Disclaimer: I do not own Hart of Dixie

6. Luncheon

When Wade turned down his street he came to a quick stop. He noticed two people standing on Dr. Wilkes' doorstep. He quickly moved into the shadows and quietly moved further down the street so he could see who it was and hear what they were saying. When he reached the Wilkes' driveway he noticed that his suspicions were right, it was Hannah and his brother.

"I had a great time tonight" he heard Jesse say.

"Yeah, me too" Hannah replied.

Wade watched as his brother went in for a good night kiss and was surprised when Hannah backed away.

"I'm sorry, I am just not ready. I just got out of a bad relationship and ..."

"No, I'm the one that should be sorry, please, you don't have to say anything" Jesse caught her off, always the gentleman. He took Hannah's hand and lightly placed a kiss on the back of it and said good night, turned away and started walking down the drive.

"Shit" Wade said under his breath. Jesse would reach the end of the driveway, and even if he would turn the other way to go to their house, he'd still see Wade standing there, so he crouched down and tried to disappear into the bushes next door. He held his breath as his brother came into his vision, but luckily he was still staring up at Hannah when he made his turn and didn't even glance in Wade's direction. When Jesse had turned into their own driveway Wade let out a sigh and slowly moved out of his hiding spot. He sneaked a peak at the Wilkes' house, Hannah had gone inside and all the lights were out.

This had been weird. Hannah hadn't had a problem hooking up with him on her first night in town. Was that because it was completely meaningless for her, or was it that she just didn't want to get involved with Jesse? No it couldn't be that, why would she then have gotten on a second date with him? Plus, every girl wanted to be with Jesse. Maybe it was just that she didn't do serious relationships. Or maybe she didn't want to get attached to Bluebell. What ever it was, Wade was itching to get something more, his lack of progress was infuriating.

"Hey, brother, have fun at the dance?" Jesse asked when Wade came in.

"Yeah, sure, it was alright" Wade replied, his head still working like crazy.

Jesse looked at his brother with a funny look that Wade read as a ok, you don't want to talk about it, but I know that you had some fun look.

"How was your night?"

"Oh, it was good. Had another date with Hannah, that is one fine piece of ass"

"Yeah, I'd do her" Wade said with a smirk.

"Like she'd go for you" Jesse shot back, he didn't like his brother's stupid smirk.

Wade decided not to tell his brother that she already had, he thought that it might bruise his ego, and he really needed to stay on his good side.

"Yeah, you're right, she probably wouldn't go for a younger guy" he said, trying to fish something out of his brother.

Jesse didn't say anything, he was taken aback by the fact that his brother hadn't shot back at him.

"So, you guys plannin' the weddin' already?" Wade asked, deciding that he needed to step up so he wouldn't lose this chance.

Jesse laughed nervously, obviously Hannah's dismissal earlier had had some effect on him. "No, we've only been on like two dates. Besides, I can't start putting down roots, I've got to get going to California"

"Yeah, about that, when exactly are you goin' over there?"

"Soon" was all Jesse said in reply and then he just got up and left.

What the hell? Since when was Jesse not eager to get up and leave for his glamorous live? There had been to much confusion for one night, Wade's head was all over the place, so he decided to call it a night and headed for bed.

Zoe sat at the kitchen table doing her homework. Her dad was in his study and Pauline was cooking. They were having the Breelands over for lunch. Zoe did not really look forward to it. Sure, Brick wasn't so bad and he really needed the support of his friends since his wife left last year, and Magnolia was a really cute baby, though she definitely had some of her sister's qualities as she was really headstrong. Speaking of her sister, Lemon was definitely the reason for why Zoe was dreading today. She knew Lemon had been through much with her mother leaving, and Zoe really had trying burying the hatchet last year, but Lemon wouldn't have any of it, she was determined to hate Zoe, so Zoe gave up and just kept on hating her back.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when Hannah appeared from upstairs.

"Good morning, dear. You must've stayed up long on your date if you're only getting up now, it's nearly lunch time" Pauline said with her usual motherly concern.

"Yeah, I guess" Hannah said dismissively.

"A date? Jesse Kinsella again?" Zoe asked, trying to sound very casual and not show her eagerness.

Hannah just nodded her head as she went to the fridge and got some orange juice.

"That is one handsome boy. And it doesn't do any harm that he was in the army and is going away to California to college" Pauline said, with a dreamy look on her face.

"He's going to California?" Hannah asked, confused.

"Well, yes dear. I can't believe he didn't mention that, and you've been on two dates. Now that you mention it, he should've left by now, shouldn't he?" Pauline asked, looking at Zoe.

"Yeah, when I ran into him last Saturday he said he'd be leaving in a couple of days. Guess his plan changed a bit" Zoe asked, her head spinning. Hannah didn't know that Jesse was leaving for college. Was it because she just didn't ask or was Jesse having second thoughts?

"Maybe you made such a strong impression on him, dear" Pauline said teasingly.

"Yeah, you must have. Jesse takes every chance he gets to show off his abs, and California is perfect for that" Zoe said jokingly.

Hannah just sat there, taking the jokes from the other two.

"Common now, be nice. Young Hannah here has really improved the way things run at the practice and I'd hate for you two to chase her out of town" Harley said as he came into the kitchen.

Zoe watched her dad as he walked over to Pauline and gave her a warm hug and a light kiss on the lips. She was so happy that her dad had finally found someone. This picture would be perfect, if only Hannah wouldn't be in it.

"Zoe, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry dad, I zoned out for a minute. What did you say?"

"I just asked you to put away your schoolwork, Brick's car just pulled up in the driveway"

"Oh, yeah, sure" Zoe said as she started packing away her things. She heard the doorbell as she walked up the stairs and could hear her father greeting Brick and his daughters when she put her things in her room. She stopped by her window, taking a few breaths and preparing herself for all the fake politness she'd have to put up for today. Her eyes were just drifting when they stopped at Wade's window. There he was, laying in bed, sleeping, in nothing but his boxers with the covers tossed to his side. She couldn't help but notice that he looked really hot, just laying there. Wow, snap out of it, Zoe thought to herself. You don't like Wade, he's infuriating. She quickly turned away from the window and walked downstairs.

"Zoe, there you are, how are you today?" Brick asked as she appeared in the living room.

"Oh, just fine, Dr. Breeland" she replied.

"Did you have fun at the dance last night?"

"Yeah, sure, it was fun" Zoe said and she could hear Lemon's snort from across the room. Obviously, Lemon had noticed that Zoe's night had been anything but fun.

"Well, lunch is ready, and since it's such a fabulous day Pauline and I were thinking of eating outside, if you don't mind?" Harley said quickly, before Zoe had a chance to snap at Lemon

"What a fantastic idea" Brick said, standing up and gesturing for Lemon to do the same.

They carried the food to the back porch and sat down to eat.

"So, Hannah, are you settling in alright?" Brick asked between bites.

"Yeah, it's fine, Dr. Wilkes has been very hospitable"

"Oh I bet. Have you talked to Babs Foster? She's the town's realtor. I know that you must want to have a place for your own, a young woman like yourself doesn't want to be stuck with some old man and his teenage daughter" Brick asked and Harley laughed with him.

"Oh, no, I have not talked to her, I.. I actually don't mind staying here" Hannah mumbled nervously. Harley and Brick just continued laughing lightly.

"Don't worry, dear, I won't be offended. Why don't I talk to Babs and get her to phone you on Monday?" Harley said kindly.

"Sure, I guess it wouldn't hurt"

Zoe sat back and listened to the conversation. Hannah leaving their house would be nice, but if she got her own place that would mean that she intended on staying, and that would be bad. She decided she needed to speed up her investigation and find something that she could use against her. As she tried to come up with a good idea the other kept on conversing and she noticed that Wade was standing out in his own backyard, keeping the pretense of building something she couldn't see but clearly listening in on their meal. What was his problem, Zoe thought irritated.

"Hannah, I am curious, what brought you to Bluebell?" Lemon asked.

"Darling, I already told you, she's taking a year off before going to college" Brick said, clearly not wanting his daughter to grill Hannah.

"Oh, I know that, but why Bluebell?" Lemon continued, determined to get her answers.

"I told you that too, she used to have family in Filmore and always liked it down here" Brick was starting to sound a bit angry.

"Oh, I know that too, daddy, but this is Bluebell, why didn't you just go to Filmore?"

"Lemon, drop it" Brick said sternly.

"Dr. Breeland, it's fine. I thought about coming to Filmore, but when I got there I found it had to many memories of my grandmother and there were no job openings there" Hannah said, smiling. Both Lemon and Zoe could easily see that it was a facade.

"Oh, honey, were you close with your grandmother?" Pauline asked, clearly buying into the act.

"Yeah, when I was younger. But she died ten years ago, so I didn't get as much time with her as I would've liked" Hannah said, looking like she was choking up. Damn, she's good, Zoe thought.

"What was your grandmother's name?" Zoe asked innocently.

Everyone looked at Hannah, waiting for her answer.

"Louisa" Hannah finally said.

"Louisa Lewis?" Lemon asked sceptically.

"Yes" Hannah said, looking Lemon straight in the eye.

"Who's up for dessert?" Pauline said, standing up, trying to change the subject.

The men got up, but the three girls sat still, staring at each other.

"Are you done with your interrogation now?"

"Yes, I think I'll like you. Welcome to Bluebell" Lemon said as she stood up and extended her hand.

Zoe sat there dumbfounded as she watched Hannah take Lemon's hand and the two walked out into the yard talking. She couldn't believe that Lemon had bought all that crap.

The rest of the day had gone as Zoe had expected. She and Lemon managed a few shots in between the casual conversation and games. Now she was sitting in her room, searching the computer. She did not find any record of anyone named Louisa Lewis in Filmore, not that she was surprised. She heard a knock on the door and then saw Harley's head appear from behind the door.

"Jonah is downstairs, asking to see you"

"Ok, I'll come down" Zoe said, turning off the computer and then following her father downstairs.

"Hey" she said to Jonah as she stepped out onto the front porch

"Hey" Jonah said standing up from the bench he'd been sitting on. "Wanna take a walk?"

"Yeah, sure" Zoe said as they descended the front steps.

They walked in silence for a minute until they reached the town square. "Listen" Jonah said as he sat down on one of the benches and gestured for Zoe to do the same. "I don't think we're working anymore"

"Wow, that was straight to the point" Zoe said, taken aback by Jonah's straightforwardness.

"Yeah, it's just that this last week you've been so busy, doin' something, I don't even know what, and then I'm also busy with practice, and quite frankly I don't care for having to defend myself like yesterday"

"Are you kidding?" Zoe asked, now turning angry.

"No, I'm not. Zoe, when we started dating last spring, everyone was surprised that I'd wanna be in a steady relationship, because of my previous, womanizing ways. Back then I told you not to worry, because you were special, and I didn't want to be with anyone else. Now, I don't feel that way anymore"

"So, you're saying that I'm not enough for you anymore"

"Well, yeah. We've been dating for almost four months and the furthest we've gotten is a feel over the bra and..." He didn't get any further because Zoe cut him off.

"Are you joking?" she almost screamed. "You're breaking up with me because we haven't had sex yet?"

"Not just because of that, also because of your attitude, acting like you own me and that I have to let you know what I am doing all the time and..." He was getting frustrated that she wouldn't let him finish his sentences.

"You know what, just shut up! I was stupid to ever think that you'd change, that maybe I would be enough for you. I am glad that I didn't sleep with you" she said and stood up

"Zoe, common, there's no need to be angry, we can still be friends"

"We were never friends, Jonah. You don't have girls as friends, they are just entertainment to you" she said and stormed off, leaving Jonah sitting on the bench.