A/N Sorry it is taking so long. Stupid school. Okay, I dedicate this chapter to Ellen 26 because she won't be reading it for a while because she has had a series of bad luck. Cough Cough
We bounded up the shore and plopped down into the sand. the beach was crowded today, despite the fact that there was a hurricane blowing in...I think. Thunder boomed in the sky, which was pitch black. We sat there in the sand...waiting...for...I don't know, why are we sitting here?
"Do you know where we are, Clarisse?" I asked, looking at the rough waves that were more gray than Annabeth's eyes.
"N-no" She stammered. "Why would I?" I got the creeping feeling she was lying. She was pale, really pale.
"Aphrodite said that you would know who we needed to fall in love." I looked at the two necklaces. They made me feel...happy, in a way I've never felt before.
"Listen," said Clarisse "I know who we have to make fall in love, but I'm not telling you. Just follow me and don't say a word or I won't take you."
I looked at Annabeth, who shrugged back at me. We all three stood up and wiped the sand off our bodies.
We followed Clarisse up the beach and up the board walk. It's like she knew where she was going. But that's impossible, right? Clarisse is a year-rounder. But nevertheless, she lead us off the board walk and into a busy street. We took the cross-walk across the street to a busy outlet mall. I looked as people were laughing, playing. eating, having fun with their families. I sighed as I remembered I will never have that luxury. We walked on the sidewalk on the closest side to the outlet mall. We neared the end of the sidewalk where there was a stop sign and three cars lined up waiting for their turn to go. thunder crackeled and it began to pour down rain. I saw the second car in the line-up roll down the window to the drivers seat. An elderly lady stuck her head out the window.
"You kids need a ride?" She asked. We all knew to never take rides from a stranger. Esspecaily the innocent looking ones.
"No thanks." Called Annabeth, pulling the hood of her hoodie on her head.
"Are you sure? It's pouring out there." The old lady called in a sweet tone.
"Really?" Asked Clarisse sarcastically. "We haven't noticed."
I ellbowed Clarisse for her rudeness.
"We're fine, really." I insisted.
"Alright." The old lady said and rolled up her window. Only a few seconds later, the car in front of her started moving. Both of the other cars followed. Then, it was safe for us to cross the street.
After just a few minutes of walking on the sidewalk, I didn't like it anymore. The scenery was now eerily barren. Making it very difficult for me to keep my mind on track. It was mostly dirt, except for a few patches of dead grass here and there.
"Are we lost?" Annabeth asked Clarisse, eyeing the area suspicously.
"Nope." Clarisse answered simpily.
We kept walking for a good, long while, with no sign of life. Until I noticed a white building way off in the distance.
"Is that where we're going?" I asked, straining my eyes to get a better view.
"Uh huh." Answered Clarisse, not even looking at me. Who in their right mind would go out in this creepy place? I bet there are tons of monsters out here, just waiting to make a Half-blood sandwhich.
After about five more minutes of walking, we finally reached our destination. I'm one of the Half-bloods that are blessed with dyslexia, so I could hardly read the sign. What I did make out was; that it was a bar of some kind.
Clarisse just walked right in like it was her second home or something. So we followed. We walked into the dimly-lit bar. There were pictures of random sports and footbal stadiums hanging every where. There were three pool tables in the middle of the room, all of them were occupied by buff-looking men. Construction workers, probably. Spread all around the room were tables that could hold up to four people at once. And finally, the most popular part, the bar. The bar had so many people at it, there were people sharing a stool.
"There she is." Said Clarisse, pointing to a woman sitting at the bar. She walked awkwardly over to her and tapped her shoulder lightly. The brunette woman turned around on her stool.
"Oh no." She mumbeled. At once, she turned back around.
"Bill," She said in a british accent. "How many beers have I had tonight? I think I'm holucinating."
"One." Replied the bartender. "And you're not holucinating, she's really there."
The woman spun around and immediately embraced Clarisse in a hug. "Clarisse, Darling how are you?"
"I'm fine, Mother." Clarisse answered.
"Mother?!" I asked.
"Mother?!" Asked half the people in the bar. Apparently, Clarisse's Mom was no stranger to beer. Clarisse's mother led us away from the bar and to a table where we all sat down.
"What are you doing here darling? Why aren't you at camp? Who are these children?" Her mother bombarded her with endless questions. Here brown eyes sparkling with interest.
"Nevermind any of that." Clarisse said. "We're on a deadline here, who do you want to love you?"
Clarisse's Mother spit out her recently-sipped bear.
"I beg your pardon?" She asked as I wiped bear off my face.
"You heard me." Said Clarisse. Her mother looked downwards.
"That would be Larry." her mother answered shyly. "At my job."
"Good, great, Ellen give her the necklace and we'll be on our way." Clarisse said, standing up.
"Clarisse!" said Annabeth.
"What?" She asked impatiently.
"Sit down." Annabeth ordered. Reluctanly, Clarisse obeyed.
"Here," I said, handing the two necklaces to Clarisse's Mom. "You put one on, and make him put one on, then he won't be able to resist you."
"That sounds charming." Her Mom said with a smile. "But I don't think so."
"What!?" Clarisse asked "Mother, we need you to do it!"
"Why?" She asked.
"We need the supplies that Aphrodite will give of for a quest." Annabeth explained calmly. Clarisse's Mom looked at the table.
"Alright darling, if it's for you." She said, looking at the necklace. Then she looked at Clarisse.
And then... she put the necklace on...
A/N Okay It was short, I think.