg mixture into the frying pan. "Can you set the table, please?" He asked, moving from the stove to start a pot of coffee, keeping an eye on the scrambled eggs, keeping them from getting burnt.

"I'm on it," she told him, slipping from the kitchen stool, to work around her father to get the plates.

Zoe set to work, putting plates on the table, making trips for a glass for her orange juice, as her parents will have their coffee and for the silverware. Satisfied with how the table looked; she headed back to the kitchen to see what else needed to be done. It turned out nothing as her mom had joined her father while she was placing the silverware on the table. Not wanting to watch her parents be all gross over the food, she's going to eat, she headed back to the dining room and took her seat, waiting on her parents to finish up with breakfast.

They were in the midst of eating when Wade showed up. All too excited about a new plan he had come up with. She wanted to hear all about it, but she had to finish her breakfast first. Without rushing through it. Wade gladly took the offer to dig in and help himself to the food. She didn't know where he put all of the food he ate. She knows for a matter of fact that Jackie wouldn't let him leave without eating breakfast; she had a feeling it was more than a bowl of cereal.

"Off you go," Harley ushered his daughter and her friend out the door.

"Harley," Candice scolded. "She's got chores to do."

Harley nodded, pulling his wife into a kiss. "She's only a kid once, let her have some fun," he said, pulling back from the kiss. Having the day off, he's more than capable to wash a few dishes.

"She needs some responsibility," Candice stated, helping her husband wash the morning dishes.

"She has it," Harley told her. "She also needs to be a kid and have fun with her friends. That's going to teach her more than washing dishes ever will," he said, scrubbing a plate. "Besides with her out there being the kid she needs to be, it gives us the house to ourselves for the next few hours before we need to join the rest of the town for the town wide block party," he smirked.

"Oh Harley," she blushed, lightly smacking him with the dish towel she held.

"Don't let them know you've got a new plan in mind," Wade told her as they slowly walked to where they would meet up with their friends. "We'll pull the surprise after lunch. Until then keep the plan I am sure you made with Lemon and them," he told her.

"Hey Wade," she said, frowning as she focused on the sidewalk as they walked through town making their way to town square.

"What's going on, Zoe?" He asked, with his own frown. Not knowing what could cause her to look so sad in the small amount of time they left her house.

"Do you think Lemon, AB and Crickett are going to be mad at me when I change sides on them?" She asked.

"Maybe Lemon, you know how she can be," Wade shrugged. "But she'll get over it," Wade said.

"Mad enough to stop being my friend?" She asked. "I don't want to lose her as a friend," she rushed out to say.

"No, Zoe," he assured her, or at least trying to. Honestly, he wasn't sure how Lemon would take it. For all, he knew Lemon would laugh it off, being all for it. "She won't stop being your friend over something as stupid as this. We're just having fun before we go back to school."

She hoped Wade was right about how Lemon would handle this new plan of hers. If they both thought Lemon would be okay with it, then she would be, right? It was something stupid, silly and for fun. And not something you get mad over. If the tables were turnt on her like they will be for their friends, she wouldn't be mad about it. No, she'd find it funny. After all she's been told that before the day is over that it's everyone for themselves. So no one should be mad at her for choosing to be on Wade's side with a water gun. If they did, maybe she needed to reconsider who she's friends with.

"What's got you second guessing our plan?" He asked, stopping short of being in view by their friends.

"My dad," she sighed. She tried not to think about his words that Lemon, AB and Crickett might very well end up mad at her. But once the idea was in her head; she couldn't help but feel it plant itself there, making her doubt herself and her friends. "I'll be fine. I know it's all for fun. And if they take this that serious, when there isn't a winner anyway, then maybe she's a bit too intense to be my friend," Zoe shrugged.

"Look Lemon is always going to be intense and take things way too freaking seriously, but that's just Lemon. She also knows how to have fun and not hold things against people. You can back out if you want, I am not making you do this with me," he told her. As true as his words were, Zoe could see that it wasn't the case. Disappointment written across his face, and deep in his green eyes.

"I have my doubts, but you got it wrong," Zoe told him with a smirk, one she learned from him. "I want to be a part of this. I want to get the guys for trying to keep this from me, and what kind of friend would I be if I didn't best them at their own game?" She asked.

"There's the Zoe I know," Wade laughed.

They were laughing as they joined the rest of their friends. Getting weird looks. Wade and Zoe laughed harder at that. Lemon muttered they had lost their minds. That only caused more laughter. When their laughter did subside, they were asked what was so hilarious. With one look, they told their friends, they'd see. It is a surprise after all.

"Okay, the rules are simple," Lavon stated, getting everyone's attention.

"Why's Lavon doing it?" Zoe quietly asked Wade.

"Because the high schoolers put it on," he replied. "And he's the best linebacker; Bluebell has ever seen," he told her. Zoe nodded, focusing on Lavon once more.

"Town square is for the kids under 5. Main Street is for the kids 5-10. The rest of the town is free for everyone else. Do remember that we have more going on today than a water balloon fight. Enjoy the festivities, get your face painted, have a sno-cone, eat a hot dog. Do remember sun block and to drink plenty of water in the heat. Above all else have fun and be safe," Lavon told them all while smiling. "What are you all standing around for, go on and have fun," he urged.

"What are we doing first?" Zoe asked, looking at her friends, having seen plenty of people running off to have fun.

"We could get our faces painted, but it'll come off later with all the water," AB commented, shrugging.

"Daddy is doing the dunk tank," Lemon informed her friends. "That's my first stop," she smiled.

"We have to get dad this afternoon," Jesse told Wade, as he headed off with his friends.

"Anything you want to see first Zoe?" Wade asked.

"Everything," she smiled, bouncing on her feet, ready to go through the booths set up around town. "Do we have time?" She asked, not wanting to miss out on the water balloon fight.

"We've got an hour before it starts," George informed her.

"Then what are we waiting for?" She asked, looking at her group of friends. "Let's go have fun before the real fun starts."

They did just that. Sticking together as they made their way through the booths. They did stop at the dunking booth. All of them taking a turn trying to dunk Dr. Breeland. George, Wade and Lemon succeeding in getting him dunked. From there they went and played a few games. They got their faces painted. Zoe picking a blue butterfly for her cheek, Wade going with a spider, AB got a smiley face in pink, George went with Batman; Lemon got a bumblebee, and Crickett got a four-leaf clover.

They played games and had a fair share of memories to last a lifetime, before they headed off for battle. They all grabbed a balloon when they passed the first tub, George and Wade joining their friends, as the balloons flew through the air. Squeals and laughter filled the Bluebell air that late morning as they threw, dodged and got hit with cold to warm water. When lunch rolled around they were all soaked, the hot Alabama heat, drying them off quickly. By the time they made it back to town square for lunch, they were still wet, but by no means were they soaked through.

They sat at a picnic table talking about the first half of the water balloon fight. Everyone talking over each other. They did stop talking to eat the food before them. Hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, and even a steak, if that's what you wanted. They had grilled chicken and fish as well. And all the sides one could dream up for a town wide block party.

"We'll meet you guys at the battle zone," Wade stated, getting up. Zoe following suit. "We gotta go dunk my dad first," he informed the group of friends. They tossed their garbage away and headed to the dunk tank.

"Let me see what ya got," Earl smirked, seeing his youngest approach. Jesse had already been by and got him good. He didn't mind because the cold water felt amazing on his hot skin.

"You know what's going to happen, pops," Wade laughed, taking the three softballs. The first ball missed the small target. Earl laughing from where he sat. The second ball going too far to the right.

"It seems I'll be safe from you," Earl laughed. "For a kid who was the little leagues best star pitcher, you're awfully horrible," Earl teased.

"Wanna bet?" Wade smirked, lining his pitch up and letting the ball fly. A small tink sounded before a larger splash could be heard. "Eat your words old man," Wade laughed.

"Alright boy," Earl laughed, getting reseated for Zoe's turn. "Let's see what you got Zo," Earl smiled. Taking the teasing down for her.

"Just breathe, relax and aim," Wade told her. "Follow through with your pitch, okay?" He asked, giving her tips on how to throw.

"Okay," she nodded, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling to get her nerves about this game in order. Her first pitch the ball went to high, hitting the blue tarp. The second ball she threw, went too far left.

"You've got this, Zo," Wade encouraged her.

"You're doing me a favor by letting me sit here," Earl laughed. "I've got dunked enough times today. So do me a solid and miss this one too."

"You wish," Zoe retorted, focusing on the small red and yellow target. She lined up her throw, smiling when she heard the tell-tale tink, accompanied by the big splash. "I did it!" Zoe laughed, hugging Wade.

"You did," Wade nodded, hugging her back. "And the look on my dad's face was priceless," he laughed.

"Good," Zoe said, breaking the hug. "Sno-cones?" She asked, leading him in that direction, leaving a soaked, but laughing Earl behind.

"What flavor do you want?" Wade asked. She looked over the flavors they had, which seemed to be everything.

"Raspberry," she told him. "I'll be right back; I'm going to see if my dad has the sun block on him," she informed Wade.

"Okay," he nodded. He had no problem waiting in line by himself for their sno-cones. And he didn't want Zoe to get sun burnt because he couldn't handle being by himself for a few minutes.

Zoe returned a few minutes later smelling of coconuts, as Wade was being handed the two sno-cones he ordered. Raspberry for Zoe and pineapple for himself. Seeing that it was close to the start of the second half they made their way back to Wade's house as they eat their cold treat as the sun quickly set to work melting the ice on them. Sneaking off on their friends, meant they could hide in the bushes with the water guns, undetected. They just had to wait for their first victims to show up.

They weren't left waiting long when their friends showed, looking for them. They looked at each other sharing a grin, waiting for them to step closer before spraying them. It didn't take long, but by the time they got close enough, water balloons were once again flying through the air as well. Their friends yelled, but laughed, when they jumped from the bushes, spraying them until they no longer had water left to spray. They headed back to Wade's place to fill them up, Zoe grabbing water balloons to protect herself and Wade.

With the guns filled with water once more, they took off to find Jesse and Harry to get them as well. The only problem there, they couldn't outrun Jesse and Harry, and when they caught up to them, they pelted them with water balloons and stole the water guns, making a run for it as they laughed. Wade and Zoe weren't happy about that turn of events but grabbed water balloons to get right back into the thick of it, not letting it get them down.

After the water balloons were gone and the water on the streets and sidewalks dried up from the sun, they once again made their way to town square. In the center of it, was a fire pit, the mayor taking control of the fire inside the metal pit, keeping it controlled. Only after they had eaten dinner could they go to the fire and roast marshmallows. Her friends showing Zoe the right way to make a s'mores. They couldn't agree on how well to roast the marshmallow for. Zoe settled on a nice golden brown, while others let theirs catch fire. They all agreed on the chocolate and graham cracker though.

Zoe thought the best way to wind down after a day filled with fun and laughter was sitting with her friends, enjoying a messy, sticky s'mores, as the sun set behind the horizon.