Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your reviews. I am sorry this update took so long, but I was having a little trouble with the party scene. I wanted it to be believable and true to character, and I was having some difficulty getting there. I hope I did. Thank you to LittleRed22 for what you said about the amnesia being realistic. I was really worried about that. You are so sweet. You all are. If you want me to respond to your review, either here, or with the respond to review button, please let me know. I would be happy to, especially since you took the time to review. i would also be happy to answer any questions, but make sure that you're clear whether you actually want to know or not. Sometimes, people ask about things they are wondering about, but they do not actually want to know because that is spoilers. Again, thank you all so much for your sweet reviews.I am afraid that this chapter is not the flashback Zoe/Lemon chapter. We are not quite there yet, but it will come. Please be patient with me. I hope you enjoy this update. Have good day.
Chapter Four
Zoe walked over to the main house nervously. Lemon had come over thirty minutes ago and told her that some of her old friends wanted to welcome her back from the hospital and wish her well. There was supposedly a small gathering in the main house, and Zoe should meander down when she was dressed and ready. Lemon suggested something casual but nice, something Zoe could dance in and not worry about ruining with a wine stain, but something that would still make her feel confident and sexy. It was quite a tall order to fill for a girl who knew nothing of her taste in clothing. She finally settled on a black skirt that ended just below the knees, a blue top, and a pair of heels hiding in the back of her closet.
She stood on the porch for a minute, nervously twirling her hair. She could do this; she knew she could. Still, she could not help feeling it would be easier to just run back to her room and hide. She wished Wade were here; she would feel more at ease if he were around.
Zoe slowly opened the door, and was greeting by a million strange faces smiling at her. There was a huge banner that read welcome home Zoe, a phrase that everybody in the room yelled when they spotted her. Zoe smiled appreciatively, though she felt woozy and wanted nothing more than to lie down in her bed, away from all the expectant strangers.
"Hey, I'm glad you came over, I was startin' to worry, mostly because when Lemon plans and plans and then things don't go exactly according to plan she can get kind of bitchy. I still don't understand why you became friends with her."
"Me neither." Zoe said truthfully. Rose Hattenbarger had ambushed her from behind. Not that Zoe did not like Rose, she seemed like a nice enough girl, but she talked a lot, and now she was bringing up questions about things Zoe couldn't possibly remember.
Rose seemed to realize her mistake, "Right." She said awkwardly. "So, you feelin' any better?"
"Um, a little." Zoe lied. Truth was, her head was throbbing, but she was sick of all the pity and concern she was getting. That was almost worse than the headache.
"Want me to get you somethin'? A water? Booze?"
"Um, a water sounds good." Zoe said. The water might help with the lightheadedness, but really, she just wanted to get Rose to be quiet so she could get her bearings. Rose obediently went to get Zoe a water and Zoe sat down on the nearest chair, feeling relieved that all her body weight was no longer resting on her legs. She scanned the room looking for a familiar face, and was relieved when she finally locked eyes with Wade. He caught he gaze and smiled, but made no attempt to walk over to her, so she got herself up and headed in his direction.
Wade looked up again and saw that Zoe was coming over. Why was she coming over? Why couldn't she just sit over there looking sexy as hell and ignore him, enjoy the party, hang out with George maybe? His hands started to sweat. Okay buddy, time to put your game face on. Just play it cool.
"Well, hey there Doc. Enjoyin' your party?"
"Honestly? No, but I'm sure Lemon meant well."
Wade took a drink from his beer, "Would a drink help?"
"I think I'm disoriented enough without adding alcohol into the mix."
"Yeah, you do get a little crazy when you're drunk. "
"Hey!"
"Don't get me wrong, it's good crazy. You're way more fun drunk than sober."
"So you're saying when I'm sober I'm no fun?"
"Well, you're still fun, but in a different way. I guess it depends on your definition of fun."
Zoe smiled, "So, you haven't been by to see me these past few days." Wade seemed to get distracted by something else in the room. "You been busy?" Wade shrugged. "Is there a reason you're not looking at me?"
In response to the accusation, Wade finally looked at her. Their eyes locked, and for a second, he could not catch his breath. He swallowed hard, trying to think of something to say.
"Sorry I haven't stopped by. You're right, I've just been really busy lately."
"Oh." Zoe said awkwardly.
"Yeah, but, uh, I'm here now, so… is all forgiven?"
"Well a party isn't exactly the same as one on one time. Let's just say you're on probation." Wade laughed.
"You sure you don't want a drink? Non-alcoholic, of course."
"Well, Rose went to get me a water, but I'm not sure where she got off to."
"You sent a nineteen-year-old off like a servant?"
"She offered!"
Wade laughed, "Well, until she finds you, why don't I get you a coke?"
Zoe nodded, "Sounds good."
Wade grabbed a bottle from the cooler and poured it into a glass.
"Why are you standing so close to the drinks anyway?"
"Habit I guess."
"What, are you an alcoholic or something?"
"Bartender actually. Or, at least I was, for a long time."
"What do you do now?"
"Well, I still work at the same place, but I've been moving up the ladder a little. I got big plans, Zoe Hart, big plans."
"So you're the small-town boy who always wanted more?"
"Nah. That'd be George. Me, I was always happy in good ol' Bluebell, but recent events caused me to make a few changes."
"What kind of events?" Zoe asked, her curiosity peaked.
Wade shook his head, "That information is on a need to know basis Doc."
" 'Nother thing I can't know while my head is empty?" Zoe said bitterly.
" 'Course not. It's just personal is all. Even with your memory, you're not getting anywhere near that secret."
"Hey." A voice said from behind. Zoe noticed Wade stiffen.
She recognized the voice as George's, and she was proud that she had already learned his voice.
"Hey there Tucker. Like a beer?"
George looked at Zoe and her coke and ice, "I, uh, I think I'll abstain tonight."
"You don't have to not drink just because I'm not."
"I don't mind. In fact, it will be better. This way I won't act like a total ass and turn you off to me before you have the chance to remember why we're, uh, friends." He seemed to stagger a little on the last bit.
"Okay." Zoe said, raising her glass in mock toast, "Here's to sobriety."
Wade smiled, and took another drink from his beer. It was going to be a long night.
Rose had been making her way back to Zoe when she saw that Zoe and George seemed to be talking and laughing like old times. She certainly was not going to get in the way of that. Take that Lemon Breeland. So Rose mingled a little, then decided to step out for some fresh air. When she got outside, she saw Wade, staring out at the night sky as he nursed a beer.
"What're you doin' out here?"
Wade turned. He had not expected to be disturbed. Everybody was really into the party. Lemon always delivered when it came to organizing those sorts of things. Aside from that, everybody was really anxious to help Zoe feel better. He thought that maybe after an hour somebody might notice he was gone, Lavon maybe, and come looking for him, but he hardly expected to be interrupted after ten minutes.
"I could ask you the same thing kid."
"I'm nineteen now, so could you stop calling me that?"
Wade smirked. It was so teenager to want to be treated like a grownup. They thought life got better. If they only knew. Not that Wade had a bad life of course, but, the Zoe stuff … Age brought a hell of a lot of complications.
"Why you in such a rush to grow up anyhow?"
"It's not a rush, I have grown up."
Wade shook his head. He wondered if Rose's persistence was for his benefit. He knew Rose had a little crush on him. She probably did not want him to see the sweet kid he used to pick up and spin around like a little sister. The funny thing was, her old crush, Fredrick Dean, actually really liked her now, but Rose was too caught up in Wade, and too convinced of Fredrick's disinterest based on past experience, to notice. Wade never would have known, or cared, about the tiny teen's little soap opera if Zoe had not come to town. But from the moment Zoe arrived, Rose had adored her. She used to follow her around like a puppy dog asking advice on boys and the like. Rose had been around Zoe, and so had Wade, so they bonded. And she was a sweet kid, but her recent crush wasn't exactly his favorite thing about her.
"All right. You've grown. Now why are you out here again?"
"I asked you first."
"Very mature." Wade said with a smirk, "Real grown up."
"Only kids are silly enough to think adults are never immature." Wade laughed, "You're missing the party you know."
"I'm fine out here for now. Place is full of people. Being minus one ain't gonna matter much."
"What if we need even teams for somethin'?"
Wade shrugged. "Then the world as we know it will end."
Rose took a deep breath. Subtly was kinder, but it clearly was not working."Why are you hidin' out here?"
"What makes you think I'm hidin'?"
"I've known you since I was a little girl, Wade. Besides, I know what it looks like when somebody's hidin' from somethin'."
"Well, I'm not hidin'."
"Like hell you're not!"
"Hey, watch your mouth kid. You shouldn't be goin' around usin' that kind of language. "
"Told you. I'm not a kid. I can swear if I want."
"Go back inside Rose." Wade snapped. He was starting to get angry now.
"Only if you do." She retorted petulantly.
Wade shook his head, "I'll be in later. Now get."
"What's got you so angry?"
"Maybe I'm just gearin' up for bein' a crazy, heartbroken drunk."
"That's just stupid. Is that what this is about? Somethin' happen with your dad?"
"This ain't about my dad." He paused, "In fact, it ain't about anything. Now get back inside before you miss the limbo, or whatever Lemon's got planned."
"I told you, not until you come too."
"Where the hell did you get that stubborn streak from?"
Rose shrugged, "Beats me."
Wade smirked. They just stood there, being quiet for a while.
Then Wade said quietly, "You ever feel bad for the stars?"
"What?" Rose asked, confused.
"The stars? Up there." He motioned, "Everybody knows the moon's the big kahuna. That's what draws your eye. Nobody looks at the stars first. And there's so many of them, nobody can tell one from the other, so none of them really get noticed."
"Well, you know, they're not really there anymore. I mean, it takes so long for their light to reach us, by the time it does, they've probably burned out."
Wade shrugged, "Maybe it was suicide."
"Well, at least they ain't lonely. They got millions of other stars to keep them company. The moon is all alone. There's only one of him."
"Yeah, I guess. But he ain't really alone, is he? He's got all those people lookin' up at him. Must be some party, bein' the moon."
"Well, bein' the center of attention can be a bore."
"Depends whose attention you're the center of. Sometimes Rose, to some people, I wish, just for a minute, that I could be the moon."
Rose was silent, not knowing what to say, and not sure if she should even speak. Wade stood there for another second, then turned around, "Okay, let's you and me get back inside and show those losers in there how to party."
Rose smiled. That was the Wade she knew. Still, she knew she would never forget what he said, what he chose to confide in her that night, and she could not help wondering what it all meant. To whom did Wade Kinsella want to be the moon?
The longer the party went on, the more people wanted to talk to Zoe. There was a woman named Shelley, who claimed they were best friends, and somebody named Addie who she apparently worked with. They kept piling on her, asking her questions. Her head kept feeling dizzier and dizzier. She searched the room for Wade, but could not find his face. Had he left, or were there just too many people? Her vision started to blur.
"All right, who is up for some Karaoke?" Lemon shouted. People cheered as the loud machine turned on.
"Wade, you want to take a crack at it, see if you can croon a tune?"
Wade. So he was in the room. Zoe heard him answer, but she could not make out what he said. It did not matter. She just knew she needed to get to him. There were too many people. There was too much noise. It was all too much. Wade would keep her safe. She needed to get to Wade. She stood up from the stool and started heading in his direction. She felt her legs collapse as her vision continued to blur. She heard people talking, a concerned hodgepodge of voices. She felt arms lift her up. Then everything went black.