The Seven In High School

Clarisse Takes A Chill Pill

ANNABETH

"But are you sure, Percy?" Annabeth asked her boyfriend anxiously. A strand of hair blew into her face, and she pushed it behind her ear impatiently.

Percy laughed, which made her heart go THUMP! It was crazy how that boy never failed to have that effect on her. Even after months of dating, his laugh always made her heart speed up.

"Yes! For the thousandth time, we can just spread a canvas sheet on the sand. Actually, let's spread 3."Percy said, scratching his head sheepishly. Annabeth laughed in turn.

"And you say I over prepare." she teased her boyfriend.

"Hey, I date you, I get Annabeth-ed." Percy said.

Annabeth looked at Percy and hit him. A bubble of emotion rose up in her.

"Ow," Percy said indignantly. "What was that for?"

"A person can't be Annabeth-ed! That's not even a proper word!" Annabeth cried.

"I made it up, Wise Girl." Percy laughed.

"Oh." Annabeth said, a faint pink tinting her cheeks. Percy's (so adorable) green eyes widened.

"Are you blushing, Annabeth?" Percy gasped.

"No!" Annabeth coughed. "I-I-I'm not!"

"Yes, you were, Annabeth! I swear! On the Ri-"

Desperate times called for desperate measure. Although, to be fair, it wasn't desperate. It was something they liked to do anyway.

Annabeth threw her arms around Percy. Completing the action, she kissed him.

Percy tensed for a while, but he eventually kissed her back. When they broke apart, his eyes were slightly unfocused.

"Wha-what were we talking about?" asked Percy sluggishly. "Why do you keep kissing me when I'm winning an argument?"

Annabeth laughed. "Just shut up and kiss me, Percy."

They resumed kissing until they heard the sound of paper crinkling. Then they hastily sprang apart to a gawking audience.

"Oh my gods! Why are you guys here?" Annabeth spluttered.

"You know, last minute preparations." a girl with blond pigtails and and braces said.

"Yeah, and.......basically what Lacy said." Clarisse said, smirking.

"Oh! Mitchell! You still owe me.....two dollars." Lacy said, checking the amount of money in her hand.

An Aphrodite boy sighed, plunged his hand into the pocket of his dark-rinse, low rise, pre-ripped jeans and handed Lacy the money.

"Were you guys.....betting on me and Annabeth?" Percy asked, shock evident in his voice.

"No!" Lacy said, in a fake surprised voice.

Mitchell elbowed her, and she sighed. "All right, we were. On whether Annabeth and you would be kissing when we arrived."

"We've finished setting up. Annabeth, you want to check the area?" Will asked.

Annabeth nodded, hoping they couldn't see the bright pink of her cheeks.

***

"Firewood, check. Backup firewood, check. Emergency backup firewood, check." Annabeth said, checking off items on the clipboard. "And the food?"

"The tables are all set up with the food. We have five ice chests of fizzy drinks, no alcohol. And twenty bags of marshmallows." Miranda Gardner said.

"Okay, that's done. Now-hey! Where's Percy?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh, he's with the Ares cabin, inspecting the weapons and setup for the gladiator games." an Iris girl said brightly.

Annabeth could tell. She was wearing a camp newbie shirt, one of Annabeth's ideas. It was pink and had a unicorn hugging a rainbow on it. On the back were the words 'My Mom Makes Rainbows!'

Not one of their best shirts.

"Is Chiron with them?" asked Annabeth worriedly.

"No." the girl said. "Why?"

"Oh gods. No." said Lou Ellen, pinching her nose. "Someone, go break it up!"

"Break what up?" asked the Iris girl confusedly.

"Is she new?" asked Lou Ellen faintly.

"Yeah! Why?" the girl said.

"She's Louise Parnell." Lacy interjected.

"Well, Louise, since you're new, you're excused." Miranda said.

"I'll go!" Annabeth yelled. She thrust her clipboard at Louise, who took it and then tore across the beach.

❤❤❤

Annabeth was lucky.

The fight among the Ares kids hadn't started yet, but it was starting. Clarisse was holding a wickedly sharp Roman sword, face contorted in a snarl, to Hans Ruchanon's throat. The big blond guy, in turn was gripping a spatha.

Percy was trying to break it up. His sword, Riptide hadn't been drawn, but his hand was at his pocket. Annabeth knew that he could draw Riptide in a lightning-fast move under a second.

Annabeth quickened her sprint. She unsheathed her Imperial gold dagger, a gift from Reyna. It was almost the same as her old Celestial bronze knife, which was somewhere in Tartarus still. Annabeth missed it. Luke had given it to her when she was small. After she tried to kill him. (Long story.) The drakon-bone sword Damasen had given to her when she was in Tartarus was gone too-smashed by Porphiyon.

She dashed behind Clarisse and grabbed her shoulders. Just as she'd hoped, Clarisse instantly whirled around and pointed the gladius at Annabeth.

"Whoa." Annabeth said. "Sword down, Clarisse.

"He said he was the best." Clarisse growled, brandishing the sword. Percy knocked it out of her hand with Riptide, quick as lightning.

"No, I didn't!" Hans protested. "I only said that-"

"Clarisse!"

Everyone whirled in the direction of the voice. It was Chris Rodriguez, Clarisse's boyfriend, dashing up the path.

Annabeth instantly relaxed. If anyone could break up Clarisse's fights, it would be Chris.

"Okay, Clarisse. That's enough." Chris said.

"He said-" Clarisse started.

"I don't want to hear it, Clarisse." Chris said gently. He crossed over to her and placed a light kiss on her forehead. Chris wrapped his arm around her.

"Is there a problem now?" he asked her.

"No." Clarisse muttered.

Annabeth shot Chris a silent thank-you. He nodded, acknowledging it.

"Okay, carry on." Annabeth said.