At 2:30, Jess got onto the bus and sat down next to his friend. "Hey."
"How's it going?"
"Fine," he said. "Just glad it's over."
Leslie grinned. "This is always the best time of the day, isn't it?"
"Obviously. Aren't you glad to get out of that place? God, it's like a prison."
"Ah, cheer up Jess, we've got the rest of the afternoon free. Hey... I thought of a new project for us."
"Yeah?"
"You know the rope that we swing on?" He nodded. "I thought that maybe we could build a bridge to help us get across."
"A bridge?" he asked. "Why? It goes against tradition. It's completely... untraditional."
She laughed. "Yeah, but think about it. A bridge would be like a grand entrance to our kingdom. We could decorate it with branches and signs and make it all sparkly... it'll be so cool!"
Jess had to smile at her enthusiasm. "That does sound pretty awesome," he admitted. "Just where do you come up with this stuff, O great queen of Terabithia?"
"Well, my parents have some extra lumber that they're not going to use. I thought we could take it."
"Nice. I'll borrow the tools from my dad, and we can start work on the bridge soon. During summer break."
"Yay!" She hugged him tightly, and he pulled away, blushing.
"You know, you always have the best ideas, Leslie."
"Oh, stop."
"No, I mean it. You're really great."
"Well," she said, "maybe you just... bring out the best in me."
He stared at her. "I do?"
She shrugged. They sat in silence for a few seconds.
"Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"I have another idea." She licked her lips nervously.
"What? What's wrong?"
"It's just that I've never... done this." She lifted a hand to his cheek and slowly leaned her head towards him. Jess sat there, entranced.
"Leslie." He closed his eyes in anticipation...
"YO, JESS!" They quickly turned to the back of the bus. Scott Hoager was smirking at them. "Why don't you and your girlfriend get a room?"
The other kids laughed. Jess glanced at Leslie and saw that her face was now bright red.
"That asshole Hoager," he muttered. "I'm sorry Leslie, I'll get him for –"
"No, no, it's ok," she said, smiling sheepishly. Then she whispered in his ear, "Maybe later..."
"Sure."
The bus stopped, and they got off.
30 years later
The teacher turned to his students on the first day of school. "Hello, my name is Mr. Aarons. I'll be teaching you guys Introductory Painting this semester."
"... Let's go over the rules in my classroom. First of all, respect other people's art. Second – hey!" He looked towards the back of the room. "What are you guys doing?"
A boy broke off of his girlfriend's mouth and grinned a little. "Sorry, sir. Won't happen again."
"Of course not. We're here to paint, not to make out." The other students laughed. "What's your name, son?"
"Sam Hoager."
Mr. Aarons looked down at his attendance roster... Hoager, Samuel – 11th grade
"Did your dad go to this school, Sam?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Nothing," he replied. "Just wondering. Of course, I'm going to have to give both of you five demerits and a lunch detention for this."
"What?" Sam shouted. "Come on, man. Couldn't you just, like, let us off with a warning?"
Jess thought about it for a second and then shook his head. "Sorry. It's in the student handbook; no kissing allowed, no public displays of affection. Now get your asses down to the principal's office."
The couple trudged out, dejected.
Jess bit back a smirk and turned to the rest of the class. "Now where was I? Oh, yes. Rule number two: no wasting supplies..."