Annabeth's POV
Chiron insisted we wait until morning to talk about what we found. I actually didn't really care I was too focused on Clarisse who was acting really strange. I waited until everyone walked away to their prospective cabins and grabbed Clarisse's arm and dragged her off to our spot in the woods.
"What's with you?" I asked her.
"I was gonna ask you the same thing you just kidnapped me."
"Forget that, what's wrong. No more lies tell me what's on your mind." I told her.
"Look Annabeth, I'm tired." Clarisse said she kissed my forehead and walked off not saying another word.
What the hades is going on with her. I go back to cabin and just stare at the ceiling, why is Clarisse acting like this I said as I dozed off.
The next morning during the counselors meeting I sat next to Clarisse as we briefed everyone on what we already knew.
"Well if we know what Luke's trying to do why don't we just destroy the entrance?" Percy asked.
"No good, Clarisse demolished an entire building and the entrance moved over some." I told him. "We have to go in and find Daedalus's workshop first."
"But no one can navigate in there." Percy replied.
"Well, I know more about it than anyone else."
"From reading?"
"Yes"
"Like that will work."
"Look are you going to help me or not." I said ending our back and forth.
Everyone was watching us argue, well everyone except Clarisse who wasn't even paying attention.
"Well Annabeth should lead the quest." Clarisse said, hmm I guess she was listening.
"Well you've done as much as I have you should come too." I said.
"Oh no, I'm not going back in there." Clarisse said shaking her head adamantly.
"What's wrong Clarisse you chicken." Travis asked, I wanted to punch him.
"You...you don't know anything." Clarisse said shakily. "I'm never going back in there. NEVER." And just like that she stormed out of the room.
I was about to follow her but Beckendorf held up and hand and went after her.
Clarisse's POV
I was outside glaring at the lake stupid Travis. I should break his face later, I was enjoying those thoughts when Beckendorf walked over.
"OK Risse, what the hades was that." He asked.
"Nothing."
"Are you really going to keep lying to everyone."
"What are you talking about." I asked him.
"I followed you and Annabeth last night and you were evasive and she said you've also been lying to her." He replied.
:"Look, you wouldn't understand." I said.
"That's the most evasive thing a person could say." He yelled.
"Well why don't you just fuck off." I yelled back.
Beckendorf lunged at me and I was more than happy to meet his challenge. Fighting while angry is always a bad thing, it clouds your mind and impairs your judgement. For a child of Ares getting angry while fighting is honestly what kills us most of the time. I was the best wrestler at camp, but Beckendorf was extremely strong and agile. I knew it was over when he managed to get behind me. He put me in a headlock and proceeded to choke the life out of me.
"Tap out Risse." He said. Ha, no way in hades. I knew that if I tapped out, I would have to admit to everything. This is literally the only way to get me to be 100% with you.
I saw Silena walk into my blurry view. "Knock it off Charlie she looks like she's going to die."
"She'll be alright the record is 20 minutes before she gives in."
"Well Clarisse, Annabeth accepted the quest and she'll be leaving with Percy, Grover, and Tyson." I couldn't believe my ears she was going to trust him again. After he let her get kidnapped the first time. I flipped Beckendorf off my back seething in anger as I stomped off to go find Annabeth.
Now I know what you're thinking. It's not all his fault and Annabeth is here and safe now but that's not the point. Hew should have never let her out of his sight.
I walked into the arena where they were all standing.
"Annabeth what are you thinking." I asked.
"I'm thinking that I'm going on a quest with people who didn't abandon me and leave me to face this alone." She said her eyes shining.
"I need to talk to you."
"No Clarisse, the time to talk was the other night when I asked you what was wrong. Now I have to prepare for the quest."
"Fine, you want to know I'll tell you. I have nightmares about the time I spent in there. When I was in there I thought I would never make it out and that I was destined to die in there. I...I thought...I'd never see you again."I said wiping my eyes.
"Clarisse..." She said. "I'm here now, nothing matters as long as we always make it back to each other."
"I'm going with you." I said.
"You cannot" Chiron added. "The last time 5 people went on a quest only 3 came back. It goes against ancient laws."
"Now, now, now there's no need to get your panties in a bunch you old horse." We all jumped as a flaming version of my father appeared in front of us.
"Lord Ares to what do we owe the pleasure." Chiron says motioning for all of us to kneel we did even though Jackson looked like he could not have cared less.
"There is technically only 3 of them." My father stated. "Thats a goat" He said pointing at Grover. "And that's monster. They broke the rules last time because they had 5 humanoid beings."
"So adding one more worthless runt won't hurt." He said and disappeared without a trace. Did I mention that I really hate that guy sometimes.
Chiron dismissed us saying that we would depart at dawn so we should rest and get our supplies together. I walked with Annabeth back to her cabin.
Annabeth's POV
I was looking around my cabin for all the scrolls about the Labyrinth and carry them back to my bunk where Clarisse is lying. I lift her head and lay it on my lap.
"Are you OK?" I ask her.
"I'll be fine."
I spend some time reading my scrolls as Clarisse just lays in my lap silently. Eventually I get tired of it and I move so I can look at Clarisse. She's not asleep but her eyes are closed, I lean down and kiss her. She wasted no time kissing me back.
"'I'm sorry I didn't tell you how I was feeling the first tine you asked." She says.
"Well I'm sorry I didn't figure out you were having these problems, I spent so much time with you enjoying myself I didn't even focus on how different you were acting."
"You can't do anything if I don't tell you." She says. But I didn't want to talk about that anymore. So I kissed her again, and again, and once again. Until we were just making out.
And that's probably why we didn't hear Percy walk in.
"Really guys again." Percy asked causing the two of us to separate and look away from him.
"I was researching the Labyrinth and Clarisse and I started talking and one thing lead to another." I said.
"Haven't you heard of knocking." Clarisse growled.
"I knocked and called out, but you guys were 'occupied'."
That awkward situation ended when Malcolm came to get me. As much as I wanted to I didn't get to see Clarisse again before we went off to bed and that slightly irritated me.
I was lying in my bunk when we all heard the rustling of the back window. My sister Sara turned the lights on and we all grabbed out weapons and watched as Clarisse shoved herself through the window.
"Um...hi" She said sitting on the floor staring at us. I sighed and my sibling all started laughing and turned the lights back out. Clarisse scrambled onto my bunk and I just rolled my eyes. I crawled into bed and snuggled into her. Once again tomorrow we have to almost die. I wonder how much longer we'll have to live like this.
"And make sure you keep it down over there." Malcolm called out. Making all my sibling laugh again. I'll be sure to get him back for that.
