Rachel's POV

Dinner is a complete bust. I had previously hoped Percy would say something to me, anything, but he hasn't so far. He seems very interested in talking with his mother, Queen Sally.  He doesn't even look at me.

I angrily stab peas onto my fork. I thought Percy liked me, really liked me. But lately, he's been acting more distant. It's not anything I've done, at least not that I know of. Maybe some other girl was cruel to him. Like Annabeth Chase.

Working with her is a complete nightmare. She's so bossy and thinks that all of us want to follow her orders. She thinks she's so smart. The only reason I haven't left our group is because it's a project and I don't want to fail. That would show that I'm not good princess material.

What should my costume be? Not a bird, since that theme is already taken. Preferably not an animal at all. Something dramatic, something that looks like a painting. In my mind, the pieces slowly come together. It will work. But I can't let anyone else know my plan, especially not Annabeth.

"...Can't wait for the ball! The only downside is the project that comes with it. At least we get to wear cute costumes!" A girl's voice says.

"Too bad the people making them aren't fashion designers. Or a little bit talented," another girl replies.

"Be nice, Clarisse. I'm sure they'll do their best. Besides, I doubt you could do it."

"I bet I could do it better than that blonde princess and the red haired freak."

I whip my head up. Two girls are talking a few seats down from me. I narrow my eyes and scoop a forkful of mashed potatoes. Aiming carefully, I shoot it at the girl who called me a freak. It hits her brown hair and sticks there.

The other girl screams and falls out of her chair. The girl I hit looks over at me. I smile at her. She makes a noise that sounds like a growl and lunges at me.

Before anything bad can happen, I feel two strong hands trying to separate us.

"Stop!" Percy yells. "Stop or you will be eliminated right now!"

The brown haired girl ignores him and continues to pull my hair. I shriek in discomfort and try to roll over.

I feel a few strands of hair come off my scalp and into the girl's hand. Percy shoves her off of me. A few guards walk over, apparently just now noticing the prince trying to hold down one of the Selected.

"Valdez and Zhang, please take Miss La Rue to her room right now. I need to escort Miss Rachel to the hospital wing," he says, motioning to the guards. They nod and pick up the girl.

"Come on," Percy says, helping me up. I take his hand gratefully. I stand up and see everyone looking at me. I look at Annabeth and see a hint of victory in her eyes.

"This way, Miss Dare,"

"What happened to calling me Rachel?" I ask him, angry.

"What happened to following the rules?" He shoots back.

"She called me a freak!"

"You shouldn't have responded!"

"Am I going home?" Suddenly, I'm worried. I didn't mean to make all of this happen.

"Maybe. I don't know right now. You just proved to me that you don't do well with insults and ignoring them. You also just proved you have very little self-control. Also, you provoked the attack."

I feel sick. I can't go home. I just can't. Percy knows that.

"You can't send me home!" I exclaim.

"And you can't tell me what to do. I'm the Prince, Miss. Dare, and am in charge of this Selection. I am the one who Selects who stays and who goes!" He shouts at me.

"Which am I?" I whisper.

He gives me a pointed look. "I think you know."

And he leaves me in the hallway, all thoughts of going to the hospital forgotten.