I Lose My Best Friend

**I Lose My Best Friend** is the sixteenth chapter of The Gift of a Best Friend. It was first published on July 29, 2016.

## Chapter

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**Jasmine's POV**
I’m on the school bus, and the driver passed the spot where she picks up Annabeth because she wasn’t there. That worried me.
The last time she didn’t come to school was because she was sick. Maybe she was again.
Only one way to find out.

After school, I ran to Annabeth’s house. Her dad opened the door.
“Is Annabeth here?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “No.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think she ran away.”
“Ran away? Why?”
“I don’t know. I woke up this morning, and she was gone.”
“Can I see her room?”
“Umm, no.”
“Why not?”
“Look, Jasmine, I told Annabeth that you and her couldn’t be friends anymore.”
I stared at him. “Why?”
“Because I feel like you’re a bad friend to her,” Frederick replied.
“Bad friend? No, I’m not.”
“I’m sure that you don’t mean to be, but—”
“That’s why she left,” I realized. “You don’t think I care about her, but she knows that I do. And I do. She’s right: you don’t care about her. I thought you did, but you don’t. Annabeth ran away because of you, and you don’t care. You’re the worst daddy ever!”
I ran away from him and went home.
I came up to the bridge, not watching where I was going, and I tripped on a rock and fell to the ground, scraping my knees in the process. I sat up and was about to get on my feet when I noticed something purple on the ground near me. I picked it up.
There were words on it: *Your my best friend, forever and always.*
This was the best friendship bracelet I made for Annabeth. We made a pact that if we ever took our bracelets off that means we’re not best friends anymore. It would only come off if we wanted it to.
Annabeth took hers off and left it here. She doesn’t want us to be best friends anymore. But why? Does she hate me too?
I held onto it and walked home, sad and crying.

My family was at my grandparents house, and I told them what happened.
“Wow, Jasmine,” Mommy said. “Did her father report her missing?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “He didn’t even look sad that she’s gone.”
“Isn’t that child abandonment?” Daddy asked.
“Child neglect,” Grandma Raylee said. “And, yes, it is.”
“But she’s so young,” Mommy said. “How can she survive on her own?”
“I know someone else who was just a couple years older than her when he ran away, and he’s still a run away on his own. Well, actually, he recently got another runaway buddy, so they’re surviving together now. And Annabeth is a tough little girl. I’m sure she can survive on her own too.”
“But I don’t want her to be alone,” I said. “I want to help her.”
“I know you do, Jasmine,” Mommy said. “But I think Annabeth needs to do this alone. And you said she broke your pact, right?”
I looked down at the bracelet in my hand. “Yes. But that doesn’t mean that she isn’t *my* best friend anymore. She took off her bracelet. I didn’t take off mine. Best friends don’t leave each other behind.”
“But she left without you,” Peter said.
“Yeah,” Emily agreed.
I glared at them. “Ok. Best friends don’t let each other run away alone. I want to find her.”
“And do what?” Daddy asked.
“I don’t know. I just want to find her.”
“Wait. Raylee,” Grandpa Cj said.
“What?” she asked.
“Did you say that those kids are runaways?”
“Yeah.”
“And they’re still runaways?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you take them back to their parents?”
“Well, one of their mothers is . . . crazy. That’s the best way to describe her. And the other mother is a selfish alcoholic bitch, who gave up her son to another bitch. Believe me, they’re better off on their own. And I’d say Annabeth is too.”
“Then how about you put them in the foster care—”
“No!” Grandma said. “I’ll be damned if I ever put any kids there. It’s full of crap. And I don’t have to be in it to know it is. I’ve seen how those kids are treated, being sent to one place after another because no one can truly care about them just because they’re not related to them by blood. It’s bullshit. And I’m not doing that to them. Not even Annabeth. And speaking of which, Jasmine, do you want to go find her?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Then let’s go find her. But first, go get your sword. You’re going to need it.”
“Why?”
“Just go get it. You’ll find out why soon.”
“Ok.”
I ran off to get ready for whatever is to come.

I suggested that we go to one house first far away, though it was really an apartment. I knocked on the door and a woman answered.
“Hi, Natalie,” I said. “Is Magnus here?”
She nodded, though she didn’t seem happy to see me. “Yes. Is everything ok?”
“No. Annabeth ran away.”
“Oh my. Come in.”
I walked into the house.
“Magnus should be in his room.”
“Ok.”
I ran up the stairs and to his room.
“Magnus!” I called.
He came out of his room and we almost ran into each other.
“Magnus, I need your help,” I said.
“With what?” he asked.
“Annabeth ran away. I need to find her. Is she here?”
He shook his head. “No. But she actually ran away?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Wow.”
“What? Did you say was going to run away?”
He nodded. “Yes. She told me.”
“She told you? When?”
“At Thanksgiving.”
I didn’t like that. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“She knew you wouldn’t like it, and would’ve tried to stop her,” Magnus said.
“I don’t know if I would’ve stopped her, but I don’t like it, no. But she said goodbye to you and not to me?”
“I guess.”
That didn’t make me feel any better. “You have to help me find her.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because you have to. She’s your cousin. You can’t let her be alone.”
“No, Jasmine.”
“Why not?”
“Even if I go look for her, I’m probably never going to see her again.”
“Why?”
“Because my mom told me that we’re staying away from my uncles, and one of my uncles is Annabeth’s dad. I can’t help you.”
“Please, Magnus. You have to. She likes you, and I know you like her too.”
“I do, but I can’t. Sorry.”
Tears started to form in my eyes again. “You’re a terrible cousin.”
I ran down the hall, opened the front door, and left the house, never returning to it again.

**Annabeth’s POV**
It’s almost dark, and someone, *something*, was chasing me.
I didn’t know what it was. I just knew that I needed to keep running from it and not stop. It’s been after me since I got out of my city, like it knew I was coming.
It took me by surprise and jumped at me, but I heard someone in my head tell me to hit it as hard as I could with my hammer and then run as fast as I could from it and not stop ever, and I don’t think it was me telling myself that. But I didn’t question it, and kept moving.
I wanted to stop and rest, but I knew I couldn’t or whatever was chasing me would get me and probably kill me.
I was cold and hungry, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t have any idea where I was going. I was in the woods when I tripped on a log and fell into a stream. Now I was wet and shivering.
I just stayed in the water and cried. I knew that whatever was chasing would get me now, and I couldn’t stop it. I prayed that it would kill me quickly.
I heard it getting closer and closer, and it sounded like there was more than one. Great.
I closed my eyes tightly and waited to die. I could hear them now. They have reached me. I didn’t dare open my eyes and see the monsters that were about to eat me. I just kept them shut and let the tears fall.
I could somehow tell that they were surrounding me.
I could somehow tell that they were surrounding me. If I wanted to run, but it was too late now. I heard one of them howl. Were they wolves? That actually made them less scary.
But I still didn’t open my eyes to see them. Then I heard something that I never thought I’d ever hear again.
“Annabeth? Annabeth!”
It was Jasmine. I opened my eyes and found myself into a hug. It was really her.
The monsters that were surrounding me weren’t monsters. They were Jasmine’s grandma’s pet cheetahs and wolf. Her family appeared.
Jasmine pulled away and looked at me. I noticed that she had her sword strapped against her back.
“Why are you crying?” she asked me.
“I thought I was being chased by a monster that was going to kill me,” I replied.
“A monster?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“I didn’t see a monster.”
“There was one, but I guess it’s gone now.”
“Ok.” Jasmine gave me another hug. “I’m glad you’re ok. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“Yeah. I’m happy too.”
“You are?”
“Yeah.”
“But you broke our pact.”
Jasmine showed me the bracelet she made for me in her hand.
“Oh.”
“Why’d you run away, Annabeth?” Jasmine asked. “I thought you liked me.”
“I do, Jasmine,” I said. “It’s my dad I don’t like.”
“Because he told you we couldn’t be best friends anymore?”
I stared at her. “How did you know that?”
She told me about what happened with her and my dad earlier. Then I told her what happened with him and me last night and the spiders coming back again and me deciding to breakaway.
“Breakaway?” Jasmine asked.
“Yeah,” I replied. “That song your mom sang.”
Jasmine looked at Sarah. “You had to write that song, Mommy.”
Sarah held her hands up. “Hey, I didn’t know that it was going to cause her to do this.”
“I felt like it was talking about me,” I explained. “I don’t belong there, Jasmine. I need to breakaway.”
“To where?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“I’ve gotta say, Annabeth,” Raylee said. “You’re traveled quite far in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Thank you. I think.”
“Do you want some food?” Zak asked. “I bet your hungry.”
“Yes, please.”
Sarah summoned a plate with food on it, ham sandwich and potato chips that she always made for us, with her powers and gave it to me. I ate it all and it tasted good.
“Is that the hammer you used?” Jasmine asked me, gesturing to it lying next to me.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The hammer you used to save me.”
Now I knew what she meant.
I picked it up and looked at it. Then I looked at the scar on my stomach, where I accidentally caught myself with the sharp end of the hammer. It was permanent, apparently. It hasn’t hurt in a long time, but it’s still a good reminder of that day.
“I’m not sure if this is the same hammer,” I said. “But it could be.”
“The same hammer for what?” Sarah asked.
I forgot that Jasmine’s family was there, and that they didn’t know what had happened to us.
The look on Jasmine’s face clearly told me that she still didn’t want them to know.
“Nothing,” we both said at the same time.
Her family was smart and knew that it wasn’t nothing, but they didn’t ask us anymore questions.
“Why do you have your sword with you?” I asked Jasmine.
“Grandma told me to bring it,” she replied. “But I don’t know why.”
“I figured you might need it to go on your journey with her,” Raylee said.
“Journey?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you still running away, Annabeth?”
“Breaking away,” I corrected.
“Yeah.”
I thought about it.
If I went back, I would probably have to go back to my dad and step-mom. That was not an option, especially if I can’t be friends with Jasmine.
“No,” I responded. “I can’t go home, Jasmine. My dad doesn’t care about me, and he doesn’t want us to be friends anymore. I have to go.”
“To where?” Jasmine asked.
“I don’t know. But I can’t go back.”
“Then I want to go with you.”
“What? Why?”
“Because we’re best friends, and best friends stay together not matter what.”
“We’re still best friends?”
“Of course.” Jasmine handed the bracelet to me. “Can we be best friends again and go on a journey together? Please?”
I looked at the bracelet in her hand, then at her. She was begging with her eyes, but she didn’t need to this time.
I smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
“Yay,” Jasmine cheered, and gave me a hug. Then she put the bracelet back on my wrist.
“Aww,” Raylee said. “That’s so cute.”
“Yes, it is,” Sarah agreed. “But, Jasmine, aren’t you forgetting something?”
“What?” she asked.
“Us.”
“Oh. Mommy, Daddy, can I please go with Annabeth?”
“Alone?” Zak asked.
“No. Annabeth will be with me.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, just the two of you will go together?”
“Umm . . .”
Komodo started growling. I think he wanted to come with us.
“Can he?” Jasmine asked.
“He’s too slow,” Raylee replied. “No offense, Komodo. But you two will need to move fast, and you need someone who can move just as fast as you. Or faster. Kika, Honey, can you two go with them and keep them safe?”
They smiled.
“It’s what we do best,” Honey said.
“Yeah,” Kika agreed.
“Cool,” Jasmine said. “Can we go?”
Sarah and Zak looked at each other, then back at her, apparently having a silent agreement. “Yes.”
Jasmine cheered. I smiled too.
“I’ll come check on your guys often, and make sure that you two are ok,” Raylee said.
“Ok,” Jasmine said. Then she walked up to Kika and Honey. “Can we ride on you?”
“Of course, sweetie,” Kika replied.
They bent down and Jasmine got on top of her. “Come on, Annabeth.”
I climbed on top of Honey.
“You guys are going to have to go fast,” Raylee said again. “Hold on to their collars so you don’t fall off.”
“Ok,” Jasmine replied. Then she waved to her family. “Bye.”
They waved back.
“Bye,” Sarah said. “And good luck.”
“Thanks, Mommy,” Jasmine said.
“We should go,” I said.
“Ok.”
I grabbed onto Honey’s collar with one hand, and held my hammer with the other. Kika and Honey ran as fast as they could, leaving their family far behind us.
We weren’t alone for long before the monsters came after us. But I didn’t care for the moment. I have Jasmine back, and that’s all the matters.

Well, the answer was B. **Jasmine searches for Annabeth, determined to find her, and won't stop until she does**. I do have a few ideas for what would happen if it was **A** or **C**, but for the official story I want it to be **B** because I want Jasmine to stick around and see how different things will be with her. I hope you guys will come to really like her as I have.
The song that Sarah sang in the last chapter was: **Breakaway, by Kelly Clarkson**.
Please review **here**.

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## Character Appearances

### Main Characters

* Jasmine Saturday
* Annabeth Chase

### Minor Characters

* Frederick Chase
* Sarah Saturday
* Zak Saturday
* Raylee Hollinger
* Peter Hollinger
* Emily Hollinger
* Cj Hollinger
* Magnus Chase
* Natalie Chase
* Savanna Chase (mentioned)

### Pets

* Pikachu Hollinger
* Shillow Hollinger
* Amber Hollinger
* Kimbia Hollinger
* Kika Hollinger
* Chewie Hollinger
* Toto Hollinger
* Honey Hollinger

## Trivia

* Jasmine searches and finds Annabeth.
* Jasmine points out the hammer Annabeth has and remembers the day Annabeth saved her.