Author's Note: So I hope you enjoy this, I been in a funk, plus trying to get a job, and doing various projects. I miss the days when writting was new and I couldn't stop, now sometimes it is hard to get started. As always, I try my best but grammar and me don't get along.

Chapter Eight:

Zoe woke up, exhausted to the sound of her alarm clock ringing. Wade…where was he? She wondered, perhaps he sneaked back to his place, but she could smell something cooking… "Hmm," It lured her in and she saw him whipping up some pancakes once she was caught by the scent, now caught by the sight.

"Good morning," He laid a plate down in front of her with eggs, bacon, and pancakes, all the essentials of breakfast.

"Good morning," She smiled. "Mmmm, if you make me breakfast ever morning I might just let you live here." She covered her mouth as she realized what she just said, "I mean….um well…this is nice." She shoved some pancakes in her mouth. Wade just grinned.

"Oh come on doc, you can't just tease a guy with an offer like that." His elbows were on the table and he brought his lips closer to her. She tried to speak through the pancakes but all that came out was urmff. He just chuckled and placed a quick kiss on her forehead, "Ah maybe I'll have take you on that offer another day."

She swallowed her food and glared at him, "Why do you always got to tease me. I might like you more."

"Ah but doc, that's the dynamics of our relationship besides I think you like me plenty fine." He leaned back in his chair. She smiled, it was true. Then her face fell because last night came in a rush, George had come over last night and now she realized she liked two guys.

"What's wrong Zoe," Wade's voice sounded a lot like on the edge of worry, "You uh…worried about your figure cause where I'm sitting you could use some more pancakes." She could tell he was nervous by the way he quickly grabbed her plate and seemed to fumble a little. Wade was not a clumsy guy.

"Are you saying I'm too skinny for you?" She asked with a mock glare.

"Well doc, I'm just saying…you look fine…you can stay that way…not that looks are all…well I'm just saying I like cooking breakfast for a girl who will actually eat it." He finally managed to stumble out.

"I like eating breakfast from a guy who can cook good."

"Aww, you're so sweet, doll."

"Don't let it go to your head Wade, and I'm not a doll, well I probably should get ready for work. So out you go." She waved him away.

"What ah come on, at least let me see you naked." He grinned wildly. She shoved him out the door.

"I was joking!" She leaned against the door with a big smile of her own, which turned back to a frown as she remembered that she was in over her head….again. That seemed to happen a lot since she came to bluebell.

Zoe checked Tom's ankle,"Looks, like it is all healed up buddy.

Wanda clapped hands, "Oh that's great news," She smiled brightly.

"Yes, I have to thank my darling Wanda," He gazed up at the redhead grabbed her hands, "I love you so much, though I'm still so embarrassed."

"Oh Tom," Wanda gushed, "I'm just glad you are okay." She wrapped her arms around him, "You know I care for you so much."

"I just…" Tom was blushing, "Wanda, I just wanted to impress you."

"There was no need to do that. I'm already impressed with you." Zoe watched the scene as she filled out some paperwork. Zoe had to hold back a giggle, it was so adorable.

"Oh Wanda my lady, you make me want to sing." He was about to open his mouth.

Zoe held up her file in front of his face, "Not here, this is still a doctor's office…I need to maintain professionalism."

"Of course doc," Tom said hoping off the table.

She huffed, "Well, you are ready to go." She said.

"Thank you so much Dr. Hart," Wanda said as she and Tom walked out the door.

"And just so you know we don't believe in the rumors," Tom stated and Wanda nodded her head in agreement before they were out the door.

"What rumors?"

The receptionist spoke up, "oh he was just talking about that little tale about you messing around with George and Wade."

"What? I'm only seeing Wade right now."

"Yeah that's not the worse of it, they are calling you a home-wrecker and some other less respectable things."

"Why?"

"Who knows there has been so much gossip going around since that whole wedding fiasco."

Zoe just shook her head, "Just when bluebell is starting to accept me, too." And she realized she was glad that Dr. Breeland took a couple days to be with Lemon.

Lemon did nothing but answer and call on the phone all day. She was never one to take things lying down; though George should handle all these matters, she would not let him do it. The business of shutting down a wedding was easier than the actual realization of her being left at the altar.

"Don't you think you should take some time to recuperate first?" Dr. Breeland stated.

"Recuperate from what exactly what daddy?" She looked at him with hand on her hip and he was a bit taken aback, "I'm not any physical pain, I just got left at the altar and now all my plans were hanging on George I'm going to need to do something else. I can't stay here forever, daddy."

"Well, you can stay awhile, pumpkin, nobody's pushing you to leave so soon."

"I know, but the sooner I get off my feet the better I will feel."

"I understand Honey but you be ill the last couple days due to the stress. Don't you think you shouldn't add on to it."

"Daddy leave her be, you know you ain't going to talk her out of anyway," Magnolia spoke.

Lemon looked up, "Oh don't you think your getting away with last night's incident."

Brick brought his eyes on his younger daughter, "What incident?"

"She was caught kissing John Williamson on the bleachers when she was supposed to be tutoring."

Magnolia crossed her arms, "and after I was defending you and all."

"Young lady what where you doing at those bleachers."

Magnolia rolled her eyes, "it's not a big deal,"

'It's a very deal and well…Lemon tell her what's going to happen,"

Lemon sighed maybe daddy's need for her to stay had nothing to do with his worry over her, but more over her baby sister. She knew her daddy meant well, he was a man and just was not set for raising a teenage girl but neither was she. "Daddy I think…" The door bell rang and she found herself staring at the last person she ever thought she see.

George timed it perfectly, he found himself crossing paths with Miss Zoe Hart, but she began to turn the other way. "Zoe," he called as he ran up to her.

She tried to move quickly. "Uh gotta go," She did not want to deal with this right now, it just still barely registered all of last in her head. That George wanted to be with her and left Lemon at the altar, and the date with Wade was incredible.

"Come on Zoe, I got to talk to you." He tried to grabbed her arm.

She turned around, "George I can't talk to you right now okay. You just sprung this on me, and what do you expect, I'm seeing Wade."

"It's been one date besides I'm not asking for anything I just want to talk."

She shook her head in disbelief, "I can't even talk about this right now."

"Why not? I have feelings for you, you have feelings for me. Why can't we just admit those. " George asked.

"You had your chance and you walked away."

"And now I'm asking for a second chance."

"I got patients to see."

He grabbed her arm once more, "Why won't you talk to me?"

"Because I don't know what to do," She jerked her hand out from his grip, "Wade's in love with me."

George sighed he put two arms around her, "but are you in love with him."

She shook her head, "I don't know."

"But you do love me."

She was on the verge of tears, "Let me go, I need time to think."

"Alright, alright," He shook his head in agreement, as he took a couple steps away from her.

"Huh thank you," She called as she ran away.

Lavon had honestly considered hiding at first the next day. Zoe and Wade had looked so stupidly happy, he was not ready for what would happen once the town gossip hit. He knew the doctor would be conflicted and Wade, well he hoped he could deter him from doing anything too stupid. He wondered who would be the first one to seek his advice.

His answer came in the form of Zoe practically running into his house. "What are you doing girl? You running from some of Davis' Cows again?"

"No, I wish that would be easier to deal with," She threw herself in the nearest seat and buried her head in her hands.

"The gossip?" Lavon asked only pretending to be half way interested, when he completely was.

"George, why didn't you tell me yesterday that the wedding ended?"

"Well, there was not much of an opportunity to say 'Wade and you had a nice time, oh by the way, George is available now."

She sighed, "Ah this is such a mess."

"Why? You could be with George now?" He replied flipping a page.

"Lavon have you been paying attention, I'm with Wade, of course this is hard."

"Well, this is actually a lot easier then I thought it would be."

"What?" Zoe shook her head in disbelief.

"You already made your choice, Zoe. Don't make this more complicated, you're with Wade." She stared at him, then blinked. It really was that easy, wasn't it? Despite her feelings for George, she had growing feelings for Wade, and in reality she had already decided. She could run after George, but what kind of person would that make her, besides she had put her heart out there for him. He rejected her. Now he wanted a second chance, what if he threw that away later. Wade put himself out there, he...they deserved to see where this was going, and she would think about New York Later.

"I guess you are right." She half smiled. Now she had to tell George, "I got to go."

"Well, that is probably as easy as it is going to get. Let's see here, what actually is going on in Bluebelle?"

-*-line

"Wade, what are you doing here?" Lemon asked confused.

"I'm not sure, just are you and George really over?"

"I don't see how that's your concern, for crying out loud Wade Kinsella," Hand on her hip she stared at Wade. It was bad enough that George left her and that the how town was talking about it. Did she have to be subject to this humiliation

"You know, I don't want to be here anymore than you want me to be."

"Honey, who's at the door?" her father called.

"Nobody daddy, I'll just be a minute." She stepped out. "Unless you got a reason to be here, I suggest you just go, now."

"I'm here," he ran a hand through his hair, "Look Lemon, I honestly don't know why I bothered, but I was at the bar and heard the gossip and I..."

"Just spit it out." She snapped her fingers.

"I wanted to get it from the horse's mouth alright about George. I wasn't here for the the wedding and don't tell anyone I said this, but I wanted to make sure you were okay."

She sighed, "I appreciate that, and don't worry, nobody would believe me." Wade began to walk to his truck feeling about guilty, he did want to make sure she was alright, but mainly he had another reason for coming there. When he heard all the town gossip, he had took running needing to know. "and you can't fool me, I know you want to know if George dumped me for Zoe." He froze. "And I'll do the decent thing, because I may not like you much but I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone and I really think you are sincere about Zoe, so yes, I'm pretty sure he dumped me for Zoe."

"Thank you, and I'm sorry..."

She shook her head. "You're not, and I can't say I might not have done the same though I would have been more sullen. If you excuse me I got pieces to pick up and a job to find."

"If you get desperate there is always room at the Rammer Jammer, some girl is always quitting to go and see what's going on outside of Bluebelle."

"Really, I thought that would be slowly down without you breaking hearts."

"I'm not to blame for every girl who runs out of town."

"No just half of them." She held back a smile, because at least this was normal. She watched Wade drive away, and she hoped that he got the girl. For one it would serve George right, she was a southern lady, and that was the last type of woman you wanted to scorn. Two, she kind of liked what she saw in Wade, as much as she did not like Zoe or Wade, they were go for each other, and if Wade kept Zoe from stealing any other eligible men that she might want to pursue and Zoe kept Wade from chasing after women that Lemon more than often would.

It didn't take her long to find George at the town square leaving from work. "Hey Zoe," He waved her down.

"Hi," She greeted. Just tell him, she told herself, tell him now. She fidgeted with her fingers while George stared her down trying to find his words.

"Zoe,"

"George," They bother spoke at the same time.

"You go first," She replied.

HE laughed lightly, "Okay I...well I...sometimes actions speak louder than words."

"What?" She looked wide eyed at him as he leaned in.

break

Wade had been looking for Zoe all over. He had to talk to her, he hoped George didn't find her first, but all that was rip from underneath as he watched the lawyer kiss her on the lips. He turned away to quick to see Zoe push the guy away.

"I'm with Wade, you had your chance." She looked him straight in the eyes.

"I don't understand if you love me, and I have feelings for you, shouldn't you be with the person you love."

"I may love you, but I'm falling for Wade and he was there for me. He loves me, and this thing between us it is really good. I don't want to jeopardize something like that for a maybe."

George stared at her disbelief, "We are talking about Wade right?" He waved his hands around. "The same guy who changed girls like underwear, who's most steady girlfriend was crazy Jolene?"

She nodded, "Yeah, but he is also the same guy who took me on a date catching fireflies, and poured his heart out to me and saw me looking at another guy and decide to give me a chance."

"But you can't give me another chance?"

She shook her head, "Not right now, it maybe selfish, but I'm actually happy right now."

"And what about when you go to New York or you going to stay now."

"I don't see why that concerns you, you were ready to get into a relationship with me knowing about that. Let's just go back to be friends, okay." She smiled, "I know it won't be easy, but I think we can make it work. And the New York thing I'll work out later."

"Okay," George shook his head in disbelief.

-8_