Leslie Burke awoke to the sound of rain pattering against the roof once more. Geez, is it ever going to stop? she thought in amazement. It had already been raining hard for two days, and the river had risen pretty high so far.
Leslie sat up and stretched. Maybe Jess would still want to go to Terabithia today. There was stuff that she wanted to maybe fix up in the tree house, and maybe they could find some new bells. It was like a haven there…a place where she could be herself and not worry that everyone thought she was weird. It was just her and Jess, and that was the way she liked it.
Leslie waited in the pounding rain, her rain jacket's hood pulled over her head. Usually if Jess was coming to hang out on Saturday, he would have been out by then. Sometimes he had chores to do, and he would run late. But today it seemed later than usual…
Just a few more minutes, Leslie thought to herself. She really wanted Jess to come, but she didn't want to bother his family by going to the door. Besides, she never went to the door. Just because he hadn't come outside yet didn't mean that she had to go to the door.
I can always fix the tree house by myself, Leslie thought reluctantly. Even as that came to mind, though, she knew that she didn't want to. She really just wanted Jess with her there.
What was Terabithia even about anymore? It used to be the place where she and Jess went to have fun and relax, but it seemed to have changed. It seemed like…it was the place where she got to be with Jess the most. So, really, was it about pretending that they were rulers of Terabithia anymore? Or was it about Jess?
As these thoughts filled her mind, Leslie came to the grim realization that it really wasn't playing pretend anymore. It all had to do with Jess. Leslie had fallen in love with her best friend.
No, no, no! she groaned inwardly, standing up. He wasn't coming; she would have to go by herself. I can't be in love with my best friend! It will ruin everything!
As she walked slowly to the river, she went over some things in her mind. It wasn't impossible that Jess felt the same way… Sometimes, when they were together, she could almost imagine he loved her when he looked at her and smiled at her.
Probably just wishful thinking, Leslie thought sadly.
But maybe…maybe it would change if she told him how she felt. It held the risk of losing him, but didn't it include the possibility of him returning her feelings?
Leslie added a spring to her step, her mood beginning to lighten. That was exactly what she would do. She would tell Jess how she felt; whether it worked or not. He just needed to know how she felt about him…that she felt like running to the ends of the earth when she was next to him, or how she felt like she could fly whenever they were together in Terabithia.
She smiled a wide smile as she took the rope in her hands, stepping up onto the log. Then, with a snap of the rope, and a splash of cold, rough water, Leslie was gone. Behind her she left feelings kept inside, and words left unspoken.