Playing Devil's Advocate

The Park

"How long will I be staying with you guys?" I ask after a couple minutes.

"It depends on what Master Garret thinks of you. It could be a few days at least." Colten answers.

"Won't my parents be worried though?"

"Master Garret arranges these things carefully. He knows how to make things work out perfectly."

"Perfectly for him or perfectly for other people?"

"Both," he says it forcefully enough for me to drop the subject and finish eating.

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"How much longer until we get there? I'm bored! Entertain me Colten!" I've finished eating and the Monsters kicked in about five minutes ago.

"Calm down Annabeth. Geez! Remind me to never get you a Monster again. We'll be there in just over an hour... What are you doing? Annabeth! WHAT... NO! BAD! DON'T DO IT ANNABETH!" Colten slams on the brakes right as I start climbing out of the window to get on the roof. "Get back in the car Annabeth."

"You're no fun." I pout as I get back in my seat. I look out the window and see a deserted park. "Coltencanwegotothepark?Canwe?Canwe?Canwe?"

"Five minutes. If you ask to stay any longer I'm using the chloroform again." He sighs while getting out of the van.

"You have to catch me first! Last one there's a rotten egg!" I yell over my shoulder as I run to the park.

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"Annabeth! Get your butt over here!" Colten yells almost half an hour later.

"You can't catch me! Nana nana boo-boo!" I sing as I stop to stick my tongue out at him. As I turn around I realize just how close Colten is and squeal in surprise. I start to turn back around to run away but i trip over my feet and fall on my face.

"Do i really need to use the chloroform now or will you come willingly?" Colten asks as he tries not to laugh.

"You'll never take me alive!" I yell as I jump back up to start running, but before I can take a step away, Colten catches my arm and pulls me to his chest.

"Chloroform it is then," he says as he puts the damp rag to my face again. I struggle but stop after a few seconds because I know I'll need to breathe at some point. I force myself to become dead weight and he takes the bait and picks me up.

"When you decide to 'wake up' Annabeth, you can sit back in the front," he whispers as he opens the doors to the van.

"I'm awake!" I exclaim before he can set me down. "Will you put me in the front though? I don't wanna walk." I look up at him with puppy dog eyes.

"If you want up there, you can walk. I've been dealing with you all day and you've become more work than when I picked you up," he told me. The fact that he was trying not to smile told me that he wasn't serious though.

"But, Colten... I love you," I tease. "I know that you love me too, so will you please take me to the front of the van?"

"Fine," he starts. "But no more stopping. We have an hour drive ahead of us and I plan to get there by nightfall."

He put me in the front seat and shut the door as I got buckled in. He shut the back doors and got in the driver's seat and we started back down the road.

"How did you know I wasn't passed out?" I asked.

"You were smiling and trying not to laugh," he chuckled.

"I could still take you," I grumbled as I looked out the window.

"Sure you can Annie. Sure you can," he chuckled as we fell into silence.

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A/N: Another chapter is finally up... I think I've brken my writer's block curse... Maybe, I hope so anyway. Let me know what you think. I'm starting to worry that my story isn't any good from the feedback I'm not getting. I already have the next chapter on paper and I'll upload it tomorrow hopefully. Happy Readings! :)