Annabeth Chase and the Last Olympian

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 

We walked into the rec room. I expected everyone to be in a stiff and solemn mood, seeing that Beckendorf had just died, but apparently not. Apparently, it was okay for two campers to have a fight over something stupid while the rest of us, who wanted to get to more important matters, just had to sit and watch. And do nothing.

Let me explain. Clarisse and Michael were screaming at one another. I knew what they were fighting about, of course. That stupid chariot incident that happened weeks ago. It was pointless. If you asked me, the loot was rightfully the Apollo cabins'. Clarisse was being foolish to argue when even Chiron disagreed with her. I just couldn't believe that they were still fighting over it, and in front of Silena, when she had just lost her boyfriend.  

I snuck a glance at Percy, who was turning as red as a tomato.  

"STOP IT!" He yelled. "What are you guys doing?"

Clarisse glared at him. "Tell Michael not to be a selfish jerk," she spat. 

"Oh, that's perfect, coming from you," Michael said. 

"The only reason I'm here is to support Silena!" Clarisse shouted. "Otherwise I'd be back in my cabin."  

"What are you talking about?" Percy demanded. 

Pollux, the Dionysus kid, cleared his throat. "Clarisse has refused to speak to any of us, until her, um, issue is resolved. She hasn't spoken for three days."  

"It's been wonderful," Travis Stoll said wistfully.  

"What issue?" Percy asked, looking quite confused.  

Clarisse ignored him and turned to Chiron. "You're in charge, right? Does my cabin get what we want or not?" 

Chiron shuffled his hooves. "My dear, as I've already explained, Michael is correct. Apollo's cabin has the best claim. Besides, we have more important matters-" 

"Sure," Clarisse snapped. "Always more important matters than what Ares needs. We're just supposed to show up and fight when you need us, and not complain!" 

"That would be nice," Connor Stoll muttered. 

Clarisse gripped her knife. "Maybe I should ask Mr. D-" 

"As you know," Chiron interrupted, sounding a little pissed now, "our director, Dionysus, is busy with the war. He can't be bothered with this." 

"I see," Clarisse said. "And the senior counselors. Are any of you going to side with me?" I looked at the ground, at my new brightly-colored Nikes. Blue and green, I thought. Nice. 

"Fine." Clarisse said, turning to Silena. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't mean to get into this when you've just lost ... anyways, I apologize. To you. Nobody else." 

Silena stared blankly into space, not registering her words. 

Clarisse threw her knife on the Ping-Pong table. I couldn't exactly make out what she said since Travis and Connor were making fart noises behind me, but I was pretty sure she wasn't going to fight.  

Finally Michael Yew said, "Good riddance." 

Katie Gardner glared at him. "Are you kidding? This is a disaster!" 

"She can't be serious," Travis said. "Can she?" 

Chiron sighed. "Her pride has been wounded. She'll calm down eventually." He didn't sound so sure. 

Percy looked over at me, obviously still confused as to what was going on. I mouthed back the words- I'll tell you later.  

"Now," Chiron continued, "if you please, counselors. Percy has brought something I think you should hear. Percy- the Great Prophecy."