Shipping and Ripping with Alyx, Claire and Tori

The Birth Of Cleo

"When are you gonna tell him?" Tori asked Claire. It was the third time she'd asked since they'd started their game of monopoly in Alyx's cabin with the rest of the squad and how they even got onto this topic was beyond explanation. But this was Tori Paris, so of course the child of Aphrodite had to bring it up, maybe that was explanation enough.

"I'm not," Claire responded, not looking up from the game board. "Not yet, anyway." Annabeth sighed impatiently as she casually bankrupted Piper, who was too busy staring at Claire in horror.

"But-"

"No." Claire wondered when her friends would drop the subject, this was getting annoying.

"Tori, stop. Don't push her into things. I remember it took you months to tell Jason you liked him and we didn't say anything. Stop. Getting. Involved." Alyx said while shaking the dice, then chucking them in Tori's direction. Claire sighed as the two started arguing on whether pushing her into a relationship was a good idea or not and Clary tried to split them up.

"If I tell him will you two shut up?!" All of the girls looked at Claire.

"You're going to tell him?" They asked. Claire felt her face go red as she nodded hesitantly. "Okay and please do it soon because it's pretty obvious that you like him and that he likes you. And just so you know, the whole of camp is starting to place bets on you two." Piper said.

"Why?" she asked, but was met by a smirk. "Okay, okay, I'll do it soon. Probably."

~Meanwhile in Cabin 1~

"Shut up!" Leo yelled feeling his face go hot. His friends laughed loudly and Leo chucked his food at them. "You know we're right!" Jason smirked. "No! No you're wrong!" However many times he'd shouted that he didn't believe it himself. There was definitely something he felt towards Claire but he wasn't going to admit that. Not yet. "Dude, if you don't do something soon someone else will ask her out and you know she's too nice to say no," Percy added. Leo sighed, knowing they were right. He told himself he'd ask her soon, maybe at the campfire later that week. On second thoughts, there was that metalwork competition coming up...

No.

He'd tell her.

If he could build up the courage.

~The Next Day~

The campfire was roaring and all the campers were laughing and chatting loudly. The Apollo campers were minutes away from starting the singalong, and everyone was full, content, and smiled. Except from Claire Hunters, that is. Her friends were going to kill her if she didn't embarrass herself in front of the camp and tell her crush how she felt before they all went back to their own cabins. She was dreading it. Claire knew she was going to mess it up but maybe if she at least tried her friends wouldn't ask her again. From under her eyelids, she watched Leo join the circle and sit between Jason and Percy. The two boys were grinning and poking him, but he looked as uncomfortable as Claire felt.What was she thinking? This was madness. He probably didn't even feel the same way about her. He almost definitely didn't.

"Go on," Alyx nudged Claire. "Stop staring and go kiss him." Claire felt her cheeks go bright red. She hadn't been staring - had she? She snuck another look across the fire before she got up, but Leo was gone. She followed Percy's and Jason's gazes to where there friend was heading around the circle. He was flushed from the heat of the fire, and staring down at his feet. She sat back down. Clearly now was not a good time. She squeezed her eyes shut as he walked past her. She felt Tori's sharp elbow dig in to her stomach. Not now, Tori. Claire cracked one eyelid open - and almost fell backwards off her log seat. Great start, Claire. Very graceful.