Henry

Hey, Henry,
I'm sorry you got caught up in my stuff. I did lie to you about my parents being alive but I had to lie to the Dojo, too. The people who killed them are still after me. I look at this and it sounds ridiculous, paranoid as hell, but that doesn't make it any less true. I started to visit you and they were there, following you.
So, it's been real. Keep on top of your math. Say good-bye for me.
Your friend,
Griffin.

I kept the note.

I don't know why. Hell, I don't know why Griffin even sent it in the first place. He made such a dramatic escape from the authorities; I had been so startled that I felt angry at Griffin—not for lying (though I was a little at first) but mostly for leaving without telling me the truth.

Bewildered, my cousin and I left for home. Harold did his own thing, calling up the police to ask about Griffin and all that, but I tried to continue as normally as I could. I went to school, went to the Dojo, and tried to forget about Griffin and all his pretty lies.

Sad thing was I couldn't forget that git, no matter how much I tried.

Maybe it was the way he spoke French, or watched my back without me needing to ask him, or maybe even the way he laughed around me. I don't know why but honestly, I missed the lying bastard.

I kept the letter in my desk drawer. I never really touched it though, as if scared if I did I might remember it all over again. After a couple months we stopped trying to find out what happened to Griffin and I tried to forget him as best as I could. That was hard though; he was my best friend and he just suddenly disappeared.

I began to date a girl named Madison. She was pretty enough; curly brown hair and pretty blue eyes. She was an art student, always sketching in that book of hers. She reminded me of Griffin. Maybe it was the smile she always had on or the way her eyes lit up whenever she was excited. I don't know but I felt like I was a sick person for dating her just because she reminded me of him.

I only had classes four days a week and it happened to be a day I had off. I was out with Madison on a bench, chewing on giant pretzels she had convinced me to buy. Madison was talking about her teacher giving her an unnecessary grade and I was nodding at her, looking around every now and then when I got bored.

"Henry," she said and grabbed my arm. "What's the matter? You're acting strange."

"Sorry," I turned to smile at her. She smiled back and kissed me, soft lips molding together with mine perfectly. When she pulled away I ran my fingers through her hair and she leaned closer. She smelled like lilac.

"Can we eat out tonight? I'm sick of ramen and frozen meals."

I continued to stroke her head. "Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere is fine with me."

"Alright, I'll pick you up tonight after your class is over," I promised her. She grinned.

"Thank the gods. We haven't been out lately. I miss you," she cuddled closer to me and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. I was a bit surprised at how slim and tiny they were. She was nothing like Griffin—shit, there I was, thinking about him again.

It's been four years since he left without a word.

I shook him off my mind and glanced over to peek across the street, stiffening when I saw something suspicious. I wasn't paranoid or anything but I guess Griffin left some sort of impact on me. When I saw the tall men in suits across the streets watching me, I stared them down harshly, pulling Madison closer to me. They didn't back down. They stared back but didn't move or speak.

Finally, I moved my face away and stood, helping Madison off the bench.

"What's wrong Henry?" she asked in a concerned voice.

"Its fine," I said and kissed her cheek. "You have class in an hour right? I'll pick you up at your dorm. I have business to attend to," I gave her a playful smirk.

She rolled her eyes but touched my shoulder. "By business you mean playing video games, right?" she laughed slightly and bid me goodbye, turning and rushing off to class. I watched her go and casually walked the other way, not even glancing at the men. After a couple minutes I did a one-over across the street, hiding my panic when I saw they were following at a distance.

I looked away and walked as normally as I could. Eventually I reached my apartment and entered, locking the door behind me and catching my breath. I peeked outside the window and felt relieved when I saw that no one was there.

I hurried over to the kitchen drawer, where the old letter was stuffed, and pulled it out. I read it over and over again, not for some kind of memory, but for some kind of reassurance or clue. He apologized to me—was this why? Are they coming after me now…but why? Why after four years…?

I shoved it back into the drawer and turned, about to leave the room, when it happened. A big force—I don't know what that force was—knocked me over. I landed on my back and gasped in surprise, scrambling to my feet. My couch was flipped over, the pillows scattered around the floor.

And Griffin was standing right there in front of me.

"What the FU—!" I began to scream, griping at Griffin's hand when it suddenly clamped over my mouth, pushing me backward. He kneeled in front of me, pressing me against the wall.

"Shhh," he hissed sharply, narrowing his eyes at me. "Do you want someone to hear you?"

He slowly pulled his hand away and I sat up, rubbing my mouth and glaring at him.

"Why are you here?"

"What a nice way to greet an old friend."

"You lied to me then disappeared."

"Oh, well…that couldn't really be helped," he had the decency to look guilty. "Listen, we can take a walk down memory lane later but right now I suggest you listen to me without complaining, okay?"

"What?" I asked rudely. "What are you talking about—wait, does this have anything to do with those guys following me earlier?"

"Yeah," Griffin said. "I don't know why they're suddenly bothering you, but last time they went after someone close to me, they were killed. I don't want to take that chance again," he stared at me seriously and I felt uncomfortable. I shifted under his stare and gave in.

"Fine, whatever, but I have to be back by six."

"No promises," he said, suddenly reaching out and grabbing my arm. In a flash we were in a weird room and I felt sick, stumbling away from Griffin and steadying myself on a wall.

"Wh-What was that?" I stammered.

"I jumped," he said and finally explained everything to me. He told me about his parent's murder, the people after him, and what he could do. He told me everything he could think of and soon I stopped being angry at him. I don't know why I found this lack of rage strange, since he explained why he disappeared—to protect me. And now he's back to protect me, too.

"Oh," was all I could say when he was done talking.

"Yeah."

Silence.

"Sorry," he said. "I know I screwed up your life. You should be out with your girlfriend, not with me in an underground hole."

"Well—wait, how did you know I was dating someone?"

"Oh, that," he said nervously. "Well, to be sure, I kept an eye on you for a while. When I was positive they were following you again, I came to get you. Just until they leave to find me; I'm sure they felt me jump."

I was silent.

"How long?"

"It depends."

I stared at the walls. "Where is this?"

"Well, I made it so that only jumpers can come in here. So we're safe."

"Oh," I said. I kind of suspected Griffin wasn't exactly normal (the bathroom was trashed when he disappeared), so this 'jumper' thing wasn't as shocking as it probably should have been. I sat down on his bed and watched him and he watched back, both of us silent.

"Why did you send me that letter?" I asked.

"I wanted you to have some kind of closure I guess?" he said. He laughed at my expression. "Okay maybe it was closure for me."

"You've…changed," I said slowly. His expression seemed to darken slightly.

"You consider this change? I've never been like this—like I used to be—in a long time. I don't know, seeing you again…well…" he scratched the back of his head.

"It's fine," I said. "So I have to sleep here?"

"The guest gets the floor," he said, pointing. I frowned.

"Kidding," he grinned. "You can have the bed."

I got comfortable, finding the sheets unnecessary. I lay on top of them, staring at the wall, looking over to watch Griffin get comfortable on the floor. I bit the inside of my cheek and turned back to watch the wall.

"You know…the beds big enough for two."

"What?"

I growled. "Don't make me say it again."

He began to laugh. After a moment I felt the bed move beside me and felt warmth press against my arm and leg. I scooted over to give him more room.

"This is so gay."

"Shut up, Griffin, at least none of us have to share the floor."

After a while of silence Griffin spoke again.

"Sorry for making you do this."

"Madison will be pissed."

He laughed again. "Sorry."

I wasn't even sure why I was being so cooperative. I mean, he just comes out of nowhere and drags me to some underground hole to 'protect me' after four years of avoiding contact with me. But it was Griffin. I had to give him a little credit right?

I fell asleep with Madison's smile on my mind and Griffin's light touch beside me.

A/N: These characters are from Steven Gould's book Jumper: Griffin's Story. Except for Madison; she's a random unimportant OC.
I thought it would be easier to use the Movie section…Henry appears in the book, not the movie.
Oh, and for those of you who haven't read the book, let me explain the beginning of this fanfic: In the book, Griffin (16 at the time) went on a trip to France with Henry and his cousin. At the airport Griffin was asked to come with the police for questioning of his parents murder and the truth came out. Griffin managed to get them to let him go to the bathroom and there, he jumped away. He sent Henry a note and never contacted or visited him again.
So there. :D
WARNING, Henry and Griffin are OOC. Sorry…XD
This is not a long series. It will probably be a couple chapters long.
Warning: SLASH! Boy on boy. Gay love. You get the point.