Jess nearly fainted at the words, Love, Leslie. It couldn't be true, someone was playing a cruel trick on him, he knew it. He looked at his watch, it was 4:45. He contemplated on whether he should go to the tree house or not. He made up his mind, put on his shoes and sped off towards Terabithia.
He slowed at the sight of the tree house. Did he want to go up there? Was it really her? He was sure now it was a trick, if it was her, she would have greeted him by now. As he got to the top of their stronghold, he peeked up, no one was there, Just his drawings and his old shoes and some stale old cookies. He knew it, someone was playing a trick on him. He climbed into the tree house, "I knew it!" he said angrily. "Knew what, Jess?" That voice was familiar, but it wasn't Hoeger. He grew ill as he turned around. She was there, right there in front of him, beaming at him with her beautiful green eyes. She looked beautiful, her hair was longer now, to her shoulders, and wore the same funky style of clothes, but it was her, by God it was her. "Hi." she said with a giggle. His eyes swelled with tears, he began hyperventilating. "Jess? Jess are you ok, what's wrong?" Everything went black and he was out.
Sensing him stirring, Leslie said, "Jess?" He opened his eyes slowly and stared at her wide eyed. "Le- Leslie? How are you-" she cut him off, "Alive? After I hit my head I fell into the water. When you pulled me out, I was unconscious, the EMT performed CPR and got me breathing again. I was in a coma until a week ago." He jumped up and hugged her. "I missed you so much, I thought you were dead!" They hugged in silence for a moment, as they drew back their gazes met for a moment. Jesse averted his eyes and changed the subject. "Why didn't your dad tell me you were alive?" he asked quietly. "He didn't know either, the doctor told him that I had a 20% chance of surviving. I guess I was in that 20%." She said with a smile, trying to calm him. It worked, her smile always did. He wanted desperately to tell her how he felt about her. Since they created Terabithia he knew he loved her.
She loved him too, very much. Their gaze found each other again, but this time they didn't look away. They leaned in closer to one another, their lips got closer together, he could smell her perfume now, it smelled of roses, that's how she should smell. "Jess! We have great news!" They separated quickly. May Belle climbed up the ladder. "Oh, hi, Leslie." She sounded disappointed. "How'd you know we were here?" Leslie asked. "I already checked at the house." she said brightening. May Belle having delivered her message, climbed down the ladder and ran toward the house. Leslie looked at him again and said, "I've gotta go, I have to spend some time with my mom and dad." Jess answered "Ok, I understand." Leslie stood to leave. She started climbing down the ladder. "Leslie?" "Yeah?" "I- I love you." Leslie's face turned bright red. "I love you too Jess." He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled her beautiful smile and climbed down. He watched her run through the woods until she was out of sight. He sat back and said "I love you, Leslie Burke."