A/N Hello all! Once again thanks so much for the reviews!

As Jess sat milking Bessie someone came into the barn.

"Hi, Leslie," Jess said. Leslie sat down on a stool opposite from Jess and smiled.

"What happened? You didn't come," she said.

"I ran into a new kid," Jess said.

"Literally?" Leslie asked and laughed when Jess squirted milk at her.

"No, Leslie. Not literally. He seems ok though," Jess said after they had gotten over their peals of laughter.

"I think you should get to know him if he moves here," Leslie said in an off hand voice.

"Why?" Jess asked. He wasn't being rude he was generally curious on what Leslie had to say.

"Well, because it doesn't seem like you have many friends," she said avoiding his eyes.

"I have plenty of friends!" Jess protested.

"Name three," Leslie said lifting her eyebrows. Jess cast around, searching around in his mind.

"Janice Avery," he said; it was his turn to avert his eyes.

"Yeah, thanks to me," Leslie smirked, "Who else?"

"You."

"I don't count, seeing as you're the only one who can see me."

"Fine. I'm alone and friendless. Can we drop the subject?" Jess said annoyed.

"Why are you friendless? You're really cool," Leslie said.

"The truth is after you died, I found it pointless to get close to someone else and then have them ripped away from me as well," Jess said. Leslie was silent for a very long time before she said,

"I'm really sorry, Jess."

"It's not your fault you died….at least I don't think it is," Jess said looking worriedly at Leslie.

Leslie laughed.

"I didn't do it on purpose," she said.

"That's…a relief I must say. You don't….don't remember it I suppose?" asked Jess rather curiously.

Leslie frowned in concentration. Jess could see her green eyes widen in befuddlement.

"Actually, I think I do," she said softly. "And it's really odd, because it's like I can see everything, in whatever angle I want it to be in."

"So, what happened…from your point of view I mean?"

"Well, first let me start off with, did you have fun at the museum?" she asked. Jess stared at her.

"Y…yes. I wanted to bring you with me but…." Jess stuttered.

"Jess, I wasn't accusing you. I understand about your little crush," Leslie said smiling sweetly. Jess smiled but let it slip off his face almost immediately. That day had haunted him for so long. If only he had invited Leslie to come….she wouldn't have died. She would still be living in the old Perkins place, and everyone would still be able to see her. If only….

"Jess, this wasn't your fault," Leslie said firmly.

"How do you know!?" Jess shouted.

"Because it was fate. Even if I had come with you, later we still would have gone to Terabithia. And if you had come, maybe it would have been you that died! Maybe the reason it happened to me is because you're going to do something great in the world. Maybe-"

"Or maybe I was just too stupid to realize that my music teacher wasn't the one I had a crush on," Jess said looking Leslie squarely in the eye. Leslie stared at him, her pretty mouth forming into a silent 'o' of disbelief.

"Say that again with a straight face," she commanded shakily.

Jess stared at her for a very long time before slamming the milk bucket onto the ground and running out of the barn.

"Jess!?" Leslie called out, but it was too late. Jess was running up the street. Where he was going, he had no idea. He just had to get away. Why'd he have to say that? Why'd he have to tell her?

There was nothing left to do but keep running. He didn't care if Leslie could catch up to him….he just needed to leave her.

Finally Jess stopped. He wasn't sure how far he had run, but he didn't care either. He could feel tears leaking out of his closed eyes. The tears of sadness, happiness, anger….it all came out now. It had been a very long time since he had let out his emotions like this. He clenched his hands around his torn and now muddy jeans and choked back a sob.

"Jess?" a soft voice asked. In a way, Jess wanted to embrace her and scream at her all at the same time.

"Jess, I'm sorry," she said placing a hand on his shoulder. To both their surprise, it didn't sink through him but rested lightly on his shoulder.

"You…you don't have to be-" Jess started out.

"I shouldn't have brought it up…" Leslie said leaning down next to him. Jess looked into her bright green eyes and before he could stop himself, he kissed her.

Leslie gaped at him openly.

"Sorry," Jess muttered.

"No, no…you don't have to be sorry," Leslie whispered, still in shock.

Duh, duh, duh!! Lol. Well, it might take a while until I get the next part up(so very sorry)

I hope you enjoyed!