Author's Note:

Hey Guys,

Thank you to those of you who followed my story and added it to their favorites. And thank you to those of you who reviewed, and to those who are reading this and haven't, please review. I don't think it's to much to ask, so please review.

I'm trying to write more because like I said I will be at camp for two weeks starting Friday (Yikes. So long!) So stay with me and when I return I promise to update immediatly.

I hope you all enjoy the story and most of all, leave reviews. Thanks!

Carl's POV

What have I gotten myself into? I had asked myself.

Something amazing. I answered myself a few chapters later when I was totally and utterly hooked into the story.

Chapter 10: We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium

In a way it's nice to know there are Greek gods out there, because you have somebody to blame when things go wrong...

"Carl?" my father's voice interrupted my reading. "What are you doing?" he asked with a baffled tone.

"Um... reading." I answered with the same obviously voice that Riley had used with me.

"Yeah, but its a book."

"I can see that." I said. "Are you okay, Dad?"

"My son is reading. A BOOK." he said to nobody particular. "My son is reading a book and he's up before me."

I chuckled at this. All I ever read was comic books that Michonne or my dad brought back from runs, and it had still been a long time since I'd read one of those. I'm sure that this; me reading a book, was a sight my father had never seen and was never expecting to see. My dad sat down next to me.

"So," he said with a pleased look on his face. "What are you reading?"

I was tempted to say "A book." just like Riley, but I didn't.

"The Lightning Thief." I replied. "It's like insane good. It's about this kid..." Then i was spurred into a little explanation of the book up to where I was, which wasn't that far, but it seemed so.

"I'm just surprised that you'd actually go into the library and find a book." he said.

"Oh, I didn't get it. Riley gave it to me."

"Riley?"

"You know, the pretty girl we picked up the other day on the run." I knew my mistake once the the sentence left my mouth.

My dad smiled a big smile. "Yep, I remember Riley. That pretty girl you found the other day. Yep I remember her." He let out a little chuckle.

"Okay," I said with a smile and a hint of a laugh, "I didn't mean it like that."

"Like what?"

I just smiled and looked down at the book. Then a thought passed my mind.

Did you mean it like that?

My dad clapped me on the shoulder. "I'm glad to see you reading, and I'm glad you've found a pretty girl, but make sure to get your chores done in a bit, got it."

I hadn't found a pretty girl...wait... okay I did, but not in the way he was meaning it. But I left it. When was the last time my dad and I actually sat down and talked like this? I don't know the answer, so it must have been a while.

Riley's POV

The smell of something good wafted through the prison halls. Chatter and footsteps echoed off the concrete walls. Chaco had her head in my lap. I was sitting on the floor of the library reading another familiar title. Pride & Prejudice. My taste in literature was in fact that varied, I could go from modern humor filled greek mythology to classics filled with Old English.

I closed the book which woke Chaco and stood up.

"C'mon, baby girl." I said and she followed me out the door.

When I entered the dinning area, it was buzzing with life.

Whoa. So. Many. Freaking. People. I thought, but my eye picked out one. Over in the far corner was Carl. He was in his own little world it seemed, and the food in front of him looked untouched.

There was a little tug on mu shirt. I look down and found a set of adorable green eyes and blonde hair.

"Hi, Katie." I said.

"Hi, we were wondering if we could could um" she was using more words than necessary to ask a question. "We were wondering if we could play with Chaco."

"Of course, I bet she'd love that."

"Thank you, Riley!" she said and gave me a hug around the leg.

"Oh," I said surprised. "You're very welcome."

"Come on, Chaco." she called as she ran over to an excited looking group of kids.

Chaco looked to me for permission. "Go on." I said and nodded my head in the direction of the kids, and Chaco went bounding with her tail wagging.

I grabbed my food and looked for a spot to sit. There was a spot next to Carl and would I be clingy if I sat next to him?

Why the hell are you worrying about being clingy, Riley? I asked myself. So what the hell, I sat next to him.

Carl's POV

"What the hell have you done to me?" I asked Riley the minute she sat down next to me.

"Excuse me?" she asked with wide eyes and a tone that was alarmed.

"Why did you have to give me this book? Why? Why? Why?"

She laughed. "Don't you want a bit of childhood back?"

"But this." I said holding up the book. "Is addicting."

She laughed again. It was a nice laugh that was accompanied by a smile. A good smile.

Stop it, Carl. I scolded myself.

Stop what? Myself replied.