No one could really stand Clarisse's antics, making it very confusing to people that Alana seemed to like her now. Clarisse never did anything that bad to anyone, just pushed everyone's buttons on purpose. Clarisse didn't care what people thought about her, as long as they thought about her. Ares only started giving her attention if she pushed others around. If it was good enough for the God of War, it should be good enough for everyone.

Walking through the woods was free therapy for Alana. Today had been stressful. It felt like she never stopped. Training, then tutoring, then helping her friends with things, then planning, and it just went so slow.

She hummed a Queen song as she made her way to her favorite spot in the woods. It was surprising to see someone else sitting there. She quickly remembered her telling Clarisse that she was welcome here anytime.

"Hey Risse," Alana softly greeted, sitting on the grass next to her.

Clarisse felt shivers down her spine at the voice then relaxed when she heard the nickname. Only one person called her that. She looked over at Alana and gave a lazy smile. "Lana, hi." The Ares girl noticed a change in the other girl's demeanor. She wasn't quite herself, and it wasn't that she was just tired. "Are you ok?"

Alana smiled and sighed lightly. "Yeah, just a long day."

"What happened?" Clarisse looked at her and accidentally bumped their knees together.

"It was just nonstop," the huntress explained. "I don't even know how it got so hectic."

Clarisse looked at her like she was stupid. "Starshine, you never say no. Someone you like asks you to do something and you do it."

Alana gasped, offended. "What? I do not-" Clarisse just stared at her. "Ok well, I say no all the time. I just..." she tried to think of a way to defend herself. "Overbook."

"Just a little," Clarisse laughed. A genuine laugh. Alana had never heard that from her. (A/N: Dior's laugh actually kills me, it's so cute)

Alana shook her head. "Enough about me. Why are you here? No one comes here for no reason."

Clarisse raised an eyebrow. "No one? You mean just you?" She smirked, trying to fight back another laugh.

Alana smacked her arm and tried not to laugh herself. "Oh shut it. You're not funny."

Clarisse chuckled at her. "No, I'm being serious. You're the only one who knows about this spot, Alana."

Alana scoffed and crossed her arms. "Stop avoiding my question."

"I dunno," the curly haired girl looked ahead, something Alana noticed a lot. She avoided eye contact if she wasn't trying to intimidate someone.

"I think you do," Alana didn't look at her either, making Clarisse turn to her.

She turned away again before speaking. "My dad doesn't give a shit about me. He thinks I shouldn't matter because I'm a girl."

"Real. My dad doesn't even want to acknowledge my existence," Alana rolled her eyes then looked at Clarisse. "Your dad is just a bitch."

Clarisse turned to her with a confused face, trying not to laugh. "Did you just call the god of war a bitch?"

Alana nodded and smiled at Clarisse. "Yeah. And I'd say it to his face."

Clarisse laughed again. The night air must've been getting to her, she never laughed this much. "Yeah, I'd pay to see a 13 year old girl tell the god of war he's a bitch."

"Good, I could use some money," the huntress smiled teasingly, then yawned loudly. "Gods, I wanna sleep."

Clarisse put an arm on her shoulder without realizing it. "Go to your cabin. You've had a long day."

Alana shook her head. "I wanna be outside, not in my cabin." She moved and grabbed a container behind a bush that had some pillows and blankets in it. "I genuinely sleep here sometimes, but I doubt I'll fall asleep right now."

Clarisse ran a hand through Alana's hair mindlessly. "Lay down at least," she gently pulled her head down. "Relax, you're always worried about everyone else."

Alana immediately felt her eyelids droop once she hit Clarisse's lap. She felt something lay on top of her, presumably a blanket from the container. Clarisse continued to play with Alana's hair as Alana laid there in thought. "Y'know Clar," the shorter girl didn't even bother trying to move to look at her. "You don't have to fight to be seen here."

Then she drifted off to sleep.

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Clarisse couldn't stop thinking about that interaction. What was she acting like that? Pulling her into her lap and playing with her hair? I mean come on. Bold and tough Daughter of Ares playing with a girl's hair. Then there was what Alana said. Was she even right? Did Clarisse really not have to fight for attention here? Well, she still had to fight for her father's attention.

Alana had been teased about the interaction immensely. Not from Clarisse, shockingly enough, instead from her closest friends in the Aphrodite cabin, Silena and Joella.

"You fell asleep on her lap?!" Joella side eyed Silena, as if they were communicating through looks.

"I guess so. She was the one playing with my hair, it's so soothing when people do that," Alana awkwardly looked at the ground. She just couldn't keep all the Clarisse interactions to herself anymore.

Silena grinned. "Sounds like someone has a crush on you," she teased. Joella giggled and nodded.

Alana's face turned bright red. "No way! One, I doubt she likes girls. Two, no! Three, she just stopped hating each other what is wrong with you. Four, you guys do that to me all the time!"

"Oh come on Allie," Joella rolled her eyes. "Admit it, you think she's pretty."

Alana refuse to break eye contact, just to prove a point. "Yeah. But I also think you guys are pretty."

Silena laughed, already knowing what her sister was about to say. "Um, of course you think we're pretty, we're Aphrodite's daughters," Joella smirked.

Alana shoved her lightly. "Come on Jo. Humble up." All three girls laughed. "But seriously guys, leave it. She doesn't like me, I don't like her. We're friends."

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A/N: the last part actually wasn't supposed to happen but tbh it was kinda cute