Yay, my chapters are getting a bit longer. lol! Thanx soooo much for the reviews, you guys, it makes me want to continue. lol! Thanx for reading!

Jess woke very early the next morning and he didn't know why. His dad's pickup was still there and usually he didn't wake until after his dad left. Groggily, he rubbed his eyes. As his vision cleared he saw someone in his bedroom. Somewhat frightened he stood up, prepared to fight. As soon as he saw who it was, he let himself relax. It was Leslie.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up," she said smiling.

"Why are you here? I thought you had to stay in Terabithia," Jess said climbing back into bed.

"It's not as good when you're by yourself. I figured I'd come and visit you. I can be like your….like your friend in a pocket!" Leslie proclaimed excitedly.

"You're not in my pocket," Jess yawned.

"Do you ever think outside the box?"

"Not…not when I'm a…a…asleep," Jess said stifling another yawn. Leslie rolled her transparent eyes.

"Oh, come on, get up!" Leslie said.

"Leslie," Jess stated matter of factly, "you, now that you're….you know…gone. I'm guessing you don't have to sleep anymore either. I'm not dead and I need to sleep," he finished and enunciated the last four words forcefully. Leslie huffed at him.

"Fine. I'm going to go down to my old house and see what's left of it. Come and get me when you're done sleeping," Leslie said.

"Yeah, ok," Jess said sleepily. After two seconds he was once again in a deep slumber.

Hours later, he awoke to find sunlight streaming into his face.

"Ugg," he said trying to shield his eyes. When his vision finally cleared he could see May Belle who had just entered into the room.

"Momma says to get your butt out of bed," May Belled said before hurrying out of the room, clearly scared that Jess would yell at her again.

"May Belle!" Jess said, calling her back in.

"What?" she asked surly.

"I'm sorry I yelled yesterday."

"I'm sorry I was rude," May Belle said hanging her head in shame. Jess gave her a one armed hug.

"You're great, May Belle." May Belle laughed and went downstairs. After a few seconds, Jess got up and followed her.

"Lord, Jess, what is up with you? Why are you getting up so late?" his mother asked as she put a bowl of oatmeal in front of him.

"I…was tired," Jess said before grabbing a huge spoonful of oatmeal.

"Sure. I'll bet you sneaked out early to go out again," Ellie said mockingly.

Jess slammed his spoon against the table and turned to face his older sister.

"Do you ever stop talking?" he asked.

"I'll stop talking when you start being normal."

"I WON'T HAVE THIS!" screamed their mother.

"Ellie, you go to your room. Everyone else, I don't care where you go just…GO!" Jess angrily stomped out of the house. He seemed to be getting mad at everything lately. He blamed it on Ellie and Brenda.

"Leslie?" he called out when he reached the old Perkins place.

"Leslie?" he asked again when there was no reply. There was nothing else for it, he went inside.

The walls were old and musty smelling, the paint cracked and dry. The hardwood floors were creaking and cobwebs clustered around the corners in walls.

"Leslie?" he called again, but softer this time. It seemed as though if he shouted the house would collapse on top of him. He let his feet climb the familiar path to the golden room. He had helped paint that room and was interested to see what was left of it. To his surprise, the room remained seemingly new. The paint shone, perhaps not as bright as it once had, but still it shined. Jess glanced around and saw Leslie sitting against the wall with her hands around her knees.

"Leslie?" he said for the fourth time. She looked up and Jess could see her face streaked with tears.

"What's wrong?" he asked sitting down next to her. Leslie didn't speak for a moment but finally murmured, "They're gone."

"You think they would've stayed?" Jess asked laughing quietly.

"I thought they liked it here. When did they move?"

"Right after you died." Leslie stared at him. Jess knew his words were playing around in her mind and she struggled to comprehend them.

"So why did they come here for the first place?" Leslie finally asked.

"For you I guess," Jess said carefully. Leslie seemed as though she were about to explode; into tears or anger, he couldn't tell. She took a shaky breath.

"I guess….I guess if I was a grown up I would've done the same thing. I don't know what I was expecting really," she said quietly, but not madly.

"They loved you," Jess said quickly.

"Well, that much was obvious. You think I didn't know that?" Leslie asked rolling her eyes. Jess laughed as he stood up.

"Come on, let's go do something," he said reaching his hand down to help her up.

"I'm not solid, smarty," Leslie said ignoring his hand and standing up of her own accord.