I didn't actually think I'd get reviews, let alone good ones for 'It's been a while, hasn't it?' As I said, I am curious to actually see what happens with all the characters I made for it, so lets go and see.

Bridge to Terabithia

The Long Road

Part One: To Move Forward

Chapter 1 A Reunion

It had been more than three months since Leslie had died. The time hadn't done much to heal the wounds. He still blamed himself for her death. He blamed his greed when he could have invited Leslie with him and Ms. Edmunds. Instead he chose not to and it was still tearing him apart. Jess could never have guessed how one small decision could change everything before May 19th.

It was the first day of the sixth grade for him. May Belle was entering the first grade. Brenda was going to be a junior and Ellie a sophomore at the local high school. Janice had also gone there, along with all the other kids in the back that Jess had always hoped would leave. Janice had helped him at the end of the year. She had been a friend, even if it was only for a brief time. He had never thought he would miss any of the eighth graders.

As he entered the building he was pushed to the ground by the delinquent duo of Fulcher and Hoager. He knew he could take Hoager but with Fulcher he was overmatched. He had gotten used to it last year but he supposed he would have to learn again. He got up and continued to his classroom. He still had no friends in his grade, and he didn't care for the most part. Leslie had been his best friend, and he didn't want anyone to take her place.

He put his backpack in his locker, took out the notebooks and pencils, and proceeded to his classroom. He saw the seating chart and proceeded through the row of the five by six layout of the desks. He noticed he was sitting by Madison and a boy named Jerry, as well as two other people he considered irrelevant to his life. He was in the middle of the room almost, and very happy to see Hoager was some desks away. Fulcher was at the edge of the row and two desks up. He thought he might have to endure spitballs, but then he remembered Fulcher was one of the stupidest people in the school, just under the intelligence to know how to shoot straw wrappers, let alone wad up small amounts of paper and shoot them out of the straw.

The new teacher was a thirtyish looking man named Mr. Albertson. He had brown hair and glasses, with a brown coat, white shirt, and jeans. Jess thought he might actually like this teacher. Mr. Albertson was more down to earth than all of the other teachers that Jess had. Besides Ms. Edmunds, but Jess didn't much want to see her. He knew it wasn't her fault about that awful May 19th. That didn't stop him from seeing her as the symbol of his greed.

He was one of the first kids in the room that day, and noticed that the fashions had changed yet again. He still wondered why that mattered so much, but it was a common discussion among girls. He made a mental note to ask May Belle about it. However, he knew that blue hair was definitely not in. However, for one boy, Jess believed it was Abel, he was about to get a lesson in fashion.

Abel took his seat in the front, one spot over from the window. Jess felt sorry for him because he was right in front of Hoager. Abels fist clenched when he saw who was sitting right behind his spot. When he sat down Hoager started his customary beeping. But unlike with Jess, he said the beeps much faster until, "Boom. Woah, Turner, you blew up my Loser Detector! Even Aarons and Burke combined couldn't do that!" Abel had been ignoring him, but when he heard Leslies name, he turned around.

Even with his blue hair going halfway down his neck and black glasses, the look in his blue-green eyes showed more than rage; they showed a determination that Hoager should have respected. He didn't say anything but wouldn't break eye contact with him. Jess had already gotten up. He wouldn't tolerate anything negative about Leslie. Hoager turned around to look at Jess. "Oh, sorry Aarons, I forgot you were the only friend of that bi-" Jess wanted to hurt Hoager, and he wasn't going to stop one hit this time. Able beat him to it. He hit Hoager in the back of the head as hard as he could.

Hoager gripped his head in pain and turned around to take another blow that knocked him onto the floor. "That's enough, no matter how much you think he may deserve it. And Mr…" He took a brief glance at the seating chart. "Aarons, please sit back down." Mr. Albertson was secretly glad no one was watching him because he had actually smiled when Abel hit Hoager.

The only expression on Abels face to give away his anger was in his eyes. Mr. Albertson had taken one of his arms and started pulling him. Abel seriously considered 'tripping' and kicking Hoagers face but decided against it. Abel looked at Jess and winked. Jess smiled back before Abel was pulled out of the room. Mr. Albertson briefly looked back in and told Hoager to "get off the floor and get over here." It was clear that he was only doing this because he had to.

Five minutes later Ms. Edmunds came in to take over Mr. Albertsons duties because he had to stay with the two children. Jess briefly looked at her but didn't want to. He was also the first person she called for attendance. "Jess, are you here?" He had been avoiding eye contact with her and only briefly looked at her when he answered.

She had to escort the class to gym. Jess was last in line. While she watched the class go inside, she stopped Jess for a moment. "I'm sorry about what happened, Jess." Jess simply looked at her. "I know it won't happen soon, but eventually, you will be with her again. I promise you that." She walked away quickly, not wanting to see the expression in his face. She heard what had happened soon after she dropped him off and understood the role she played that day. Ms. Edmunds truly hoped that someday she could make it up to him.

After that, the day continued as it normally would have. Mr. Albertson had come back after recess, but Hoager stayed in the nurses office and Abel was suspended for the first two days of school. Jess wanted to talk to him, but he could wait, not that he had much choice.

The next day was boring and music class didn't start until Friday. He zoned out when he thought that. He didn't want to see Ms. Edmunds but he wanted music class? He didn't want to think about it.

Abel returned on Thursday to find he had a new spot, now in the back of the classroom. Mr. Albertson had decided that the easiest way to solve the problem was to move every desk in the row up one spot. It actually worked well. Jess couldn't easily talk to him, but recess came soon enough. Jess usually sat by himself outside for most of the years he had been at the elementary except the mostly wonderful fifth grade. He had assumed that this year would be the same as the majority of his time at school, but after Abel beat up Hoager Jess decided he had to at least talk to him. Abel was leaning against the large tree by the bathrooms. He saw Jess and waved. Jess went over to him. "Thanks for beating up Hoager. That usually shuts him up for a month."

Abel laughed and smiled at the same time. "Ever since you hit him last year I've been wanting to do the same thing." He stopped smiling after that and added in a much more serious tone, "The dead should never be insulted."

Jess smiled. Not a 'really happy' smile, but it was still the biggest smile he had had in months. "So why did you dye your hair blue?" Abels eyes narrowed just a little bit. Jess hadn't meant to make it sound bad. "I mean, it looks really cool! It's just that, you know, no one around here has ever done that before. Aren't you afraid of people like Madison and her friends never leaving you alone about it?"

Abels stared at him blankly for a moment. In a hidden serious tone he replied, "I know it's coming, but it's not like it matters. I stopped caring what they thought of me a long time ago. If I cared what all of those annoying girls thought of me, I would never have any peace. But because I do not, I'm just fine."

"But if you don't care what anyone thinks, doesn't that make it hard to make friends?"

Abel smiled. "But your, my friend, aren't you Jess?" Jess paused a moment, then nodded. Having someone to talk to felt good, even if it was from the strangest kid in the class.

Jess looked over and saw the races had begun for that day. He didn't care. He had already proven that he was the fastest kid in the sixth grade two days in a row. He didn't have to think about how it was more fun with Abel than beating his much slower classmates. The wins had felt hollow to him. Leslie should have been there. He might even have beaten her this year. Now it was impossible to know.

He didn't realize it then, but as time passed with Abel, he felt better. It wasn't all at once, but his mood improved.

He and May Belle went to Terabithia that day. They hadn't gone since the beginning of July when Jess finished the Bridge. As they arrived and the castle and all the residents appeared May Belle told him it was time to fly. Jess didn't know what she meant until she pointed out their giant winged snakes. They mounted their steeds and took off for a look at the Terabithian Seas. He had never actually seen them, but he was amazed at their beauty. Shined upon by the dusk light they were magnificent. They were flying through the air, the wind blowing across their faces, the mountains coming up, and beyond them, the shining seas. The dusk light made the mountains an orangish-golden color, with the fields of Terabithia black. Jess even thought he could see what must have been a massive sea serpent on the golden water.

It wasn't the old Terabithia. It was a new, shining Terabithia, filled with hope.

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