𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐒𝐄

'Imaginary to reality'✓

-chapter eight-

Clarisse La Rue

Standing on the sidelines was never something she was good at. Not being able to help and having to watch someone hurting was somehow even worse. Amelia was laying in that bed, unconscious withering and crying and apparently nobody could help. She felt set back in time to when those horrible nightmares had plagued Amelia when they were friends. Clarisse remembered very well. Her back did too. They had slept together out in the woods because it was the only way Amelia found peace. It was odd. When Amelia could have asked anyone, she had asked her. Even more ridiculous Clarisse had said yes without a second thought. At some point Lee had simply turned a blind eye to her and let the girls curl together in Amelias bunk. After all they had the same goal. Amelia being happy. For the time she was.

When her eyes shone, and her hair seemed almost honey coloured in the sun. When she wore that sun dress with the floral print that looked absolutely silly, but it suited her so well. When she slept so peacefully in her arms looking like an angel. That's the only time she had seen Amelia that happy. Then Castellan happened.

For a long time, Clarisse hadn't seen her like this. She longed to see her careless again, but she knew that time was over for good. Now she didn't look peaceful sleeping anymore she looked dead.

Morales had promised her she would be okay, but Clarisse did not waiver instead she stayed right by her side. She would be fine. Even though she detested the infirmary, and the bunks were way too uncomfortable. Amelia was her focus here and so she took the silence and stroked Amelias hair in an attempt to comfort her. She woke up in the night and held her hand. It could have continued that way. But something or rather a certain someone decided to join her on her watch.

"Did you know that-"

"Jackson." Clarisse warned and rubbed her temple.

"I told you call me Percy. I mean with all the time we spent here together it's only fair, right? Also, I call you Clarisse. Wait, what even is your last name? You never told me!" He sounded flabbergasted as if she had lured him into woods to kill him or something.

"Do you ever stop talking?" she asked even though she had already lost all hope. Finally turning her head to him.

She did not wish to avert her eyes. What if something happened the moment she looked away? Sometimes at night she had to check for a heartbeat because Amelias breathing was so flat. What if she looked away for just a moment and she was gone? Like when Luke had stolen her away from right under her nose. The same Luke who couldn't bother to show up more than twice a day and sometimes left flowers on her nightstand.

The flowers that stood there now were fresh. Roses were considered romantic, but they were also basic and without much thought. They would have been a good gift for many. But not for Amelia, she strongly disliked roses. Every time Clarisses eyes found them, she wondered the same thing. How, after all those years, could he not know her favourite flowers were tulips?

After all he had gotten it right one time. That fateful night at campfire. How she hated him for that. It did not matter how much she did not like him, Amelia did. For a time, he had made her happy too, so Clarisse had backed off. Not anymore it seemed.

"Because if I stop speaking, you get sad. Like you just did." Percy reasoned.

Clarisse snapped her eyes back at him. For some reason they kept finding the unconscious girl laying on the bed she sat on.

"I am not sad." She protested firmly.

"What else would you call the big eyes you make at her all the time? Or the way you protect her like she is your puppy? Even when Luke comes in here you get all-, I don't even know. Angry? You know you dont have to protect her from him? Luke really likes her. He and her act like they are my Mum and Dad. That's what Annabeth said at least." He drew his eyebrows together in thought.