The arcade smelled like popcorn, electricity, and teenage bravado. Cassie dragged you inside like a whirlwind, eyes sparkling at every neon light. “You have to try this one,” she said, pointing to a racing game with a vehicle that looked like it was stolen from Olympus itself.

You tried to keep up. Every game she chose, she crushed you. Air hockey? She slammed the puck so hard you barely kept your paddle upright. Dance-off game? You felt like a marionette with broken strings.

“Come on, slowpoke!” she laughed, shoving another token into the machine. “Are you even trying?”

“I’m trying… strategically,” you said, ducking under her next attack in virtual combat.

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Strategic my ass. You just suck.”

Despite her teasing, she grinned whenever you scored a point, like it was the end of the world. Then came the claw machine, and somehow, she cheated using a secret Amazon technique. You swore the stuffed dragon moved into her hand by magic.

“Okay, that’s cheating,” you complained, stomping your foot.

She shrugged, a mischievous smirk on her face. “Life isn’t fair, babe. Accept it.”

You narrowed your eyes. “I didn’t know cheating was in the Amazon code of honor.”

“It’s not,” she shot back, wiggling the plush dragon in your face. “But beating you makes it worth it.”

You threw your hands up in mock surrender. “Fine. But next round, I’m picking the game.”

“Oh, this is going to be fun,” she purred, eyes glinting dangerously.

Sure enough, your next challenge was a shooting gallery. You barely hit any targets while she shot with almost superhuman precision. “Seriously? Did you aim with your eyes or your soul?” you groaned.

Cassie shrugged, looking innocent. “I aim with my Amazon instincts. You’re… adorable trying, though.”

By the time the day ended, you were exhausted, sticky from soda, and slightly dizzy from all the flashing lights. But Cassie was radiant, arms full of arcade prizes she insisted were for “our new home.”

You sighed, muttering to yourself, “If this is normal demigod behavior, I’m signing up for more.”

She caught your mutter and grinned, tossing a neon plush at your head. “Good. Because I’m not stopping anytime soon.”

You flopped into a beanbag chair, pretending to be annoyed, but your chest felt lighter than it had in weeks. “You’re insane,” you said, smirking despite yourself.

“And you love it,” she countered, plopping down next to you, her prizes spilling onto the floor.

“Maybe,” you admitted, letting the chaos of the arcade and her infectious laughter wash over you. Somehow, between stolen dragons, arcade tokens, and mock arguments, Cassie had managed to make you feel like the luckiest person alive—even if you were hopelessly, utterly losing at every game.

By the time you finally left, your pockets empty, your shoes sticky, and your ego bruised, she was still skipping along, humming a tune you didn’t recognize. You caught her hand, letting her tug you along.

“Alright,” you muttered. “Tomorrow, we’re doing this all over again?”

She glanced back, eyes gleaming. “You bet. But next time… I’m taking no prisoners.”

You groaned. And smiled. Because with Cassie, even losing felt like winning.