I'm incredibly sorry I disappeared for so long. This was in process, and in process, an I just finished it. I'm sorry. I also lied about what was next. Not Leo and Piper or Castor and Pollux, sorry.
Disclaimer: I don't own, okay?!
Siblings: Clarisse La Rue, and Frank Zhang
Pairings (if any): None really. Hints of Chrisse and Frazel, but only hints.
Time Period: Shortly after Giant War.
Dedication: FanFictionWriter2000 (from a while ago)
Clarisse POV
I grunted as I slashed at the dummy in the arena, my brown hair falling into my eyes. I shoved it back, and beheaded the dummy in the same second. Then I dropped the sword, and sunk to the ground, hiding my face in my hands. Stupid, I thought. I'm so stupid.
After what was probably five minutes, but seemed five hours, I stood, and ran to the Ares Cabin. When I reached the ugly red cabin, I locked myself in the bathroom. It wasn't the world's most comforting place, because the walls were an angry – though dark – red, and the place was a complete mess. Sometimes I wished that there were more girls in the cabin, but my father had primarily males. The only daughters currently living year-round at camp, were Airis Peeril and I, though come summer, or maybe even winter vacation, there would be more girls. Still not many.
I sat on the floor, and stared at my knees crossed on the floor in front of me. The tears began to spill out of my eyes. I hate crying, and swiped at them angrily.
"Why?" I asked the floor, "Why? Why?! Why?!" With each word, my voice rose until I was screaming the word. I wondered briefly why nobody came to see what was wrong, but then I remembered. Nobody cares about me. I'm just the daughter of Ares that everyone hates. Well, except for Chris, but I was sure that he would eventually realize that he could do so much better and leave me.
There was a knocking at the door. I stubbornly refused to answer. Nobody ever sees me cry. I'm Clarisse La Rue, tough daughter of Ares. Not just another Hermes girl who cries all the time, like Hailee Stoll. (She thinks she's hiding it, but she isn't fooling anyone. Even I hear her crying in the shower house, when she thinks nobody's listening.)
The knocking didn't go away as I hoped, but instead got more persistent. Then, the door was being shoved open – that was yet another suck-y thing about our bathroom. If you pushed hard enough, the door would open, regardless of the lock. – and Frank Zhang was in the room. He took one look at me, and sat down next to me. Immediately, it seemed like the small bathroom's size was reduced by at least half.
"Are... are you okay?" he asked me. I couldn't blame him for being nervous. I wasn't a very nice person, even I knew that.
"I'm fine. I was just leaving." I responded, though I didn't move. I guess part of me wanted him to realize there was really something wrong, and to comfort me the way no one else ever cared to.
"You aren't," he said, obviously gaining confidence, "You were just yelling why, I can see you've been crying. So tell me... what's wrong?"
I raised my eyebrows. He really thought I was going to tell him. He may be my brother – once you simplified the weird Greek vs. Roman personalities – but that didn't mean I was going to open up to him. You don't see me getting all mushy with Mark or Sherman. "Nothing's wrong." I replied monotonously.
He didn't believe me. "Listen, Clarisse. I don't know you well, but I do know you aren't the type of person who cries. I may not be as tough as the rest of you guys, but I do know how to listen."
I stare at him. Surprised. Frank seemed like a big, cuddly, teddy bear. I knew he was dating that Hazel girl, and had seen him be all mushy and loving with her. I saw him with Percy, and they seemed to be close. Who knew he had this edge, this bravery?
Frank looked at me expectantly, while I made up my mind. At first the answer was clear. Of course I wasn't going to tell him anything. I didn't even know him. But then I thought some more. Percy trusted him, and though I don't show it, I respect him and his opinion. (Mostly.) Annabeth, who I definitely respected, trusted him. He got along with pretty much everyone, and seemed like the kind of person who would take a secret to his grave if you asked him to. I realized that it would be so nice for someone to know what I was feeling. I took a deep breath, before the words came spilling.
"I... I never got over the death of my best friend – my only friend, really. I feel like it was all my fault. If I had just swallowed my pride, and gone to help the rest of the camp when Silena asked, she would still be here. I'm so stupid. I shouldn't be the one that's alive. She should be here. I should be in Elysium, or Asphodel, or wherever the crap they would send me. There's a mistake. I'm not supposed to be alive." I said, as though that was the only reason I was upset. That was the only reason I was so done with this life. It was better if I didn't tell him everything.
Frank looked at me, before shaking his head. "I'm sure Silena's death wasn't your fault," he said. Tears pricked my eyelids again, when he said her name. "I've hear the stories. You couldn't have stopped it. She died as a hero. But there's more. I know there's more." He motioned for me to continue. I shook my head. I wasn't ready to open up this much to anyone. He shrugged, giving up.
"Let me know if you need me." he said, standing. I stood quickly before he could leave, drawing my knife as I did.
I backed him against the wall, sticking the point under Frank's chin. His eyes widened, but he said nothing.
"You will not tell anyone about this. No one. Not Percy, not Airis," I knew she was his favorite amongst our siblings. I didn't blame him. She was mine, too. "not even your precious Hazel." I locked eyes with him. "Or you won't like the outcome. Is that clear?" He nodded.
I growled. "I said: Is. That. Clear?" With every word, I dug the tip of my blade slightly into his skin, but was careful not to break it.
"Y-yes." he stuttered. I nodded, and removed my blade. He hurried away, and just before he left my cabin, I stopped him.
"Frank?" I called. He turned. "Thanks." I said. He nodded. I smiled slightly at him, and he returned it, before continuing on his way outside. I realized as he left, that he was the only one, besides Silena, who had ever seen my tears.
I hope you liked it. It isn't that great, for you having to wait more than a month for it. I don't know who's next. Thank you for reading and reviewing! And as always, I will take requests!
~~Lee
