Author's Note: Hello my lovelies. I am so sorry for the wait. Thank you for your reviews, and your patience. I struggled with this chapter because I love this story so much, and we are kind of at a climactic point. I don't want it to end, so I've been putting it off a little, weird as that may be. I'm going to try to squeeze all the juice I can out of it.
Now, I think we should all just take a moment to think about those who lost everything in the hurricane. Our prayers are with them.
I am so glad and flattered that people are having such a strong reaction to this story.
As is becoming habit, a longer author's note will be at the end.
Oh, but first, I just saw Walking After Midnight, and was reading some opinions, and I feel I have to step in here and defend, because everybody is ganging up on her.
First, Zoe is self-centered; we know this. It is part of her charm. It is not that she does not care about other people, just that it is difficult for her to see what they're feeling. Isn't that why she was sent to Bluebell in the first place? She has made progress, but she still has problems relating to people. It is part of who she is, and a big part of the show, but it does not make her a bad person.
Second, people keep saying she is a bitch for using Wade and leading him on. She is doing neither of these things. She never said she was using him, she said he is what she needs right now. She spent all of last year being in totally head-over-heels for George. Feelings like that do not just go away, and she has never pretended to Wade that they have. She has been totally upfront with him about how she feels about George. She told George that she is with somebody she has real feelings for. Does a part of her still want to be with George, yes? But she knows that is not a good idea right now. She is not just using Wade to bide time. That is what she accused George of doing with all the blondes. She really cares about Wade. It took her a while, but she finally admitted it, and it is scary for her. She has very little relationship experience and she does not really know what she is doing, but she is trying. As for leading Wade on, they made it clear last episode that while they are monogamous, they are casual. They still don't know what they are, how they feel, or how to fit into each other's lives. It's a learning curve. It is not really a conventional relationship (not that either of them have any real experience with those anyway.)
Third, people are saying Zoe should stop waiting for some big sign that it is time for her and George, but it is not that simple. He and Lemon were together for FIFTEEN YEARS. That's a long time. Zoe does not want to be a rebound; George means too much to her. Also, he called off the wedding before, after he found out about Lavon, brought her to new Orleans, kissed her, gave her hope. She put her heart on the line during the Bluebell battle with a potentially humiliating confession, and he picked Lemon. He broke her heart, and she is scared. She does not want to put herself in that position again. If she and George are going to be together, she needs to know that she can trust him with her heart. Maybe it's not the most rational, but since when is love rational?
Also, I have to say, who else is glad George is done with the blonde bimbos? Because I know he was trying to do what Zoe told him, but that was never him. I hated when he tried to do the casual dating thing, because George is a relationship guy, he always has been. He does not want one-night stands; he wants a connection. I know he's a guy, so obviously he wants sex, but he wants more than that. I get what he was trying to do, but it just wasn't him, and it was clear that he wasn't happy. He didn't like balancing multiple girls, or spending time with girls who talk about stuff he has no interest in. George needs to care about somebody. While, as I said before, I get where Zoe is coming from, you don't call off a wedding not to mention a fifteen-year relationship unless you are sure about the person you are calling it off for. George wants to be with Zoe, and it is going to take more than some brain-dead blondes to make him forget that. (For the record, I have nothing against blondes, but those blondes were just so stereotypical.)
Did anybody catch how Zoe said she was hoping for a sexy fireman when Wade told her what he was, and then George was a fireman? Seriously, I get the Wade thing, I do but I just … I just wish there were two of her.
Sorry, I just felt the need to put that out there. People on forums can turn on characters so fast, and I love all those Bluebellians so much.
Anyway, here is chapter fifteen. Enjoy.
Chapter Fifteen
"Is he going to be okay?" The question hung in the air for what was probably a few seconds, but felt like eternity. Then, the nurse spoke.
"Mr. Kinsella attained some severe chest wounds, however, no vital organs were hit. He was lucky in that regard. His blood loss was minimal for this sort of wound, and he did not get any sort of infection. He's going to need to stay here for a couple days, but he should make a full recovery."
And suddenly, it was like all the pressure just evaporated from the room. Zoe, George, and Lavon all shot up out of their seats. Lemon started crying. There was hugging. A lot of hugging. Pretty much nobody knew whom they were hugging, but they did not care.
"Is he awake?"
"Can we see him?"
Lemon and George's questions sort of melded together, but somehow the nurse heard both, "He is awake, but he's weak. He can only see one person."
"Did he ask for anybody?" Lemon asked.
"I asked him who he wanted to see. He asked who was here, and when I told him all your names, he looked a little impressed. He said he felt "like shit," and no matter who he picked, somebody would get offended, so he said to send whoever wanted in."
George laughed a little, "That sounds like him." Then, he turned to Zoe.
She pointed to herself, "Me?"
"You were there when it happened. I figure it makes the most sense."
"Yeah, but …" she did not really know why she was hesitating. A part of her was so relieved, but another part felt terrified, still frozen, like any second the nurse was going to say they had made an error, and he was not going to be okay. "I … you go. You were there too, and you've known him longer-"
"Zoe, you saved his life. He's gonna wanna see you."
"The hospital saved him. I didn't do anything special."
"You cannot seriously believe that. First of all, you, Zoe, are not capable of doing anything that is not special, and second, if you hadn't been there, he could easily have died."
"If I hadn't been there, he might never have been shot in the first place."
"Zoe-"
"Um, if ya'll don't mind, Lavon Hayes would like to look in on his friend. Unless one of you two wants to go in?"
George and Zoe looked at each other.
"It's not that I don't want to go in, I just think Zoe-"
"Go ahead Lavon. We'll be out here."
Lavon nodded.
"I don't know why people are always complainin' about hospital food. Personally, I think this is pretty good." Rose said as she licked her strawberry ice cream.
Fredrick Dean chuckled, "Yeah, I think when people say that, they're talkin' about the stuff they serve the patients, not what they sell in the cafeteria by the gift shop."
"Well that's just stupid. If somebody's in a hospital, they should be givin' them the good food, not the people visitin' " Magnolia said.
"I think it has to do with what they can digest, you know, after surgeries and stuff. Sometimes they have to just live off go-lightly. Personally, I hope it never happens to me. That stuff sounds gross the way folks talk about it."
They had been sitting there for twenty minutes or so. At first, they had been quiet, but after while they loosened up a little. Brick had been right; they needed a little distance.
"Magnolia!" Magnolia turned around at her sister's voice. She saw her tearstained face and her eyes got wide.
"Oh lord."
Rose and Fredrick Dean turned around too. The three of them rushed over to her.
"Lemon-" Magnolia started nervously.
"He's going to be okay." She said. It was such a simple sentence, but just like in the waiting room, it changed everything.
"He is?"
Lemon nodded, "The nurse just told us. Lavon went in to see him, and I thought ya'll would want to know."
"Hell yeah." Rose said.
Fredrick Dean smirked at her enthusiastic expression. They followed Lemon back to the waiting room.
"Hey."
"Lavon?" Wade questioned as he struggled to open his eyes.
"The one and only."
Wade smiled, "Hey."
"It's good to see you're awake. You look good." Wade scoffed, "Well, I mean you look like somebody lyin' in a hospital bed 'cause he just been shot, but for somebody who just got shot, you look pretty good."
"Yeah, well, they got good doctors here. Plus, Zoe did some pretty impressive stuff out there."
"I heard. Guess fear of losin' you was enough to kick start some of her brain."
Wade shook his head, "Nah, probably more like adrenaline or something like that."
"I don't know. She's been pretty catatonic out there."
Wade's eyes widened a little, "Is she, I mean, she's okay?"
"Yeah, just worried. We all were. We almost lost a pretty important guy."
"Yeah. Guess I am pretty great. Would have been a huge loss. Almost a shame I made it; I coulda gotten my name on the hero wall."
Lavon laughed, "So, for a guy who got shot and lived, how you feelin'?"
"Pretty good."
"Good."
"So, um, if she was that worried how come she …?"
"What? Didn't come to see you first? Well, I think she feels guilty about what happened-"
"That's ridiculous. She saved my life, how can she-"
"Hey, hey. I ain't sayin' I agree with her. I don't. I'm just sayin' I think she feels responsible. She's been in shock the whole time we were here, didn't say a word to no one, not even George. It's probably all hittin' her now."
Wade nodded, "I get it. So, uh, how'd you get the short straw?" Lavon laughed, but didn't bother answering. "Let her know it's okay, all right. I mean, tell her that you've seen me and, you know, I'm fine, so she can relax."
"This is Zoe we're talkin' about here. She don't relax." Wade laughed, "Speaking of Zoe, you sure are bringing her up a lot. And, I've been noticin', since she lost her memory, you two been spendin' a lot of time together."
"So?"
"So, should we talk about that thing we ain't talked about since her and George got engaged 'cause I knew better than to poke a hornets nest and I was hopin' for your sake it was no longer an issue?"
"You wanna run that by me one more time? Not exactly in tiptop shape to decode your crazy phrasin' right now."
"I think you can probably guess what I'm talking about, seein' as how, when it comes to you and Zoe, there's only ever really been one thing we talked about."
"Fuse boxes?" Wade asked with an awkward chuckle.
"Naw. Come on, now, you know what I mean." Wade sighed, then nodded, "So, should we talk about it?"
"Nope."
" 'Cause it's no longer an issue, or 'cause you're doin' that distancin' thing you like to do."
"I just got shot, okay. I think I got a right to not talk about somethin' if I don't want to."
"Fair enough."
"Send somebody else in. I'm tired of you." Wade said jokingly.
Lavon smiled, "Well, you're sense of humor's still intact. Guess that's good." He got up and started to head for the door, "Any preference for who you want to see next?"
"Nah, just send in whoever wants to come."
Lavon nodded, then walked out.
"Oh my god, he's awake! I can't believe it. It is such a relief."
George nodded, "Yeah, Lavon went in."
"Lemon told us." Magnolia said solemnly.
"So, who's seein' him after? Zoe?"
George chuckled, "Good luck with that battle."
Rose looked at Zoe, "What's he mean by that."
"We just a had a small … disagreement about who should see Wade first. I thought it should be George, and he thought it should be me. But then Lavon sidestepped us, so …" Zoe shrugged.
"But, don't you want to see him?" Rose asked, looking at Zoe in confusion.
"Of course." Zoe said, using the bravest voice she could muster. "I just think that, you know, he'd want to see George first, I mean, they've known each other since-"
"That's bullshit! Zoe, come on, Wade would want to see you first. You've gotta know that."
"Well, Lavon Hayes has seen his friend, and his friend is fine. Zoe, I was told specifically to tell you that I've seen Wade, and he's okay."
"Why would-"
"I told him you were freaking out." Lavon said with a shrugged. Zoe blushed, but Lavon just chuckled, "Don't worry, he's glad you were worried. He just wants you to be okay."
"I'm not the one who almost died."
They were all silent for a minute.
"So, um, Wade didn't give me a name, just said to send in the next person, so uh," he looked at Zoe and George, "You two work out your issues?"
They both looked at the floor awkwardly.
"Actually, I was kind of hoping I could see him." Lemon turned to her sister surprised.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean, I don't want to step on any toes but … I kinda owe him an apology, ya know?"
Lemon nodded.
"Wade?"
"Lemon?"
"Close. Just need to subtract a couple years and add a fun side."
Wade smirked, "Magnolia."
She was quiet for a minute, then, "Wade, I am so sorry. This is all my fault if I hadn't-"
"Hey, relax all right. You're gonna give me a headache."
"Sorry." She whispered.
"Hey, listen, I ain't lookin' to blame anybody. And, you know, if I were, I'd probably be blamin' the guy who pulled the trigger and his cronies."
"If I hadn't-"
"What? Been yourself? You couldn't've known. I mean, yeah, you were a little stupid, but, hopefully you'll learn from this."
"Life lesson, huh?"
"Exactly. Hey, do me a favor and adjust my pillow a little. I wouldn't ask but-"
"Not a problem."
She got up and started to adjust it, "So, uh, you wanna tell me what's goin' on?"
"What d'you mean?"
"You may have pulled stunts like that in high school, but you're older now, and even back then, you were smarter than to wander off drunk is a city you didn't know too well. What's goin' on with you?"
"Nothin's goin' on." Magnolia said. She sat back down and stared down at her shoes.
"Come on, I just got shot. Throw me a bone here."
"You gonna be usin' that a lot to get what you want?"
Wade tried to shrug. He winced, but tried to hide it, "Why not? I mean, I might as well, right. It'll sure come in handy for some stuff." Magnolia chuckled softly, "So, spill."
She let out a deep breath, "Well, I might be flunkin' this one class."
Wade chuckled, "That's all. One class."
"Well, it's not like I don't know the material." She said, stubbornly.
"If you know the material, why would you flunk?" she looked down, her face growing a little red, "Magnolia?" he heard her murmur something about her professor, "What?"
She sigh, "I said, I'm gonna flunk 'cause I won't, well, 'cause the professor wants somethin' from me that I'm … not comfortable givin' him."
Wade's eyes widened, "Are you sayin' what I think you're sayin'?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Wade looked up, and magnolia turned her head to see Lemon, "Wade. I'm so glad you're okay. We were all so scared. It's good to see you awake and alert." Wade nodded in acknowledgement of her sentiment. "Magnolia, sweetie, Lavon has to get goin'. You wanna ride with us, or just catch a ride home with daddy?"
"Um, I'll wait for him. Thanks"
Lemon nodded, "Wade, I'm sorry I can't stick around longer, but I promise I'll come to see you tomorrow. I really am so relieved you're okay."
Wade nodded again, "Thanks Lemon."
She left, and Wade turned his attention back to Magnolia. Before he could open his mouth, she said, "Please don't say anything."
"Magnolia, I got-"
"Lemon already thinks I'm just a troublemakin' slut and liar. I'll go back and start fresh next semester. I just can't deal with it, and I don't want to talk about it."
"Yeah, but-"
"Please Wade."
Wade thought for a minute, then sighed "I'm not makin' any promises, but I'll give it some thought, and you some time to figure out what you're gonna do. Don't expect me to stay silent forever."
Magnolia smiled, leaned in to hug him, then pulled back, "Sorry, I guess that'd be painful."
"Well, Lemon left, Lavon and Magnolia went in, you're runnin' out of people to hide behind." Rose said.
"I'm not hiding."
"He's fine Zoe. The doctor's said it, and Lavon and Lemon confirmed it."
"Technically, it was a nurse who said it."
"Whatever. I wasn't here. That's not what's important though."
"Rose-"
"He's gonna wanna see you. He's probably wonderin' why you haven't gone in yet."
George went in.
Rose went in and Shelley went in.
Even Fredrick Dean went in for a few minutes.
Rose had been right, Zoe was running out of excuses.
It was getting late, and she knew that the hospital visiting hours were almost over. She also knew if she did not see him soon, she would not get a chance until tomorrow, and as terrified as she was, she knew she could not go home and go to sleep until she knew he was okay.
She walked into his room. He was attached to an IV and he looked, well, helpless. She did not like seeing him helpless.
His eyes fluttered open and landed on her. He smiled, "Hey doc. Was beginnin' to wonder if you were comin' to see me at all."
She gave him an awkward smile and tiptoed into the room, "Of course I was." she paused, and he looked at her. She could feel him looking through her, into her head, her thoughts, her fears, "I was scared." She admitted.
Wade nodded. He did not question what she meant, or the fact that she felt comfortable confiding in him. Nor did he tease her, not right now.
"Well, come over here then. See for yourself what a good job they did on me." She came over and sat down on the seat next to him. He held out his hand and she took it, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "See doc, I'm fine. Nothin' to worry about."
Suddenly, she was crying. Every tear she had been to frozen, to afraid to shed before just came pouring out. Wade looked a little uncomfortable, and she tried to stop, but they just kept coming. He squeezed her hand again, "Hey, it's okay, it's okay see."
"I thought … I thought." She could not seem to get the words out.
"I'm fine doc. In large part thanks to you."
She shook her head; "I should have stayed in the car when you told me to."
"I should have known better than to try to tell you what to do."
She laughed a little through her tears.
"God, look at this. You're in a hospital bed, and you're trying to make me feel better."
"That's just us bein' us doc. We got our own rhythm. It's weird, but it works."
She laughed again, her tears starting to lighten.
"Don't ever scare me like that again, okay?"
"Scouts honor doc. I have no intention of gettin' shot again."
She started to wipe her face, "I must look like a mess."
"Nope, perfect as ever." He squeezed her hand again, "Promise."
She smiled, and then she looked at him. The way he was looking at her, as if he truly believed what he had said, despite all the falls, and what a mess she knew she was right now. And then, she let herself think about it. She hadn't before; she couldn't. All she could do was focus on the begin question 'Will he make it?' But now, she saw he was safe, and that he would make it. And she remembered. "I like havin' you care about me doc. Havin' you care. I like … I like … I like you. I love you Zoe." She remembered how shocked she had been, and how she had pushed it from her mind because she needed to focus on what she was doing. "I love you Zoe." The words sang in her memory, like a melody long forgotten, but always treasured. So perfect, smoothly whispered in that southern drawl of his. So quiet, she could have imagined it, except she knew she hadn't. She could never imagine it, not like that, not right then "I love you." The last words before he fell into unconsciousness; for all he knew, the last words he would ever utter. Where had it come from? Had he meant it? Why hadn't he said anything before? Most importantly of all, would he be honest with her now? She decided to tread carefully, start off slow, and how far she could take the conversation, "Wade, what do you, that is, what's the last thing you remember?"
He scrunched up his face thoughtfully, "Um, let's see, there was a shot goin' off, and you were leanin' over me, going into doctor mode, congratulations on that by the way."
"Yeah, it only took you almost dying."
"Well, glad to be of service."
"Don't joke."
Wade nodded, "Um, then I think you were talkin' to me, tryin' to stop me from passin' out. I guess at some point, I must've caved though."
"So, you um, you don't remember what you said to me, before you passed out?"
"I think I said somethin' about tryin' to keep my eyes wide, or somethin'." Wade said, trying to remember.
"Yeah. Yeah, you did." Zoe's face fell a little. If he didn't remember, then she would have to tell him. That'll go over well. Did it mean something that he didn't remember?
She noticed he was looking at her, studying her face. She tried to make it neutral again.
"What aren't you tellin' me doc?"
She was silent for a minute, "It doesn't matter. I'm just glad you're safe." She was going to talk to him about it; she had to. It just wasn't the right time. She had ambushed him before and the result had been … well, unsuccessful, for lack of a better word. She had not slept in twenty-four hours, her heart was still calming down from the terror, and she had broken into hysterics a few minutes ago. She could not have the conversation like that; it would be too easy to get emotional, and she needed to be logical. She needed the truth, answers, and she needed him not to just shrug it off. No, they both needed to rest. He needed rest, and she needed to clear her head. "You need your rest." She said, voicing her mind.
"Desperate to get out of here, huh?" he gave her a smirk.
She shook her head, "No, no I'll stay. At least, well, for as long as they let me. Visiting hours and all that. I just think you should get some rest."
"What are you gonna do?"
"I told you, I'll stay."
"And what, watch me sleep?" he asked, chuckling awkwardly.
"You've watched me sleep, remember?" he smiled at that, "Now come on. You need your rest." Then she smiled and, unable to help herself, added, "Doctor's orders."
"By doctor, do you mean the one here, or you?"
"Which one are you more likely to listen to?"
Wade laughed. "Okay, I get it." he started to pull the cover up, then winced. Zoe winced too; she didn't like seeing him in pain.
She got up and pulled the blanket over him. He looked up at her, his eyes capturing hers with that hold that only he had over her. Her body was standing there in the hospital room covering him up, but her mind was somewhere else, somewhere special and secret where only they could go, only when he looked into her eyes.
She cleared her throat and stepped back, looking away, "There you go. Totally sleep ready."
He smiled, "You don't have to stay."
"I want to. You stayed with me."
"Yeah, but I don't want you to feel obligated-"
"I don't. I just want to."
It was late when Zoe got home. She was exhausted, but she couldn't go to bed. Not yet. She needed to think; she needed to figure things out. Well, what she really needed was to talk to somebody, but that was not really an option. Not with the George situation. George. God, why now? Just when she was getting used to the idea of her and George, when she was starting to leave Wade behind. But now she knew she couldn't, not after what he said. She was right back where she started. Except he said, "I love you," she thought. Okay, maybe not right back, but still …
"Thanks for walkin' me home." Rose said.
Fredrick Dean nodded, "No problem. Any excuse to brush up my gentleman skills."
Rose laughed, "You can be mighty weird sometimes."
"Well, I live in Bluebell. All my role models are, well, pretty weird, as you said."
She laughed again. Then, her face turned slightly serious, pensive. They kept walking quietly, and then Fredrick Dean turned to her, "You okay?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah."
"You sure?"
"Why?"
He shrugged, "Just seems like you have something on your mind."
"Well, maybe I do. That don't necessarily mean somethin's wrong."
Fredrick Dean nodded, "Fair enough." He paused, "So, what's on your mind?"
Rose shook her head, "What makes you think it's any of your business."
He laughed at her cute defiant face, "Okay, well, what if I can guess." Rose shrugged, which he took as a go for it, "Is it about Wade?"
She thought for a minute, "Sort of."
"What do you mean sort of?"
"Guess."
He laughed again, "Is it about what happened to him?" she shook her head, "Is it romantic?"
She looked at him, surprised, "What do you mean by that?"
"Well … I just … I meant, since you, you know…" he didn't know how to say it without getting her mad.
"Oh, I'm over that." she said it pretty nonchalantly. Like maybe she meant it.
"Seriously?" he asked, trying not to sound to hopeful.
She nodded, "We had a good talk a little bit back, and turns out he's really into somebody else. And I want it to work out. I figure, if I was as into him as I thought I was, I wouldn't. I would be jealous or somethin', instead of urgin' him to make a move already." She looked over at Fredrick Dean, and he was smiling probably the biggest smile she's seen on him in years, "What are you so happy about?"
He shrugged, "Nothin'."
"Oh, come on. Smile that big isn't about nothin'."
He thought for a minute, and then his smile got even bigger (as impossible as that seemed), "Guess." She burst out laughing, "God, I love your laugh." His eyes grew wide when he realized he said it out loud. She looked at him stunned, confused, and his face grew red. "I, um." He tried, but he couldn't think of anything to follow it up with. Thankfully, fate seemed to be on his side, or at least geography did, "Well, I guess we're here. Casa Hattenbarger."
She smiled awkwardly, "That sounds weird."
He chuckled awkwardly, "Yeah, so, I'll um, I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.
She nodded, "Probably. At the hospital." She started up the steps to her door, and her turned to leave, "It was about you." she called. He turned, confused, "What I was thinkin' about. It was about you. Somethin' Wade said about you that I was wonderin' about. I was tryin' to figure out a way to ask you about it."
"You can ask me anything."
She smiled, "I know."
She opened up her door and started to head in, "Wait," he called to her, "What did Wade say?"
She turned and smiled at him, "Tomorrow." Then she disappeared inside her house.
"Hey, what are you doin' up?" Lemon asked.
Zoe closed the fridge door. "Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd make some warm milk." Lemon's eyebrows rose, "It's just a microwave. How hard can it be?"
"Well, just to be safe, how about I warm it up for you. We don't need another crisis right now."
"You can say that again." Zoe said, relinquishing the cup and collapsing on the couch, "So, how about you? Why are you up?"
"I don't know. I mean, I'm exhausted, after everything. I thought I'd fall asleep second my head hit the pillow, but my mind just-"
"Won't shut up?"
Lemon nodded, "Exactly."
"Well, there are worse things than insomnia, even though it never feels like it at the time."
Lemon brought the milk over to Zoe and sat down beside her, taking a sip from her own cup, "Is that your professional opinion, Dr. Hart?"
Zoe giggled. Then, she was quiet for a minute, "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"You have to promise not to say anything to anyone, not even Lavon."
"You've kept more than enough secrets for me. Trust me, my lips are sealed. I owe you."
Zoe nodded, trying to think how to start, "Well, you remember that guy? The one I kissed?" Lemon nodded, "Well, I thought I was, that is, he clearly did not return what I was feeling, and George cared for me, and he was sweet, and I like him. After I found out about him, I thought … but what if I was wrong? What if this other guy really does care about me? And even if he doesn't, what if I really care about him? Should I really be with George? How do I know if-?" she stopped herself, then sighed, "I just feel so confused. It's like, the more time passes, the more confused I get. Everything seems to be imploding at once, and I just can't keep up."
Lemon placed her hand over Zoe's comfortingly, "It'll be okay." Zoe smiled at her gratefully, "Why don't you start at the beginning?"
"Oh, well, I can't give you details." Lemon looked at her, slightly offended, "I just mean, a man's reputation is at stake."
"I told you, I can keep a secret." Zoe looked skeptically, "Just … just don't name names, okay?"
Zoe nodded, "I guess that would be okay." She took a deep breath. Where to begin, "Well, there's a guy, let's call him guy one, any way, so he has been there for me so much since all this happened. He was the only person I felt I could be myself around. I somehow knew I could trust him; I knew he would always be there for me. And he'd make me laugh, and take my mind off of what a mess my life has become." She paused, looking at Lemon, but Lemon's expression was unreadable, "I thought maybe we were, or had been, you know, more than friends. I tried to talk to him about it, but he kept avoiding the subject, and pushing me to spend time with George … which of course I didn't understand at the time. He was so … is so … confusing. He never just says what he feels. When I came on to him, he told me, very clearly, that he did not think of me like that. I was humiliated, but then I found out about George, and I thought I would explore it. And it was nice, going out with George, being all nervous with first date butterflies. Of course, then everything went to hell." The next bit was important. She could not ask for advice without it. But she had to do it in a way that did not make it obvious that it was Wade. He would never forgive her if she didn't. "But then he, um, got kind of … drunk, and passed out. And before he did, he told me he loved me." Lemon's mouth flew open, "He doesn't remember saying it. I did some subtle questioning." Lemon laughed. "What?"
"Nothing. Nothing. Subtle was just never really your style."
"Any way," Zoe continued, annoyed that her friend was mocking her, "he doesn't remember what he said. And I could just … drop it, forget it, never bring it up, except that I don't think I can. And that scares me. I have no clue what I'm feeling, or who for, or what any of this means, and I-"
"Relax, you're gonna break down again."
Zoe nodded, and took some deep breaths "I'm good. I'm good."
"I can't imagine when you had time to do all this. I mean, everything's been so crazy, with Wade in the hospital." Zoe nodded, "And it couldn't have been anybody at the hospital, because if it was George, you wouldn't be freaking out, I know that it is not Lavon, Fredrick Dean is way to young for you, and the only other guy there was … oh god."
"What?" Zoe asked, suddenly nervous. Lemon couldn't have figured it out, could she?
"It's not … it's not my father is it?"
"What? Are you crazy? Of course not." She responded with a laugh, partially because she was relieved, and partially because the whole thing was just plain laughable, "He's, like, old enough to be my father. I mean, he's nice and all, but, no, just, just no."
"Well, then I can't imagine who it would be. Or who would be drunk. I mean, I guess some people drink their feelin's, but we were all pretty caught up."
"I know. That's why I wasn't thinking about it then. But once I knew Wade was okay…"
Lemon shook her head, "I am so relieved. I really am. That was one of the most terrifying moments of my life."
"Tell me about it."
"And I suppose it was a million times worse for You, Magnolia, and George. The whole blaming yourself thing. I mean, you were actually with him when he got shot and…" Lemon paused, and then her eyes widened slightly, "passed out." She finished, realization apparent in her voice. Then she looked at Zoe, who shot op off the couch.
"Well, um, I should get some sleep. Long day and all." She said her voice rushed and slightly panicked.
Author's Note: So, here we are. First of all, the whole Zoe being scared to see Wade, I kind of got that idea from that episode in season one of Gilmore Girls where Richard is in the hospital. I know you Gilmore fans will know what I'm talking about. It just felt right. Tell me if you disagree.
Second, I am so, so glad I finally got that Magnolia scene in there. I have been waiting for the right moment, and it seemed right that she would confide in Wade.
Third, the scene where Zoe goes in to see Wade originally went a little differently, and they addressed what he said. However, I decided it was to soon, partly because I want to keep the story going, and partly because it just did not read right. I couldn't see them diving right in. they dance around there feelings; its their thing. Don't worry, I still have that scene, it will just be coming up later, when it makes more sense.
I had a lot of fun writing the Rose/Fredrick Dean scene. It was the last one I wrote. I knew there had to be something between Zoe lying in her bed thinking, and talking to Lemon, but I could not figure out what. Then, I just got inspired. I really am loving them so much. Where is he this season anyway? We have neither seen nor heard about him since Rose's appendix burst. I want to see more rose and Fredrick Dean!
SPOILER ** Supposedly, there is going to be another guy she likes in a few episodes. What the frack? After everything she went through last season? She liked him as long as Zoe liked George (possibly longer. We don't know if she had a thing for him before the show started.) She finally got to go out with him, and now its just … the writers better not do that. It makes me angry! ** SPOILER
I liked writing the Lemon/Zoe scene to. I am going for a sort of Zoe remembering their friendship a little, not like a memory, but the feel of it. There is a part where it says she is annoyed with her friend, I don't know if you caught that, but it was supposed to imply some progress. I didn't want to be too obvious about it though.
Oh, for those of you who don't know go-lightly is a liquid they make you drink to clean out your system before they do something like a colonoscopy.
One thing that bugs me sometimes in some Hart of Dixie fanfictions is when everybody in Bluebell acts like it is so obvious how Wade feels about Zoe, and how can she not see it. See, it's obvious to us because we get the outsider perspective. We get to see the look on Wade's face when nobody is looking, or the things he does for Zoe that nobody knows about. The truth is, he actually puts up a pretty good front. Nobody in Bluebell should have much reason to suspect. I wanted it to sort of be nobody really knowing in my story, because I think that is how it sort of is. If you think I'm wrong, let me know.
Now, we must remember how all this Bluebellians band together all the time in disasters and harness some of that energy to help people deal with the fallout of Hurricane Sandy. Make a donation or find some other way to help. It is the Bluebell thing to do. Lavon would. George and Brick would. Embrace your inner Bluebell and be a good neighbor to your fellow human beings.
Well, that's it I guess. I hope you like the chapter, and again, I'm sorry for the wait.