"You're here, your eyes are looking into mine
So baby, make me fly
My heart has never felt this way before
I'm looking through your
I'm looking through your eyes."
—Beautiful Eyes by Taylor Swift

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Jess, what's wrong?" Leslie asked for the millionth time as she looked at me with worried eyes.

I closed my locker and glanced at her. "I already told you, Les. It's nothing."

She rolled her eyes, clearly not believing me. "Yeah. Nothing. After that marathon run at Terabithia last afternoon you seem troubled. C'mon, Jess. We're best friends, right? I'm sure I could help you out."

I paused. Should I tell her? I didn't want to worry Leslie, but it seemed futile because, even right now, she was already worrying about me. And she was always there for me, after all. I trusted Leslie with all my heart.

I quickly grabbed her wrist and headed outside of the Lark Creek High School building.

"Jess?" Leslie said, confused, as I pulled her along.

Then we were in the mini forest of the school. It was a cool place that had many benches near the trees where students and faculty members could sit and relax. You could also see the greenhouse for biology purposes on the west side.

I sat on a bench, patting the space next to me.

"So, what's inside that complicated head of yours?" Leslie asked as she sat beside me.

I grinned. "Hey! You have the complicated head, not me."

Leslie rolled her eyes with a smile. "Whatevs." Then her expression became serious. "What's bothering you lately, Jess?"

I gazed down at my hands. "I saw it last afternoon, Les. It's back."

"What's back?" she asked softly.

"The Dark Master," I whispered.

Leslie's eyes widened in shock. "Are you sure what you saw was the Dark Master?" she asked tentatively.

"I-I don't know," I admitted. "It was all black."

Leslie thought for a minute. "It can't be the Dark Master, Jess. I'm sure you also know that."

I'd been having second thoughts last night whether it was really the Dark Master or not. I mean, Dad and I had gotten along fine now—thanks to Leslie, of course. She's right. It can't be the Dark Master.

"What was it, then?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"Maybe it was more evil than the Dark Master," she said, causing me to gulp nervously. I didn't like the sound of that.

"I guess," Leslie continued, "we'll have to postpone our plans for the mansion tomorrow and investigate the east side of Terabithia instead. That's where you and P.T. last saw it, right?"

"Um, yeah. But it's fine, Les. You don't have to postpone our original plans for tomorrow."

She shook her head. "That thing's been bothering you, Jess. I'm worried about you."

I looked at Leslie, then she smiled brightly at me. I could feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach. She really cares for me, huh? But I'd also do the same thing for her, anyway.

Feeling bold, I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. Leslie squeezed back.

"I also want to see it for myself—not that I don't believe you or anything. When we see it, we'll beat it!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah!" I grinned.

    ╪ ╪ ╪

Sarah laughed evilly. "So you're here, Prince!"

Leslie pointed her wooden sword to Sarah. "You must be the Wicked Witch who made the curse!" she cried in a deep voice.

"Well, duh! I believe I'm the only wicked witch in this land." Sarah turned to her underlings. "All of you, get him!"

The underlings—that composed five of our classmates—charged at the prince.

Leslie slashed at the underlings gracefully, and then all of them flopped to the floor.

"Argh! Useless servants!" Sarah cried in fury and charged at Leslie. They dodged and slashed at each other for a few seconds until Leslie stabbed Sarah on the side of her stomach.

The witch screamed in agony. "Noooo! Curse you, Burke! I mean, Prince!"

Sarah fell down as Leslie sheathed her sword.

"And cut!" Ms. Thompson declared, clapping her hands. "Great job with scene three, everyone!" She turned to the rest of the students. "Well, don't just stare there. Clap also!"

We gave a round of applause. That scene had been intense, mainly because of Leslie and Sarah. Well, everyone in this school knew about their rivalry.

"Thank you, Ms. Thompson," Leslie and Sarah said at the same time—paused—and then glared at each other.

Sarah ended the glaring contest when she turned to the teacher. "I believe, Ms. Thompson, that I should be Prince Phillip instead of Burke here."

Leslie smirked. "So that you'd be the one to defeat me, or so that you could be with Jesse all the time? Heh! In your dreams, Bradfield."

Wait, what?

I was in a corner of the room with the props team, helping and giving suggestions on how to draw the trees and bushes with fancy styles while stealing glances at the two.

Why was my name mentioned all of a sudden?

Sarah was about to retort when Ms. Thompson interrupted, "Sarah, dear, you're the only one who could play a role that's completely opposite of your normal personality. That makes you a great actress."

I could see Sarah's brown eyes sparkle. "Really, Ms. Thompson?"

Ms. Thompson nodded with a sincere smile. "In fact, you're the only person who can do this."

Sarah stuck her nose in the air. "Well, if you put it that way. I'll do my best, Ms. Thompson."

With that the bell rang, indicating that literature was over and time for our next subject.

"Class dismissed!" Ms. Thompson announced.

Sarah completely ignored Leslie and glided happily to get her bag, and then went out of the room. Alice Young and Joenabie Wolff were trailing behind her, confusion clearly visible on their faces.

I went to Leslie to give her bag. She faced Ms. Thompson with raised eyebrows. "That was something."

Ms. Thompson chuckled. "What I said was true, anyway. Oh, don't get me wrong, Leslie, dear. You're a great actress, too," she assured her. "And besides, I chose you to be Phillip and Jesse to be Aurora because I know that in my class you two are the only ones who are more comfortable with each other. Being best friends and neighbors, both of you have more time to practice together."

Why did I feel she was implying something I didn't know?

"Makes sense," Leslie replied with a blush.

What, with a blush?

"But, Ms. Thompson," I said, "why the changing of genders?"

She smiled innocently. "Why, Jesse, dear, to make the audience go 'weeee!' of course! Tah-tah, now. I don't want you two to be late for your next class."

  ╪ ╪ ╪  

As usual after school, my queen and I hung out at Terabithia to talk and answer our freaking homework. Mr. Pike, our world history teacher, had given us one: to write an essay anything about the Black Death. The deadline would be this Monday.

P.T. was just roaming around the forest like he did every afternoon.

"Essays. Gotta love essays," I muttered sarcastically as I started writing my second paragraph. I looked at Leslie's paper and gaped as I saw she was already writing her fifth paragraph. "How do you do that?" I asked, amazed.

Leslie faced me. "Do what, Jess?"

I stared dumbly at her paper. She followed my gaze, understood what I meant, and chuckled. "Er, I just let my imaginative side take over, I guess."

I frowned. "I don't have an imaginative side."

"That's not true. You know that."

"Let me rephrase that, then. I don't have an imaginative side when it comes to writing. I'll tell Mr. Pike next time if I can submit a drawing instead of an essay."

Leslie laughed. "Why don't you try writing it in a sequence essay instead? I think it's easier, since Black Death is the topic," she suggested. "Like, when it started, what year it came to Europe, then how many people died that date, and the uneventful years go on. Don't worry; mine's an explanation essay."

I thought about it for a moment. "You're right, Les. It is easier that way. You really are a genius. Thanks!"

Leslie shoved me in the ribs. "Hey, you're also intelligent, you know."

I gave her a crooked smile. "I believe you're the only one who tells me that."

"Yeah, right. I so believe you," she replied sarcastically.

I looked up and saw her eyes staring right at me. Green met brown. I stared at them, so deep and rich that they could go on forever, like I was swimming in them. It was also like it was just her and me in the world. I also noticed our faces were a couple of inches apart. My throat suddenly went dry when I unintentionally stared at her pinkish lips.

Crap. Crap. Crap.

"Jess," Leslie whispered, causing a shiver to go down my spine.

I unconsciously reached for a lock of her hair and tucked it behind her left ear. I saw her cheeks go red. I'm sure I was also blushing—only wildly.

Suddenly, we jumped apart as Leslie's iPhone—which was a birthday gift from her grandparents last year—started vibrating with the chorus of "Keep Your Mind Wide Open" blasting in maximum volume.

Leslie had suggested months ago that I should listen to that song. After listening to it, I loved it. I'd even memorized the lyrics that thought me how to be open to new things and be willing to try to understand something outside what you were used to.

The singer's name was AnnaSophia Robb, I believe. She and Leslie kind of looked alike, and they also had the same angelic voice. I'd teased her about it, but she'd only said, But she's prettier, silly.

I don't think so, I'd thought.

I guess it was really needed to have a "Sophia" in a girl's name, huh?

Leslie got her phone from her jeans pocket and looked at the screen. I'm not sure, but I could swear I saw annoyance cross her face for a second.

"S'cuse me," she mumbled and headed outside of the tree house.

I gasped for air I didn't know I'd been holding. What have you done, Aarons? I thought, wanting to punch a wall or a teddy bear. You didn't consider her feelings! Maybe she'll hate you for what you did! Leslie doesn't have any romantic feelings for you. Only best friendship...

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and couldn't help but overhear Leslie's conversation.

"Tomorrow? I'm sorry, I already have plans for tomorrow...Yes, I can go this Sunday afternoon...Hmmm, how 'bout the pizza house in town...Okay. Bye." Then she hung up, hearing her sigh in relief.

Wait, in relief? Oh, no! She's not going out on a date, is she?

Panic flooded through me, and I couldn't help thinking who she'd be going out with. Well, if she'd indeed be going out on a date, that is. It couldn't be Gary or Scott, the former bullies, could it? They'd stopped bullying us ever since Leslie had tutored them in math when we were in sixth grade. I'm sure it'd been their form of thanks to her.

I realized too late that Leslie was already sitting beside me. She tapped her finger on my shoulder. I started. "Er, is something wrong, Jess?"

"You're going out on a date," I said without thinking, and then suddenly covered my mouth with my hands. I mentally banged my head on a wall over and over again.

Leslie shot me a confused look, then it dawned on her. "Ah." She smiled teasingly. "And that's what's wrong, my king? That I have a date?"

"Yes. I mean, no! I-I mean, you're free t-to go out with anybody, r-r-right? I d-don't care about th-that," I stuttered. Why the heck was I stuttering?

She laughed freely. "I was just joking, Jess. I'm not going out on a date! It's just that my classmate in geometry, Nigel Groban, wants my help about the hyperbola topic."

"Oh," I muttered.

I'd heard about Nigel Groban. He was one of the famous students at Lark Creek High School and a member of the Lark Creek Soccer Club—which meant he was also a fast runner. Fate didn't let us become classmates in any of the subjects. Many girls swooned over him because of his good looks—they said—and I feared that my queen had feelings for him! Or would have feeling for him!

"But I heard you sigh in relief after your conversation," I said, my brows furrowing.

Leslie's nose crinkled in a way I could only describe as adorable. Okay, I hoped she didn't have feelings for him. Or wouldn't have feelings for him. "That's because I'm glad it was over." She paused, realizing something. "Oh my gosh, Jess! You were listening to the entire conversation?"

I blushed furiously from embarrassment. "Look, I'm sorry, Les. I didn't mean to. It's just that your voice was so loud that I couldn't help but listen..." I faltered.

She giggled lightly. "Oh, it's fine. I don't mind. I shouldn't have gone out in the first place, anyway." Leslie paused. "Say, were you jealous, Jess?"

"Huh?"

Leslie bit her lower lip, a sure sign that she was nervous about something. "When you thought that I'd have a date, were you jealous?"

My heart started pumping faster. Why on earth would you ask that, Les? Of course I was jealous! You're my queen! But I said something intelligent like: "Me? Jealous? Why would I be jealous, Les? I mean, we're best friends. I was just curious, is all. My best friend on a date is great news for me." Then I suddenly felt bad. I didn't want to lie to Leslie, but I didn't want her to know my feelings for her.

Yet.

Stupid fear of rejection.

I saw a small trace of sadness cover her eyes, and the corner of her mouth tightened for a second. I grew apprehensive. Did she know I'd lied to her?

But suddenly she grinned widely, and I thought I'd just been hallucinating. "You know what, Jess?" she began. "I'd also be curious if I knew you have a date. Be sure to tell me when you have one, all right?"

What she'd said hurt me, but I let it go down. She didn't need to know yet.

I grinned back uneasily. "A-all right."

We continued writing our essays in silence until Leslie said, "Don't forget 'bout tomorrow, Jess."

I groaned, thinking sarcastically, I can't wait to become a detective tomorrow.