Chapter 5: Up All Night

"My mom's name is Candice. She was born in New York City and she is a publicist. She has celebrities as her clients. She told me once that she had worked with Alec Baldwin before and that is so cool." Zoe said with admiration. She slowly took off her mask and placed it on her lap. So was he.

"My ma's name was Jacqueline. She was born here and she was a housewife. A good one too. She likes to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's and sang Moon River every night. She died 2 years ago on Christmas. "

"Wow. I wish I have met her. She sounds like a good person. I think we would really get along with each other."

"I think she will like you."

"Really? That's so sweet…My mom just sends a divorce paper to my dad a few days ago."

"Why? If you not mind." Wade was shocked. He didn't know that her mother was going to break up with doctor Wilkes. The Wilkes couple was like the happiest couple in Bluebell except Reverend Peter Mayfair and Beverly Mayfair. Harley and Candice always showed their love to each other whenever they went out together. But last year, she got an offer to New York City and she had never come back to this town ever since.

"How do I say it properly? My mom found a new guy and she falls in love with him. His name is Ethan Hart. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon at New York Hospital."

"Whoah. That's a lot to take in. How are you keeping it up?"

"I'm fine, to be honest. I think they have a problem for a long time ago and it's time for my parents to go their separate way."

"Let's change the subject. Something that not too dramatic."

"Okay. What do you want to know about me?"

"How about…Why do you does not have a southern accent?"

"Because I move here when I was only six."

"That explains why I haven't seen you before until grade one. But that is like ten years ago, how can you still not say in a southern accent."

"My southern accent is terrible."

"Show me."

"Today is a lovely day, isn't it?" Zoe started to say in that southern pronunciation. Wade burst out laughing so hard that his eyes began to watery.

"That was awful."

"I know." She couldn't stop laughing after she saw him shaking with laughter. "Hey, let's go to Nate's Hardware."

"Why? You want to buy a hammer or something?"

"No." She giggled. "I have heard from my dad that the store's rooftop have a great view of the town and can see a star from up there." She stood from her seat and took Wade's hand into her while the other hand held her mask. She entwined their fingers together and that made Wade wanted to scream 'Thank God!' for that. She walked down the stairs of the gazebo and lead the way to Nate's Hardware which was across the main street in the town square.

"Won't you think that Shady and Becky will be pissed?" Wade whispered from behind. Zoe started to climb up the stairs case to the roof and Wade followed.

"No, I don't think that Mr. and Mrs. Hilson will be annoy about this." Shady and Becky Hilson had currently owned Nate's Hardware. The first owner was Nathaniel Hilson, Shady's great-great-grandfather.

They finally came up to the rooftop and silently stared into a sky full of stars. Zoe slowly sat down on the floor and laid back down. She looked up to the sky. Wade came after and laid down beside her. They just situated there and watched the stars.

"What do you know about constellation?" Zoe spoke in hushed tones to Wade, broke the silence in the middle of the night.

"To be honest, I don't know anything about stars."

"You have to know at least one." Zoe pressed.

"Okay. Okay. I know what that star called." He pointed to the brightest star in the sky. "That star's name is Zyvarus."

"Wow. That's the weirdest name I have ever heard…Wait! Did you just made that up?" Sh asked in a whisper, confused with what he just said to her.

"Yep!" He then roared with laughter unable to just keep it inside anymore.

"Jerk!" She hit his arm but she tore up and laughed with him.

"I told you. I don't know anything about it. What about you? Which one that you know?"

"I only know one. It's called…Zyvarus." She giggled mimicking what Wade had said before.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. That is really funny." Wade muttered sarcasm rolled out of his lips.

They stayed in silent and gazed at view nature gave it to them. An hour had passed and suddenly the lights on the street were out.

"I know the lights are out and I know it's getting late. Do you want me to take you home?"

"But we're still young and we're wide awake. I don't want to go home yet."

"I don't think doctor Wilkes will appreciate that I didn't take you home."

"My curfew is 10." Wade looked at the time on his cellphone and almost dropped his phone on his face.

"Great Scott! It's almost midnight already. That old man is gonna kill me!." Wade started to panic and study up immediately not before he stretched his hand to Zoe.

"Relax, Wade."

"Relax? I can't right now…."

"My dad is staying at the hotel in Mobile tonight, he said that he will be back tomorrow at lunch time. Don't worry about it."

"Oh…But I should really take you home."

"Okay." She said in a quiet voice.

They walked back to the ride that they parked at the gazebo. When they were in front of Zoe's house, Wade stopped the Vespa and walked to her door like every gentleman would do. Chivalrous down south was not dead yet, you know.

"Hey!" Zoe said loudly to gain Wade's attention. "I got a good idea. Why don't you sit in that little spot over there." Wade was puzzled but obeyed her anyway. He sat on the bench on her front porch.

"Let's stay up all night. Keeping up the moon." She said, excited with her own idea. Wade only nodded because he didn't want this night to end yet. It was too good to be true.

"If we're gonna stay up all night. We have to do something to keep our eyes open." Wade suggested.

"Okay…Let's talk."

"Again?" Wade chuckled

"Yeah. Talk. I would like to know about your future. Like what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"My future? I don't have a future." Zoe's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. "I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I wish I have a camera right now. Your face is priceless." Wade laughed hard.

"I thought you were serious for a moment. I thought you were sick or something."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm not sure, but I want to be a bar owner someday. I like to serve."

"That's great. I know that wanted a new busboy because just resigns from the Rammer Jammer. Yesterday was his last day. Also his fiancé. You should try to talk to him. Maybe it's a good start to build your own bar in the future."

"Thank you. I will talk to him. What about you? What do you wanna be?"

"I want to be a doctor. A surgeon if I could. I know that my dad and doctor Breeland are just a general practitioner, so it would really help them if I choose another field of medicines."

"That would be awesome. You will become a supersonic space surgeon." They both laughed at each other. "Hey, can I call you 'doc'."

"Why?"

"Because I know that one day, you will become one of them. Why don't start now so you can get used to it." Zoe turned pink.

"Okay. Wadester."

"Wadester?" Wade asked bewildered. She didn't know why she said that either.

"You have a nickname for me. So I guess it seems fair that I have one for you too."

"Okay, doc." Wade drawled the word 'doc'.

They talked, talked, and talked. They talked about everything like their childhood, their likes, their dislikes, and their secrets. It was like they had been best friend for many years, the truth was they only began to talk with each other about a few weeks ago when Wade bumped into Zoe that day. They talked until the sky started to go orange from the sun coming up. They didn't aware that they really were staying up all night. The flock of birds started chirping and flying around. Zoe yawned and used her hand to cover her mouth.

"I should probably get going."

"Don't go yet."

"Doc, you looked tired. Go to bed. I will see you on Monday at school."

"Okay. Good night, I mean, good morning…ughh…You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Sleep tight, Zoe Wilkes."

"You too."

Wade walked down the front porch and reached to his Vespa before he heard Zoe said something to him from behind his back. Wade turned around and saw Zoe coming to the direction of him.

"Wade, Wait!" She quickly walked down and almost ran to Wade. 'It's now or never.' That was the only thought in her head right now. Zoe pressed her rosy and juicy lips against Wade's chapped lips. She had never been kissed before and she knew that Wade knew that. They closed their eyes and enjoyed the moment. Wade also had never been kissed, not until now. She snaked her arms around his neck and his arms surrounded her thin waist. He started to move a little and it was a like a flame that burned through his body, he bit her lower lip and she opened her mouth slightly, but enough for Wade to let his tongue dance with hers. They kissed and embraced each other until they needed an air. They let go of each other and smiled like a goof.

"Thank you for a good night kiss. Bye."

"Bye, doc." She slowly walked to her door and closed it behind her not before she flashed him her sweetest smile he had ever seen. He rode the Vespa back home with a smile that even a blind person like old man Jackson could see it from afar.