Graveyard Girl (Bridge to Terabithia Fanfic)

Flashbacks & Autumn Acres

Chapter 9: Flashbacks & Autumn Acres

Jess' POV

She seemed so frightened, so insecure about going back home.

It's in the word, HOME. It's where your life begins where you learn life lessons you will never forget. It's where you meet that one person, who changes your life.

Wow, good job Nicolas Sparks.

I look slowly to my right and get a short glimpse of Leslie.

The funny thing about Leslie is that when you take even the quickest look of her face, you cannot and will not stop. And when you lay your eyes on her, you will almost immediately know how she's feeling. Trust me, I can read her like a book.

And I'm not too much of a book person.

She had worry plastered all across her face. I could tell the way Leslie bit her peachy plump lips. Her eyes were dark, and they watered in fright. Her accenting blonde hair flowed across her back beautifully and when the sun's merciful rays hit her skin, her stunning teal eyes lightened her whole appearance, preventing herself as a whole from fading away. She smiled softly, closing her eyes while bus drove silently across the road.

She slept quietly and the whole bus seemed mute. Nobody else could see her, but I couldn't really help myself from staring.

Do you remember, when you were a kid? The challenge of looking into the sun on an especially bright day and whoever could stare the longest wins? It was a really simple dilemma actually. No matter how painful it is, or how hard you resist, you can't take your eyes off it or say no to the challenge.

Confusing, I know but that's sort of like how you feel when you're in the room with Leslie. No matter if she's down, she's still as pretty as always but it feels like your eyes follow her everywhere. I can't help it. It's as if she's the brightest light in the room, you can't take your eyes of her.

But it was different this time. It didn't matter that she was dead, or that she was practically invisible to everyone else but me, she didn't shine as bright as she did, and she was acting like nothing was going to turn out right.

We finally reached the bus stop and it was my turn to wake her up. Her village was just a few blocks down from here, and I'm sure she would be excited to come back.

No, let me rephrase that. (Yes, I use fancy words now, excuse me.) I HOPE she'd be excited to come back.

"Hey Les. We're in Appleton." I cooed at her, shaking her arm. She was losing her freckles, how cute- gah never mind. "Wake up, rise and shine!"

"No Levi, not now you weirdo." She giggled, shifting into a different sleeping position.

Levi? Who's Levi?

"Les, it's me."

"Oh," She yawned. Leslie opened her eyes and extended her arms, looking around her. "Sorry."

I yanked on her arm and we quickly walked out of the bus.

"Who's-"

"Hey, cotton candy!" She smiled, running towards the machine.

Oh gosh, when she laughed and threw her head back like a little kid, she looked so adorable.

She stopped near the machine and watched the threads of color spin around and around until it turned into the ball of fluff it's supposed to be, and I could tell she was pretty tempted to take the one being given to a little boy next to her.

I ran to her and looked at her pleading face. I laughed, payed the vendor and took the stick of joy and diabetes.

Good ol' cotton candy.