Standard disclaimer-I do not own Bridge to Terabihia and/or anything from it or about it.

A/N: The whole first paragraph should be all in italics, but I needed them elsewhere. All I am trying to say is that the first paragraph is about Jesse dreaming.

Chapter 2.

Ms Edmonds

And there he was-running through woods, crying and shouting some name... it was some girl name, yes, he was sure. He could see tears eyes of that boy. He continued screaming her name, until he got his response. 'Probably that girl had finally heard him', thought Jessie. Jesse followed that boy, through that woods, but he had to ran very, very fast. 'That boy is nearly fast as I am', said Jesse to himself, trying to keep pace with that boy. Then that boy had finally reached some log, some little girl on it, trying all her best to keep herself from falling into that creek. 'Is this that girl for which he was crying for?' asked Jesse, and right after that he answered himself, 'nope, by his behavior not.' He felt like he knew this place, yes, he was sure! 'I am in Terabithia, OUR Terabithia, this lands belongs only to me and Leslie!' as he declared, he decided to get that boy and to send him away from here, that girl isn't here for sure, nobody know this place, except he and Leslie! As he decided to get him, he noticed that that boy had discovered his presence. 'How is it possible? I was just few steps away from him and he hadn't noticed me, and now he had? Weird...', he said and continued chasing, determined to get him. And there was his chance! 'You guy may be fast, but now when you fell you're mine! I will get you for violating borders of Terabithia!' and now, determined to kick his stomach out of him from forcing him to such unwanted run... strange, he always loved running but now, he felt that each step hurts more and more, like he wasn't running in Terabithia, but like he was somewhere where he was unwanted also... And, when he was just few steps next to him, lying on ground, some guy get him first! "It's OK Jess, it's OK son" said that guy... that said... Jack, yes, his father, that was his voice, and he said his name... and suddenly he remember the name, which was that boy, that Jess screaming-he was screaming Leslie, Leslie was the name... 'this is about me!?' said Jesse, not knowing if he had declared it or asked it... And then the dream went away, he was taken away from that nightmare.

"Jess, Jess, I called you three times!" said Maybelle with that mischievous grin on her face, "It's your girlfriend"

"She's not my girlfriend!", declared Jesse, rubbing his eyes with his hands. 'I hope she's not calling because of that recent night...'.

"Leslie?" he asked.

"Leslie? This is your music teacher, Ms Edmonds...", he couldn't believe with who he was speaking...

Soon he discovered that she have just invited him to museum! 'That's perfect!', he thought.

So he said that he will be right back and that he is going to ask his parents. But, right after he sat on his bed and tried unsuccessfully to stood on his feet, falling on the ground with loud bang... 'No, not again, not this time!' He nearly cried, not knowing if because of pain or because he was going to miss that invitation from her, Ms Edmonds herself, calling him. Shortly after that he felt something blinked in his mind for just few seconds...

He was jumping from some car, with wide smile on his face, saying thanks to Ms Edmonds, and then running... running home, with a huge smile on his face, walked to the main door of his house. He looked on the left, to the Burke's house, smiled upon it, and walked forward.

"What had that meant?" he asked aloud, thinking about it... the voice from phone was calling his name... oh, Ms Edmonds is on the phone!

"Yes, Ms Edmonds?" he asked politely, trying not to sound confused by his last dream, if he can call it that way...

"Oh, Jesse, you really scared my, what happened?" her soft and lovely voice asked, and he could hear concern in her voice, also.

"Uh, I, um, just fell from my bed" trying to say it as it was just common accident when someone is speaking with some other person through phone.

"Okay, so, can you came with me after all?" she made OK sound much longer that it used to be, and said it through giggles, from which he was sure that she was thinking that he fell because of shock from hearing such thing as invitation to museum with her, most adored teacher in whole school.

"I would like to, I swear, but I... I..." as he was trying just to say no, he was so much confused, not knowing what to do or what to say... he can say that he want to, his mother in half asleep would agree to anything, even if we would ask if he can take their car and drive it to the Mexico. But, on the other side, he was so much injured that he couldn't imagine any possibility of moving with that leg in museum. And, even if we would manage through this all, what about Ms Edmond? She wont let him go in this condition...

"You still there? You don't have to swear, just say if you want to go or not, it's simple," she said politely, "if you can't go we can go some other time, it's ok Jess." He could hear she was a little disappointed, but he trusted that she meant what she had said.

"I am sorry, Ms Edmonds, but I can't. I... I yesterday fell from stairs and now I don't feel like I am able to... um... such a walks in museums, I am really sorry," as he was starting to apologize, she just interrupted him: "It's ok, Jess, you don't have to apologize, I understand. I wish you to heal fast to be ready for school after spring brake. We may arrange some other trip together later, after you will be feeling better, if you will want, ok?" "Yes I am looking forward to it, ma'am" he shouted with excitement that she still wanted to invite him, even after he said her that, which was true, of course, but sounds like silly excuse.

"See you in week, Jess" Ms Edmonds said as goodbye for now.

"Yeah, goodbye" and right after that he heard that she had hung down phone, slowly, making him feel comfortable and letting in him warm feeling, that she wasn't disappointed in him after all.

'And what now?' he couldn't find answer that question... as he started to pick up himself from floor of his room, someone knocked on his doors.

"What are you up to?" said familiar feminine voice in giggling, which made him forgot all his pain and make him feeling comfortable and happy, even through that she was teasing him.

That can be only... "Leslie!" screamed Jesse aloud in excitement.

"Oh gosh, sorry Jess, I wasn't thinking that it would make you so angry," said Leslie through another round of giggles.

"No, it's not because of that, trust me, Leslie, I am just happy to see you, that's all," and he meant it as he said it.

"Why? You have seen me just eight hours back," and still giggling... 'yes, make fun of poor Jess, lying on ground in pain... what?? eight hours? That was in the middle of night... oh NO, she... how... impossible! She was sleeping... wasn't she? What will I do...' Jess lost all his colours from his face that he almost coalesced with wall, which made Leslie more curious about what is he thinking about... and then she realized what was probably bothering him... or at least she thought so..

"Earth to Jess, Earth to Jess, do you hear us? Abandon that flight to space, captain Jess, we need you down here," cried Leslie out from loud laugh, "don't worry, I haven't pulled you down from that stairs of yours, I promise!" calming down, and added small wink to ensure him.

"Oh, yeah, that fall, hehe... how you.." before he finished his sentence she interrupted him, "how I knew it? Jess don't act like you are donkey, remember, you are King, you should know everything in your Kingdom," and she added another wink.

"Oh... mother?" he asked, well knowing the answer, but trying to look interested in that conversation, hoping she wont mention anyhow previous night any more.

"Score one for Jess" and she giggled, "or were you thinking that we met somewhere else?" Jesse was stunned by this question. 'Does she know it and she is just playing some cruel game to take it out from me or is she just joking?' a bunch of guilt came through him...

"Jess," she said slowly, starting to suspect Jess for something she had to discover what ever it could be, "is there something you are not telling me? I am always telling you everything and I hope you know that you can came to me with anything, you know it, don't you?" she added with such concerned look on her eyes, showing how much she care about him...

'Yeah, there's a lot of what I am not telling you... where should I start? Oh, yes, Leslie, by the way, I sneaked to your house, I was walking on your roof, broke some lumber, I have a strange dreams about you and your death for last days, and, of course, I like you more than a friend should. What do you want first?' he said it sarcastically just for himself. "Uh, no, um, I think that I have told you, um, everything..." he said nervously and added one nervous giggle, and he knew she wont believe it.

"Hmm, ok then, I am going home for now, if you will have anything to say to me you know where you will find me. See ya." That was the last what he heard before she snapped his door and he heard as she was sobbing while she was going downstairs... 'oh you jackass, now you got what have you wanted' he was annoyed of himself. "Wait Leslie I will tell you everything, I promise!" it was true that he wanted to, but he didn't know how to tell her... "Leslie?" He asked into empty house, 'oh, great, I am here alone, lying on ground, I just hurt feelings of my only one and best friend of my whole life and alone in whole house... how ideal'.

He stood on his feet, mostly on his right, and tried to get down the stairs. Cursing himself for falling from her, Leslie's roof, because he wanted just proof that his best friend is ok, just because he care about her and her safety. 'What had I done wrong?' That was only thing that bothered him right now. He managed it to the entrance hall and found note, lying on the ground, shrugged to small ball:

Hi, Leslie,

I am glad you will take care of my little baby, he had fell from stairs as I have told you, he is sometimes clumsy. His chores are simply just do...

'blah blah blah' said Jessie to himself, scrolling down the letter, 'I knew my chores very well... oh, here it continue'

...I will be back with Joyce Ann and Maybelle from shopping in few hours, we need to wait for Jack to finish his work so he will pick us up and we will go home with him. He will finish soon this day, so we wont be there for too long. If you will feel tired from all that work just put him in front of TV, give him remote control and it will give you some time for rest, trust me, it works ;)...

'What she thinks I am? Some dog or baby or what? Never mind, I am almost at the end.'

...I have to thank you once more, not just for taking care of my Jesse, but I have to thank you also for everything you have done for him. Your friendship means to him so much, without you he would be lost.

I wish you luck with him,

Mary Aarons.

"Yeah, you got some point, mom... what am I doing now? Why am I wasting time? I need to find Leslie and apologize to her!" He wanted to run, but he only manage to limp. As he got on their porch, he quickly put his sneakers on and picked up some stick to lean over to help him walking. He knew where she would be... 'she is on her way to the Terabithia, isn't she?' He tried to accelerate his pace to be there as soon as possible.


In the meantime, Leslie wanted to go home, but was scared what if her parents will be there.. how would she describe her face covered with tears... so she turned on her heels, and went straight to their kingdom, where nothing could hurt them, where nothing could crush them. "I hope it will work even if I am there alone", she managed to say it through tears. "Why is he not telling me everything like I am telling him?" she said as she sat down on log, from which they usually jump on rope. 'Well, maybe I am also not telling will everything... but but I...I can't say what I feel can I? He would drive crazy if I would told him so... wont he?' she kept asking without any hope for answer. 'Well, probably we would hate me... he love that stupid Ms Edmonds... what she got I don't? Well, she is pretty, older, she can sing... and I? I am just strange, awkward girl, am I not?' and she began to cry even harder... 'but, after all, if he doesn't like we wouldn't spent so much time with me, would he? Or maybe he is doing it to show Ms Edmonds that he have no problem hanging around girls, that he is enough mature, yes, that's it', she was starting to calm dawn and changing her mood from sad to angry, but then she heard some voice... like some animal with three legs were approaching... 'Dark Master discovered that I am here alone and sent his most powerful and special monster! I have to get away, to the kingdom!' she said to herself, grabbing rope and turning to face that monster for last time "hah, you will never get me, Dark Master!"


"Leslie? Are you in there? THAT'S ME! Wait! Don't jump across, I need to talk to you! PLEASE!" he was pleading honestly as he meant it. "Oh, that's you, Jess", she said in her normal voice, 'anyway, I need to get rid of you, also'. With this cogitation she bounced from log with her legs, tightly holding rope, and her face turned to look at Jess for last time, maybe even literally, but she had realized it too late. Rope had just rip into two parts, letting Leslie go down strait to the creek, much wilder that usual due to strong non-stop rains last days and gathering more water from hills, as ice was melting down, it was spring, a very hot one. When she noticed what was happening, it was too late. She just managed to scream her last words before she sunk under water: "Jess save me!"


"Oh, that's you, Jess", Jess heard her saying this, and then bouncing from log to jump. He was annoyed even at imagination that he would have to swing across, too. But, he couldn't believe what have he saw. Enchanted rope ripping into two parts, and... and Leslie on it! His worst nightmares were coming into true! We ran down to that log, 'at least she saw me when I was just few metres away from her', realizing that his leg hurt, but he doesn't care. Only thing he cared about was Leslie. From the beginning to the end, all the time, on that roof, in Terabithia, in school, in church, she had occupied his mind on any place he was at. And he doesn't want just memories, if he can have her all. He looked up and down the creek, seeing nothing, so he jumped into that creek, without hesitation, determined to save her at all cost, or if necessary, to die while trying. He wouldn't be able to look at himself at mirror if he knew he hadn't done all what he could.

The first shock was worst. The water was so cold, muddy, dense, dirty, that he wasn't able to see anything, when he dived. He was searching with his hands around him, he have been there just for few seconds for now, but it looked to him as hours. His mind was running at full speed, showing him that his life would mean nothing without her, determining him to do more and more. And then, after one minute under water without single breath of air, he had pushed something with his right hand, 'it was so soft... it can't be rock, it must be... Leslie's, and when he tried to touch her again to ensure himself that it was her, he moved his both hands at that location, but now there wasn't anything soft any more. He had cut his right hand on something sharp... and in the same second as he cut his hand he felt that something quite huge stumbled against his legs, his aching left leg. He forgot whole pain right when he realized, that by that first touch he probably had free her from that rock, quickly picking her up from bottom, now nothing was holding her, so it was quite easy, it is much easier to pull thing in water, he though, but even through that it seemed to him like her weight was doubled. "I'll do everything for you, Leslie", shouted Jesse after his head pulled up from water, holding Leslie, but still she was in there, he pulled as strong as he could. He finally get her head out water, and then he tried to get her remaining body also above water. While we tried so, he heard loud crack. Is sound scary, and it showed to be much worse. It was his bone in his right hand that had broke. But the pain wasn't as bad as he expected to come. So he continued to push Leslie to the bank of that creek, with right hand in scary angle, totally unnatural, but it didn't bother him.

When she was far enough from water, he managed to get from it also, on his knees, as his left leg was out of duty. His mind hadn't hesitated, like when he jumped to the cold, muddy, wild creek. He was kneeling next to her, leaned over her, tried if she was breathing. 'Of course she's not, you idiot' he though while he checked if she at least had a pulse. She has, and massive bleeding from back of her head and her right shoulder proved it. He put down his shirt, torn off one sleeve, put it aside, tied remains of shirt around her head, and that sleeve around her wounded shoulder. He managed to get that small pool of water from her mouth, obstructed her nose, took a deep breath and blow air into her unmoving chest. It raised just a little. 'They never ever wake up at first or second or third time, it need few tries', he remember all he had knew, and tried second time, without any use, and the third time. "C'mon, Les, you can't leave my this way!" he cried, and leaned over again to give her another breath, again without any use. "I wont let you go! Not alone, not without me!" he then tried again...


A/N: I haven't still decided, if I will let her live or not, but I can ensure you that this story is far away from end, and I can ensure you that Jesse wont be healthy and full of life after all. Anything can happened in hospital, even when things are getting better and look like everything will be alright again... I know what am I talking about. It could be interesting, for a change, that Leslie would live, and with such a guilt on her shoulders... muahaaa... if this wont be scenario for this story, I will probably put some other story about Leslie living, and somehow responsible for Jesse's death. If am I thinking right, I will be the first one with such an idea ;). You know, Aarons aren't able to move away, to ran away, as Burke's had(I am not blaming them for that). But should Burke's ran even if is it not their child who died? That would just show how guilty is Leslie feeling... And it may be also mirror to Jesse's feeling... Can you ever, in your deepest corner of your mind imagine, that you have, not directly, but somehow, caused death of you best friend? And maybe even love of your life? If he would invite her, the rope rip may be delayed, it may rip by itself, or maybe Jesse would swung on it first, or at least he will have a chance to try to save Leslie, even if he could do it, which would hurt him hard even after that, but he would at least knew that he had tried it and that he was with her at the her end...

I am sorry that it may look to you as I am writing what will be in my another story, but if you have read carefully, then you knew that this may be also the possible ending for this one.

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying my first try to write, I will continue till I will have ideas.

Martin