Chapter Text
The last place Clarisse wanted to be was stuck between whatever drama the Sea Twerp and Smart Girl had going on.
When the younger girl had whispered in her ear to pick anyone else other than the Son of Poseidon, Clarisse was a little intrigued. It wasn’t like Annabeth to walk around without her little guard dog by her side - something apparent from watching every capture the flag game since the Sea Twerp came to camp. Not that Percy minded, by Annabeth’s side was where he probably wanted to be. There was only one time he wasn’t on Annabeth’s team and that was because he had lost a bet.
Tantalus had released the campers to their regular activities and excused Clarisse and her questmates to begin preparing to leave for the Sea of Monsters. Jackson had stuck around though, his eyes on Annabeth and had practically jumped up when everyone began to leave. Clarisse quickly left to avoid getting caught in the crossfire and not because she held Chris’s hand a bit too long after Tantalus’s speech.
So here she was, raiding the pantry of the Dining Pavilion, looking for something other than the Ramen she just shoved in her duffel bag that could last through the quest.
“What did Annabeth say to you?”
Clarisse tensed and turned her head to the sound of the voice. Percy, looking as miserable as ever, stood at the door of the Pavilion.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She rolled her eyes. Denial would be a great strategy if everyone wasn’t staring at her when she was choosing her questmates. Clarisse really was going to pick him. It would be smart to, especially since it was an ocean quest.
Percy ran a hand through his hair - a tell that he was clearly frustrated. It probably didn’t help that she was smacking on her gum obnoxiously. If only the Stolls didn’t charge so much for the snacks that they had hidden in their cabin, she’d have a bag of chips in her hand and a family size in her duffel bag and she wouldn’t have been stopped by the Son of Poseidon.
“I don’t understand. I know we don’t like each other-“
“I know we don’t. I think I actually hate-“
“But you were going to pick me to come on the quest.” Percy plopped down on one of the tables. His hand was in his pocket, obviously fidgeting with his pen. “So what happened?”
Clarisse crossed her arms over her chest, letting a bubble pop from her lips. “What did Smart Girl say?”
He shook his head. “Annabeth didn’t say anything, she just left out the back door before I could talk to her.”
“Well just go find her and ask her.”
“She’s avoiding me. She put her hat on so I couldn’t follow her.” It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Obviously. So I’m asking you.”
“Look as entertaining as this is, I really don’t want to be in the middle of whatever you guys have going on.” Clarisse spotted a few cans of Coke someone had hidden behind some canned beans and threw them in her bag. “She told me not to pick you, so I didn’t.”
“Since when have the two of you gotten along? A few days ago you guys were fighting about the activities schedule and now you’re just taking orders from her?” Percy looked like he was going to start pulling patches of his hair out. He looked so defeated. “It took at least four business days for you two to come up with an agreement on the schedule.”
Truthfully, Clarisse had no idea what was going on and for whatever reason, she listened to the daughter of Athena. They’ve known each other for a long time and Clarisse trusts Annabeth’s judgement. Not that she’d ever tell the other girl. Maybe if she was dying she would…
“In battle, the best leaders have an open mind and listen to all strategies. Even the dumb ones.” Clarisse definitely isn’t talking about the only time Percy ended up on her team during a capture the flag game and they had lost. “She suggested that I pick Chris instead, so I did.”
“She suggested that?” A small smirk tugged on his lips.
“Yeah.”
“Chris?”
“Yes, Jackson. Are you losing your hearing?”
“Annabeth Chase told you not to pick me and suggested that you pick Chris Rodriguez?” It looked like he was on the verge of laughing at the funniest joke ever. And personally, Clarisse was tired of entertaining him. “The guy that you so obviously have a crush on?”
“I do not.” Clarisse felt her cheeks burn. She slammed the pantry door shut, a little too loud. A few green bean cans fell. “We’ve known each other for forever and I thought he might have wanted to join the quest.”
It definitely didn’t help that she stuttered through her whole explanation. Not that she owed him one.
“That’s believable.” Sea Twerp laughed. She’s so happy she could make him feel better.
“I’m going to punch you if you don’t get that stupid look off of your face.”
“What look?”
She lunged at him and he flinched, accidentally knocking himself off of the bench and onto the floor. His nose went straight down into the wooden boards. Clumsy. Who would’ve thought.
Out of the corner of her eye, Clarisse spotted Annabeth walking through the open field heading towards the cabins. She’s never been so happy to see the other girl.
The daughter of Ares turned back to the boy, who was still on the floor. “If you run now you might catch the Princess. She’s heading towards the cabins.”
Percy jumped to his feet and follows Clarisse’s gaze to the window. In the middle of the field, is the girl he’s been looking for. Annabeth’s back is turned to them and if he runs now, he might catch her.
He immediately scrambles to the door. “If I don’t catch her, I’m buying all the snacks you like from the Stolls and eating them.”
She flips him off.