Disclaimer: On First Chapter.
Till' I Collapse
Part One: Discovering Leslie Burke
Chapter Four
(Please read and review)
August 11, 2007(Monday)
Lark Creek Elementary School
School Bus
6:36 AM
"Good morning, Jesse!" Leslie greeted him as he came running up the lane. He slowed to a walk as he waved back to her, and he smirked as he saw her outfit. She was wearing a bright pink tank top over a long-sleeved orange shirt that had random smiley-faces up and down the sleeves. She had on dark blue skinny jeans and a pair of vibrant green high-top chucks that were laced with rainbow laces. She had on at least four neon bracelets, and he noticed that she had studs the shape of a rainbow in her ears.
Leslie's short blonde hair was pulled back half way on top of her head, and strands of blonde hair fell across her face; it definitely drew one's attention to her eyes.
"Morning, Leslie," he replied, coming to a stop next to her.
His eyes twinkled at her in amusement, and she cocked her head to the side, obviously wondering what was so funny. "Your outfit makes me look boring," he told her finally, and Leslie's eyes widened slightly.
She looked him over, and grinned as she spotted the dark blue sleeved, white mid-sectioned baseball tee that he wore with khaki shorts, and white shoes—the ones he colored over the stripes with permanent marker.
"Don't say that Jesse," she said brightly, sidling closer and bumping him with her shoulder, "I happen to think that you look good."
Jesse blushed at the compliment.
"Your outfit fits your personality, because it's normal but mysterious. I can never know what's going on inside your head with that outfit," Leslie informed him truthfully, "It's a tad scary. After all, how else am I supposed to know if you're actually some eleven-year old psychopath reborn? It's not like the answer is written on your face or anything."
Jesse laughed, "Yeah, but the same with yours. I don't know if you're actually some reincarnated twelfth century axe-murderer; even though I know for a fact that you can be frighteningly eccentric."
"No fair!" Leslie playfully protested, and the two laughed as Jess spotted May Belle running in their direction just when the bus pulled up.
"Oh here, Jess," Leslie said as they walked to the bus. She pulled out a blue Ziploc container and handed that and a small carton of milk to Jess.
"What is it?" he asked surprised as May Belle sped past them and onto the bus.
Leslie smiled, "Why Jesse, its breakfast!"
"Meaning?" Jesse asked as he plopped down into a seat, scooting next to the window and stretching his legs out on the seat as Leslie sat down behind him. She leaned over, resting her chin are her forearms as she sat down on the seat; putting her knees beneath her.
"Meaning that those are homemade blueberry- sausage breakfast sandwiches," Leslie said proudly, and Jess looked at her in surprise, before opening the container.
The delicious scent hit his nose immediately, and his mouth watered. He didn't hesitate in biting into the sandwich, and Jesse experienced a little piece of heaven.
"Wow!" he exclaimed, before digging into the food.
Leslie's green eyes twinkled with mirth as she giggled insanely, "Olive juice, Jess."
Jesse raised an eyebrow, and resolved to ask about that later, but for now, he was more concerned with eating before Janice Avery and her minions decided they were hungry.
Once done, Jesse rubbed his stomach and shoved the remains of his breakfast in his backpack, before peering over the seat at Leslie, who was sitting Indian-style and reading a large book.
"Do I get free breakfast everyday?" he asked teasingly, and Leslie scoffed, not taking her eyes off the page she was on.
"You wish, Aarons," she retorted, "You only get those when I make them, which isn't very often."
"You made that?" Jesse gaped, and Leslie nodded, "Wow, you cook really well."
"Thanks," she replied, flipping the page.
"What are you reading?"
"My mom's new book; she wants to see how I like it, before sending it to her publisher. I take the time to add in little notes of what I think she should maybe put in or change," Leslie said, finally looking up at Jesse, "We've done this since I turned nine. It's a ritual now, because every book that I've corresponded with her on has become a New York bestseller."
"Cool," Jesse said in response, and Leslie finished off the chapter quickly, before shutting the book and putting it away.
"Speaking of writing, what did you do your essay on?"
Leslie's eyes sparkled, "My kitchen."
"What?" Jesse replied astonished, and he gawked at her over the bus seat causing Leslie to burst out laughing.
"I wrote my essay on the social status of kitchenware," she replied seriously, "The title of my essay is 'The Cutlery Caste System'."
"Are you serious?" Jesse questioned in disbelief, and Leslie nodded, smiling. "Geez Louise Leslie Mrs. Myers is going to wig out."
Jesse and Leslie stared at each other for a moment longer, before they both collapsed into fits of giggles—in Jesse's case chortles—but neither noticed the strange looks they were getting from their peers.
----
August 12, 2007(Tuesday)
Lark Creek Elementary School
Playground
12:00 PM
At lunch, Jesse took Leslie to his 'lunch spot' on the playground. It was a fairly isolated place by a large oak tree. Jesse showed Leslie that from there they could see the entire playground, but no one could see them from there because they were partially hidden by the incline of the hill.
She plopped down on the cool grass, and kicked off her shoes with a smile. "It's going to take you forever and a day to get those high tops back on, you know," Jesse told her and laughed when she opened her eyes to glare at him for a moment.
She kicked her legs into his lap and wiggled her metallic green painted toes.
"So what? I'll just go back barefoot." Jesse shook his head at her antics, and pulled out his lunch. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, two apples, and a juice box.
"That is so not healthy, Jesse," she said in mock-anger, before opening her own bagged lunch. She pulled out a three Ziploc bags: one had carrots, another had celery stalks and the last had a large sandwich cut in halves.
Leslie picked up Jesse's sandwich and juice box, and threw them in a nearby trash can. He watched her do it in disbelief. She opened her sandwich bag and gave him half of her sandwich, before digging around in her satchel for a water bottle.
She pulled out two and gave one to Jesse, who was surprised to find it still cold. He stared at her in slight shock as she pulled out a celery stick and began munching on it.
"What was that about, Leslie?" he asked bewildered, and she grinned.
"Sorry, but if you ever want to beat me in that race you better start training now. Healthy foods help your system digest faster which means you get more energy, and you run much better when you've got more energy," Leslie explained earnestly, and Jesse stared at her, before he burst out laughing.
"You're awfully confident, aren't you?" he asked still chuckling, and Leslie shook her head as Jess tossed her an apple.
"Not in the least," she said quietly, before biting into the apple. "It's mostly an act I put on so no one can see how insecure I can really be, but a lot of it's just me too. I didn't have many friends back at my old school. I guess they thought I was too different."
Jesse shook his head, "I agree that you're different, but you seem friendly enough."
Leslie gave him a look, "Jess, you didn't exactly take a liking to me either when we first met."
"Yeah about that; I'm sorry, I was just upset that I was upstaged by a girl when I was so close to winning." Jesse apologized, before biting into the sandwich. It was really good and it also gave him a chance to avoid further embarrassment.
Leslie smiled behind her apple, before she slyly uncapped her water bottle and squirted Jesse with it.
"Hey!" he exclaimed in shock, feeling the cold water hit his cheek. Leslie collapsed into a fit of giggles, but she stopped when she felt a blast of cold water hit her face.
"Jess!" she hissed, still laughing, and Jess dodged her next spray of water, but she got him with her second one. The water squirting escalated into a full-out water fight as they chased each other around the tree and back and forth across the hills. They finally stopped when both of their jackets were drenched, and their water bottles practically empty.
Settling down, Jesse striped off his jacket to let the sun and winds dry it as much as possible, and Leslie did the same. The two sat side-by-side chattering and eating their chicken sandwiches; all in all it had been a very good day for Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke.
----
August 12, 2007(Tuesday)
The Aarons Residence
7:12 PM
Jesse—feeling relaxed after completing his math homework—was just about to lay down on the couch and maybe sketch in his notebook; when he heard his mom exclaim in surprise. She was blushing, and Jesse wondered why as she slowly read the front of the envelope again, and put it down on the table.
"What's wrong, Mary?" Jesse's father asked worriedly as he looked up from his newspaper. May Belle was watching curiously, and even Brenda and Ellie had stopped bickering over the channel to listen in. Not much made his mom flustered, but this obviously did.
"Oh, uh, I opened someone else's letter that's all," she mumbled embarrassed, "I'm sorry Jesse; I guess I didn't read who it was addressed to well enough."
Jesse was confused, and it must have shown on his face as everyone peered between him and his mother.
"This letter's for you, Jess," she said apologetically, "I didn't read anything, but the heading."
Jesse blinked in shock. "Who would send me a letter?" he asked curiously, and his mom flipped the envelope back over.
Her tone was bewildered when she said, "Someone named Rainbow Gymnast." And Jesse's confusion vanished as a smile broke out over his face.
He leapt up from the couch, and snatched the letter from his mother and grinned at the paper he pulled out. The words were written in metallic blue and the paper had hand-drawn pictures of a girl doing gymnastics all around the border. Each was in a different color.
Jesse grinned as he read,
'Dear Question Mark,
I'm quite sure that you're surprised to be getting a letter, but there's a first for everything, huh? ;-). In my science class, Mr. Thomas was talking about how there was supposed to be a meteor shower tonight, and I was wondering if you wanted to watch it with me? My parents bought me a state-of-the-art telescope last year for my birthday, and I thought you might be interested in seeing it from my balcony.
Don't worry we're not going to be sitting out in the cold. If you agree to come, I plan on making some hot chocolate, and getting some wool blankets to keep warm with. If you're up for it, just give me a call.
With XOXO,
Rainbow Gymnast
P.S- It supposed to start around eight tonight, so as soon as you get this call me ASAP.
472-9845.'
Jesse looked up from the letter, and asked, "Can I go somewhere?"
His mom looked surprised, "Where?"
"Uh, to a friend's house to watch the meteor shower; I promise to be back before eleven," Jesse pleaded, and his dad scoffed.
"Jess, you're eleven, and your curfew is nine o'clock."
"I know dad, but this is really important to me," Jessie shot back, "It's the first time I've been invited anywhere."
Jesse's mom and dad shared a long-suffering look, "Okay Jesse you can go to your friend's house, but I want you back here at eleven o'clock."
"Yes!" Jesse exclaimed, and he quickly hugged his mom and dad, shocking them both before he bolted from the room to call Leslie. She answered on the first ring.
"Hey Jess!" she said happily, and Jesse grinned.
"Hey Les, my parents said I can go as long as I'm back home by eleven."
"Cool Clips, Jess! I'll see you in forty-five?" she asked cheerfully, and Jesse laughed at her phrase.
"'Kay Les, see ya."
Jesse hung up the phone and ran upstairs to the bathroom. He needed to shower.
Almost half an hour later, Jesse finally exited the longest shower of his life. He towel-dried his hair, and then hurried into his room to get dressed. He threw on a rustic red t-shirt with maroon and gold three-quarter sleeves along with a pair of khaki cargo shorts, before putting on new socks. He rushed back to the bathroom to brush his teeth and put on deodorant.
Jess glanced at his watch, and then cursed under his breath, before he dashed downstairs, past his family, and towards Leslie's house.
As soon as he got there, Jesse spotted Leslie waving wildly from one of the windows, her face pressed hard into the glass. He laughed at her as she let him inside.
"Hi Jess, come on! No time for talk, the meteor shower should start any minute!" Leslie cried, grabbing his hand and yanking him inside. She shut and locked the door behind him, and then dragged him through the foyer and towards the stairs.
Jesse was rather surprised by all the stuff the Burkes had been able to accomplish in two weeks. As he was dragged up two flights of stairs, Jesse figured that the whole house was completed with the exception of a large room on the first floor. On the third floor of the house, Leslie finally slowed down as she led him from the head of the stairs and towards a room with double doors.
Jesse was rather gob smacked when Leslie threw open the doors, and he saw her bedroom for the first time. Leslie had one wall that was white with checkered patterns painted on in various shades of greens, and blues. On that same wall, Leslie had created a mural of some sort; it had pictures, posters, and snippets of writing everywhere.
There two blue walls and a green one—where her bed was—and she had smiley face covers that were patterned with rainbow smileys. Her desk was huge, taking up a whole corner, but it had a computer, printer, and iPod dock organized neatly along the light oak surface.
Her desk chair was swivel and it was bright orange with her name engraved on the back. Leslie had her own bathroom, and even a miniature library that he could see was full of shelves that were filling fast. It was hidden behind more double doors but these were made of glass. Leslie had drawn a comic along the glass panes with window markers.
Her floor was solid oak that matched her desk and her balcony doors looked the same as the ones that led to her library, but these were outlined with curtains and they had comics too. She had those weird fiber optic lamps and another tall lamp with a rainbow of colored shades.
Leslie smiled at the amazed look on Jesse's face as she gently led him out onto her balcony, where she helped him sit down in one of her neon colored lazy-boys. She was even nice enough to let him have the green one instead of the yellow one.
"Your room looks like a house," he told her disbelievingly and Leslie laughed.
"My parents are world famous authors Jesse, and I admit that they spoil me, but not in normal ways," Leslie mused quietly as she handed Jesse a mug of hot-cocoa from the coffee table. "They don't let me watch television and I'm blocked from certain websites on my computer, but other than that I have to work for my stuff."
"What does that mean?" Jesse asked, before taking a sip of the warm chocolaty liquid.
"Well, if I want something, I get a list of things I'd have to do to get it. For example, to get my iPod; I had to rake leaves five times, get a ninety-four percent or higher on my math test, read five books, wash their cars, and agree to take violin, piano, and ballet lessons," Leslie stated matter-of-factly, "but it wasn't so bad because when I got the iPod, I got all the accessories I wanted as well."
Jesse gaped. "Wow."
"Yeah, and the more expensive it is, the more I have to do to get it. My computer I had to walk dogs for a month—for all of my neighbors—then I had to mow the grass, trim hedges, and weed my mother's garden; I had to volunteer for more than thirty hours, babysit for two weeks, clean out the garage, and do all the laundry for two months. It's basically like doing all the work to pay for something, but never actually seeing the money until I get what I had to do all the work for," Leslie explained, and then she glanced over at Jesse.
"Understand?"
"Sorry, Jesse's not home right now, but leave a message and I'll make sure he gets back to you," Jess muttered.
"Huh?"
"I'm currently question mark."
Leslie laughed and the two relaxed. "Where are your parents anyways?" Jesse asked quietly, and Leslie's mood seemed to drop slightly.
"They've been at a meeting with their publishers all day. They most likely won't be back until late," she replied, and Jesse frowned.
"How late are you talking, Les?"
"Probably midnight," Leslie shrugged, "I can never give a sure time, because this is when the editors practically gut and repair the books; checking for grammatical errors, plot holes and such. I went once; it was horrible," Leslie admitted, and Jesse's frown deepened.
"Are you going to be alright by yourself?" he asked, and Leslie nodded.
There was silence for a moment; both sipping their hot chocolate and watching the skies for any sign of a meteorite. Soon however, Jesse saw Leslie looking him over, and her gaze stopped on his shirt. "You really like baseball tees, huh?" she asked curiously, and Jesse shrugged.
"My dad works at a hardware store that's right next to Alonzo's Baseball Thrift Shop. So he buys all my shirts there for cheap," Jesse told her quietly, "My family's doesn't have much money."
Leslie didn't say anything to him and Jesse rambled on, "I mean, we're not completely broke, but we're pretty close to it, and I'm usually the one who gets the cheapest things. Boys clothes are easy for my parents to buy at Thrift stores considering we don't have as many hygienic issues to worry about."
Jesse finally stopped himself, and he wondered exactly why he had told her so much.
"Why do you ask?" he finally said.
"Well, they're all I've seen you wear since the first day of school, and I was curious." she replied softly, and Jesse nodded.
"I like them too, you know." Leslie said suddenly, and Jesse looked confused.
She giggled quietly, "I mean that I like baseball tees as well, question mark."
"Oh," Jesse said sheepishly, and the two laughed.
"Sorry about spilling my guts to you a minute ago, Leslie." he whispered in embarrassment, causing Leslie to glance at him.
"No worries, Jess," she replied quietly, and Jesse was taken aback when he felt her hand on his. Jesse stared at her, and Leslie smiled, "That's what friends are for, right?"
Jesse grinned at her as their fingers entwined together. He could feel his face heat up by about ten degrees. Leslie was red too. "Yeah, that's right; friends."
No other words were spoken as the sky exploded with flashing fire. Both gasped and watched for over an hour as the meteorite shower rained down through the skies. Neither really noticed that their hands stayed together the entire time.
But Jesse Aarons knew one thing for sure as he headed home that night. He glanced back towards the house, where Leslie stood waving from the window and smiled to himself.
He had made a really good friend.
Thanks to all who stopped by to read! Hope you enjoyed it, and I'd love to get some feedback as well.
-TellNoOne