Step-mom Day

**Step-mom Day** is the seventy-seventh chapter of The Gift of a Best Friend. It was first published on February 7th, 2019.

## Chapter

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**Annabeth's POV**
It is now our second day back at school, and nothing has really seemed to change there.
Well, almost nothing.
After Jasmine and I did our usual routine at school, getting to each class on time, sitting next to each other, learn something new, and get an A+. Then we talked on the school bus home, and that’s where it gets depressing, when we get off.
Toothless is there to greet us, but Jasmine and I are both looking around for someone else. It takes us a moment to realize who: Luke.
He always picked us up at the bus stop when we got back from school. But not anymore, and probably never again. And we remind ourselves why. It’s still a little hard to believe, but at the same time it wasn’t.
Emily’s been quiet taking the news. Raylee’s out looking for him, but she hasn’t been able to find him. For now, we’re just going to have to get use to his absence.
Jasmine and I went our separate ways to our separate homes. When I got to mine, Savanna was there. Dad was at work, and Bobby and Matthew don’t come home from school for another hour.
Rufus greeted me when I entered inside.
“Hi, boy,” I said, petting his head.
“How was school?” Savanna asked me from the kitchen.
“Fine,” I said.
I walked past her and went to my room, putting my backpack on my bed.
Savanna followed me in. “Hey. How would you like to have a girls’ day out with me?”
Well, that was a surprise.
“Umm, why?” I asked.
Savanna sighed. “I promised your father that I would try with you. And believe it or not, Annabeth, I really want us to get along. Not just for your father, but for us too.”
And it keeps becoming more surprising.
“Why now?” I asked angrily, turning around to face her. “Why not the last time we tried this, or the time before that, or before you and my dad even got married? You’ve never liked me, and the feeling is mutual because I’ve never liked you either. So why now?”
“I’ll admit I haven’t been a good step-mother to you in the past, and I’m sorry for that. I never gave you a chance, but I want to now. So how about it?”
I turned away from her. “Let me think about it.”
She nodded. “Ok. I’ll be in the kitchen getting dinner ready when you make your decision.”
She left my room, closing the door behind her.
I grabbed my phone out and was considering if I was going to text Jasmine advice or not, even though I probably already knew her answer. After a few minutes, I decided to send her one.
*Savanna wants us to have a girls’ day out tomorrow. Should I go?*
She texted me back about ten minutes later with her response.
*Oh, I can just feel the resentment in your text message*, she wrote. *Annabeth, stop holding the past against her. The past is the past. Let it go. She’s trying to make it up to you and be the step-mother she needs to be. And she’s probably waited this long with you since you’ve been home to try because she’s afraid of you. So suck it up, stop being a bitch, and give her a chance.*
I knew she would say that. So why did I ask her? I guess I just wanted to hear (or read) her tell me.
*You forgive too easily*, I sent her.
*Too bad*, she texted back. *I don’t believe in making people suffer when they’re trying to make up for the wrong that they did.*
*Even if they deserve it?*
*Even then.*
*That can be dangerous, Jasmine.*
*Too bad.*
*Fine. I’ll do it. Can you come?*
*Normally, I would, and knowing you I think I should. But you need to do this on your own. Plus, I’m spending the weekend with Will, and I haven’t seen him all week. But if you feel like you need help, call me. Good luck.*
I put my phone down and went to the kitchen. “Savanna.”
“Hmm?” she answered, looking up from chopping onions on a cutting board.
“I’ve decided to have the girls’ day out.”
She smiled, and it actually looked genuine. “That’s good. We’re going to have fun tomorrow.”
“Fun doing what, exactly?”
“We’ll decide that tomorrow.”
“Ok. Do you need some help with dinner?”
“Umm, I need a few potatoes peeled, and boil some water on the stove.”
I nodded. “Ok.”
I did both of those things and a few other things she needed me to do.
After dinner, I tried to get some homework done, but I was too distracted by tomorrow. I was absolutely dreading it.

I’m dreading it even more when I woke up the next morning.
But I promised my dad that I would try to get along with everybody, including Savanna. So I made myself get up.
“So where are we going?” I asked as I’m sitting in the passenger seat of the car and Savanna’s driving.
“Umm, I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe shopping. You like clothes, right?”
“I like wearing them, but not as much as making myself look pretty.”
“How about shoes?”
“Clothes more.”
“Do you want to shop for clothes?”
“Not really. Besides, Jasmine always makes me clothes shop with her, and even though I don’t like it, I, for some reason, only like to shop with her.”
“For some reason? You don’t know why that is?”
“No.”
“Do you want my theory on it?”
“Sure.”
“I think you like only shopping with Jasmine because she’s your best friend, right?”
“Right.”
“Is that the only thing she makes you do?”
I snorted. “No. She makes me do a lot of other things that I don’t like admitting I do. And she won’t take no for an answer.”
“Alright. She’s persistent. But you like that about her.”
“I do?”
“Yeah. You may not realize it now, but having her be that way makes you discover things you never knew you could do.”
“I never thought of it that way before.”
“And how many of those things that Jasmine makes you do do you actually like to do?”
“About half of them. But shopping isn’t one of them.”
Savanna laughed.
“When did you become so psychiatric?” I asked.
“Well, I took psychology in college, so I know a few things. And I also know how much Jasmine cares for you.”
“She’s been with me through everything. She, uh, even convinced me to spend this day with you.”
“Really? That surprises me since I didn’t think she liked me.”
“She believes in second chances.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah.”
“And do you regret today?”
“So far, no.”
“Me neither. Jasmine’s a good friend. You’re lucky to have someone as dedicated to you as she is. Not many people have that.”
“I know. But it’s really annoying sometimes.”
“I’ll bet.”
We both laughed.
“So since we have no idea what to do,” Savanna said. “Do you want to just drive around? Get some lunch later?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “I’m enjoying this.”
“Me too. So tell me about your summer.”
“It’s a long and complicated story.”
“Well, we have a full tank of gas and only going sixty-miles-an-hour, so I’m sure we have all day. Or at least until dinner.”
“Ok. You know I’m a demigod, right?”
Savanna nodded.
So I told her my whole summer.
After that, it was lunch time, so we stopped at a restaurant to get something to eat.
“So this Percy fellow,” Savanna said after we ordered our food. “He got you to write a letter to your father to try again?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You like him, don’t you?”
“Umm, like him how?”
“As like how a girl likes a boy.”
“Umm, maybe.” I blushed. “I developed a crush on him after our quest. How did you know?”
“I could tell by the way you talk about him. And I did use to be a teenager girl once too, you know.”
“I know.”
“And you also talk that way about that Luke guy, too. You’re more obvious about it with him.”
I blushed more. “I know.”
“And he’s too old for you.”
“I know. He sees me only as his little girl, anyway.”
“Good. You’re too young to date right now.”
“I can’t say the same for Jasmine.”
“No, I suppose you can’t. But her parents dated each other when they were her age, right?”
I nodded. “Quite impressive, really.”
“I know. Even with them having Jasmine at sixteen.”
“She’s quite proud of that, and wants to have a relationship just like her parents have. Without having a child at sixteen, hopefully.”
“I don’t blame her. Her parents have set a good example of how good and strong love can be.”
“Yeah. Even though they did break up three times before they had Jasmine.”
“Why?”
“Twice because of jealousy, and once because of ignorance for the other’s protection.”
“Oh.”
“It was complicated.”
“I can tell.”
It was silent between us for a few minutes. Until I noticed Savanna looking at me in a strange way.
“What?” I asked.
“Your father says you look a lot like your mother,” she said.
I immediately became defensive. I could hear the resentment in her voice.
I was about to respond when I noticed her expression. It looked sad. I didn’t say anything.
“I know your father still loves her,” she said.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“Same way I can tell that you like those boys: by the way he talks about her. He has so much passion in his eyes. More than with me. I know he loves me, but not as much as he loves her. I try to have him look at me the same way, but I’m nothing compared to that goddess of wisdom.”
“No, you’re not,” I agreed, but felt a little bad saying it.
“No. I guess that’s why I’ve disliked you all these years, because you’re his daughter with her. You remind him of her every time he sees your face.”
“I’m sorry.”
I actually meant that.
Savanna half-smiled. “Thank you. But I’m the one who should be sorry to you. That’s not a reason to treat you the way I have. And I know that it’s never your fault when a monster suddenly comes after you, especially that one a couple years ago. You saved Bobby and Matthew. I realize that now, and I promise you I won’t treat you that way anymore. Annabeth, you are so bright and so intelligent. It makes me wish that you were my daughter.”
I smiled. I felt tears forming in my eyes, but I held them back.
“Well, my mom hasn’t been much of a mom to me,” I admitted. “I’ve only met her twice, and one of those times was so that she could give me my invisibility hat disguised as a baseball cap for my birthday. And while I’m grateful for that gift—it’s come quite in handy at some moments—I wanted more from her. But I know that’ll never happen. She’s a goddess. She’s too busy for me. But Jasmine’s mother, Sarah, has always been a mother to me, even before she adopted me. Her father, too. But I’m glad to be here with you and my real dad and my brothers.”
Savanna smiled. “So are we. But you will always have them to return to if things get rough with us. Again.”
“Families are rough. Even their family is. But thank you.”
We smiled at each other like we never have before.
Our lunch arrived and we ate it like it was the happiest meal we’ve ever shared together, which it was. Then we headed home.
I had a really good day with Savanna. It was one-hundred-percent better than I thought it would be, and I would definitely consider doing it again sometime.
I’ve tried working it out with them once before, but it didn’t work out. A second time’s a charm, and this time, I think it is.
And I have Percy Jackson to thank for it.

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## Character Appearances

### Main Characters

* Annabeth Chase
* Jasmine Saturday

### Pets

* Toothless
* Rufus Chase