“You know,” Annabeth said as we struggled along, “it wasn’t the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.” I blinked. Had she been reading my thoughts? “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 his chance to jump—now that was brave.” “Or pretty stupid.” “Percy, you’re a brave guy,” she said. “Just take the compliment. I swear, is it so hard?” We locked eyes. Our faces were, like, two inches apart. My chest felt a little funny, like my heart was trying to do jumping jacks.
THEY'RE SOO. I'M SOO.
