Clarisse La Rue

Tensions were rising in camp.

First:

Annabeth and Percy were keeping secrets, which cause one too many fights (and Percy brought an... overly friendly Cyclops half-brother called Tyson? Yeah, sounds about right).

Chiron is off in Hawaii on vacation and forbidden from contacting campers until his return.

And, oh yeah! Thalia's tree, the one thing keeping the camp's barrier up and protecting all the demigods from every monster roaming the world, preventing them from getting inside—was poisoned by Luke and dying slowly. Maybe a week before the barrier weakened even further? Somewhere around there. And some weird hobo-looking freak called Tantalus thought he could boss everyone around because he was a cursed Lord who was forbidden to eat or drink.

So, yeah, σκατά χτύπησε τον ανεμιστήρα. (shit hit the fan)

But at least, Clarisse could have her chariot racing. She always loved the thrill of being competitive. It was one of her greatest accomplishments and downfalls. Pride. Competition. Too eager to please Ares when he couldn't spare her a second glance.

And, y'know, there's the thrill of seeing you—the daughter of Athena.

Wise, calculated, strong, always planning. You were tough. You were skilled.

You were gorgeous— (she needs to stop thinking aloud, Chris was already shooting her weird looks).

Though Clarisse had this big fat crush on you, she liked to tease you around, get up in your face, challenge you, race you. Everything. Heck, she even sparred with you (romantically? Somehow?). Chariot racing was the perfect way to get close to you as well. Maybe get with you as well. That's was a hope. A prayer to Aphrodite.

Because if that goddess could bless her with your presence? Then why not just bless Clarisse with the privilege of having you to herself?

It wasn't too much to ask, right?

She hoped not.

The sun was bright in the sky, birds attempting to break into the barrier, but ended up smacking tight off of it like ping pong balls. Clarisse strapped her armour on while other campers who weren't participating set up flags for each cabin. Two people per chariot. Two horses.

Tyson was roaming around the Poseidon cabin, messing with mechanical gears to make compasses. He was good with those things.

Percy was leaning against his chariot, rolling back and forth on the balls of his feet.

Annabeth was nowhere to be seen. Most likely yelling at Tantalaus again.

And you were tightening the ropes on your horses, armour shifting against your t-shirt beneath. Clarisse stared, her jaw almost hitting the ground until someone, a random camper, told her to pick it up before a fly flew in it. She stiffened and glared until they held their hands up defensively, still chuckling. Clarisse huffed and crossed her muscular arms, making three long strides to reach you.

"Wise Girl," she greeted, a cocky smirk on her face.

"Ares's Little Princess, is that really you coming up to me? Willingly? God, am I dreaming?" You said without turning around until her strong hand snaked around one side of your hip, forcing you to make eye contact with her. She continued to grin, curls blowing softly in the cooling breeze.

"Not my fault. I can't help it—I'm drawn to..." she looked you up and down, a playful bite of her bottom lip, "very pretty girls. I'm like a magnet to them–"

"–Is that why you're always behind, beside or in front of me, La Rue? Or is it because your ego's almost as big as your crush?" You interrupted.

She almost blushed. Almost. But she was too cocky to let you know that you got to her. So she clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Maybe, you won't know, will ya?"

A couple of campers snickered. Even Percy was grinning like he knew. And that boy wouldn't know what a crush was even if it hit him, slapped and stomped on his face. But he knew. So she had to be obvious.

And maybe Aphrodite was on her side today.

Just a hunch.