I had woken up to an annoyingly loud and continuous knocking on my front door. Since Wade and I's first date we had been on cloud nine, every moment that I had free was spent in the company of him. Which I suppose had been easy seeing as I didn't start work until the New Year, so I had either been watching and distracting Wade when he was working or helping him with the admin duties, seeing as he had little to no time to do it since Lemon had left. It was a win-win situation. However with all my time focused on Wade, we had forgotten to pay attention to Annabeth and Lavon. I rolled over and mumbled out a 'come in'.

"Zoe, you're still in bed?" Annabeth asked as she walked into the room.

"Yes, I was out late last night helping Wade," I grumbled getting out of bed.

She let out a little coo. "I'm so happy you guys are getting back on track," Annabeth paused. "However with Lemon being out of town and with it being so close to Christmas, we are little short for people to help set up the fire house for the dance tonight, do you reckon I could borrow you for a day?"

I had totally forgotten about the Masquerade dance tonight. It was another wacky annual tradition Bluebell had. However it was the one event I looked forward too. It was a night for people of all ages; it had a candy cane hunt for the kids, an awesome dress up photo booth and so much more.

"Sure, I'd love too!" I replied.

Annabeth smiled at me. "Thank you so much Zoe, I'll meet you there in an hour."

I quickly showered and headed to the Rammer Jammer before going to help Annabeth. I spotted Wade at the bar; he had his back to me. "Hey Stranger," I called whilst taking a seat at the bar.

He quickly jumped before hiding something from my view. "Hey you," he replied, leaning over the bar to kiss me.

"What do you have there," I nodded to where he once stood.

"Nothing for you to worry about!" he replied distracted. He was so out of character, I was starting to get worried.

"Right… Well, as much as I would love to be in your company today, I actually promised Annabeth I'd help her set up for the dance tonight, so I'll see you at home and we can go together?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's fine,"

I nodded again. Something was definitely fishy with Wade. I just hoped he wasn't having second thoughts about our relationship. "See you later then,"

"Zoe Hart at your service. Where do you want me?" I asked Annabeth who was knee deep in decorating the tables.

"Oh good Zoe, you're here, could you please help me with passing the things from the trolley," She asked.

I looked over at the trolley she was talking about; it was packed to the brim with silverware, glasses and little Christmas centre pieces. "Sure thing,"

We had somehow fallen into a routine, I'd pass her the centrepiece followed by forks, spoons and knives and lastly glasses and a napkin. "Has Wade talked to you or Lavon like in the past two days?" I asked her casually.

She looked up at me. "Barely seen the guy, why?" she asked.

"Things are going great between us, you know we talked about everything and wiped the slate clean… anyway yesterday Wade was his normal self, but this morning he was a bit distant and jumpy…"

"That does seem strange, because your date was three weeks ago and if he was worried about something he would've said something earlier…"

"That's what I thought but then again it is Wade and he does have a tendency to put off speaking about that sort of stuff…" I rambled.

"Did you say or do anything last night that might have made him upset?" she asked.

I pondered back to last night. "Not that I can think of..." I paused and thought about it some more until it dawned on me. "Oh no!"

"What?"

"I think I know what it is,"

"Sharing is caring," she said impatiently.

"I told him that I thought we should take things slow, you know focus more on us then sex and we haven't actually you know done it yet… I mean we have come close but every time we do I don't think we are at the stage yet and last night we ended up making out and then I had to tell him stop because it was too soon!" I said panicking. "What if he's sick of waiting and doesn't want to be with me anymore and he's having second thoughts?"

"Zoe!" Annabeth said soothingly. "Calm down okay, Wade's not like that,"

"Yes, the only thing that guy can think about is sex!" I screamed back at her.

"That was the old Wade… Look Zoe, you are probably just over analysing things, it's probably something to do with the Rammer Jammer, you know could've just caught him at a bad time."

I stopped my pacing and began to calm down. Annabeth was right, I probably was just over reacting but to be on the safe side, I was going to plan the perfect night at the dance tonight for him, to show him that I was worth waiting for. "You're right AB! But just to be sure, I'm going to need your help and I'm going to need to steal one of these," I said as I picked up a centre piece. "Also a couple of these and a bit of those," I said picking up cutlery and two glasses.

"Zoe, what are you doing?" she asked me.

"Wade is always doing cute little romantic things for me and I want to show him some appreciation and also to make sure he's not having second thoughts," I smiled.

"Okay and where do I fit into your little plan?" she asked. "Remember I do have a boyfriend of my own…"

"Tonight just before the fireworks are due to go off, I'm going to sneak out and wait at the gazebo with a lovely dessert picnic and your job is to create some reason for Wade to go to the gazebo and then we can enjoy watching the fireworks together!" I said, as I clapped my hands together.

"That sounds do-able!"

After a couple of hours of hard work, Annabeth, the remaining Belles and I had managed to transform the fire house into a truly magical Winter Wonderland. I stood in front of my full length mirror admiring my ball gown. I had chosen a gorgeous navy blue dress that was slim fitting at my bust then flowed to the ground. It was one of my favourite dresses; I had worn it for my med school ball and now I was about to create new memories in this dress.

I heard a wolf whistle from behind. "You look gorgeous!"

I turned around and looked at Wade; he was leaning against the door frame in his suit and a matching tie to my dress. I sauntered over to him. "You don't look to bad yourself either," I replied pecking his lips. "Shall we go?"

He nodded as he picked up my purse from the bed and grabbed my hand. We sat in a comfortable silence on the drive to town. Wade seemed to have returned to his normal self but something was still a little off.

We walked hand in hand into the fire house. The place looked gorgeous. We had decorated the place with light blue and white drapes that covered the walls and little hand-made snowflakes dangled from the roof. Christmas trees were scattered around the room and covered in fake snow. "You and Annabeth did a great job," Wade commented.

"I think it's going to be an amazing night," I smiled and led him over to where Dash was. Apparently Dash had begged the Belle's to let him do a contest as a part of the activities for the night.

"Dr Hart and Wade, would like a ballot to vote?" He asked us. I nodded and grabbed the two slips of paper he was holding.

"Why did they let him do this? It feels like we are teens all over again at a high school dance!" Wade said.

I laughed at him. "Wade, it's just some fun plus you know you might win a category!" I teased.

"What are the categories?"

"Let's see, best dressed male and female and the cutest couple of the night," I said reading off the paper.

"I know who I'm voting for," he replied, as he snatched a slip from my hand.

"Who?" I asked.

"You'll just have to see!" he replied.

I looked at my piece of paper. I glanced around the room admiring everyone's attire, even though everyone was wearing a mask, it was easy to tell who was who in Bluebell. For best dressed I voted for Tansy, best dressed male I chose Wade and for the cutest couple I chose Annabeth and Lavon.

The night was going fabulous, Wade had returned to his normal self and we were dancing and laughing the night away. "Who knew Wade Kinsella could dance?" I said as we swayed to a cute love song.

"One of my many talents," he said raising his eyebrows.

I giggled like a little girl. The music died down and Dash climbed on to the makeshift stage. "Ladies and Gents, I've counted your votes and it's time to announce the winners." Everybody applauded and cheered. "Oh righty then, our first category is Best Dressed Ladies, the finalists are Miss Tansy Truitt, Mrs Crickett Watts and Miss Zoe Hart"

I looked at Wade who wore a smirk on his face; I walked up on stage and joined Tansy and Crickett. How I even got voted in was beyond me. "And the best dressed female is…" Dash paused, as a drum roll was heard. "Miss Tansy Truitt!" Dash bellowed as he presented her with a silver sash. I smiled, even though I didn't expect to win, I was a little upset.

"You're still the most gorgeous gal in the room to me," Wade smiled, as I re-joined him.

I blushed slightly. I loved how Wade could make feel special with just a few words. "Thankyou,"

"Okay folks, now for the best dressed male, the three finalists are George Tucker, Tom Long and Wade Kinsella!"

I mumbled a good luck into Wade's ear before he headed on stage. I knew if he won I'd never hear the end of it.

"Drum roll please!" Dash said. "The best dressed male of the night is Wade Kinsella!"

I laughed as he walked off the stage, satisfied with his win. "I just can't help but be good lookin'," he smirked.

"Don't get to cocky now," I laughed at him.

Before we knew it, Wade and I were standing on the stage next to Annabeth and Lavon and Wanda and Tom, we were all the finalists for the cutest couple. "And the cutest couple is Miss Zoe Hart and Wade Kinsella!"

My smile took over my face, as Wade and I walked over to Dash hand in hand. I looked up at him and smiled as we shared a kiss. I was glad that everybody thought we were the cutest couple. "I believe that's two awards I've won in one night; I'm just too damn good!" Wade said teasingly.

I scoffed. "Hey, you wouldn't have been able to win one of those without me!" I laughed. "Oh and I thought it was a stupid contest…" I said reciting his words from earlier.

We were interrupted by Annabeth. "Sorry to interrupt, but I need to borrow you Zoe," Annabeth sent a quick smile before dragging me away.

"What's up AB?" I asked.

"Please don't get mad, but with all the chaos, I forgot to tell Lavon to set up the gazebo before he got here, we've still got thirty minutes till the fireworks and I can help you set it up now," she said worried.

"No, no that's fine, we have time if we go now." I said.

"Lavon said the picnic basket was on the second shelf and the candles were on the fifth," Annabeth stated as we walked into the shed.

I looked around on the fifth shelf, as got the picnic basket out. I was rummaging around in a few boxes until I knocked one off. I sighed and started to pick up the various bits and pieces before I noticed a small black velvet box poking out from underneath a piece of cloth. I know I shouldn't but I couldn't help myself and before I could stop myself I pulled the box out and flipped the lid open. My stomach dropped as I looked at the contents, it was a beautiful white gold engagement ring. "AB, look," I said as I held out the ring.

She turned around and looked at the box in my hands. 'Is that a?" her voice hitched.

I nodded. One of us was going to be engaged.


A longer chapter for you all, tell me what you think?

Next:

- Annabeth and Zoe try to work out who is planning to propose