Chapter Two: The Trickster’s Test The day had barely begun, and already Ryan was feeling the pull of mischief. He grinned to himself as he and the red-haired girl—who, he’d learned, went by Cassidy—walked in the direction of the mess hall. She was still eyeing him suspiciously, but Ryan was used to that look. People always doubted him before they saw the full effect of his chaos. “So,” Cassidy asked, breaking the silence, “what exactly is your plan for the day? Because if it involves me getting dragged into one of your stunts, I’m out.” Ryan shrugged dramatically. “You’re not gonna want to miss this. I mean, who else could handle the kind of mayhem I’ve got planned?” Cassidy shot him a skeptical look. “You think you can handle it. But I bet you’ve never met anyone like me.” “Oh, I’m sure I haven’t,” Ryan said, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm. “But I’m always up for a challenge.” They reached the mess hall, and Ryan's gaze immediately darted around for his target. There were always new faces around camp—new campers, demigods, and occasionally some random satyrs who liked to cause trouble of their own. But today, Ryan had a particular goal in mind. “You see that guy over there?” Ryan pointed discreetly to a kid at a table, surrounded by a group of campers who were laughing and chatting. The kid was tall, with shaggy brown hair and a serious look on his face—definitely not someone who appreciated a good prank. “His name’s Jason. He’s in the Apollo cabin, and he thinks he’s all hot stuff because he’s got that perfect aim with a bow.” Cassidy raised an eyebrow. “Okay...?” Ryan’s grin widened. “Let’s just say I’ve got a little something planned to remind him he’s not as perfect as he thinks.” Cassidy looked at him like he was crazy, which, honestly, wasn’t far from the truth. “You’re going to prank him during lunch?” Ryan gave her a sly look. “More like before lunch. The best tricks are the ones that catch people off guard.” Cassidy crossed her arms. “And I’m supposed to help you with this?” Ryan paused, his grin faltering for half a second. He wasn’t used to asking for help—especially not with his plans. But Cassidy was different. She was quick-witted, and there was something about her sharpness that made Ryan think she could pull off something unexpected. “Well… if you want to sit this one out, I totally get it.” Ryan shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a hint of challenge in his tone. “I mean, you’ve already seen me cause a mess. Might be fun to watch someone else clean it up for once.” Cassidy’s eyes narrowed, but there was a spark of curiosity in them. “What exactly do you want me to do?” “Ah, so you’re in,” Ryan said with a grin, clearly pleased. “I need you to create a distraction. Something that’ll get Jason’s attention without him knowing it’s part of my grand plan. You’re quick on your feet, right?” “I’m not your personal assistant,” she shot back, though the hint of a smile tugged at her lips. “But fine, I’ll bite. What’s the plan?” Ryan leaned in closer, lowering his voice like it was some top-secret mission. “Okay, so here’s the deal. We’re going to set up a little surprise for Mr. Perfect Aim.” He paused, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “You see that table by the window? I’ll grab his attention, and while he’s distracted, you’re going to sneak behind him and put a little something in his lunch. Something… unexpected.” Cassidy’s eyebrows furrowed. “What exactly are we talking about here?” Ryan’s grin widened mischievously. “A little dash of pepper… from the cursed jar. You know, the one that makes everything taste extra spicy?” Her eyes widened. “You’re insane.” Ryan chuckled. “Insane? Nah, I’m just creative. Trust me, this is going to be hilarious.” Cassidy sighed, shaking her head but unable to hide the amusement in her eyes. “Alright, I’m in. But you owe me one after this. And if anyone gets caught, I’m blaming you.” “Deal,” Ryan said, holding out a hand to seal it. “This is gonna be legendary.”
As they made their way toward Jason’s table, Ryan couldn’t help but feel the rush of anticipation. He’d done pranks before, sure, but there was something about having an accomplice that made it even more fun. And Cassidy? She was starting to get the hang of it. Ryan kept an eye on Jason, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As soon as Jason turned to talk to someone across the room, Ryan nudged Cassidy. “Now’s your chance. Go,” he whispered. Cassidy moved quickly, slipping around the table and dropping a generous sprinkle of cursed pepper into Jason’s sandwich. She was back beside Ryan in seconds, and they both took positions in opposite corners of the room, pretending to look like they weren’t plotting something devious. Jason returned to his seat, oblivious to the trouble that was about to unfold. Ryan couldn’t resist one last look at Cassidy. “You ready?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Cassidy replied with a small smirk. And just as Jason took a big bite of his sandwich, Ryan waited for the fireworks to begin.
