My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Piss Off a God With a Baseball Bat

Julie's never eaten fish before. She's never even been tempted - having been raised chanting "meat is murder" the first ten years of her life. Being the sibling of a son of Poseidon definitely doesn't make the idea of cooking Nemo seem any less horrifying.

But, that sea monster made sushi make sense to her.

Now that Frank, Leo, and Hazel are confirmed to have not drowned to death in the middle of the Atlantic, Julie can take a break from frantically searching the skies with Jason to collapse into a sweaty and panting heap on the bow and let some of the less aerodynamic members of the crew do the heavy lifting. Which basically means she swapped cleaning duty for watch duty with Piper so she can lounge on the deck and brood.

Seriously...The surprise visit with Mommy Dearest, Annabeth basically fist fighting Reyna (who Julie STILL hasn't met), Percy and Jason whipping up that crazy storm so they could get away...Well, that was pretty cool.

Julie's frowning at the sunset when someone's footsteps approach her, and it feels like the merciful thing to do when she huffs out, "I'm grumpy. Go away, or I'll be mean to you."

Annabeth laughs lightly. "Thank you for the communication, but I think I can handle it."

She settles down next to Juliette and rests her elbows on her bent knees. Julie glances at her. Annabeth looks...weirdly at peace for someone about to go on a solo quest tomorrow, veteran quester or not. When was the last time Annabeth even went on a quest?

Oh, yikes. Now, she remembers. Did Julie ever apologize for yelling at her that time?

She returns her eyes to the horizon and shrugs. "Your funeral."

Annabeth shakes her head with a small smile. "Are you going to be okay when we get to Rome tomorrow?"

Julie arches an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I know you've been worried about Nico," shrugs Annabeth. "We've all noticed that you haven't been sleeping much. I just want to check that you'll be alright. That you won't be...distracted, I guess."

Juliette rolls her eyes, reaching over to flick Annabeth on the shoulder affectionately. "You aren't the only one here who's been on a quest before. And you aren't the only one finishing up a solo one tomorrow. I know what I'm doing, Chase, chillax."

"I know you do." Annabeth says firmly.

When Julie turns to face her, there's a funny gleam in her eye. The older girl is smiling at her - gentle, but pulling at her cheeks. The same way that Percy looks whenever he watches Juliette put her makeup on in the morning or beat all the Ares boys to the top of the climbing wall.

It makes her stomach go fuzzy, so she quickly returns her gaze to the orange light touching the top of the sea instead. "So, your mom put you up to this, huh? This Mark of Athena thing?" She asks, clearing her throat to signify the subject will be changing now.

She sees Annabeth nod out of the corner of her eye. "Yes, she did. If you could call it that. She was pretty out of it at the time."

Julie snorts. "I hear that."

"More so than Aphrodite."

"Wow. Being less stable than the Goddess of Love. That's gotta be great for Athena's ego."

"Please, don't make her hate you too. I already have to pray daily just so my mother won't smite Percy out of sheer dislike."

"Gods, I can't wait for your wedding. That seating chart is going to be phenomenal."

Annabeth laughs, punching Julie on the shoulder. There's a happy little twinkle to her eye that makes Juliette smile, though, despite the abuse. "I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself."