As she was heading back to the front line, she turned and winked, “See you at the fireworks?”
She didn’t even wait for my answer before darting off into the woods. I looked at Beckendorf. “Did she just… ask me out?

Percy, you’re a brave guy. Just take the compliment. I swear, is it so hard?”
We locked eyes. Our faces were like, two inches apart. My chest felt funny, like my heart was trying to do jumping jacks.

You know, it wasn’t the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Um… What do you mean?”
Annabeth gripped my wrist as we stumbled through a shallow creek.
“You stood up to the dragon so Beckendorf would have the chance to jump— now that was brave.

Beckendorf and Silena walked ahead of us, holding hands, and we gave them some space.
Watching them, with my arm around Annabeth for support, I felt pretty uncomfortable. I silently cursed Beckendorf for being so brave, and I don’t mean for facing the dragon. After three years, he’d finally gotten the courage to ask Silena Beauregard out. It wasn’t fair.

If I was going to pick one person in the world to reattach my head, I’d pick you.”
I just blurted it out— to give her confidence, I guess— but immediately realized it sounded pretty stupid.
“Aww… Percy, that is so sweet!

Percy, in the days before Thalia’s tree— back before the camp had magical boundaries to keep out the monsters—the counselors tried all sorts of different ways to protect themselves. the most famous was the bronze dragon. The Hephaestus cabin made it with the blessing of their father. Supposedly it was so fierce that it kept the camp safe for over a decade. And then… about fifteen years ago, it disappeared into the woods.

Surprise.” Annabeth said, right next to me.

Since he was older, I usually listened to him about stuff, but the idea of asking Annabeth to the Fourth of July fireworks down at the beach— like, the biggest dating event of the summer— made my stomach do somersaults.

I’d never seen her so happy, like the chance to beat me up was the best thing that ever happened to her.

Her gray eyes sparkled under her helmet. Her blond ponytail curled around one shoulder. It was hard for anyone to look ute in combat armor, but Annabeth pulled it off.