Leslie's POV
I could hear Jesse calling my name over and over. My chest tightened and it took all the will power I had not to call back to him, though someone else did. I followed him as he ran, still calling my name, to where the voice was coming from. It was May belle; all she wanted was to be with her brother.
Jess was shouting at her now and I knew my death must be getting to him. Then he pushed her and I could feel the girl break. Her gentle brother shoved her; it took everything I had not to run over there and stop him from hurting her. To tell him that I'm alive and nothing can crush us but he left. Running over the new bridge created by the storm.
Tears welled in my eyes as I watched him lash out, throwing the wind chime I made and pouring his paints into the creek. I knew then that he was broken; I had destroyed my best friend and I wish I didn't have to leave him the way I did. Though if I told him what was going on Terabithia would be without either a queen or king.
I'm so sorry, Jesse. I wish the real world was as great as Terabithia and I promise that you will always be my king and I will see you again.
Jesse's POV
I watched the boat float down the creek with the picture I drew of her. My best friend. I can still picture her crazy smile, the one she gets when her imagination brings us here, or her blond hair that curls up in the end that was just so Leslie that no one else could ever pull it off. I always imagined it to be so silky soft.
Slowly the craft sailed away and I had to look up from the creek; the strayed rope hanging limply to the branch. Though behind it, almost in a haze I saw her watching me. It must be a dream, she's dead. I was at her funeral just hours before. Yet there she was.
"Leslie." My voice scratched against my throat.
She nodded before waving slowly and took a step back. Vanishing into the mist that tended to cling to everything since that day.
Six months later
Leslie's POV
My alarm blared beside me and I slapped the obnoxious device's snooze button. There was no need, I was fully aware of ever second that passed by since sleep seemed to evade me every night for the past few months.
"Miss Burk, it's time for school."
I hated that man. It's all his fault I'm here and not with Jesse in Terabithia. Reality bits. The worst part is that I can't even talk to him at all. Not over the phone, or email, I can't even send him a letter. The dark-master forbids it.
I rolled off the bed and went into his office. His bald head greeted me as the large doors swung open. He welcomed me courtly and requested I sit down.
"Leslie, today's a big day isn't it?"
I gave no response. Which I know annoys him, plus anything I could say would just end up making him force me to stay here for another week or more and I couldn't stand to be cooped up here any longer.
"Well, here's your paperwork for school. I have taken the liberty of setting you up with my most trusted employ to be your new father and a new identity to go along with all the changes."
He passed me the manila envelope, though I didn't open it. His lips tipped down for a moment before curling into a smirk.
"Have a good day, Chloe Anne Sullivan."