Chapter 12: Decisions [G]

Between that dream and my fucking past, I don't know why I'd ever have somone else. Griffin was sitting on a bench in Oxford. When he was troubled, it was the first place he'd go. He made a list of pros and cons in his head about being with Penny. The cons were heavy but the pros were so much more appeasing. Maybe I should give it a shot, a voice in his head shouted. Another voice hollered back, But it'll just be a liabilty and most likely end up fucked up. His mind flashed to his first relatonship. It was the last relationship he'd had, unless you counted the few bar hook ups when he was drunk.

He knew better. He knew better than to think of her name of always pissed him off. What she did and all. Because of them. The Paladins did whatever they had to, and hurt whoever they had to hurt. And that's exactly what the Paladins did to their relationship they once had. Killed her dad, kidnapped her mother along with her brother, and used her to get him.

Penny's voice rang in his head. But we're alike...Was you last girlfriend a jumper? She did have a really good point there. And like she said, if he taught her how to defend herself- she'd be even lesser of a risk.

The thoughts were swirling around too fast and Griffin was beginning to get a headache. "Urgh!" he yelled loudly. A walking elderly couple looked at him strangely. "Sod off," he mumbled.

He knew where she would be. He jumped to his cave. Cave sounds barbaric, he thought as he ended up in front of he computer. I'll call it a lair, he decided as he looked over at his essy pile of comics and various papers, an issue of X-men caught his eye. His first decision was made. Now for the second...

Griffin turned around, half hoping to see Penny on the couch either ticked off or watching something on TV, but she wasn't there. He glanced around the corner to where he stored supplies. She wasn't there either. And she wasn't sleeping on the bed, he noticed when he turned around. In fact, he realized the bed was still messy so he quicky made it up. It almost felt weird. Knowing she had been there just a few hours earlier. And the fact he never made his bed. But that wasn't the point. He had to find her. He jumped away to his first stop.

He ended up next to the telephone booth outside the resturant. Griffin's eyes glazed around, making sure she wasn't out here. His eyes reached the parking space where her silver car had been. She's going back. Griffin jumped again to the side of the road they drove on earlier. It was before he jumped with the car though. There was still no sign of her.

He jumped again. Griffin was standing in the spot where Penny had first jumped them to in Chambersberg behind the houses. The car was there along with Penny. She was sitting up against the passenger side tire, staring at a small dividing wall. She turned around after he teleported, obviously feeling his jump. Her face looked hurt, yet blank.

Griffin smiled weakly at her as he walked over to her. He half leaned and half sat on the wall, looking at her. "See you brought it back." He gestured towards the car.

Penny nodded. "Always do." Her voice was quiet again, just like after she woke in the car, and she also wasn't looking at him.

Griffin sighed as he casually scratched the back of his neck. "Uh...I'm not so good at apologies...But I've thought about what you said..." She looked up at him. He continued. "And I guess we could give it a try." Griffin looked down nervously and put his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He looked at her again and saw her face was nearly shining with that smile he liked so much. She got up fast and hugged him. "But," he pulled her and held her at arms length. "I won't go easy on you when we train. Everyday." His voice got almost strict as he strongly emphisized 'every'.

She nodded. Griffin loosened his grip and pulled Penny close to him. I hope this doesn't turn into a mistake, he thought as he kissed her forehead.