Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Bridge to Terabithia and will in no way profit from this fan fiction.

Chapter 6

Jess and Leslie quickly donned their winter layers and headed into the cold December morning. The clouds gave way to sunshine but the wind ensured they didn't forget what time of year it was. They huddled near each other as they walked down the worn and well remembered road. They maintained a brisk pace and talked nearly non-stop. All the frustration and confusion of their separation seemed to melt away as they remembered all the adventures they had as king and queen of Terabithia. From the first day they discovered their kingdom to the last time they set foot in their realm together each was delighted with the prospect of returning triumphantly together. Jess recounted his tale from the day before when he breached the walls of their castle for the first time in what seemed an eternity. Leslie could hardly contain her excitement at seeing the tree house. It was a symbol of their friendship from the very beginning. She thought back on how much fun they had fixing up the old, dilapidated fortress. It was hard work, especially for fifth graders, but the fun they had made it all worthwhile. As they passed through the gate into the open field they felt the full blast of the icy wind. They both agreed that the weather seemed more tolerable when they were younger. The cold, however, could not dampen their spirits. It was as if Terabithia was calling them home and nothing was going to stop them.

Once the rope came into view Leslie decided it was time to see if Jess was still as fast as he used to be.

"Race you to the rope" she said as she sprinted ahead of him. Jess wasn't caught entirely off guard. In fact he was hoping she would challenge him. Jess bolted after her and felt an excitement he had not felt in years. The passion for running combined with the presence of his best friend was exhilarating. Leslie still had that same beautiful, natural stride. She seemed to run effortlessly even with a heavy coat on. Though he pushed himself as hard as he could she was easily outpacing him. As much as Jess was enjoying the moment the time away from running had taken a toll on his conditioning. By the time he finally reached the creek he was exhausted. He couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed when he looked up to see Leslie smiling with the rope in hand.

"Maybe you need to start running with me again" she said as she poked him playfully in the belly.

"Well, as I recall" Jess said trying to catch his breath. "It was you that joined me on my morning runs." Leslie laughed and looked across the creek. She felt that same giddy excitement she had when they first used the enchanted rope. Of course at the moment she was so overjoyed just to be with her best friend again that it really didn't matter what they were doing. However, Terabithia was magical. Even the cynical eyes that so often came with adolescence could not erase the hold of such a place. The forest was a living symbol of everything that was good and worthwhile in a world that two children years earlier had all but lost faith in. Leslie steadied herself on the old log they used as a launch pad. She tightened her grip and was ready to soar when she felt Jess's arm wrap softly around her waist.

"Just a minute Leslie" he said nervously. "I…I felt the rope give a bit when I swung over yesterday." Leslie barely heard what Jess just said to her. The only thing she was aware of was his arm around her waist. She turned and looked him in the eye. His soft brown eyes reminded her of an adorable puppy yearning to be held. Her heart was beating so fast she wondered if Jess could hear it.

"Always looking out for me aren't you?" she said smiling.

"Well, uh…yeah, I mean…I just don't want anything…uh…to happen to you." Jess answered nervously. Only now was he aware that his arm was wrapped around Leslie's waist. He was looking out for her. Even that first time across the rope on that magical day years earlier Jess worried. He always feared the rope would break at some point. If there was anything positive that came from their abandonment of Terabithia it was the end to his worry. It was a concern Leslie was long aware of and she sensed it now.

"Jess" Leslie said taking his hand. "You're thinking too much. Come on let's go to the tree house." In true Leslie fashion she once again secured the rope and in an instant flew across the creek. Jess watched as she effortlessly landed on the other side. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly made the trip across the creek. The pair raced to their castle. Leslie was amazed at how easily she navigated the forest. Though the woods were relatively barren compared to the summer months it was still her first visit in years. Yet, it was as if no time had passed. The exhilaration of seeing the tree house again was overwhelming. She slowed her pace and stopped once it came into view.

"A little bit different huh?" Jess said as he walked up beside her.

"Yeah, it…it looks so small" she said astonished. "How did you get inside?" she asked. "It doesn't look like it would support us now." Jess was surprised at Leslie's tone. She sounded cautious, almost hesitant. It was in stark contrast to her previous excitement. Yet, Jess knew exactly how she felt. The shock of seeing their child hood playground after so many years away was indeed a bit perplexing. Everything was the same yet it wasn't. Having already been in the tree house and assured of its safety he took the opportunity to tease her a bit.

"Doth my ears deceive me or did I just hear a word of doubt from my queen?" Jess walked over to the tree and quickly scurried up to the tree house. "Come my queen, your castle awaits."

Leslie felt a little embarrassed that her usually overly cautious friend just gave her a taste of her own reckless behavior. Yet, she took the lesson good naturedly and followed her king. Jess of course watched her every move as she made her way up the tree. He took her hand as she climbed on to the porch and led her inside.

"That smell" she said as her eyes widened. "I remember that smell." The curious mix of pine, paint and paper filled her senses. A flood of memories transported Leslie back to those days when battling trolls and the dark master with her best friend were all that mattered; a time before the six-pack, dating, numerous extracurricular activities and all the other trials and tribulations of high school. She often wondered how much she had changed from that first day of school in Lark Creek. Was she the same Leslie Burke that befriended a young Jess Aarons? Growing pains were to be expected of course. Both Judy and Bill seemed on the whole happy with how she conducted herself as a teen. Of course they didn't know everything she did nor did she want them too. That was something that troubled her too.

"Les, you okay?" Jess asked somewhat curious at his friend's silence.

"Huh, oh yeah I'm fine" she replied. "I just got hit by a wave of nostalgia that's all." Jess nodded and pointed out the bookcase where a few of Leslie's books still remained. She knelt down and carefully pulled them out. Much like her copy of The Chronicles of Narnia they were in surprisingly good condition. She opened a hardback and smelled that familiar scent that only an old book has. She loved that smell. This particular book had a twinge of some other odor which Leslie figured must be a result of weathering in the tree house. She carefully placed the book back in its home away from home and turned her attention to the line of coffee cans sitting against the wall.

"I can't believe I forgot about these" she said reaching for one of them. "Jess, do you remember that big bag of change we brought out here? All those hours we spent digging around our houses for coins and all that recycling we did?" Jess laughed and sat down beside her.

"Yeah I remember" he said smiling. Leslie's eyes were beaming with excitement. She was as nostalgic for their old hangout as he was. It felt good to see her so happy. It felt good to feel happy. Jess always managed to find the greatest pleasure in just seeing her smile. He loved watching her when she got excited. It was like watching fireworks with each blast bigger and better than the one before. As Leslie dug through the coffee cans one by one she noticed Jess staring at her with a very happy look on his face.

"What're you so happy about Mr. Aarons?" she asked playfully.

"Well…the two of us back in Terabithia together. It's kind of amazing…don't you think?" he asked.

"Yeah, it is" Leslie answered with a smile. "I have to admit that if someone told me yesterday that you and I would be sitting in this tree house in the middle of Terabithia I wouldn't have believed them."

"Me neither" Jess said nodding in agreement.

"This has been a much better day then I had planned." Jess agreed. His day would have been full of chores, chores and more chores with some homework on the side if his mom had not intervened. Of course if he had not gone to Terabithia in the first place, found Leslie's book, drawn the picture and left it on her porch they certainly wouldn't be together now. Oddly, the only reason any of it even happened was due to Jess's anger at seeing Jason Simms. In a bizarre way Jess had Jason to thank for everything that happened.

"It's kinda' funny that if I hadn't seen your friends yesterday in your driveway I never would've gone to Terabithia" he said. Leslie remembered seeing Jess while talking to Megan and Jason.

"Is that why you took off like a bat out of hell?" she asked.

"Well…yeah, kinda" he answered now embarrassed that he even mentioned it. Leslie knew well Jess's jealousy and even he himself admitted to it. Yet, she felt some of the euphoria of the moment wane as she contemplated the reactions of her friends to Jess and vice versa. . Reuniting with Jess was something she always wanted but it wasn't going to come without complications. Keeping the peace was something she did not look forward to.

"Jess, do you hate my friends?" she asked bluntly but with a hint of sadness in her voice. Jess knew this question was going to come up at some point he just didn't figure on that time being now. He didn't answer immediately. He didn't want to ruin the moment he was having with Leslie by returning to a subject that was bound to cause friction. It was a moment he had yearned for and now that it had arrived he didn't want to let go. Yet, the fear of losing Leslie again was even stronger than the desire to avoid.

"No, I don't hate your friends" he finally answered. "Well, I don't like Jason but I honestly don't even really know your other friends" he continued. "I guess I did hate them because you were their friend but…" Jess quit speaking and lowered his head.

"What is it Jess?" Leslie asked worried. She knew he was holding something back, something he was either afraid of or embarrassed by. "It's okay Jess you can tell me." He looked into her eyes and from the sincerity he saw found the strength to continue.

"My dad told me once that the whole mess between you and me was my fault because I was never honest with you" he said. "If I just had the guts to talk to you then the fight never would've happened." While it was possible that Mr. Aarons was right Leslie had no intention of agreeing with him. The last thing Jess needed was to have her agree with his father in a matter regarding Jason Simms.

"Talk to me about what?" she asked curiously.

"Well, just…talk to you" Jess answered. "You know how I am about…holding stuff in." It was a fact Leslie knew all too well. Jess was rivaled only by his father when it came to his stubborn streak. "I should've just told you that I felt like I was being left behind, that I was jealous. My dad said if anybody would understand me it was you." Leslie wasn't sure what surprised her more Jess's forthright admission or the insight of Mr. Aarons.

"We both made mistakes Jess" she said softly taking his hand. "At least we can talk about it now." Jess smiled and gently squeezed Leslie's hand.

"Now, as for my friends" Leslie began. "Jason can be…difficult sometimes but he's not a bad person Jess." Leslie wasn't sure if pressing the issue of Jason Simms was the best course of action. However, he was a primary source of friction and the sooner they dealt with it the better.

"Leslie you can't expect me to forgive him" he said giving her a serious look.

"It's not about forgiving him or even being his friend Jess" Leslie replied. "But he is still my friend and at some point you two are going to cross paths again." Jess knew she was right but that didn't make the pill any easier to swallow. If he was going to have any future with Leslie he was going to have to make his peace with her friends. He would have to face his jealousy and that was something he dreaded. Just thinking about Simms enraged him. How was he ever going to reconcile the fact that he was part of Leslie's life?

"He was your boyfriend Les" Jess said reluctantly. "He beat me up and humiliated me if you remember." Of course Leslie remembered. It wasn't one of the better days of her life. The confrontation was a long time in coming. Ever since Leslie began to branch out and make new friends' tension began to brew between the former king and queen. It was a small fire waiting to grow. One day in particular that fire found kindling and became an inferno.

"I remember Jess" she said softly. "But we all made mistakes that day." Leslie looked up to his face wondering what was going on beneath his furrowed brow. When upset Jess could become notoriously difficult to deal with; Leslie was desperately hoping she could keep that from happening.

"I should've never yelled at you like that" she said. "In the middle of the hallway in front of so many people, I lost my temper and…"

"Then I lost mine" Jess interjected. They both remained silent for a moment as the old, painful memory was brought to the surface. A wound that never healed was being torn open. "It was none of Jason's business Les" he said trying to hide his anger. "He never should've gotten involved." Leslie nodded in agreement.

"I know, I agree" she pleaded. "But imagine if he was yelling at me and you came around the corner and saw it? Don't you think it would…upset you?" Leslie asked.

"Well, yeah I'm sure it would but I wouldn't go beating the guy up" Jess fired back. He couldn't hide his anger any longer. To Jess it seemed Leslie was defending her ex-boyfriend. If anybody was wronged on that day surely it was him. How could she not see that?

"Jess, you threw the first punch" Leslie responded raising her voice.

"Only after he made fun of me, made everyone laugh at me! What was I supposed to do?" Jess turned away from her and folded his arms across his chest. The dam was bursting and he felt the familiar feelings of rage flowing through him. Leslie realized the conversation was quickly growing out of control. The last thing she wanted was to have another fight with her best friend. On the very day they reconciled it was the last thing their friendship needed. She moved next to him, took his hand and softly began to stroke it. If anyone knew how to calm Jess down it was Leslie Burke. A few soft words and a gentle touch and Jess turned to putty in her hands.

"I'm sorry Jess, I should've never let the fight happen" she said. "I should've stopped it but…I just stood there and watched like everyone else." It was a painful admission for Leslie. She never wanted the two to fight, in fact if she could have had her way Jess and Jason would have been friends. Yet, on that day the volcano erupted and like those around her she watched. For someone used to being in control of situations it was an uncomfortable experience. Jess, of course, suffered the humiliation of not only getting beat up but in front of a rather large group of classmates. That was something that had not occurred since the days of Scott Hoager and Gary Fulcher. It was a severe blow to his pride, which in and of itself was enough. Jess was every bit as proud and stubborn as his father. However, the fight in turn led to a suspension from school which only made his life at home that much more difficult. The two sat in silence both avoiding the eyes of the other. Leslie was afraid Jess might storm out of the tree house and just leave. Instead she felt his hand softly squeeze hers.

"You couldn't have stopped it Les" Jess finally said. "I wanted to hit him. I was so angry nothing was going to stop me. I just didn't count on him hitting back." Jess even managed to smile a bit despite the blow to his pride. Getting pummeled in front of Leslie wasn't the highlight of his high school life. However, she was with him right now trying her best to calm him down. It was working. She wanted their friendship back every bit as much as he did.

"I'm sorry Les" he said looking into her emerald eyes. "Like I said back at your house my jealousy got the best of me. I…I don't know why it bothers me so much it just does. I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. You're the only person that ever accepted me for who I am and…I guess when I thought I was losing you I just…went crazy." Leslie gave his hand a squeeze and rested her head on his shoulder. The sign of affection did not go unnoticed by Jess. He could feel his heart pound as a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. If there were any lingering doubts in Jess Aaron's mind about his true feelings for Leslie Burke they were all but gone now.

"Maybe everything happens for a reason" she said. "Maybe we had to go through all of this to learn some kind of lesson." Jess pondered the thought for a moment. He often wondered why things were so difficult some times. Did all the ups and downs of life ultimately lead somewhere? He spent many nights lying awake wondering why his father treated him the way he did. Why did the best thing that ever happened to him almost drift out of his life like a leaf off a tree?

"It's an awful hard way to learn a lesson" he said resting his head against hers. "What did we learn anyway?"

"That being the king and queen of Terabithia isn't always going to be easy" Leslie answered. "We have responsibilities after all. But no matter how unfair it may seem or how much it might hurt at times, that pain is nothing compared to losing the best friend they ever had." Jess smiled as he began to realize just how lucky he really was.

"So in the end it made us stronger?" he asked.

"Yeah" she replied. "After all nothing crushes us."