I've finally updated - sorry for the long wait. Last week was a mix of writer's block and the flue, but now I'm back and have finally developed some kind of a plan for this story. Anyway, here's the next chapter, I know it's short, but I just wanted to put something up, have been feeling guilty for not uploading :P

Disclaimer: I do not own Hart of Dixie

4. Determination

The first rays of the morning sun glided over the pond and up to banks, announcing that the day had come to the habitants of the clearing. One of them was Wade. He'd been asleep but awoke to the rays tickling his face. He'd come here last night after he'd found his brother on a date with his most recent conquest. He'd stayed up for most of the night thinking. His results were that the reason he was so intrigued by this girl wasn't romantic feelings, because he hadn't felt jealousy towards Jesse and his night with her didn't really stand up from the others. When he realized that he felt relief. He really didn't want to turn into some mushy romantic. No, the reason for his intrigue was that there was something off about that girl, something that just did not seem right. He'd decided last night that he was going to try to uncover that mystery, both because he wanted to be able to stop wondering about her and because he felt that whatever her past was, it was dangerous. So it was with a determined mind that he stood up and walked back to his car.

Zoe opened her eyes and looked over at the alarm clock by her bed. 5:45 AM. She sighed and turned to her other side. It figured that the only day of the week she allowed herself to sleep in she actually woke up early. But as she tried to get comfortable again she heard a sound that seemed to come from downstairs. Zoe thought that was strange, she didn't picture Harley up and about that early, maybe that was the reason she'd woken up. She carefully slid out of bed and slowly opened her door and sneaked out to the hall. She stopped ad the landing of the stairs and carefully leaned over to see without being seen. She spotted Hannah sneaking around in the kitchen, she'd obviously just returned from her date, that must've gone well. Zoe turned around to leave and go back to bed but suddenly she stopped as a thought popped into her head. Maybe she should go down and confront Hannah. She'd spun halfway back when she stopped as suddenly. No, she wouldn't go down there now. She didn't really have anything to confront her with other than her gut feeling and she knew that Harley, with his kindness and believe in the good would be really disappointed if she'd go around accusing Hannah for nothing. So she turned back into her bedroom, but now she was determined to figure this girl out. She had formed a plan in her head – she had third period free tomorrow, she'd go home and look around Hannah's room. Yes, she knew it was a low move, but she didn't care, she had to find out what this girl was hiding.

When Wade got home he had planned to go straight to his brother and demand some answers, but he wasn't up. That was odd, 'cause he was usually a very early riser, another thing that made him "the good brother". Wade snorted. If he wasn't up then Wade would just go take a nap, he hadn't had that much sleep last night, he'd confront Jesse when he woke up, it'd be no use to wake him up.

It was the afternoon when Wade finally woke up from his nap.

"Hey brother, I was startin' to wonder if I'd need to call the doc on ya" Jesse said as Wade stumbled into the living room.

"Shut up"

"What, you didn't get enough beauty sleep?"

"Like I need it" Wade said with a smirk and went into the kitchen and then returned a few moments later with two cans of soda. He tossed one to Jesse.

"What do I owe this wonderful service?" Jesse asked teasingly

"Nothin', just figured ya might want one" Wade said trying to sound his usual self. He wasn't really sure how to play this so he'd get the best answers out of Jesse. He decided just to go for it. "So, I saw you at Fancies last night, who was chick you were with. Didn't look to be from here?"

Wade held his breath waiting for Jesse to answer.

"Her name is Hannah. And no, she isn't from here, just moved last week. She's the new receptionist at the medical practice and is staying at Dr. Wilkes' until she gets her own place"

Wow, that was easy. He'd already gotten a boatload of information he didn't have before. Yeah, maybe it wasn't top secret, but he hadn't known and he'd need to find out from someone.

"So, where did you meet her?" he asked again, trying to sound casual and not to interested as he picked up the game console and started playing with his brother.

"Jeez, why the third degree? Not like you to show that much interest"

Wade froze. Crap. Had he blown it already

"I went in to see Dr. Wilkes on Thursday, got a nasty cut, and we started chatting, I thought she was cute so I asked her out" Jesse continued, not noticing his brother's reaction to what he'd meant as a joke. He actually liked that they were talking. He wanted to be closer to his brother.

Wade relaxed again. Man, he had to wind down a bit – wouldn't want Jesse to get suspicious.

"Anyway, her name is Hannah Lewis, she's from Washington, she just graduated high school last year and she's taking a year off before she goes to college next fall"

"A year off, in Bluebell?" Wade asked, a look of disbelieve and confusion on his face.

"That was my exact reaction" Jesse said laughing. "But apparently, she had some family in Filmore a few years back and had always liked this place. Said she wanted to try out the southern charm, see what all the fuss was about"

"Looks like she came to the right guy" Wade said, the compliment laced with a light, teasing disgust.

"Shut up" Jesse said and punched Wade lightly in the arm.

Wade decided to let the interrogation go, he didn't think he'd find out so much anyway, they'd only been on one date and he doubted the girl had poured out her heart on the first date.

Zoe carefully pushed the door on Hannah's room open. She knew that Hannah was supposed to be at the practice, but one can never be too careful. She stepped in and looked around. The guest bedroom was just like the last time she'd been here. There was absolutely nothing here that didn't belong to her or Harley. So Hannah definitely did not plan on making this room her home. Good. She walked over to the closet and opened it. Her duffel bag lay on the floor, she'd not hung up her clothes. Zoe rummaged carefully through the bag but found nothing. She walked over to the bed and drew open the drawer in the nightstand. In it lay a book. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was from Harley's library. Interesting. She didn't really seem the 19th century romance type. She picked it up and quickly ran through the pages and a note fell out of it. It was a small piece of paper that had been crumbled together. There was one sentence written in the middle. I will never forget. Interesting, Zoe thought. Wonder what this means. But her thoughts were interrupted as she heard the front door open. She quickly put the note in the book and the book in the nightstand and hurried out of the room.

Hope you liked it, please keep the reviews coming :D