Disclaimer: On First Chapter.

Till' I Collapse

Part One: Discovering Leslie Burke

Chapter Two

(Please read and review)

August 5, 2007(Tuesday)

Lark Creek Elementary School

Music Class

10:17AM

The next day at school, Jesse stared hard at his music teacher, Ms. Edmunds as the instruments were passed out. She was pretty; exceedingly so with the wavy dark hair and bright blue eyes. He really didn't understand why he was so entranced with her himself, but he could never quite manage to talk whenever she was around.

He was distracted from his musings when new girl shook her tambourine in his face, and he glanced at her as she bent over to whisper in his ear, "Take a picture; it lasts longer."

Affronted, Jesse blinked, and saw the girl grin at him. He blinked in astonishment as she walked away, and he peered over at Ms. Edmunds, his face slightly red, before turning to look at new girl again. She shook her tambourine again and waved at him. This time Jesse couldn't help but notice that while new girl was the complete opposite of Ms. Edmunds, she too was pretty in a very strange way.

"So is everyone glad that summer's over?" The music teacher asked loudly, a cheery smile on her face as all of Jesse's classmates groaned in dismay. "Well, then make some noise!"

He looked back at Ms. Edmunds as she began singing, and soon he forgot all about new girl and her comment.

--

August 5, 2007(Tuesday)

Lark Creek Elementary School

School Bus

2:41PM

For some reason, the bus ride home was different than normal. It might have had something to do with the fact that he was seated directly behind new girl, and he realized that he still didn't know who she was.

Thinking back to music class, Jess decided against talking to her and he pulled out his notebook, before sketching. He only noticed something was different a few moments later, when a shadow made his picture look darker.

Glancing upwards, Jess reflexively shut his notebook and stared at new girl as her smile faded away. She bit her lip, and brushed her blonde hair behind her ears, before holding out a pack of juicy fruit gum.

Jesse stared at it for a second and then glanced back at new girl, before taking a piece. New girl smiled brightly, and Jess gave her a hesitant one back as she turned back around, and sat down.

He held onto the stick of gum for a moment, and began to feel guilty all over again. It seemed that new girl had done nothing, but treat him kindly since yesterday, and here he was acting like a petulant child over losing a race.

Jesse knew that his pride had been hurt more than anything, and he hated the fact that he didn't have the courage to apologize for being a jerk to her after she'd won.

Right then, Jesse felt he was no better than Scott Hoager.

--

August 5, 2007(Tuesday)

1301 Cora Perry Lane

The Aarons' Residence

6:12PM

Sitting on the couch watching his sister's fight over the television again, Jesse listened to the serious conversation going on behind him. "We can't afford to go on like this, Jack," his mom told his dad urgently, a weary look on her features.

"I know that Mary, but what am I supposed to do?" he asked—Jess thought he sounded irritated—and his mom ran her fingers through her auburn curls.

"Maybe we can talk Ellie and Brenda into getting a job somewhere. Jesse and May Belle are too young to work."

"Now, Mary that's not true. Jesse can cut grass and help do some odd chores for the people down the street, and Ellie needs to focus on her grades. She's barely passing as is." Jesse stared incredulously at his father.

So he was willing to make him work, but not his precious daughters?

Jess's father glanced over at him, and Jesse looked away from his unreadable gaze. He didn't want his father to see the fury in his expression, but Jess could feel it there, churning away violently and suddenly he had to get out.

Jesse stood up abruptly, and was about to walk from the room when his dad called him back. "Jesse we're gonna need you to pick up on some more chores around the house. I'm going to be putting in for some more hours at the store, and I'll need your help to get some more funds. After school can you offer your help to some of the older couples down the street? Maybe use your artistic ability for something useful and draw yourself some fliers?"

Jesse felt insulted. "My art isn't there for me to sell myself when there are two perfectly capable teenagers—almost adults—in the house. Why don't they get a job?" he hissed, lashing out at his dad for the first time ever.

The sudden quiet in the house did nothing to help the immediate unleashing of anger from Jesse's father. "I gave you instructions, and you are going to follow them, whether you like it or not, Jesse Aarons."

"Why do I have to do everything? Why not make Ellie stop watching television all afternoon and actually do her work then maybe she wouldn't be failing?! Why don't you make Brenda stop complaining about all the stuff she has to do, and make her actually do it? Because, I'm tired and I have enough to do without their crap as well."

The tension in the room was beyond thick, and Jesse knew what was coming before it even happened. A firm cuff on the side of his head had Jesse wincing, and he looked away from his father.

"I don't want to hear another word, Jess," he told him seriously, "Now go do your homework, before I decide to not let you go without a sore behind."

Jess's indifferent mask fell over his features and he turned walking upstairs, and into his room. That night, Jess finished his homework, and sat silently, staring out of his bedroom window.

He didn't sleep at all.

--

August 6, 2007(Wednesday)

Lark Creek Elementary School

English Class

1:10PM

Jesse was in a daze for the first half of his English class, so he wasn't aware of what was going on until Scott Hoager's snort sounded derisively from behind him.

"Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus by Leslie Burke," the teacher said proudly, and Jess looked up suddenly interested. He had never heard that name before.

"Leslie, why don't you come up and read it for us?"

There were murmurs throughout the classroom and Jesse briefly heard Madison Lincoln huff indignantly. Attention caught by the impressed tone of Mrs. Myers voice, Jesse observed as the new girl stood from her chair as the teacher smiled benignly at the head of the room. He noticed that the blonde didn't seem to notice—or if she did she obviously didn't care—about the thirty or so pairs of eyes that were staring at the back of her head as she made her way to where Mrs. Myers was standing.

So Leslie was her name, huh? At least now he wouldn't look like an idiot if he worked up the courage to apologize for his rudeness.

Leslie stepped up to the front of the classroom, and nonchalantly took the outstretched paper from Mrs. Myers' hand. She turned to the class and Jess could've sworn that he saw her tense briefly as her eyes roamed across the room.

She lightly cleared her throat, before speaking, "I'm moving gently forward over the wild and beautiful unexplored world below me…" Jesse stilled his drawing hand as he listened to her speak, "I'm floating in silence and breaking it up with the sound of my breath."

Jesse felt a chill sweep over his spine as Leslie's eyes glanced up from the paper. His brow furrowed and he studied her—wondering how she was able to read her essay without looking at the paper.

"Above me there's nothing but shimmery light; the place where I've come from, and will go back to when I'm done here. I am diving; I'm a scuba diver," Leslie smiled indulgently, and Jesse blinked as his surroundings shifted. He stared at the girl as her green eyes sparkled, but she never stopped talking, "I'm going deeper past the wrinkled rocks and dark seaweed toward a deep blueness where schools of silver fish wait."

Jesse's eyes widened as he felt the air around him ripple and burst, before the sounds of a swishing tail reached his ears. Disbelieving, Jesse watched as a plethora of metallic silver fish swam around his head. It felt so real. He could literally feel every swish and flick of the fish's body as they scuttled around his head, making light waves lap against his face.

"As I swim through the water, bubbles burst from me—wobbling like little jellyfish as they rise," Jesse's breath caught as mysterious bottle green eyes landed on his face, and they stared at each other. He almost shivered as he watched her breath lightly, and air bubbles shot into the air.

Jesse was taken aback by the sight. It was almost as if he was actually there. In the ocean; diving with the fish and touching the gritty sand at the sea floor. If he wasn't mistaken; this experience felt almost magical.

He had never felt anything like this before, and in all honesty, he didn't know how to react to such a deep and meaningful adventure taking place in the reading span of a one-page essay. Jesse practically marveled at it, but he pushed his wonderment down. What was he supposed to do?

That question ripped him from the magical world around him, and it brought him crashing back down into reality with a growing dread.

"I check my air. I don't have enough time to see everything, but that is what makes it so special," Leslie finished quietly, never taking her eyes from Jesse's.

When she finished, Mrs. Myers thanked her kindly, and said, "Tomorrow night at seven there is a special on an undersea explorer, and I'd like you all to watch it, and then write a one page essay on what you learned."

Sitting back in her seat, Jesse noticed new girl—ahem, Leslie—raise her hand. "What if you can't watch this program?"

Mrs. Myers looked dismayed, "I'm sure if you inform your parents…"

"But what if you don't have a television?" Leslie asked sincerely, and the entire class—excluding Jesse—burst out laughing. Jesse cringed slightly, and looked over at her in amazement as she continued, "My dad says that the television kills your brain cells."

Scott Hoager just had to throw his two cents in, "Your dad doesn't know anything. We watch television like everyday."

Leslie rolled her eyes and mumbled, "I rest my case." Jesse couldn't keep the slight smirk off his face at that comment.

"Well Leslie, you don't have to write this essay. You may write it on something else," Mrs. Myers said kindly, and Scott just had to speak again.

"Yeah, like how to live in a cave." The class—again not Jesse or Leslie—laughed and Leslie shrugged her shoulders in a classic 'whatever' move as Mrs. Myers scolded Scott.

Jesse glanced back at Leslie, and briefly found himself studying her in slight wonderment. He shook it off as Leslie glanced up at him, before turning his attention back towards his now lecturing English teacher; Jesse started taking notes knowing he'd probably need them sometime this week.

--

August 6, 2007(Wednesday)

Lark Creek Elementary

School Bus

2:43PM

"Jess! Jess! The big kids will kill her!" May Belle's anxious cry made Jesse look up in shock; he instantly saw Janice Avery—a monstrous looking girl—stalking onto the bus, and then he glanced back and saw Leslie sitting in Janice's seat.

"Are you insane?!" Jesse cried to a surprised Leslie, "The back seat is for eighth graders."

Jesse moved without thinking. He grabbed Leslie's bag, and took her hand, dragging her up and over the seats just before Janice passed him. "That's right bean pole," Janice laughed cruelly, before plopping down in her seat.

Leslie slid down beside him and breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of the bus ride was silent.

--

August 6, 2007(Wednesday)

1300 Cora Perry Lane

3:01PM

Getting off the bus, Jesse didn't know whether to be relieved or annoyed, but he was most certainly shocked when Leslie mockingly waved at Janice Avery.

"Do you have a death wish?" he asked in disbelief, "'Cause you're really asking for it."

He started walking away from her, and he heard Leslie begin to follow him. "It seems to me that she gives it out whether you ask for it or not. I might as well have some fun."

Jesse gave her a weird look. "You sure do have a strange definition of fun."

"Well what do you think is fun?" Leslie asked, surprising Jesse so badly that he stuttered.

"I-I don't know."

Leslie was silent for a moment, before she asked, "Well, you wanna do something?"

May Belle piped up, "Yeah, let's do something. What should we do?"

"You can't do it," Jess interjected with a frown at his sister.

"Can't do what?"

"What we're doing," Jess shot back irritated. May Belle stopped and turned around to walk the other way.

Leslie frowned slightly, before speaking, "Hey May Belle, I don't use my barbies so much anymore; if you'd like you can have them."

May Belle brightened immediately, "To keep for real?"

"Sure," Leslie shrugged.

"Thanks!" May Belle turned and ran away, but Leslie kept walking.

"I'd love to have a sister," Jess heard Leslie muse, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"I have four of them, and I'd trade them all for a good dog," Jesse muttered causing Leslie to snicker.

"That's not very nice, Jess," she told him jokingly, and Jesse shrugged, "Yeah, well my sister's aren't very nice either, so it's fair game."

"What makes you say that?" Leslie asked curiously, and Jesse grimaced.

"They all disrespect my privacy; call me names; and I'm forced to do all their chores while they sit around and watch stupid television shows," Jesse told her, and surprisingly, he didn't feel nauseous talking about his home life. That was a rare occurrence.

Leslie didn't say anything to appease him, but instead of being all sympathetic she just told Jesse the truth. "I would say I'm sorry, and that I know how you feel, but considering I'm an only child, we both know that that would be a lie."

Leslie tossed her backpack onto the ground and smiled at Jesse when he did the same. "I am sorry that I don't understand where you're coming from so that I could give you good advice, but the only thing I can say that could suffice as some sort of consolation…" Leslie trailed off, noticing the lost look on Jesse's face.

"What?" she asked confused, and Jesse stared at her.

"What the heck did you just say?" he asked incredulously, "Suffice? Consolation? Seriously, Leslie if I could change shapes, I'd transform into a question mark, right about now."

Leslie laughed loudly, and Jesse found her amusement infectious. Soon they were practically rolling around on the ground laughing at the stupidity of what Jesse just said.

After a few minutes, the two finally gained control of their amusement, and started walking again as Leslie explained to Jesse what those two words meant.

"As I was saying, all I can tell you is that how we survive makes us who we are, Jess," Leslie finished, and Jesse nodded.

"So does that mean that I should just stick it out, and when it ends, I'll be a better person for it?" Jesse inquired, and Leslie nodded.

Jess smiled at her, and Leslie smiled back, before doing a perfect cartwheel, and back hand spring. He gawked and Leslie burst into another fit of laughter.

"Whoa, how'd you learn to do that?" he asked surprised.

"Gymnastics for almost seven years would enable you to do that too, you know?" Leslie told him smiling, and Jesse grinned.

"Can you teach me?" he asked, and she nodded enthusiastically.

"That was the one thing I hated to give up when we moved here. Gymnastics is a lot like flying. It makes you feel powerful and weightless; almost as though gravity doesn't exist," Leslie told him.

"Running makes you feel that way too, you know," Jesse said nonchalantly, and Leslie glanced at him.

"I like running, but I haven't done it here—speaking of around my house—yet. Does it really feel that good?"

"Yes," Jesse answered immediately, and Leslie smiled mischievously at him, "Race you to the end of the road?"

"Yeah," he spoke to thin air, because Leslie was already running, and Jesse laughed, "Hey! That's cheating!"

"There's no official starting line, so I could just be running to that!" Leslie called back to him, and Jesse laughed, "What does that mean?!"

"It means I'm not cheating, and you can't say I was!"

Leslie sped up, and Jesse laughed, chasing after her. He caught up to her pretty easily, and the two ran straight through about three miles of dirt road, until they came to a clearing.

Leaping over logs and holes with ease, Leslie beat Jesse by a long shot; something he wasn't necessarily happy about, but this time he didn't mind as much.

They meandered through the forest in silence, before Jesse asked a question that had been bothering him for awhile now, "What about sharks?"

"Huh?" Leslie asked, and Jesse repeated his question.

"You know when you go scuba-ing or whatever it's called."

"Jess, I've never been scuba diving in my life," Leslie admitted sounding amused at the stunned expression on Jesse's face.

"So you lied?" he asked as they began walking across a fallen tree.

Leslie spun to face him, surprisingly keeping her balance. "I didn't lie Jess. I just made it up. It's different. "

"How so?" Jesse inquired as they began climbing up a small hill of rocks near the creek, but Leslie didn't answer. Instead she gasped in awe, and ran towards a large rope that was hanging near the side of the creek.

"Do you see that?" she asked enthusiastically, and Jesse nodded.

"That's been there forever, I wouldn't trust it."

Leslie ignored him, and grabbed the rope, before stepping up, and swinging across, her head tilted backwards. As she landed near Jesse, she smiled, "Try it and hold your head back. It feels like you're flying."

Hesitantly, he did as asked and Leslie was thrilled with the amazed expression on his face. The two spent the next hour swinging across the rope, and chatting easily.

As Leslie landed the last time; Jesse glanced at his watch, and was surprised to find that more than two hours had passed since they'd left home. "Hey Leslie!" he called out to the girl who was studying the rope with an intensity Jesse found startling, but he ignored it in favor of something more important.

"We should head home, Leslie," Jesse said softly, "It's almost six o'clock." Leslie glanced over her shoulder at him, and nodded.

"I guess we should," she muttered begrudgingly as she dropped the rope, and skipped over to him, "I wish we could fly home though. It'd be much faster."

"You really are obsessed with flying, huh?" Jesse asked quietly as he and Leslie made their way back home both having a bunch of homework waiting for them.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Leslie started as she hopped on a log; balancing herself easily as she walked along it, "Seriously Jesse think about it. How amazing would it be if I could just leap into the air and let myself float with the wind? Oh, I can just imagine it!"

Leslie spread her arms out like the wingspan of an airplane and started making whooshing sounds as she ran the rest of the way along the log, before she leapt into the air and landed neatly on her feet.

"My hair blowing everywhere; my mouth drying in the wind, but all that wouldn't matter," she cried as she spun in circles, and ran up the trunk of a tree, staring up through the leaves as they cast shadows over her features. Jesse thought her bottle-green eyes stood out piercingly in the shade.

"All I would think about would be the birds flapping their wings next to me, and the currents carrying me wherever they please! It'd be like a daily adventure, but one that would last forever and ever; it'd be neverending," Leslie spoke mystically, her voice tinged with hope and awe. It really made Jesse stop for a moment; he could almost feel what Leslie described.

"The only thing I'd be worried about was a bird deciding that my mouth was a good place to nest," Jesse muttered, and Leslie's eyes snapped open as she burst out laughing.

"Oh my guppies, Jesse," she laughed, almost losing her balance and falling from the tree as she hurried back towards him.

Jesse giggled, "Guppies, Les?"

But, Leslie had frozen, and she was staring at him, her mouth agape. "Jesse Aarons, did you just giggle?" she asked in disbelief. Jesse stiffened, and he quickly shook his head.

"Nope, that was a chortle," he said hurriedly, and Leslie's lips twitched.

"Chortle, Jess?" she asked dubiously, and Jess blushed slightly, "Do you even know what a chortle is?"

"Erm…" Jesse shut up fast when Leslie burst into a fit of giggles.

"It's a man-ish giggle, and that's all I'm saying," Leslie teased. Jess glared at her, before swiping half-heartedly in her direction. Leslie laughed as she ducked, before running away, yelling, "Catch me if you can, giggle man!"

"Hey!" Jesse yelled back indignantly, taking off after Leslie, who squealed and ran faster.

By the time, they ran the four and a half miles back home both were sweaty and out of breath, but both had big smiles on their faces. Jogging slowly eventually progressed into walking, and the two were talking pretty easily.

"So do you get all your flexibility and endurance from gymnastics?" Jesse asked curiously, and Leslie nodded.

"Mostly, because we had to run about three miles everyday as a requirement for class," Leslie answered as they reached their abandoned backpacks.

"I guess I should go," Jesse muttered, "I have math and history homework to do."

Leslie nodded and Jesse watched as she turned to walk away, but something made him call to her again. "Hey Leslie, if you want to watch that program tomorrow night, I'm sure my parents won't mind you coming over," he offered, and Leslie smiled.

"Thanks but no thanks Jess. I was teased mercilessly at school for not owning a television, and there's no way that I'm going to let them think they beat me into submission," she replied cheerfully, and Jesse laughed.

"Bye Leslie!" he called and she waved back as she began jogging towards her house,

"Bye question mark!"

--

That night after everything—including homework, dinner, chores and his shower—as Jesse crawled into bed, he sat quietly, staring out of his bedroom window, just like the day before, but this time he drifted off into a contented slumber.

Jesse was in awe. 'I might have just made a friend.' The mere thought put a bright smile on his face.

READ AND REVIEW! I'd love to get some feedback on how I'm doing with Jesse's character. Are his reactions real enough? Is there something that I should change? Do I do Leslie Burke's amazingness enough credit? It would be wonderful to know.

-TellNoOne