𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝗃𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝖼𝖾

blondie steals the show.

chapter one.
clara.

Cabin Three had never felt lonelier. Usually, two voices always filled the cabin — Clara and Percy. Three if Tyson was staying for a while. The oceanic-style room and decor was dusty from months of not visiting since the summer ended. Clara scolded Percy, making him promise the next morning he would help her clean the cabin even if they were just staying for a few days. Waking up, she was furious when Percy wasn't in his bed. She thought he left just before they could start cleaning. Clara stormed her way to Annabeth's cabin, who didn't understand why Clara was saying Percy was with her and not in his own bed. It didn't take long for both of the girls to realize he was missing completely, and not to just get out of cleaning. Calling their mom wasn't working, he hadn't gone back home. Clara knew he wouldn't have gone without her but it was worth the shot. Why would he without his little sister? The stables were a fail and everyone checked the woods. The entirety of Camp Half-blood got sent everywhere to look for Percy Jackson. All except Clara. One child of Poseidon missing was stressful enough, they didn't need her to be gone too.

Staying at camp was torture. Clara cried, especially to Annabeth who cried with her. They tried everything to find him just from staying at camp: sending expeditions, coming up with reasonings, sobbing uncontrollably begging the gods to help. The third day of Percy missing came along and Clara's tear-dried eyes were only slightly red after the sleep she got. Staring at herself in the seashell vanity (her father had interesting taste) in her cabin, the bags under her eyes, her curly hair barely brushed, she looked like a mess.

At her vanity, a picture frame made her want to cry even more than she already had. Ten and eleven year old Percy, both looking nothing alike, posing next to each other at the Macy's parade. Clara's little pink dress she used to love at that age and Percy's blue polo and khakis, they looked like normal kids. They used to be normal kids. Now one was missing and the other was getting ready in a cabin for the god of Poseidon. How normal could things get?

Percy wouldn't want Clara to look so untamed. He always knew how she liked to look presentable, especially when it came to her curly hair. So she fixed it up as best she could, grabbing two pieces from the front and putting it back with a simple clip. Covering her dark circles wasn't too hard, the smallest amount of concealer and blush made it easy. Opening her mascara tube, she found herself laughing. Percy one day had gotten into her makeup a year back. He was soon running to the sink, trying to get mascara out of his eye after he stabbed himself with the wand. She coated her dark blonde lashes with the black, bringing out her blue eyes more. Clara finished with her lip balm, scented vanilla the way she had everything scented.

If outside of camp wasn't freezing cold, Clara would've looked like a regular camper in the summer. Especially in her orange Camp Half-blood t-shirt she had cut the neckline off and in her flare denim pants. For a second she felt like Percy was simply off with Annabeth or talking to Blackjack while she got ready.

Reality hit when while tying her Converse onto her feet, Annabeth burst into Clara's cabin. She was even more frazzled than Clara, which was really saying something. Annabeth looked as if she had gotten dressed so quickly she wasn't fully processing what she was doing. Her braids were tied up so messily Clara could tell she did it in a millisecond. Her camp shirt was wrinkled, her skinny jeans had one of the pockets inside out.

"I think I know where Percy is," Annabeth's gasped. She closed the door to the Poseidon cabin as she made her way inside. Clara's full attention had been caught, leaving a shoe untied. "I got a message. A message from the gods! Hera, specifically. She told me I have to go to the Grand Canyon, look for the guy with one shoe. I'll be led to Percy when I do! Clara, come on! We have to go!"