Hartbroken

Disclaimer: This is my story and I do not own anything from Hart of Dixie etc.

Chapter One

Zoe sighed as she walked into the Rammer Jammer with AnnaBeth, taking in the crowd celebrating Independence Day. Before she could help herself, she scanned the crowd for the ever-present barman and love of her life Wade, still desperate to win back his love after her declaration to him a few weeks before. Since then, she had made numerous attempts to win him back, and had gone out of her way to be friendly and as charming as possible whenever she ran into him, even when he was being a jackass, if only to prove that her interest hadn't waned. However, Wade had not eased up, and whilst generally he let her down gently and was friendly enough, last time they'd talked there'd been a bit of an argument as he finally let out how he was really feeling.

"Please Wade! Can't you give us just one chance, one date," Zoe begged, her eyes starting to prickle with tears.

"No! I'm tired of telling this to you, but as it clearly isn't getting through I'll spell it out for you, Zoe. You hurt me. You broke my heart, after I'd raced across country to declare my love for you. Then you just left and told me you wouldn't be returning via e-mail. Then you come back parading Joel around, leaving me to put myself back together as best I could. Then I finally start getting better with Vivian, and that's all gone to hell even though I have never been my best self more than with her – all that stuff I went through with Harley! Then she swans off as well and breaks my heart again. And now you want to have another go? I'm not a toy for you Wilkes women to pick up and throw away any time you feel like it! I've said no, Zoe. That's enough. If you ask me again I may not be so polite next time." And with that, he left her, Zoe's jaw hanging open as she processed what he'd said. I can't believe it, she thought. He'd been so nonchalant about her return to Bluebell that she'd never guessed that her being with Joel had caused him a minute's thought. Clearly, she'd been wrong.

As Zoe finally spotted Wade, not behind the bar as usual but deep in the crowd, she stifled a shudder. She did not want another repeat of that fight. She was starting to have the realisation that maybe she wouldn't be able to get past Wade's defences this time. The thought left a heavy sinking in her stomach that meant she hadn't been able to eat much lately.

"Are you sure you want to be here, sweetie?" asked AB gently. Zoe nodded, then realised what she was staring at. The crowd had parted and she saw a tarty looking blonde throw her arms around Wade and kiss him soundly, to the whooping of a few people in the crowd. Wade grinned and appeared to be having the time of his life. Zoe turned back to the bar and tried to breathe calmly. It was natural that Wade should date, or even sleep around again. He was that kind of guy. He'd only changed because he wanted to be in serious relationships, but now they were gone there was no reason for him not to go back to his old ways. "Double vodka, please" she ordered, before downing her shots and ordering again.

"Just ignore him. You don't need him in your life, you'll find someone else", AB said, noting that Lavon was also in the midst of the women surrounding Wade, enjoying their attention. She sighed, wondering why she and her friend were so unlucky. And she wished that their town was large enough so they didn't have to run into their exes all the time. "At least Lemon will be back soon" she commented. "Life will definitely liven up then – think of all the stories she'll have to tell from her single's cruise!"

Zoe laughed. "Yeah, but I betcha she'll be engaged, or at least in a serious relationship when she's back. That's the whole point of the cruise, after all."

AB shook her head. "No way. Lemon won't be attracted to any of those high society types that have air for brains. Hey, Zoe" she whispered conspiratorially.

Zoe leaned in, still focussed on Wade and his bevy of admirers. She could swear he'd just turned, looked at her, then winked. Her cheeks burned. To onlookers if probably looked like she'd go branded across her forehead. "What?" she replied.

"Four o clock. Really hot guy checking you out!" AB said excitedly.

Zoe turned, and noticed a tall good-looking guy with broad shoulders and a cheeky smile looking at her. She'd seen him around a few times, but didn't know who he was. She sent him a tentative smile back, not feeling very confident at the moment. "Do you know him?" she asked.

"No, he definitely doesn't live in Bluebell or I would have remembered," AB purred. "Go over to him!" she urged her friend.

Taking another look at Wade, who was leading the blonde into his office, she thought why the hell not. A new guy was exactly what she needed – nothing heavy, but a bit of fun. She walked over and said hi. "I'm Zoe," she introduced herself.

The newcomer looked her up and down, smiling to himself, in a way that even Zoe in her slightly messed up state could recognise as drop-dead gorgeous. His black hair was perfectly groomed and he clearly worked outdoors, judging by his physique. "Hi, I'm Sean," he said. "Can I buy such a pretty lady a drink?"

"Sure," she smiled. She found him pretty easy to talk to. He owned his own building business over in Daphne, and had come to Bluebell on a job, that would be lasting only another few days. Zoe found herself thrilled – she realised whilst talking to him that she was nowhere near ready for a new romance – Wade's rejection combined with Joel leaving her had filled up her reserves for a while to come. Still, there was no need for her to rush off – to her surprise she found herself having a good time, and started to get a little drunk as Sean kept buying her drinks. AB had disappeared and left them to it, but Zoe was fine with that. She couldn't help hoping that Wade would come back out of the office sometime soon, find her flirting with the handsome man and be wildly jealous. A person can dream, she thought.

Sean noticed her eyes, repeatedly drifting over to the office door, and quirked an eyebrow. "You expecting someone, darlin?" he drawled.

Zoe flushed and shook her head. "My ex is here," she explained. He nodded, showing his understanding.

"Is this a jealousy situation, something I should steer clear of?" he asked, looking around, moving a little closer to her, his fingers lightly skimming her arm, his actions belying his words. "Or something I can help with?" He raised his slightly mocking eyes to hers.

Zoe caught the glint and returned it. If Sean was willing to help her give Wade a taste of his own medicine, she'd be glad of it. It wouldn't achieve anything real she knew, but it might make her feel a little better. Another glance towards the office door showed the blonde and Wade returning, noticeably flushed and dishevelled. Wade turned to look her way and Zoe leaned into Sean, resting her hand on his arm and bending to whisper in his ear. Wade stopped, and looked at them with a slight frown on his face, before turning away. Zoe beamed at Sean. "Thank you!" she said happily. "He definitely doesn't like it going both ways".

Sean smiled. "Always glad to be of service. So Wade Kinsella is your ex, huh? Heard he's got a bit of a reputation," he said, signalling Wanda to refill their drinks.

"Yeah, and looks like he's gone back to form," Zoe said gloomily, unable to be objective about Wade. Her eyes cut back to Sean, who was watching her intently. "He wasn't always like that. He behaved himself when we were together, even though he hates me now" she added, realising that she was probably coming across like another one of Wade's brainless bimbos. Even though he didn't live in Bluebell, and she wasn't interested in him for anything more than a distraction from Wade, she didn't want to make a bad impression.

"So if he was so great, why did you break up?" he asked. Zoe squirmed a little before admitting Wade had cheated on her.

"But it's difficult – we've got a lot of history together. I decided that I forgave him for hurting me and I told him I wanted him back, but he's not in the same place I am", she confessed, wondering why she was telling this stranger everything. Maybe that was the advantage. Bluebell was so small and gossip went around so fast it was a huge relief.

"Sounds like he's not good enough for you" Sean said. He smiled at her and lent a little closer, his breath skimming her ear. "A beautiful, intelligent and funny girl like you could do so much better than that, especially since you know he's a cheat."

Zoe shook her head and her brain swam for a minute. She was drinking way too fast. She turned to look back at the crowd and saw AB dancing with some Belles, next to Wade and his blonde. She'd never felt quite so out of place before. Nobody was there for her. Nobody cared. Only some guy, who she was starting to realise, might need to help her home.

"Hey, you okay?" Sean asked, coming to Zoe's aid as she stumbled from her chair. "You seem to have a pretty low tolerance. Maybe I should help you," he said, grabbing her arm and holding her upright. She smiled up at him. "I'm sorry," she confessed. "I'm not normally like this. Haven't eaten much today. Can you ask Wanda to call me a taxi, please?"

"Of course. Let's get you outside first, some fresh air will help you sober up" he said, smiling.

Zoe's world narrowed down to putting one foot in front of the other. "Something's not right" she slurred, the fresh air seeming to have made no difference as they stepped out into the almost deserted lot, before the world turned black and she remembered no more.

Author's Note: I haven't written anything in a long time – years. I hope someone liked this and agrees I should write more!