A/N: Well, here's the next chapter to Bridge to the Past. I meant what I said about this story winding to a close, though I don't know how many mire chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bridge to Terabithia, I just love it to death! (No, really, I do. The other day I watching the movie, and I almost cried cause I thought the disc was broken…)

Chapter Twelve: The Museum

Jess POV

Miss Edmonds played the same songs in her car that she sang with them in class. Jess remembered the first day of school after Leslie had died.

I'm gonna get outta here someday.

Those lyrics had never rang so true to him. The smile slipped off of his face as he thought of it. Leslie, noticing his discomfort, clasped his hand. She grinned at him, and he remembered why he was here, back in fifth grade, in the first place: To save the best thing that had ever happened to him.

They arrived at the museum soon enough, and Miss Edmonds and Leslie showed Jess the wonders of the museum. They laughed and chattered while they looked, and Jess marveled at it all just like the first time he'd been here. But he didn't let himself dwell on the first time too long, or he'd lose the happy feeling he had.

In the late afternoon, they all sat down for a cup of tea and lunch.

"Jess," Miss Edmonds said as she stirred her tea, "I can't believe you've never been to a museum."

Jess shook his head, glancing at Leslie. The blonde grinned at him briefly before looking back at their teacher.

"I couldn't either, Miss Edmonds," she said, "I mean, he loves to draw so much you'd think he'd have been a million times."

Miss Edmonds swallowed her sip of tea and said earnestly to Leslie, "Oh, I know! And he's so good!"

Leslie nodded enthusiastically. Jess rolled his eyes, and silence fell on the three.

After a minute, their teacher said, "Nice weather out. It's been raining so much lately I was beginning to think it was like that Japanese myth where the sun goes into a cave and vows never to come out!"

Jess and Leslie glanced at each other and Jess said, "Wow, you know about everything."

He remembered how he'd said that exact sentence to her originally. And he exact answer:

"Oh, not by a longshot. But I do try to keep an open mind, and you'd be surprised what finds its way in."

Jess glanced at Leslie, who was watching him with a smug look that said, See? I told you!

He grinned and said, "Leslie says that. She constantly tells me to keep my mind wide open."

Miss Edmonds turned to Leslie and told her, "You, dear, are right. Minds like yours wide open, you could create a whole new world."

May Belle's POV

Come on, Jess, answer! May Belle thought as she stared earnestly into the little golden locket in her hands.

She and Foster had just finished talking to the faery queen. Izlanzadì had agreed to help them, but time was of the essence. She was now preparing the things needed for the spell to bring Jess back.

"May Belle?"

May Belle came back to the present. "Jess!"

"Yes?" her brother said. His freckled fifth grade face filled the locket and his brown eyes looked worried.

"How's Leslie?" she asked, immediately thinking something was wrong.

"Oh, Leslie's fine! But we're at the museum right now, and I'm in the mens' room, so hurry up!"

May Belle scowled. "Alright, Mr. Ungrateful! Foster and I got the Queen's help. She's preparing the spell as we speak. But, Jess, she says for it to work we need to perform it soon. Very soon."

Her brother's brown eyes widened. "How soon is very soon?"

May Belle took a deep breath. "One hour."

A/N: I can't believe this is chapter twelve. I update so infrequently it seems like it should be much less. Oh well… Review!