Hey, sorry, I would've put this up sooner but yesterday my computer was being extremely stupid and wasn't working. So maybe I'll post up 2 chapters today. D

Hope you enjoy!

"Where were you?" his father asked raising an eyebrow threateningly. Jess coiled under his father's icy stare.

"I've been…out. You know, in the-"

"You know you're not supposed to be out this late! How many times have we told you not to leave the house after dark!?" his father bellowed.

"I'm…I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again," Jess said quietly. His father's face softened a little. He placed a hand on Jess's shoulder and said,

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I know, Dad."

"Your mother has some left over dinner in the kitchen." Jess paused and waited to see if any further instruction came from his dad.

"Go on, boy! You need to start eating!" his dad said laughing slightly. Jess smiled and ran into the kitchen. His mother frowned at him but said nothing. She just nodded towards a plate on the table. Jess greedily grabbed it.

"You gonna make Momma and Dad keel over and die if you keep sneaking out like that," Brenda sneered and Ellie nodded in agreement.

"I didn't sneak out," Jess said quietly.

"Than what were you doing out then?" Ellie asked.

"I don't remember that being any of your business," Jess snapped.

"If ya'll can't sit at the blasted dinner table without fighting I don't know what I'm gonna do to you!" their mother shouted. Her face was red and she resembled a giant tomato. Jess forced a laugh back down, put his dishes away, and headed up stairs before he could get any more lectures.

When he got to his room, he dug out his drawing books for the first time in ages. His crayons were caked with dust and his paper was curling at the edges. He flipped through a few of his old drawings. What he saw made him smile with pleasure. Without really thinking, he picked up a red crayon and began to draw. He drew a giant tomato with tiny arms and legs and a huge mouth.

"Whatchu doin' Jess?" May Belle asked coming into the room.

"Drawing," came Jess's curt reply. He was now adding the finer details of him and his sisters who were cowering in fear. May Belle leaned over and looked at the picture.

"Why do you draw such stupid things?" she asked.

"Why are you so rude all of a sudden?" Jess replied glaring at her.

May Belle's face looked sullen and somewhat angry. Jess was surprised, she never usually got mad at him.

"May Belle, what's wrong?" he asked setting aside his drawing things.

"You went to Terabithia without me. Why'd you do that for, Jess?" she asked and looked close to tears.

Jess stared at her; his face was blank but his mind was reeling. May Belle, I forgot about May Belle! Now what am I going to do….

"Look, I'm sorry. I was just….just thinking and…had an….urge," Jess said toying around with his words.

"I bet you were thinking about Leslie! She's the only one you ever think about, Jess! What. About. Me," May Belle sobbed. Jess felt awful. He pulled her into a one armed hug and said,

"I'm sorry, May Belle. It's just….hard."

"But it's been three years!" May Belle said indignantly.

"So? What if Billy Jean died? Would you forget her in a hurry?" Jess asked, somewhat harshly and reminding him forcibly of his father.

"I would just make another friend," May Belle said simply. Jess shook his head. He knew it was useless trying to explain to May Belle how hard it was to lose someone you loved. How hard it was to feel a gaping hole inside of you and to be trapped in a world without that someone with no escape. He knew he wouldn't have understood it either if Leslie hadn't….

But all that didn't matter. He wasn't trapped in a lonely world anymore because she was back. She was once again all his.

He snapped back to focus to see May Belle still staring at him.

"It's not as easy as all that," he said quietly.

"Well, I wouldn't confine myself to my room for hours on end. And I wouldn't cry."

Jess was ready to banish her from Terabithia.

"Get. Out," he said menacingly.

"I was only-"

"I said GET OUT!" Jess shouted. May Belle looked at him, terrified before running out of the room.

Jess, in an attempt to calm himself began drawing again but he found he couldn't because his hands were shaking so badly. Finally, in annoyance, he slammed his drawing book shut, pushed it under his bed, and pulled the bed covers over his head.