Here's the next chapter for everyone. While I was finishing this chapter this morning, I came to realize just how much fun I'm having with the friendship between Zoe and Jesse and it sparked an idea for a one shot that I hope I'll get up for you all by the end of next week at the latest. Anyway enjoy this chapter.
After dinner, Zoe found herself curled up with her dad on the couch, watching an old western, her dad's favorite movies to watch. It had hit hard while she was in New York how much she missed spending time with her dad, when she would see an old western on TV, but sitting curled in his arms, she had forgotten how at peace with herself, she felt. It was like everything that was going on outside the house simply didn't matter because it faded away for a few hours.
Harley wasn't mad at her for what took place with Brick earlier in the day; they had actually laughed at Brick's expense. She did, however, promise that she would personally talk to Brick, because it was easier to put the hurt, he felt off on someone else. She hurt him and didn't know she had done such a thing until she has talked to her dad about it.
"Would it be too much to ask if we could just stay like this until Sunday?" Zoe asked with a content sigh.
"I think so," Harley chuckled. "This could be fixed if you just came home or even moved closer to home," he flat out told her. He missed having his daughter close by.
"We go over this three times a week and my answer has yet to change, Dad. I'm happy with where I'm at," she responded, moving from his embrace. "I will be back to visit more often, but you also know that this is where I plan on ending my career."
"I do know that, but I simply miss my daughter," he replied.
"I miss you too, Dad," she said, kissing his cheek. "I'm going to turn in for the night; it's been a long day. Night dad, love you," she smiled, standing up.
"Night sweetie, love you too."
After getting ready for bed, she cracked her bedroom window open to let the cool night breeze into her stuffy room. Flipping the light off, she crawled under the covers, the static in her ears growing as she listened to the quiet Bluebell had to offer her. She had grown so use to loud noises all night from the city that it was harder to fall asleep than it should have been.
It had nothing to do with feeling like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Like she needed to save Wade from making a huge mistake, but what if he wasn't making this big mistake by marrying Tansy? What if it was just her not wanting to see how happy Wade is with Tansy? She wasn't jealous of what they had, she had moved on, found an amazing guy to be with. What if everyone else was wrong because they couldn't get over themselves? That was her biggest worries.
She didn't want to ruin her relationship with Joel, and she didn't want to ruin Wade's relationship with Tansy if it is what he really wanted. But above all of that she wanted to rebuild her friendship with Wade and fix what should not have been broken to start with.
"Uh good morning Lemon," Zoe said, walking into the kitchen confused seeing Lemon Breeland sitting at the counter. "What are you doing here?"
"It had come to my attention that you are friends with George and who am I to put an end to that, but he had made me see that I am being unfair. After all, we knew you were going elsewhere for school, I was blindsided by the fact you took a job in New York," Lemon paused. "I thought you were coming back home because you said you would be back, because you couldn't picture home anywhere else but here in little ol' Bluebell. We were sisters, Zoe. I did need you."
"If I knew that I would have been there Lemon, but I didn't know. Everyone is mad because I stopped trying, but the fact is so did all of you. It was a two-way street, Lemon. As much as I am in the wrong so are you," Zoe burst fed up with it all. "The plan had been to come back, but I got offered the job in New York, and I took it; I had to prove to myself that I could so this, that I could make it as a doctor without my dad or your dad holding my hand. I need to make something of myself before I come home and settle down. You may not understand that, but that's how I feel," she finished explaining.
"It does make sense," Lemon concluded.
"Can we now put it behind us and start over as friends?" Zoe questioned.
"Sisters can't start over Zo. Sisters fight and now that we've made up, we can gossip about boys," Lemon laughed, pulling Zoe into a hug.
"Ugh, tell me you're not going to start in with Wade as well," she sighed into the hug.
"Heavens no," Lemon nearly shrieked. "If that boy can't see she is no good for him; I firmly believe this is one mistake he needs to learn on his own."
Hearing Lemon say that made Zoe smile. Lemon was right. This was a mistake that Wade had to learn on his own.
"Thank you for that. I'll swing by later and help get things ready for the night," she suggested.
"What don't you come now?" Lemon asked.
"I've got this little thing to clear up with you father."
"I did hear about that. He means well, so don't be too hard on him," Lemon pleaded.
"I make no promises," Zoe smiled.
Once outside they walked together until they had to part. Lemon headed to the school, and Zoe made her way to the practice. Only problem Brick wasn't in, and he was going to be gone most the day.
That left her suddenly free. She had made time to clear the air with Brick before grabbing lunch to help finish with the little touches for the reunion that night. Other than Brick, she only had Wade to talk to and that was set for the following morning.
"So I was thinking that I would go to your reunion as your date." She refrained from rolling her eyes looking to her left to see Jesse crossing the street.
"I get no say, huh?"
Jesse shook his head. "Think about it, all your friends will be there with their significant others, and you'll be all alone since you made your boyfriend stay in the city."
"Maybe that wasn't my smartest move," she confessed. "You do make a valid point; therefore, I will allow you to accompany me to my ten-year reunion."
"Don't I feel honored," he smiled, nudging her.
"As you should," she teased. "I just don't understand why you were even thinking about it for. There was no one in my class that you liked."
"That's not true, there's you and my brother; that is two people," he smirked.
"True but you see your brother daily if not close to it, and I swear I talk to you more than I do my own boyfriend most days. So we don't count," she countered with.
"Whether or not you believe me, I'm doing this for you, Zoe. We're friends, and it's something friends do for each other."
"I do believe you Jesse, but what do you want in return?" She questioned.
"I need you to be my date to my brother's wedding," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck in the same way that Wade did.
"And you couldn't have found someone else to take as your date? The last place I want to be is at your brother's wedding. Why is it you want me to go, Jesse?"
"For starters, I don't want to go stag, I've seen the wedding party and no thanks to that, nothing against them," he sighed, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Because if we go to together we can have fun and make fun of the wedding."
"I won't ask. As fun as it would be, I'd still be alone, because you will be up there, aren't you, the best man or something?"
"Yes, but it doesn't mean you'll be alone, you and Wade share the same friends, So it'll be fine. I won't make you stay for the whole reception, after I give my speech, we can go; I swear, but I need you to do this for me," he begged.
"And what happened to Melissa? I thought you two were doing just fine."
"She wanted more than I was willing to give. Going our separate ways was the best for the both of us. And you're the only person I can ask to do this for me. Do you really want to see me suffering the whole night?"
"If I don't go I won't be seeing you suffering, Jesse," she easily pointed out. "However, no I wouldn't want that for you," she confessed.
"So you'll come, it's settled then."
"But you want me to suffer it seems," she sighed.
"How is it you will be suffering?" He questioned. "You have a boyfriend whom you love, you say that you want to be friends with Wade. Don't friends go to friend's weddings and shit?"
"Very elegant of you," she teased. "Yes they do and you're right; I love Joel, and I want to be friends with Wade. Fine, I'll go with you," she caved. "But if I find out that you're up to something else by bringing me as your date, you will have hell to pay, Jesse," she warned.
"Don't I know it," he mumbled, giving her a smile. "I'm not up to anything of the sorts. Is it that hard to believe that I want a beautiful woman on my arm?" He questioned, cocking an eyebrow.
"No," she blushed lightly, looking down. "Be at my house at 7 to get me and not a minute later," she warned.
"I'll be there," he laughed, walking away.
"You and my brother seem to be awfully close." She nodded hearing his voice. "Should I be worried?"
"What do you have to worry about Wade?" She questioned turning to face him. "Your brother is my friend; he's been looking out for me. Helping me out. So yeah I'm really close with your brother. What is it to you?"
"Nothing," Wade replied. "What was it you two were making plans for?" He questioned rather awkwardly.
"Not that it concerns you, but he's coming with me to the reunion tonight, and I guess this one does concern you since I'm going as his date to your wedding."
"What about Melissa?" Wade asked, nothing making sense. "And what's his name?"
"They broke up," she replied. "And Joel will be okay with it."
"For your sake you best hope that your boyfriend is okay with you going to your ex's wedding with your best guy friend who is the groom's brother. I hate to disappoint you, but they didn't break up," he told her, shaking his head walking away.
Zoe stood rooted in place watching him walk away, confused to his behavior. It didn't concern him on how close she was to Jesse. She was more confused now on everything going on in her life than she was before she had ever stepped foot in Bluebell. There was no way that Jesse would lie to her, not about something like that. This was his personal life; he wouldn't lie. That wasn't Jesse.
"There you are, Zoe." Her thoughts were broke when Lemon came rushing up to her in a panic.
"Breathe and calmly tell me what's wrong," Zoe told her friend.
"Everything is wrong, Zoe. Everything. I swear no one can do anything right. Everything I ordered is mixed up. I wanted blue and gold table clothes but no that was too complicated to ask for, don't even ask me about the centerpieces," she ranted.
"I won't," Zoe assured her friend. "But come on. Let's go. See what we can salvage," she said, heading back to the school, needing this to take her mind off of everything that she had learned minutes prior.