She raised an eyebrow. You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?You'd probably kick my butt.You I'd kick your butt.I brushed the cake off my hands. When I was at the River Styx, turning invulnerable . . . Nico said I had to concentrate on one thing that kept me anchored to the world, that made me want to stay mortal.Annabeth kept her eyes on the horizon. Yeah?Then up on Olympus, I said, when they wanted to make me a god and stuff, I kept thinking-Oh, you so wanted to.Well, maybe a little. But I didn't, because I thought-I didn't want things to stay the same for eternity, because things could always get better. And I was thinking . . . My throat felt really dry.Anyone in particular? Annabeth asked, her voice soft.I looked over and saw that she was trying not to smile.You're laughing at me, I complained.I am not!You are not making this easy.Then she laughed for real, and she put her hands around my neck. I am never, going to make things easy for you, Seaweed Brain. Get used to it.