Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 9~The Search

Jimmy's POV

My heart was pounding hard against my chest with fear and panic as Jessica said that Jasmine was missing. Just like that, she'd apparently disappeared out of thin air, and the last person to have seen her was me. I thought for sure that Jasmine would have gone to Jessica to tell her what happened, but Jessica said that she hadn't, and when she found that Jasmine's car wasn't at my place and she wasn't answering her phone, she got worried. Now I was worried too, because she was most likely missing due to our break up. 

"Exactly what I meant when I say she's missing, Jimmy. Nobody's seen her since yesterday, except for you. You haven't any idea where she might've gone?" Jessica asked, sounding clearly upset. I don't blame her.

"No, Jess, I'm sorry, I don't. Have you told the police?" I rubbed my temples.

"No, not yet. We're all going out to look for her ourselves before we get the police involved." Jessica said.

I sighed. "Alright, I suppose I will too since I have the feeling this my fault. Do you want me to just meet you guys somewhere or start looking around...?" 

"Nobody's blaming you, Jimmy." She said, and it was quiet for a moment. "Meet up with us at my place, and then we'll all split up. I'm sure she's around here somewhere, sulking." Jessica sounded surprisingly fed up with Jasmine, instead of fed up with me. 

"Ok, I'll be there as fast as I can." We hung up, and Elise looked at me with concern. "Jasmine... she's missing, apparently. Nobody has seen her since yesterday, and I was the last. They're going to look for her, I have to go too..." I spoke frantically and quickly, and with my current state of shock, I was running out of breath. Elise's hand moved to rest on my arm, strangely calming me down immediately with just a touch. 

"Go, it's important that you find her and make sure she's not hurt." She said softly, and I nodded, smiling just a little. I liked that she always just seemed to understand when probably no one else would. 

"Thank you." I replied quietly, and she nodded. Knowing that I would not leave without notifying Abbie first, I got up and made my way across the distance between the bench and the playground set. She was facing away from me, just looking out over the rest of the playground that opened up into the park again on the other side. 

I climbed up onto the platform she was on, and moved to stand beside her. Jasmine may be missing, but I'm sure she's fine and I'm not just going to say a brief goodbye and take off. Honestly, I think Jasmine's just hidden away somewhere, all upset at me. 

"Hey, whatcha doing?" I asked her casually, and she looked up at me, just now taking note of my presence.

"Nothing, just hanging around." She said, the usual happy tone in her voice.

"Well, I hate to tell you this, but I'm gonna have to go. One of my friends needs help." I told her.

Abbie was good about it, but I could see the hint of sadness. "Ok."

I kneeled down to give her a hug. "I'll see you again soon."

I kissed her cheek before standing up again, and then smiled at her before I turned and climbed back down, making my way back to where Elise was. She was standing now, watching me as I walked back. I stopped just a little ways in front of her, and she gave me a small smile.

"I hope you find her and everything works out." She said.

"I do too. Now I think I know what that bad feeling was about, and it's not competely gone yet either, though I can't tell if it's just guilt or not. I can't help but feel like I'm the one to blame for this, even though Jessica said no one's blaming me." I stared down at the ground as I spoke, but I could see her shake her head before she stepped forward and gave me a hug.