A/N hi! I'm sorry the chapters are so short. The main reason I'm doing this is since I have written so little on it, I dont want you guys to have to wait ages for me to post the next part. Hope you enjoy!

"What's wrong?" Leslie asked hopping out of the tree.

"You're dead," Jess said bluntly.

"No, I'm not. I'm right here," Leslie said frowning. Jess was still looking at her warily.

"Leslie, my parents told me three years ago that the rope swing broke. You fell into the creek and….and drowned," Jess said. It was the first time he had ever said it.

"They must've been lying then," Leslie said cheerfully.

"Leslie, they weren't lying! I went over to your house. Everyone was crying….it…it was horrible!"

Leslie stared at him for a long time.

"I never knew you had so much imagination, Jess," she finally said a smile breaking through.

"But, I'm not imagining things," Jesse protested.

"Come on, let's go to the tree house," Leslie said, no longer paying attention to Jess's feeble attempts to prove himself.

Jess so wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe he had made up the last three years. He wanted to believe he had just gotten back from the museum and had come straight away to Terabithia with Leslie. He wanted to believe that he was still ten. But he couldn't. He was past the age of making things up.

"I can't, Leslie. I have to go home. I promised May Belle."

"I'll come with you then," Leslie said cheerfully.

"But…ok, sure. Did you see what happened to my paints?" Jess said still slightly confused.

"Oh, sorry, I picked them up for you. Here they are," Leslie said pulling them out of her pocket.

"Thanks…Ok, come on, let's go."

Jess was in a daze the whole way back to his house. He vaguely answered Leslie's question about the rope swing.

"Jess, what took you so long?" May Belle asked running up to him when he walked into the house.

"I….I met Leslie," Jess whispered.

"You mean another Leslie?" May Belle asked her voice as loud as ever.

"No. I mean Leslie Leslie. Leslie Burke," Jess whispered.

"Leslie's dead," May Belle screeched. Could she ever be quiet? Jess was sure he was never that loud when he was her age.

" How come she can't see me?" Leslie asked anxiously.

"I already told you, you're dead," Jess said for the tenth time.

"Why you talkin' to air, Jess?" May Belle asked.

"I don't know, May Belle!"

Jess stalked up to his room and then turned to face Leslie.

"I wish you really were back," he said quietly.

"Jess, I'm so confused!" Leslie said and she seemed near to tears now.

"So am I! I haven't seen you in three years and all of a sudden you came back in Terabithia and….I don't know what…." Jess let his statement hang in the air.

"If I really am dead, then why am I here?" Leslie finally asked.

"I don't know but I hope you stay," Jess said smiling somewhat.

"But no one can see me!" Leslie shouted.

"Sh!" Jess hissed, forgetting for a moment that he was the only one who could see her.

"Let's go to Terabithia. It'll help us," Leslie said, her eyes lighting up just like they used to.

"It's almost dinner," Jess said hesitantly.

"We'll be back before then," Leslie said hopping off the bed.