Author's Note: Hey guys, this is Chapter 12 for you all! Sorry for late update... I thank you so much again for reviewing and reading my writing. So, this is again all for you, enjoy, read and review! xoxoxo –thatasianwritergirl
P.S.: I apologize for OOCness….or any flaw you will see here (especially since I don't know anything about military life). Also this is a boring chapter, full of flashbacks (hopefully they aren't crappy to you) but I thought you might like to know how Annabeth's life at the camp is like, more action and romance is to come later, but we could call this like a transition chapter…my friends and I have that term on it since we form our own writer's club... I know this is not my best but I am trying to update all the best chapters I can even if I am not feeling well. Nothing beats a good ending with a cliffhanger lol :D
Reflections of Camp Life Relations and Unknown Unrequited Feelings and Location Reports
(Annabeth)
It's been a month since Malcolm got captured by the Spartans. The few days after that was unbearable for me, but the people helped me throughout it all, especially a few particular people, surprisingly one of them is Clarisse. Everything slowed down and at the same time, everyone is training harder than ever. There are a few slow days here though; one of them is today, since I am sitting down on a grassy hill overlooking the camp. I was watching the lazy humdrum of the camp from here, armed with a bow and arrow and my bronze dagger just in case anyone tried to attack me. Now here I am reflecting on everything that has been happening. I know it is strange how so many things could happen in a month, but I guess that's life's wonders.
Right now, I am temporarily filling in for Malcolm's place as second in command until we could rescue him but I still train as hard as any other soldier. So far, it is great, I got to devise battle strategies but the council meetings are a bore. Percy seems to like working with me...but I guess he has to put up that front of liking to work with me. Even if it is illegal as they say for a woman to be a commander, they've allowed it for now, since my training score was higher than the other troops, even surpassing Clarisse's.
~~~Flashback~~~
It was a gloomy day after Malcolm was kidnapped. The weather was grey and as I said…gloomy, perfect to match my mood. Today, they say the training ratings were to be released and our army positions were to be announced. I wasn't too excited since they might be unfair to me just because I am a girl.
We all gathered again at the center of the camp, where we first gathered the first day of camp, they still haven't set the makeshift podium or stage apart. Percy went up to the podium with a few of the high officials. One of them, whom I guess was the military inspector, whom I heard was named Claudius, stepped forward with Percy. Then with a loud and stern voice, he started his speech, as he unrolled his scroll:
"Welcome, Greek troops. You have been training long for the past months to mark a position in this army as an archer, a combat soldier, or a high official in the army. From three days ago to yesterday have been your private inspections with us. We have all been debating about your skills and abilities and today is your official initiation to the Greek army, let us begin the dictation."
He called out all the archers, who I estimate is around a quarter of who was in the army, majority of us newly recruits were combat soldiers, but I couldn't help think that they didn't call my name. All the training scores were impressive, but what about me?
"There is only one person qualified to join the high officials in the army. This person is quite unexpected to be one assigned to this position, but her training rating is the highest of all, but her skills are impressive in every aspect. Due to one of our alarming disappearances of one of our respected officials, second-in-command Malcolm Chase, his temporary replacement will be this person. It gives me a pleasure to say that this honour goes to his sister and the daughter of the late and respected troops, Athena. This honour goes to Annabeth Chase."
Everyone reluctantly clapped for me. I knew everyone wanted to glare at me just because I am a girl. But the world is cruel to girls.
"Annabeth Chase, if you will, please come forward to the podium to get recognized."
I shyly went up as Luke and Clarisse and everyone else were clapping for me. I could remember Percy's small smile as I was awarded with the necessary honours to be a temporary second commander.
~~~ End of Flashback~~~
So far, Clarisse is friendly to me, I guess we had to stick around since we were the only girls in this army, I think she wanted to be friends. It is still awkward but I think she is trying her best. At the night that Percy comforted me, I saw a side of her I never thought she had.
~~~Flashback~~~
I entered the tent, that I shared with Clarisse, feeling myself blush. I can't just kiss a man in the cheek afterwards. A hug would've seemed more appropriate, it feels wrong. I remembered from the earlier stories that Malcolm told me about my real mother, Athena. She used to occasionally kiss my father on the cheek a lot, which meant to her that she would miss him or simply that she loves him. But I couldn't love Percy, could I?
Anyways when I looked up, Clarisse was still wide awake. Her face held an expression of a smirk and she was grinning at the same time.
"Well, you and the commander, Annabeth, so the rumours are true, punk." she said as she sharpened her nails with a bronze dagger.
"What do you mean, Clarisse, what rumours?"
"Wow, punk, you are clueless. Don't ya listen to camp gossip? Rumour has it that you and the commander have a secret affair and you are both madly in love and you can't be together because you both from different social classes."
"Clarisse, I don't have feelings for him…"
"Seriously, Annabeth? I see the way he adores you, you may not know it but both of you seem to have looks that you admire each other from afar, it's that same look Chris gives me."
"I don't think so, Percy just says protecting me is for my brother's sake and Clarisse, I never knew you had it in you."
"There is a lot of things you don't know about me, little riding punk, that is what happens when you are friends with the beauty queen in the south western district..." she said, smirking with delight.
~~~End of Flashback~~~
Oddly Luke only checks up on me once in a while, to see if I am okay. I know he is just doing this of course, for Thalia's sake. I know she would go raging mad if she found out something bad happened to me at the battlefield.
Reflecting seems to be my way of relaxed thinking. So far, sifting through my memories, it seemed like one way or another, something involved Percy, either by his physical presences or he was mentioned. I admit, I do feel safe around him more than anybody else I've known. Maybe I love him….but my big fear in that is he won't feel the same way. I know he's been protecting me for my brother's sake, but I just wish he just cared for me in different reasons, just not for my brother. But he seems like he is obtuse to everyone's feelings, so I don't think it will ever happen. I know he smiles whenever I am around but I don't know if that is an illusion or not.
Things seemed peaceful here until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I sat still as I asked in a quivering voice. "Who is it?"
The person chuckled before he revealed himself. "It's me, Percy…" he said, showing himself and sitting beside me.
"So, what brings you here?" he asked.
"Nothing, I just wanted to reflect on some things that happened the past month." I said as I laid my head on his shoulder.
"Like what? Wise Girl? You are always thinking about something…"
"Like trying to rescue Malcolm, I feel guilty, Percy, I am worried about him…what could the Spartans do to him, by now…they cold kill him, beat him-"
"Don't worry, Annabeth, we'll find a way." he said as he calmed me down by stroked my hair. This gesture feels so natural that I feel like I wanted to stay in this moment forever, but I know everything always comes to an end.
Before I could say anything to his response, two men came out from the shadows of the forest. They were two scout spies we sent months ago to look for the Spartan camp.
"Commander Jackson, miss Chase….we have found the Spartan army's base camp…."