“So Beckendorf was pretty popular?" Leo asked. "I mean-before he blew up?”

“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?”

“Beckendorf closed eyes tight and brought his hand up to his watch.from that distance, the explosion shook the world. Heat seared the back of my head. The Princess Andromeda blew up from both sides, a massive fireball ofgreen flame roiling into the dark sky, consuming everything....I stared out the window into deep blue water. Beckendorf was supposed to go to college in the fall. He had a girlfriend, lots of friends, his whole life ahead of him. He couldn't be gone.”

“Oh my god, I am so awesome!" Leo bellowed."So awesome!" Echo yelled back."He is funny," a nymph ventured."And cute, in a scrawny way," another said."Scrawny?" Leo asked. "Baby I invented scrawny. Scrawny is the new sizzling hot.”

“Let's boogie,' he (Leo) said. 'Before I come to my senses”

“Shut up, me,” Leo said aloud.“What?” Piper asked.“Nothing,” he said. “Long night. I think I’m hallucinating. It’s cool.” Sitting in front, Leo couldn’t see their faces, but he assumed from their silence that his friends were not pleased to have a sleepless, hallucinating dragon driver.“Just joking.” Leo decided it might be good to change the subject.”

“I never thought I'd get to see Rome," Hazel said. "When I was alive, I mean for the first time, Mussolini was in charge. We were at war.""Mussolini?" Leo frowned. "Wasn't he like BFF's with Hitler?" Hazel stared at him like he was an alien. "BFF's?""Never mind.""I'd love to see the Trevi Fountain," she said."There's a fountain on every block," Leo grumbled."Or the Spanish Steps," Hazel said."Why would you come to Italy to see Spanosh steps?" Leo asked. "That's like going to China for Mexican food, isn't it?""You're hopeless," Hazel complained."So I've been told.”