A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews, folks, and yes, I'm glad to say I am feeling much better :)
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 10
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't seem like the party planner type," Zoe told Wade, in spite of his kind offer, immediately pulling out her phone. "Now, my friend, Gigi, in New York, she knows how to plan a party. I should probably call her... Wade! Give me back my cell!" she yelled, when suddenly he whipped it from her hand and held it so high, she didn't stand a chance of reaching.
Zoe was pretty sure she looked foolish trying, but since they were the only ones present in Lavon's kitchen, she supposed it didn't matter. Hopping up and down on her high heels wasn't fun though and Wade was being so damn annoying!
"Are you kidding me with this?" he asked her, switching the cell phone to his other hand when she started to get closer to reaching it. "You're gonna call a high society New York type to plan an 'Bama party for a Homecoming game? Geez, doc, I thought you were supposed to be smart."
She stopped reaching when she heard the derision in his voice, realising he wasn't entirely making a joke. Damn it, Zoe was smart, she knew she was, and yet, when the meaning of his words finally filtered through to her brain, she realised maybe he did have a point.
Gigi was great at New York parties, the kind people had in penthouses or in hotel ballrooms, with newly invented drinks and very fancy finger food. Bluebell just wasn't that kind of place and a Thursday night pre-Homecoming game party didn't exactly scream cocktails and canapes.
"Huh," she said then, arms back by her sides as she stopped trying to retrieve her cell and gave the matter some serious thought. "I guess maybe you have a point," she said, side-eyeing Wade.
"You bet your fine ass I do," he said, smirking terribly, as he proffered her phone at her. "Here, now you're over your big city fit, you oughta have this back. Seems to me you'd do better calling up Frank at The Dixie Stop, make certain he's got plenty of what you really need, like Lavon's favourite crab dip and chicken fingers and all that."
"Really?" Zoe checked, making a face. "Chicken fingers?"
"Come on now." Wade rolled his eyes, reaching for his water bottle and taking a drink. "You wanna imagine a whole bunch of folks from this town at a Homecoming game party without chicken fingers?"
Zoe sighed. "No, I guess not. This is going to be a very different kind of party from what I'm used to," she realised aloud. "I'm not sure I even know why Lavon asked me to help organise it."
"'Cause you're his best friend and he trusts you to do a good job, which you will, doc," Wade assured her. "Just remember who you're plannin' for, that's all. Leave those old high-falutin' New York ways o' yours outta the whole process, okay?"
"Yes, okay, I get it." Zoe rolled her eyes at him one more time. "You know, you talk about how smart I am, but you're not exactly stupid yourself, Wade. You probably just saved me from making a really big fool out of myself."
"Yeah, well. It's a tough job to do all o' the time, but somebody's gotta, sweetheart," he told her with a wink, laughing when she reached out and swiped him across the arm when he went by her towards the door. "Listen here now, Zoe Hart. You need any help wrangling up folks to help you out, or you find yourself stuck on what booze you need or anything like that, you just give me a call, okay?"
"You know I will." Zoe smiled at him. "Thanks, Wade. Again!"
He was laughing as he waved goodbye to her and slipped out the back door. Zoe leaned back against the counter and sighed to herself. He really was the nicest guy, and not for the first time, she wondered why she did such a good impression of someone who didn't like him as more than a friend. It would be so easy to just tell him she wanted more, not least because she was pretty sure Wade would be more than okay with that. Sure, he was primarily looking for sex, but he was always there for her in a friend capacity, always doing her favours and such. There had to be more to it than just wanting to get her into bed, she was almost certain, and yet, Zoe persisted in being just that little bit too afraid to actually ask, for fear of the rejection she might encounter.
Her cell chirped in her hand then and she looked down to see an incoming text from Judson. That caused another sigh, a deep, heavy one that had put in appearance several times of late. Pretty much every time the local vet texted her, actually. He was very eager to make another date and Zoe knew it made sense for her to want to go. After all, he was a nice guy, sweet and kind and gentlemanly, certainly not bad to look at either. Still, the idea of seeing him again didn't exactly excite her. All the excitement she could muster seemed to come around when she was with Wade, or at night, when she dreamed about him in very vivid terms.
"Bad brain," she muttered to herself as images of her latest dream about her friend/neighbour played through her mind. "Not helpful," she added, trying in vain to concentrate on her reply text to Judson.
Once again, she told him that she was just so busy with one thing and another, from work at the practice to helping Lavon with his party and such. She also said she hoped to see him soon, which was perhaps only a half-truth, but it seemed worse to tell him the whole truth. That she probably wouldn't care if she never did cross paths with him again actually.
It was instinct to call Zoe when the worst happened. Wade knew it mostly made sense because she was a doctor, but in actual fact, he had just come to think of Zoe as the person to go to in a crisis, because she was just always there. For the most part, it was true, that he was usually the one doing her favours, helping her fit into Bluebell and all, but she had certainly helped him out too. The last time Earl got up on a roof for one thing. Of course, tonight, when he did call, she didn't answer. Probably too caught up in the party and all.
"It's okay," he promised George and Lemon. "You keep a close eye on Jimmy, I'll go get Zoe," he told them, hopping in his car and squealing the tyres as he raced off to the plantation.
They really were having a crisis and he sure hoped Zoe wouldn't mind too much to be pulled away from the party to help. Much as it pained him to think of the fact most of the time, she was always saying what great friends they were and all. She'd get him out of a jam, no problem, Wade was certain. Somebody sure needed to, he thought, as he drove as fast as he dare, what with the unconscious-possibly-dead blue guy and everything.
Just as soon as he stopped the car up at the plantation, Wade threw himself out of the car and rushed into the house through the back door. As luck would have it, Zoe was right there, smiling widely as she turned to look at him.
"Hey, you're here," she said happily. "Thank you so much for your advice about the party. It's going so well. That beer you recommended? So popular, and as for the chicken fingers, well-"
"No time for that right now, doc," he told her, shaking his head fast. "I need you to come with me, right now. Medical emergency."
"Oh, my God. Is it your dad?" she checked, looking so freaked out, it was almost nice to realise just how much she truly cared, only Wade didn't have time for sentiment right now.
"It's not Earl," he said, shaking his head, trying to keep his voice low, yet loud enough she would hear over the crazy party soundtrack. "There's a possibility that a prank we all were pullin' went a little wrong."
"How wrong?" Zoe asked warily.
"Lemon mighta killed a guy."
The wide-eyed expression on Zoe's face might have been comical at any other moment, but Wade couldn't really find it funny at such a time. Grabbing at his hand, Zoe went for the door, dragging him with her, and Wade went willingly, as he always would when she was leading the way.
They were in his car, strapped in and speeding back to town within seconds, him thanking her twice in quick succession, as well as apologising for pulling her away from her party too.
"It's fine," she insisted, shaking her head, "just tell me exactly what happened to this possibly dead man," she urged him.
Wade did as she ordered, explaining about him and George wanting to get their own back on old high school bully, Jimmy Praboo. He felt kind of foolish, telling her about the blue Fun Sip powder in the shower head and wanting to teach pretty boy Jimmy a lesson and everything, but Zoe didn't seem mad at him at all. In fact, he almost thought she wanted to laugh at the whole prank part, until he got to reminding her that they may have killed the guy in the process of turning him into a Smurf.
"I don't know what happened exactly. I guess he just slipped and fell, but he's been out cold ever since and not a one of us could bring him around."
"Well, it may not be as bad as you think," Zoe said kindly, "but we won't know until I take a look at him. Seriously, Wade, was it even worth it?"
"Honestly?" he said, eyes on the road as he answered. "Kind of. He really made our lives hell in high school, and it's not like we meant to knock him out or anything, it just... happened."
They arrived outside the practice then, parking up behind George's car which was already there. He and Lemon were supposed to meet them there and had clearly followed instructions, the two of them emerging from the vehicle in front and looking grim faced.
"He still didn't come around," said George worriedly.
"I think he groaned a little once," Lemon added, "so, that means he's alive, right?"
Zoe said nothing, just opened the back door of the car and leaned in to take a look at Jimmy. After a minute, she popped back out and faced the three of them.
"He's breathing," she confirmed, "but we need to get him inside so I can check him over properly."
Wade and George wasted no time in man-handling Jimmy out of the car and bringing him into the practice. Once they had him on Zoe's exam table, they left her to do her checks, which didn't seem to take too long. In the end, the verdict was that he would be fine, except for the gnarly bump on his head, and of course, the fact that he was blue.
George and Lemon immediately rushed by Zoe to get in to see Jimmy, probably to apologise and make sure he wasn't going to call the cops or whatever. Wade hung back, reaching out a hand to Zoe's arm and squeezing.
"Thanks for coming through in a pinch, doc," he told her. "I know you prob'ly think I'm an idiot right now but..."
"I don't, actually," she assured him with a smile. "I mean, was this the smartest thing you could've done? Clearly not," she said, shaking her head, yet the smile remained, "but it probably would've been pretty funny, if not for the head injury part."
It made Wade happy to know she appreciated the prank, even if it had gone awry. Pleased him even more to know she was willing to run headlong into a crisis and be caught up in what might have proven to be a crime just for him. They really were those great friends she always said they were, he supposed, and he liked that, even though he would like it even better if they could be closer yet.
"Wade? Get in here!" George yelled from the next room.
Wade rolled his eyes. "Guess I gotta face the music with everybody else."
"I guess you do," she agreed, "and I really should get back to my guests. It's a bad hostess that runs out on her own party."
"Like you could ever be a bad anything." Wade rolled his eyes.
Zoe smiled at that and looked as if she maybe even blushed a little. "I'll see you later, prankster," she told him as she moved to leave, seeming to change her mind before she was quite out of sight and turning back. "Um, I don't have a ride back to the plantation, unless you're available?"
"After I make sure I'm not gonna get arrested or sued by the big blue guy, I'm all yours, doc," he said, knowing he meant that in just any way she chose to take it.
Wade almost thought Zoe knew it too from the way she was looking at him, but maybe that was only wishful thinking.
It was late before all the guests left the party. Lavon arrived back in time to catch just the tail end of the swinging affair, but he seemed very pleased with how things had turned out. He said as much as he, Zoe, and Wade worked on the clean up around the house, stuffing trash into garbage sacks and piling up dishes to be washed.
"It's been quite the eventful evening," Zoe told him, "one way and another," she added, looking past him at Wade, who only smiled and turned away.
"Okay then," Lavon replied, eyes shifting between them as if he were trying to figure out what was going on, but Zoe chose not to explain. "So, the party was a smash, now we just gotta win the game, which may be easier said than done with my quarterbacks all suffering with this flu thing."
"You think it's a real flu or just the nerves gettin' to 'em?" asked Wade thoughtfully. "Seems kinda strange that your QBs have got it worse than anyone else."
"Hell if I know what to think about it." Lavon sighed and shook his head. "But if neither one of those guys are feelin' better tomorrow, we may yet have to forfeit the game. All that coaching and this party and getting all that grass greened, for nothing."
Zoe's hand stopped halfway to the trash bag when she heard those last few words.
"Getting all that grass greened," she echoed, turning fast to look at Lavon again. "Lavon, did the guys who greened the grass here do the same on the football field?"
"Sure, that's where I got the idea from," he admitted without pause. "Why?"
Zoe face-palmed as she realised what happened, going on to explain to both Lavon and Wade about organophosphate poisoning. It would affect all the players in a small way, but the quarterbacks most of all, since they were constantly licking their fingers to get a better grip on the football.
At least now they had that figured out, she could prescribe the right meds and hopefully get everybody fit and healthy for the game. Lavon was so thrilled, he actually picked Zoe up off the ground when he hugged her and thanked her three times for being amazing.
After that, he wouldn't accept any more help with the party clean-up, not even from Wade, and told them both they should head home already. Zoe didn't need telling twice. After the crazy events of the day, she was frankly exhausted!
"Well, we had ourselves quite a night there, doc," said Wade as they walked together from the main house towards their own places.
"Yes, we did," she agreed, "but at least it all turned out for the best in the end. Jimmy Praboo may be blue, but he's not dead, plus he actually found your crazy prank funny. I know how to make the quarterbacks feel fit for tomorrow's game, and as a bonus, Lavon's pre-game party was a huge success. We did good, Kinsella," she said, holding her hand up for a high five.
Of course, Wade didn't leave her hanging. She was surprised he wasn't as enthusiastic about their achievements tonight as she was. In fact, he was soon stuffing both hands in his pockets and turning very quiet. Zoe was about to ask if anything was wrong when he suddenly spoke up again.
"So, uh, did Judson come to the party? I figured you would invite him."
"Oh, um, no. Actually, I didn't," Zoe admitted. "I mean, I wasn't even sure if it was his kind of thing, and we only had that one date, so... no, I didn't ask him and he wasn't there."
They were close by the pond then, at a point where it only made sense to part ways and go to their own houses. Stopping walking, they faced each other, Zoe a little uncertain what was on Wade's mind and, not for the first time, too afraid to ask.
"I'm not makin' a big deal or anything," he said then, "I just thought, well, you seemed to like him well enough. You had to, else you wouldn'ta gone out to dinner with him even that one time."
"I like him." Zoe nodded. "I mean, he's a nice guy, it's just... I don't know, I guess I just don't think Judson and I are meant to be is all."
She wasn't sure what reaction she expected to that confession, one that she hardly knew she was going to make until the words came spilling from her mouth. The grin that took over Wade's face certainly proved that he was glad to know that her and Judson were unlikely to be seeing each other anymore. It made Zoe's heart leap to realise that.
"Well, it's probably for the best," said Wade then, backing up one step and then another towards the gatehouse. "I always thought that guy was gay anyhow," he declared, still grinning as he raised a hand to wave goodbye. "G'night, Zoe Hart."
"Goodnight, Wade Kinsella," she called back to him, laughing into her words as she also turned away, heading on into the carriagehouse.
It really had been one heck of a night.
To Be Continued...
