The last Hephaestus camper left the movie room as the clock chugged to 1:13 AM, leaving me and Clarisse alone in the dark, on opposite ends of the ratty couch. Sleep was gently tugging on my mind but I resisted, as the daughter of Ares and I were silently daring each other to doze off first.
My attention wandered as my ADHD and sleep deprivation combined, and my thoughts grasped wildly for something to distract it from the sweet nothingness of slumber. As my explosions echoed in my peripheral vision, and brightness briefly lit up the dark room, my gaze fell on Clarisse.
It's funny how night time makes things look different. Clarisse looked much softer than usual in loose pajama pants and a plain white tank top. Her brown hair was out of its usual ponytail and was laying on her bare shoulders.
I hated how she kind of looked hot.
Woah. Snap out of it, Jackson. My brain switched to auto pilot and I started rambling to distract myself.
"Did you know that they actually went to the desert to film this movie?" Gods, what a stupid thing to say.
"Is that so?" She glanced at me and our gazes locked. She shifted positions on the couch so that her legs were stretched out in front of her and her back was slightly to me, an action that dramatically spliced the space between us. Clarisse looked half unconscious; fatigue was dancing in her brown eyes.
I wasn't used to her looking so vulnerable. It was a pleasant change from "I can kill you with my bare hands" Clarisse, and I liked it. I liked how soft her skin looked, and how the flickering light from the TV shimmered on her drooping eyelashes. I soon found myself staring, a small, mesmerized half smile on my face.
Quickly, I shook myself back to reality. I started stammering, struggling to regain a tangible train of thought.
"Yeah, um, all the actors had to get shots so they didn't get sick, and they rode camels to the set on good days..." I trailed off as Clarisse laid her head on my chest, eyes closed lightly. The feeling sent flutters into my stomach and my heart started pounding in my ears. "Um-" I started, figuring I should help her get back to her cabin, even though I desperately wanted to stay in our current position.
"Shh." She cut me off sleepily, bringing her hand up next to her cheek, right below my collarbone.
Admitting to myself how happy the fact that we were basically cuddling made me, I reached for a pillow, trying as best as I could not to disturb her. As I adjusted it beneath my head and settled in, a thought occurred to me. Swallowing my fear, I hesitantly wrapped an arm around her back, cupping my hand protectively on her waist and holding her closer to me. She didn't snap my neck right then and there, that was a good sign. I let myself breathe again as she relaxed into me, and when I looked down again, I just barely saw a blush creep on her cheeks and a tiny smile ghost her mouth.
