Percy Jackson!

Lydia nodded.

“Then you just… weave them together.” Trenton realized he was terrible at explaining this. “Sorry, I realized that wasn’t helpful.”

“I get the gist of it.” Lydia said smiling.

Trent finished the braid and laid down, staring up at the ceiling. “What do you like to do Lydia?”

“Well, I’m pretty good at cards, even when I’m not cheating.”

“Can you teach me?” Trent looked up at her, her hair messy and damp still.

“Which game? There’s about ninety.” Lydia said, smiling.

“Whichever one’s your favorite.” Trent smiled back, stretching out his arms. He let them flop back to his sides after they made a slightly sickening popping noise that he seemed completed unfazed by.

Lydia crinkled her nose at the noise, but produced a pack of playing cards from her pocket. “You ever played War? It’s easy, but really fun.”

Trenton shook his head, sitting up curiously. “War?”

Lydia sat down on the floor and dealt out cards.

Trenton watched her with wide eyes. “That’s a lot of cards.”

“Yep.” She said, finally finished dealing. “Alright, now hold your deck face down.” Lydia said, showing him with her own cards.

Trenton copied her, excited but uncertain.

“Ok, now flip the top card over in 3, 2, 1!” Lydia said, flipping her own card over.

Trenton flipped the card over quickly, revealing a 4. “Fantastic! What does it mean?”

Lydia barely contained a laugh as her first card was an 8. “I won, because mine is higher than yours. Let’s try again. 1, 2, 3!”

Trent repeated the process, flipping over a 7. “So big numbers are good?”

“Yeah, big numbers are good. And you beat me!” Lydia said, looking down at her 5. “Alright, here we go again. 1, 2, 3!”

“No!” Trenton whined as he flipped over a two.”

Lydia flipped over a two as well. “Haha! War!” She said excitedly. “Ok, so or four cards face down,” she told him, doing so. “Now flip over the next one.” She flipped over a nine.

Trenton flipped over an 8 and sighed. “I’m awful at this game.”

“That’s the best part about the game. You can’t be awful at it or good at it without cheating. It’s all in the cards.”

“I thought you liked being able to cheat?” Trent teased.

“I only cheat in games I KNOW I can’t win at.” Lydia replied, smirking.
(Sorry, but my brother is dragging me somewhere really early tomorrow, so I need to go to bed.)

“Mhm, sure.” He teased playfully.
(Okay, goodnight! Have fun!)

Lydia put a hand to her chest and fake gasped. “How rude!”
(I’m back)

Trent smirked, watching Lydia with amusement. “You’re very dramatic, dwarf.”

“Yeah, it’s my best trait!” Lydia declared, laughing. “Honestly, I’d probably fit in better with the Apollo kids!”

Trenton raked his hands through his hair, imitating swooning. “You are quite the ray of sunshine.”