The Safe Place (Bridge To Terabithia) || ✓

Ch. 6 - The Process

Sitting under the roofs of the stronghold, Leslie was reading the latest book of Percy Jackson, the third book– The Titan's Curse. Ever since she found out that the series was going to be a movie, an interest for the book sparked up again. She had read the first two last year, but she actually didn't really favor the series that much as she did with Narnia.

"You wanna go?" She spoke all of a sudden.

"Go where?"

"Tomorrow, to the auditions!"

Jess looked at her as if something stupid had just came out of her mouth which was in her case, rare.

"You're kidding right?"

"No. I think it'll be fun."

Jess snorted, shaking his head and returned back to drawing his Terabithian creatures again.

Leslie nudged him. "Hey, I'm serious!"

"OK, OK, OK." He let out a heavy sigh, closing his book and turning to see her face that was full of excitement and determination to persuade him to join her. "I'll... think about it."

Later in the evening, May Belle blabbed about the 'movie people' coming to school and how she saw one. And since his little sister was talking about it, he decided to slip in about Leslie's proposal from earlier. Jack and Mary seemed to be fine with the idea, seeing as that it was Leslie who introduced it, although they wouldn't really mind it either if their son did become an actor because if he does get success from that career, boy it'll be a sure-win that they'd get lots of money. For once, Jess was relieved that he was the only boy in the family for if he had a brother, chances are that he'd probably make fun of him. For the first time since he could probably use his own brain for himself, Brenda and Ellie seemed very supportive, although they'd occasionally add in their insults.

For example, in the middle of Jess talking, Brenda butted in and said about him probably not being able to act because he would probably wet his pants just standing in front of a row of people watching his every move. It was something that happened back in the 1st grade when he still used to wet his bed.

The next morning, Jess woke up with the thought of Leslie going to school on a Saturday in his mind. For all he knew, she was probably getting in the car by now. Curious, he got off of his bed and went to his window, rolling it up and then stared at the Burkes' house. No one was out, and the car was still at its usual spot. He then slipped on his slippers and went down to do his chores.

His daily chores would usually consist of watering the plans in the small garden house his mother owned, and just cleaning up around the house. All that took just half an hour to finish, and as soon as he had, he bolted up the stairs and took his much needed shower.

     "So are you going today, to school?" May Belle plopped herself next to Jess.

     "I don't know," he replied with a shrug, playing with his cereal. "I mean it's a Saturday..."

     "Yeah but Leslie's going!"

     "What does that have to do with me going?

     Just then, a car horn came and through the window they could see Leslie waving from the Burkes' car. He stared at her indecisively for a minute longer. "Come on!" He heard her exclaim. He sighed and shook his head before noisily getting up from the chair. "Mom, I'll be with Leslie for a while." He informed her as he walked to the door.

     "OK, Jess. Have fun." He could hear his mother say as he walked out.

     Jess closed the door behind him and jogged to the Burkes's car, opening the door and plunking to the empty space beside Leslie. She greeted him with a warm smile and he did the same. "Glad you can make it." She told him and cocked a smirk as if she was teasing him.