He [Percy] pleaded with those sea-green eyes, like a cute baby seal that needed help. Piper wondered how Annabeth ever won an argument with this guy.

It is true that I once refused to eat haggis in Scotland and this did not sit well with the local population.

Mr. D," Grover asked timidly, "if you're not going to eat it, could I have your Diet Coke can?

Behold!" Percy shouted. "The god's chosen beverage. Tremble before the horror of Diet Coke!

You’re probably thinking: Wait, you just charged in without a plan? But Annabeth and I had been fighting together for years. We knew each other’s abilities. We could anticipate each other’s moves. I might have felt awkward and nervous about being her boyfriend, but fighting with her? That came naturally. Hmm…that sounded wrong. Oh, well.

That was Hera. Her Majesty, the Loose Cannon.

Before I could figure out how to apologize for being such an idiot, she tackled me with a hug, then pulled away just as quickly. "I'm glad you're not a guinea pig." "Me, too." I hoped my face wasn't as red as it felt.