𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐞𝐥 - 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐚 𝐑𝐮𝐞

𝐢𝐢. 𝐠𝐥𝗼𝐫𝐲

Bethany watched from afar as Clarisse pushed Percy down to the ground. She sighed, walking over to step in.

"Hey. Knock it off, Clarisse. It's his first day, come one," Luke told her.

"Wait, so this is the kid who killed the Minotaur. Is that right?" Clarisse smirked.

"Yeah?" Percy answered, a bit lost.

"I'll bet. Look, you want attention around here, dummy? You better be ready for it when it comes."

"Come on. Let's move it along," Bethany said, lightly pushing Clarisse away from Percy.

"You trying to boss me around, blondie?" Clarisse smirked down at Bethany. Clarisse loved taking advantage of their two inch difference. She liked having the higher ground over Bethany, but Beth knew Clarisse wouldn't possibly do anything to hurt her. She sure liked to act like she would, but she couldn't bring herself to hurt Bethany's pretty face.

"Yeah, I am," Bethany told her, never breaking eye contact, even when her cheeks flushed at Clarisse's teasing. "Give him a few days before being a complete ass."

"Whatever," Clarisse rolled her eyes and turned around and walked off, all the other Are's kids following quickly behind her.

"Well, she seems nice," Percy sarcastically muttered.

"Ares kids. They come by it honestly," Luke told him.

"Why don't they mess with either of you?" He pointed between Luke and Bethany.

"They know better. Plus Clarisse totally wants Beth here."

"Shut up," Bethany told him. "She just knows I could beat her in a fight if I really wanted to."

"Mhm."

"Luke's the strongest swordsman at camp," Chris spoke up.

"So, they leave you alone because 'glory?' So if I get glory, Clarisse wouldn't mess with me either?"

"Exactly," Luke replied.

"And people think I'm a big deal?" Percy asked.

"Well, sorta, but--"

"And my dad's got no choice but to claim me."

"Slow down. You can't make the gods do anything," Bethany scoffed.

"Well, yeah, but... it would make it harder for him to pretend I don't exist, right?"

"Maybe."

"Well, great. Where do we start?" Percy asked.

***

Bethany did not feel like dying at the hands of a twelve-year-old so she let Luke handle the mentoring. She sat at the Aphrodite table, glaring across the fire at Percy. She thought he was a good kid but she was pissed he had done more at twelve than she had in her 5 years at camp.

The table had long cleared when a shadow appeared over Bethany.

"If you're trying to look intimidating, the pink is not helping," Clarisse told her.

"Just leave me alone, Clarisse," Bethany said.

"Ugh," Clarisse groaned, flopping down in the seat across from her. "What's wrong with you?"

"Percy is twelve and killed a minotaur and I can't even get a low level quest. No one wants me on their team and I'll never be able to prove myself to my mother so, nothing wrong, I'm having a great day."

"Well, if its worth anything, I would pick you for my team. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I would," Clarisse shrugged. "You're a...good fighter, I guess."

"You would?" Beth asked, looking up at Clarisse through her eyelashes.

"Yes. Don't make me take it back," She said, getting up. "Your time will come, Bethany. Just gotta be patient."

is it clear i had no time to plan these chapters? trying to soak in clarisse and beth time before beth gets to go on a quest hehe