Chapter 10

Ellie’s POV:

Today, waking up was easier. I got up, got dressed, and went to breakfast. After breakfast, I gathered my new bow and quiver and met with Sarah for target practice.

She gave me some tricks and tips, before we fell into a comfortable silence, the only sound being that of the arrow hitting the target. We stayed out there for hours, a word not being said, just enjoying each other’s company.

“Hey, Ellie.” Luke’s voice comes from behind me as I shoot my last arrow; it lands in the middle of the target. I turn to him with a smile as he nods in appreciation.” You picked up archery quickly.” I nod at his words as he nods at my bow.” Gift from dad?” He asks, and I smile lightly down at the weapon.

“Yeah.” I turn back to Luke.” You need something?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.

“Just wanted to check up on you, see how you were doing.” He teters from his heels to the balls of his feet nervously as he reaches up to rub the back of his neck.

“Im… going. Yesterday was hard, but…” I shrug as I look around myself.” I need to figure out who I am without Percy, now’s the perfect time, I guess.” Luke nods.

“Yeah, well, if you ever need help with anything or just want to hang out, come find me or ask a Hermes kid where I a-” Luke gets cut off.

“Sunshine, let’s go do something.” Clarisse stops at my side, her shoulder slightly in front of mine as she stares Luke up and down, not even looking at me. A grin tugs at my lips as I notice the jealousy in her stare.

“What did you have in mind? ” I ask the brunette teasingly, and she almost growls as she locks my hand in hers, pulling me to walk away.

“Literally anything else.” She grumbles, and I look back at Sarah and Luke with a smile.

“Bye Luke, Sarah!” I wave back at them to see Sarah hiding her giggles behind her hand. I yelp as Clarisse yanks on my arm, making me stumble into her. I face forward, catching my balance.

“Rude.” I mummble and the brown-eyed girl hums angrily.

My lips fall back into a smile as I watch Clarisse for a moment. I hop over to her side, moving closer to her, and I swing our arms as we walk.

Clarisse grimaces looking down at her own arm like it was a traitor then turned to me with wide eyes. I giggle, and her expression softens, her lips falling into a small grin as we walk.

“What?” She asks her strides slowing down, making it easier for me to keep up, as she no longer feels there is a threat nearby.

“You were jealous.” I point out happily, and she scoffs sharply.

“Of what? Luke? Like hell I was. What did I have to be jealous about? I know Im better than that dweeb.” Clarisse spat her words out like acid, but the smile remained on my face.

“You were jealous he had my attention.” I tell her, and she stays quiet. She stops walking suddenly, and I scramble to stop with her.

Her face was calculating, her eyes searching my face as her fingers tightened between mine, getting a little sweaty.

“I don’t want to share you.” She tells me carefully, softly, her brows stitching together.” You’re right,  I’m jealous of everyone who hangs out with you because they’re not me. I want to be around you all the time. Your smile brightens my day, your laugh takes the pressure off my shoulders. I enjoy being around you.” My heart flutters at her words.” I don’t want to share you, I want to lock you away and keep you to myself, and I know I can’t do that, but…” I smile lightly, encouraging her to keep going.” But I want to be able to call you mine, and hold your hand whenever I want and… kiss you.” Her eyes fall to my lips in the end.

I push up on my toes, pressing my lips to hers, almost knocking us off our feet. The girl stumbles back, dropping my hand to grab my waist depenning the kiss, I hum into it. She tasted like cherries and spice.

I pull away with a smile, my body still pressed into hers, our noses brushing each other.” So, ask me.” I tell her softly, and her fingers dig into my waist.

“Will you, Eliana, be my girlfriend?” Clarisse asks, and I giggle.

“Fuck yes.” I slam my lips to hers again, and Clarisse smiles into it before her lips moved against mine, rough and demanding, one of her hands trailing down to my ass.

At dinner, I couldnt stop smiling, I could feel Clarisses eyes on me from the Ares table, and it only made me happier.

“So, what happened between you and Clarisse?” Sarah asks after we dropped off our offerings, and I blush. Kayla gasps.

“You and Clarisse? Tell me everything!” The boys groaned as I turned to the girls.

“We kissed, she asked me to be her girlfriend, and we kissed some more.” I tell them, and they squeal.

“More details, please!” Kayla shouts.

“Please no!” Austin groans, and I roll my eyes.

“I’ll tell you, guys, after dinner.” The girls nod along, and I gasp as I feel a hand wrap around my throat and trail to my jaw. My siblings jaw dropping was the last thing I saw before my head was forced back and a pair of lips landed on mine.

I smile into it and lean back into the lithe body behind me.

When Clarisse pulled away, it was with a huge cocky smirk. She leaned down to my ear to check in on me.

“Was that okay?” I giggle and nod, leaning back into her, hugging her arm to my chest for a moment.

“Me, you, tomorrow morning, training.” Clarisse demanded more than I asked, but I nodded anyway.

Austin scoffed.” For what? The tongue wars?” Will snorts, holding his hand up, and Austin slaps it with a smirk.

I roll my eyes, and I huff.

“I will kick your ass.” Clarisse warns him, and he quickly looks down at his food.

Clarisse’s hard eyes meet mine, and they melt.” Tomorrow?” She asks softly, fingers tugging at my hair, and I smile.

“I have a killer instinct, you know.” I warn her, and she rolls her eyes with a chuckle.

“And Marcus knows it.” She calls out as she walks away.

(Edited)