A/N: Just a few brief messages before we begin! For one, and the most obvious, I don't own anything of the amazing book/movie Bridge to Terabithia. Course not. Or it'd most likely suck... Hah. This is my first time with a fanfic, but feel free to criticize all you want, so long as it's helpful, I won't mind.
Also, just a shout to Emily, for getting me to actually write a fanfic amidst my other writing stuff. And hopefully you like the stories half as much as I love yours!
So without furthur ado, enjoy!
"Thank you, Leslie. Now tonight at seven on channel four, there is a special about an undersea explorer, Dr. Bob Ballard. I want everyone to watch, and write one page about what you've learned." Ms. Myers announced, but watched Leslie timidly raise her hand. "Leslie?"
"Umm… What if you can't watch this program?" Leslie asked sincerely.
"If you inform your parents this is an assignment, I'm sure they won't object." Ms. Myers smiled back. She had already grown to like Leslie after reading her delightfully creative piece on scuba diving. She was something else, someone who stood out and did so unintentionally. To put it plainly, Leslie Burke was special.
"But… What if you don't have a T.V…?" Leslie's face scrunched a little saying it, hoping she wouldn't be made fun of too much for it.
The effect was instant—the class burst into a roar of laugher. Leslie just looked around, feeling a bit helpless, watching Scott Hoager laugh like crazy.
From the corner of his eye, Jess watched Leslie empathetically, secretly wishing she didn't attract attention to herself on all matters. First the race and now a T.V.? She was practically asking to be made fun of by Hoager. Yet deep down, another part of Jess thought she kinda deserved the ridicule, especially after she flaunted her win by trying to be his friend. But without much he could do, Jess just turned back to the sketch he was working on of Monster Mouth Myers.
"My dad says the T.V. kills your brain cells." Leslie said as politely as she could, but looked at Hoager as if he was the epitome of this.
"Well your dad doesn't know anything. We watch T.V. like everyday." Hoager spat back.
"I rest my case…" Leslie mumbled to herself.
"Well then Leslie, you don't have to write this essay, you can pick something else to write about." Ms. Myers spoke, trying hard to help the young girl out. She knew it wasn't easy to be the odd one out, as she herself had always been as a child.
Scott Hoager seized his chance and yelled, "Yeah, like how to live in a cave!" causing another fit of laughter from the class, Scott smirking to himself.
"That's enough, Mr. Hoager." Ms. Myers snapped, effectively silencing the class.
As the last bell of the day rang, Leslie sighed with relief finally getting to go home, although there wasn't much there either. Both her parents were novelists, pouring words from their pens at blazing speeds. They had no time for her anymore, and wouldn't have any until they were finished with it.
Leslie shoved the rest of the books in her bag and noticed she was one of the lasts ones out of the classroom. She hastily said goodbye to Ms. Myers, and headed straight for the buses. But as her focus remained on finding her bus, she didn't notice a pack of girls waiting for her at the steps that led to the bus area.
Jess walked down the aisle and went to take his normal seat on the bus when he saw Wanda Kay and her pack of friends targeting none other than Leslie. He couldn't hear what they said, but whatever they did, it seemed to have finally gotten to Leslie.
He watched her sympathetically, as she stomped onto the bus and strode down the aisle. Half expecting her to sit near him again like the day before, he was surprised, as she didn't stop until the last row of seats that lined the back of the bus.
But that's where–, but Jess didn't have to finish his thought, as kids began chattering all around him.
"Here comes Janice!" May Belle gasped, not wanting her brother's friend, and her neighbor, to get hurt.
"New kid's in Janice's seat!" Another kid yelled, obviously alarmed at the girl who was sitting in it.
Just then, two heavy footsteps pounded on the floor, as a towering 8th grade stepped onto the bus. She chewed her gum with vigor, and stomped her way towards her seat. The seat in the back.
"Jess! Jess! The big kids will kill her!" May Belle cried, her big brown eyes pleading at him to do something. And now, even Jess was concerned for Leslie.
Darting from his seat, he quickly made his way to the back while they still had time before Janice made it, and tried to get Leslie's attention.
"Do you have a death wish? The back row is for 8th graders!" He half-yelled at her. But she was despondent, and didn't even flinch.
Why can't he just be like every other normal person around here, and leave me alone?, Leslie moaned to herself. Who wants to hang out with cave girl?, she continued darkly when suddenly, she felt a warm hand take hers and tried to yank her up, but she didn't budge. She was in shock, as she felt something she had never felt before. There was just something about his hand that made her feel…loved. Not the romantic love of course, but the love of a friend, something she never had any luck in her previous school or here.
Just when she was about to smile up at Jess, he was shoved roughly from behind and almost toppled on top of her. But with one last grin, he pushed himself back up and let go of her hand, nodding towards the seats on her right. Leslie didn't waste another second as she picked up her shoulder bag and clambered over the empty seats and into the one with Jess' backpack.
A few seconds later, Jess dropped into his seat and laid his head back in exhaustion. She wondered how he even made it past the line of 8th graders, but dismissed the thought and uttered a thanks.
"Yeah, no problem…" Jess mumbled, his face turning back into the scowl that was normally etched on his face. But Leslie wanted to him to know she was thanking him for more than just saving her from the bullies. He had shown her something no one has ever shown her before.
"No, I mean it, Jess," Leslie said, reaching her hand up to grab his shoulder. "Thank you."
"Yeah, I heard you, Leslie." He raised his head back up and stared at her, a hint of anger seeping through his voice. His cold, dark eyes pierced through her, as she quickly removed her hand and looked away, devastated. But Leslie was determined to show Jess her true appreciation one way or another.