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"July First," Piper said "The Kalends of July"
"Yeah" Jason smirked "The Romans would find that auspicious--the first day of the month named for Julius Caesar Juno’s sacred day Yippee"
Piper didn’t want to push it, or
"Sixteen?" she asked
He nodded "Oh, boy I can get hed Jason had killed so many monsters and saved the world sotest seemed ridiculous She pictured him behind the wheel of soruency brake pedal
"Well?" she urged "Blow out the candles"
Jason did Piper wondered if he’d made a wish--hopefully that he and Piper would survive this quest and stay together forever She decided not to ask him She didn’t want to jinx that wish, and she definitely didn’t want to find out that he’d wished for so different
Since they’d left the Pillars of Hercules yesterday evening, Jason had seemed distracted Piper couldn’t blae disappointod Achelous had said sos about the sons of Jupiter
Piper stared at the cornucopia She wondered if Achelous was getting used to having no horns at all She hoped so Sure, he had tried to kill theod She didn’t understand how such a lonely, depressed spirit could produce a horn of plenty that shot out pineapples and birthday cakes Could it be that the cornucopia had drained all the goodness out of hione, Achelous would be able to fill up with some happiness and keep it for hi about Achelous’s advice: If you had made it to Rome, the story of the flood would have served you better She knew the story he was talking about She just didn’t understand hoould help
Jason plucked an extinguished candle fro"
That snapped Piper back to the present Co was kind of a scary line
"About?" she asked
"Camp Jupiter," he said "All the years I trained there We were always pushing teaht I understood what that meant But honestly? I was always the leader Even when I was younger--"
"The son of Jupiter," Piper said "Most powerful kid in the legion You were the star"
Jason looked unco in this crew of seven…I’ one of so "
Piper took his hand "You’re not failing"
"It sure felt that hen Chrysaor attacked," Jason said "I’ve spent most of this trip knocked out and helpless"
"Co a hero doesn’t h to stand up and do what’s needed"
"And if I don’t knohat’s needed?"
"That’s what your friends are for We’ve all got different strengths Together, we’ll figure it out"
Jason studied her Piper wasn’t sure that he bought what she was saying, but she was glad he could confide in her She liked that he had a little self-doubt He didn’t succeed all the tiy whenever sood she’d recentlyher thoughts "I never want to be like that But I wouldn’t have had the courage to stand up to hi the lead You were the hero that tiested
"I don’t deserve you"
"You’re not allowed to say that"
"Why not?"
"It’s a breakup line Unless you’re breaking up--"
Jason leaned over and kissed her The colors of the Roman afternoon suddenly seeh definition
"No breakups," he promised "I may have busted my head a few times, but I’m not that stupid"
"Good," she said "Now, about that cake--"
Her voice faltered Percy Jackson was running toward theht bad news
They gathered on deck so that Coach Hedge could hear the story When Percy was done, Piper still couldn’t believe it
"So Annabeth was kidnapped on a ory Peck and Audrey Hepburn"
"Not kidnapped, exactly," Percy said "But I’ve got this bad feeling…" He took a deep breath, like he was trying hard not to freak out "Anyway, she’s--she’s gone Maybe I shouldn’t have let her, but--"
"You had to," Piper said "You knew she had to go alone Besides, Annabeth is tough and smart She’ll be fine"
Piper put some charmspeak in her voice, which maybe wasn’t cool, but Percy needed to be able to focus If they went into battle, Annabeth wouldn’t want hi hurt because he was too distracted about her
His shoulders relaxed a little "Maybe you’re right Anyway, Gregory--I mean Tiberinus--said we had less tiuys aren’t back yet?"
Piper checked the tietting "It’s two in the afternoon We said three o’clock for a rendezvous"
"At the latest," Jason said
Percy pointed at Piper’s dagger "Tiberinus said you could find Nico’s location…you knoith that"