Hey everyone! I've never worked on a Bridge to Terabithia story before, but I've thought about it! It's such a sweet and touching story that leaves you with tears in your eyes. This is my take on what would have happened if Jess had been there.

Love Alex

Not Coming Back

Jess and Leslie crossed the bridge to Terabithia. "Ms. Edmunds asked me to go to a museum with her today." Jess says, breaking the silence. Leslie smiles at him. "Really?" Although she is smiling, she sounds jealous. Jess nods.

"Yeah." He replies quickly. He lightly bumps in Leslie. "I said no, cause I wanted to be with you." He tells her boldly. The color rushes to Leslie's face, causing her to turn pink. She clears her throat nervously.

"Ms. Edmunds is really pretty." She tells Jess. Jess smiles at Leslie. "Not as pretty as you." He didn't where the courage had come from. Maybe because he kept all these things left unsaid with his father, he felt that all the things that had to be said with Leslie should be said.

Leslie blushes again and looks away from Jess. "I'm not pretty, Jess." She says, plainly. Jess reaches over and pats her hand. "That's what you think, Leslie." He explains. Leslie looks at him. They stare at each other for a few minutes. Leslie leans towards him and pecks his lips quickly. Jess closes his eyes. His first kiss.

"That was nice." He blurts out. Leslie laughs. "It was okay, I guess. I haven't had too much experience with kissing, so I wouldn't know." She says, honestly. Jess nods. "Want to try again?" he asks. Leslie shakes her head. "Nah, race you to the rope!" She runs towards the rope and arrives before Jess.

Jess looks down at the water. "Leslie, maybe we shouldn't. The water's really high." He feared mainly for their lives. Leslie shrugs and grabs the rope. She turns to look at Jess. "Don't worry, Jess. I'll be all right." She claims with a smile. She jumps, clutching the rope. It snaps and she falls. Her head cracks against a rock and she slides into the water, unconscious. The water was murky and dark, and Jess couldn't see her body.

"Leslie!" Jess slides down the hill and dives underwater. He opens his eyes underwater and looks for Leslie, frantically. He comes up for air and gasps. "Leslie! Leslie!" He screams her name, not knowing she's unconscious. He would have kept looking if his dad hadn't pulled him out. He would have kept looking if he hadn't had to come up for air.

"No, let go of me! I have to find her! Leslie! LESLIE!" He cries out. Jack pulls his son on top of him. Jess's sobs are muffled when he presses his face against his dad's shoulder. "She'll be all right, right, Dad?" he asks. Jack shakes his head. "No, son. I'm sorry, but she's not coming back."

Jess untangles himself from his father's arms and runs off, staying on the hill, searching for Leslie's body. "LESLIE!" He sees her, face down on the water. Jess dives in the lake and drags her out of the water. He lays Leslie's head on his lap. Her eyes were closed and her lips were blue. Blood trickled down the side of her face.

"No, Leslie, don't die, please don't die." He whispers to her. He stares at her for a while, praying she'll wake up. Although she's no longer here, he can still hear her. "You're the king, Jess. Don't let Terabithia die with me."