"This was a warning, next time I won't hesitate to break your bones."  The older boy threatened, his voice lined with venom, cold and harsh.  It came out quietly but deep, he wasn't a rambunctious person whose threats could be brushed aside, what he said, he meant, and everyone knew he would follow through.  A voice that cut into your ears and etched itself on the front of your mind.  His black-gloved hands loosened from another boy's shirt, letting him drop to the ground and put himself back together.  The unscatched boy was at his peek of eighteen years of age, with unnaturally vibrant red hair, short but full, that spiked softly in different directions, with a sweeping bang over his forehead.  It was just as he was about to turn that he felt the worn, pink rubber hit the back of his head.  No anger triggered, only a calm curiousity.  He reached back his hand and caught the eraser, flipping it over between his fingers, making note of the little parts that lined it.  The person who threw it was a doodler, since they had decided to crave their name in pencil on the eraser.  'Anna'.  Griffin, the red-haired boy, turned, his brown eyes hidden by a pair of black sunglasses.  But through the thicket of people, he had no idea who had thrown the eraser at him, all he had was a name.  Looking away from the general direction of 'Anna', Griffin glanced at the other boy's friends, who were huddled at the inner edge of the circle. "...Aren't you going to help him...?"  Frightened that they would be turned on next, they rushed to their friend's side, and instead of giving him courage or concern, they lended words such as 'Idiot, get up'  'Hurry up, let's get out of here'  'Dumbass'.  Griffin turned away from them and walked into the crowd that parted for him, heading off to his next class as though nothing had happened.  His gloved hand still gripped the pink eraser, his fingers rubbing against it, turning it around and around.

All she could think about was how quick she hid from him. Behind a locker row, she pressed her back against the wall. Her blue eyes looked over her shoulder slightly as she watched him pick up the eraser. Maybe he wouldn't know it was her! She was the only one, in her class that constently drew up different things on her scrach paper. Anna heard the late bell ring, she was late. Waiting till everyone was out of the hall ways, she began to run down the hallway. Her dark brown hair that was long enough to touch her mid back, flew behind her as she ran to her class. Thankfully her teacher wasn't there just yet, but the students looked up at her like she was the teacher. After realizing it was 'just Anna' they went back to talking amongst them selfs. She spoted Griffin still twisting the eraser, and quickly walked passed him. Was it the eraser with her name on it? She hoped not, since one of the students pointed out it was 'Just anna.' Her jacket, that was long enough to cover her hands, was a dark lavander matching the back shirt she wore under it. Her skirt was a blue jean skirt that reached her knee. She hated mini skirts, since they just showed off her legs. She opened her small bag she kept her erasers in, and noticed that her named eraser was gone. Looking up instantly at Griffin, she whispered to herself. "Crap." before looking away.

As Anna passed him, Griffin opened his palm to reveal the name carved into the eraser.  A smirk crossed his lips and he shut his palm, shoving the rubber eraser into his pocket.  The smirk disappeared as he folded his arms and casually sunk down into his seat.  It wasn't like Griffin to confront something as minor as this infront of a group of people.  It was only when he wanted to get his word through by giving a public beating that he didn't have sympathy or concern for the environment.  But there was no need to approach Anna about the eraser, he would have more fun doing it by himself anyway, if this was the Anna that did it to him.  Pressing a knee up against the desk, he gazed to the front of the glass, or rather, that's what it looked like with the thick sports glasses he wore.  His brown eyes slanted to the side, watching as Anna nervously rummaged through her eraser bag and then quickly look out the window to distract herself.  It was definitely her.  'Just Anna'.  Of all people.  How curious.

The school day was quick, as lunch came around. Anna slipped outside to eat where no one would bother her. Around the corner of the school, a small area she always ate lunch was waiting on her. Sitting down, she began to eat her small sandwich she made for lunch. Taking out a notebook, she began to doodle in it. Reaching into her bag, she remembered she had thrown the eraser at Griffin. "Great." she whispered taking out the second eraser in her bag. The sun was covered by rain clouds, yet it wasn't raining.

As the lunch hour rang for all years of students at their final grade school, Griffin slinked casually through the hallways.  Before long he escaped through the side door to the outside, feeling the sun on his face briefly until the clouds encroached on them.  As he ran his fingers across the collar of his shirt, a loose turtle neck that exposed his neck, his eyes captured Anna round the corner away from everyone.  A grin appeared on his lips and he strode in pursuit of her.  His hands fixed the white sleeves of the athletic shirt, the sleeves ended at his muscular but lean biceps, as he rounded the corner.  His boots were silent against the dirt of the ground, letting his approach go unnoticed.  Curiously he watched as Anna ruffled through her bag again for an eraser and go intently back to her notebook.  Quiet and studious...  That's all anyone really knew about Anna, he hadn't even thought of her when he first looked at the eraser. In a brisk movement, Griffin planted his boots into the ground in front of her.  Griffin leant down and harshly grabbed her hand away from her notebook, using his fingers to force her hand open.  Gently, however, he put the eraser back in her palm and closed her fingers over it.  "...Somehow...  ...This is came into my possession...  ...Care to explain?"

Anna finished drawing the picture in her notebook. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, ploting on how she would get the eraser back. But when push came to shove, she felt someone grab her hand harshly. "W-What?" she looked up at Griffin with wide eyes. "You found my eraser." she said loking up at him, unable to see his eyes. "There was a fight, I was going to destract you. But it ended up hitting you." she said closing her eyes. Pulling her hand away, what was he going to do? "I'm sorry, Griffin." she said putting the eraser away. "I didn't mean for it to hit you." she said gathering her stuff together. "Excuse me."

"There was a fight.  And you were going to distract me?"  Griffin chuckled in amusement.  "Why were you trying to 'distract' me, from my business?  What I was doing did not concern you.  Are you wanting to get into trouble?"  His voice was humored, but cruel.  Griffin let her pull her hand away as she tried to get her things together and run away from him.  Once her bag was zipped he took ahold of her arm and yanked her up.  Griffin took both her wrists and pushed her up against the wall, his bod taking several steps closer to her.  Leaning in he whispered into her ear, letting his lips touch her skin as he spoke.  "I advise you...  Not to do it again, Anna.  I'm not into hurting girls."  Griffin slipped his hands away and stepped back.  He picked up her bag and put the handle into her hand with care.  "Have a nice day Anna."  He said softly as he walked away, putting his hands on the pockets of his black pants.

Anna stared at him with wide blue eyes. Threatened by him, was supossed to be one of the worset things at school. She nodded her head at him while, she took the bag from him. What had just happened? She wondered sinking slowly against the wall. She continued to stare at him, then she looked up at the sky. Maybe it was better then getting hit. Sighing she leaned her head back. "What do I do if something happens again?" she thought staring  now at the people who were running inside because it had started to rain. Even though it had started to rain, she slowly got up and got her things together. And began for the school at a quick pace.

Anyone who believed that Griffin was all bark and no bite, didn't think that the next day.  It was rather common for him to give threats or warnings, but Griffin also disliked being a habitual person, so he continuously broke people's cycle of thinking but changing it up whenever it became a pattern.  As the rain began Griffin fled to the third and last floor of the school, to a short hallway around the back of the library that wasn't really used.  There he perched himself on a wide, brick ledge next to the window, laying on his back, arms folded behind his head with one foot pressed against the frame, and the other knee bent casually.  Lacing his head were a pair of headphones, the larger kind that covered the ears and blocked out outside noises.  Through his sunglasses he stared up at the ceiling in thought, relaxing with the sound of the varying rock music.  After several minutes of laying there, Griffin slipped one arm away from under his head and picked up a book, opening it to read its' pages.  Though seemingly a bully, or a rebel, Griffin sought to receive decent grades in school, he always did his homework and projects, and he typically received no less than a B on all this tests.

The rain had messed up her outfit. Not that she really cared whatt she looked like. But, it was really coming down. Shivering slightly she sliped by students and climbed the stairs. Stopping mid step, she looked up at a pair of stairs she never went on really. Curiousity filled her eyes as she climbed the stairs. All of her main classes were on the floors below. Turning a corner as soon as she got up the stairs, she didn't notice Griffin on the ground leaning against the wall reading his book. She had kept walking then triped right all over him, messing up his book. "I-I'm so-sorry." she said fixing her skirt. "I didn't see you...there." she said as she stoped talking and saw it was Griffin. "Gr-Griffin."

With his headphones on and eyes captivated by the book Griffin didn't hear anyone coming up the stairs.  It wasn't until he felt her boot and watched her calf come into his vision that Griffin knew what was going on, but there wasn't much he could do about it as the event came into place.  Griffin managed to sit part way up, but as he tried to prevent her from hitting herself on anything, the force had caused his back to hit the ground again, and his book to go flying a couple feet from him as he tried to grab her.  When the seconds of surprise where finished, Griffin found himself laying on his back, looking up at Anna, his hands fastened around the tops of her arms to keep her stable.  As Anna stumbled an apology, Griffin watched her fix her skirt as her legs had gone into a compromising position.  Immediately he glanced away and as she said his name in embarrassment and fear, he fixed his position and sat up, then stood up, pulling her up with him to make sure she was secure.  Once they were standing Griffin released her and dusted himself off without speaking a word.

Anna stared up at him, and stoped talking standing there she looked back and forth. "I've never come up here before... so, I was exploring a bit." she said softly and looked up at him. "You can't hear a word I'm saying." she said turning away. "Sorry." she said as she walked forward a bit.

Griffin watched her pink lips move, realizing she was talking he removed the headphones from his ears and let them hang around his neck.  But just as he took them away she stopped speaking and took a couple steps away.  Puzzled but uncaring Griffin stepped away and knelt down, picking up his book and dusting it on his leg before stuffing it into his back pocket.  Just when it seemed he was about to part ways with her he reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him and whipping her around.  But instead of threatening her he slid his hand down her arm and exposed her open palm to the ceiling, revealing a scrape.  "...You should go to the nurse's office and get that cleaned...  Same with the one on your knee...  They sometimes neglect to clean this hallway, your cuts could get infected..."  With that he let go of her and stepped past her.

Anna stared down at her hand and her knee. Had Griffin just given her concern? "Griffin." she said quickly and looked up at him. "I hit your arm pretty hard, you go to the nurse as well." she said walking passed him. "Sorry, about before." she said running off to the nurses office.

'My arm?'  Griffin stopped for a moment, letting her run past him and descend the stairwell at a skip-like sprint as he glanced at his arm.  He saw nothing, and he felt nothing, his arm was fine, he'd only been surprised by the ordeal.  Nothing, so he ignored it and shrugged it off.  Her apology was heard, but he didn't linger on it.  At the sound of the first bell, he split ways and went to his next class.  She would be excused, since she was at the nurse's office.

After the following class was lunch, she began to her normal spot. But stoped seeing someone bothering Griffin, and taking a shot at him. "No way." she said squeezing her hand shut and lookng away. "If I interfear I'm done for." She heard a yell, and she flinched. Looking over her shoulder she put her bag down and took out her pencil. "Doesn't have my name on it." she said turning from her spot and going over to the fight, that already had a group of people around it. Getting in between people, she tossed the pencil. Feeling like an idiot.

Griffin looked amused by the hot shot kid, some Freshmen who thought he could take down Griffin as no big deal.  No one really noticed, but Griffin didn't start fights just to start fights, something always triggered him...  But if someone else wanted to start a fight, that was fine with him.  As the boy took a shot at him, Griffin reached up and grabbed his arm, yanking him about and twisting the arm to an odd angle against his back.  "Don't waste your time."  As the boy yelled in pain Griffin went to loosen up, suddenly feeling a pencil hit his shoulder.  Immediately he let go and turned around, his boot stepping on the pencil and accidently snapping it in half.  'Anna'  Without question he glanced over the crowd that he ordered to scatter away or they were next, and from there he could see Anna run off.  "Tch."  The boy lay on the ground and rubbed his arm in pain, whincing and crying.  Griffin kicked the broken pencil and dust against the boy and then went his way towards the bus stop at his typical, steady pace, but his intentions and plans weren't typical.

The next day at school Anna walked into the school. No one was in the hallways, so she could take it easy. Going to her locker, she got out her school book and sketchbook. Her hair was up in a pony tail, and she was looking threw out the hallways. "Is someone there?" she asked closing her locker. No one answered, so she began to walk.

At this time in the morning, the school was still quiet, classes weren't to start for another half hour.  The majority of the teachers hadn't arrived, and only the occassional student lingered to study intensely for their upcoming test, finish last minute homework, or work on a project.  The hallways were quiet, but not the kind of quiet that bothered you or made you feel uneasy.  As Anna strode past the end of a section of lockers, Griffin looked up from where he leaned in the corner and lashed out.  Briskly he put one hand over her mouth, the other around her bosom to keep her arms locked in place as he stepped back into a cleaning closet, whose door shut behind them, leaving them engulfed in darkness.  Griffin still did not let her go, he pulled her back against his chest, hand clamped around her mouth as he whispered in her ear.  "What did you not understand?  Did I not tell you not to interfere again?"  But he didn't move his hand to let her answer.  "Do you want me to hurt you Anna?"  Griffin said harshly as she struggled.  "What is wrong with you?"

Anna was walking to class, but felt hands go around her. "Ah-" Cut off instantly, she struggled and moved around then stoped. Breathing softly and trembled slightly as Griffin spoke to her. She shook her head as he asked what was wrong with her. 'What do I do?' she thought moving around, trying to get out of his grasp. But stoped and looked up at him as he asked if she wanted to get hurt. No. She didn't, she trembled in place an tilted her head down slightly. With his hand still over her mouth.

As she stopped, her body shivering in fear, Griffin tilted his face in her direction.  He watched her eyes lower in sadness through his own brown eyes.  It was then that he felt her body tremble, was she about to cry?  Griffin parted his lips, but no words came out.  He closed them again and swallowed, slowly loosening his grip from her.  Griffin removed his hand from her mouth and gently tucked his hands under her arms to keep as stable, leaning against him for support.  "...Why are you doing this Anna?"  He asked bluntly, but somehow, in a softer, gentler manner.

"Because." Anna began as she looked up at him. "Because...it's pointless to fight." she said slowly pulling out of his grip some. "I hate coming to school and having fighting all over the place." she ranted slightly looked away. "I'm just sick of i-it." she said gripping her jacket sleeves in her arms. "So. Do your worst.."

"..."  Griffin said nothing, he silently listened to her honest words.  It wasn't as though he started them all the time...  It's not like he fought for no reason...  But he didn't have to explain himself to Anna.  Griffin snapped from his thoughts as he heard answers angelic voice whisper 'Do your worst...'  He stood there for a moment.  The dark silence dragged out.  but after a moment Griffin stepped closer and reached out an arm as though about to grab her.  But his hand flinched and gently touched her arm, his fingers brushing down the sleeve of her jacket.  Afterwards he slipped his hand away and walked past her, opening the door and stepping out without a word.  He left the door open for her to leave, and went down the hallway himself, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Anna stood there for a second, and walked out of the closet and watched him walk off. Did what she say sink in any? She looked away and picked up her things and went to class. 

Griffin vanished that morning, but he did attend his first two blocks, however, hunched over a notebook, not paying any mind to anyone.  When lunch came, Griffin seemed to disappear off the face of the planet again, but he was back once more to attend his classes.  At the end of the day Griffin swept off campus without anyone knowing.  He sat on his motorbike in the studen parking lot, holding his helmet in his black-gloved hands, his reflection looking back at him through the visor.  "..."

Anna left the school and noticed Griffin getting ready to leave. She hadn't seen him all day. Her eyes looked at him curiously. "Griffin..?" she said softly from behind him. "Where were you today. You dissappered after second period." she said fixing her messed up hair.

When he heard Anna's soft voice, Griffin immediately raised his head and put his helmet on his thigh, twisting his body to look at Anna.  "...I was at school.  I don't expect you to notice me at lunch period...  Or in third or fourth block..."  He said simply, his eyes going up to her hair as she let her slender fingers fix it.  How did her hair get so messed up?

"Oh." Anna said looking away and turning slightly away. "Okay. I just noticed you know." she said still trying to fix her hair. "See you." she said as she began to walk off.

"..."  Griffin furrowed his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes.  Why was Anna talking to him?  Puzzled he looked away from her and raised his helmet to slip it onto his head, but he stopped and turned to look at Anna again.  Something didn't seem right about her continuously fixing her hair.  She wasn't a wild person, how would her hair get like that through an entire school day.  "...What happened to your hair...  Anna?"  He said after her.

Anna stoped mid step, and looked over at him. "Nothing." she said clearly a lie. "It's just really messed up." she said looking away. It wasn't his business, she had given a 'lesson' that day to someone in her class. "I'll talk to you later." she said as she began walking again. 

"...I don't appreciate you lying to my face, Anna..."  Griffin remarked.  "Next time, just say it's not my business.  What you choose to do with your free time has nothing to do with me."  What Griffin thought she had done, was completely inaccurate to what had actually happened, even though he had a hard time believing Anna would be doing what his mind said she was.  It made his stomach twist, but for what reason, he wasn't sure.  He jammed his keys into the ignition and turned it on, flaring up the sports-style motorbike.  But Griffin still couldn't let it go and just leave.  "Anna!"  He called to her.  "At least let me give you a ride home...  After this morning..."

Anna felt guilt in her stomach. She hated to lie, expecully about this. She stoped walking and looked over her shoulder as he called out to her. Offering a ride? She turned her heal and stared at him slightly. Looking both ways she nodded. "S-Sure." she said softly as she began back to where he was. Playing with her hair, she quickly put it back into a pony tail. "I'm ready." she said to him. Hoping he wouldn't mention it agan. 

Griffin watched her with a calm, stern face, twisting around on his back seat when she sat behind him.  "Well?  Where do you live?  You're going to have to give me directions..."  Before she answered he slipped his helmet over her head and carefully adjusted the strap under her neck.  "Hold onto me..."  He turned back around and kicked the stand out with the back of his heel.  Reving the bike to warm it up, he eased it across the line and sped off, picking his feet up and placing them on the metal pedals.  Griffin said nothing about her lie.

Anna blinked and leaned in to grab ahold of him. "I-I didn't get to fix my skirt." she said holding her skirt down slightly and holding onto him tightly with one arm. "That way." she said pointing to the right. "I seriously live two seconds away from school." she said softly as she tilted her head down onto his back. "Thank you." she said as he arrived soon after. "...Come on in, I'll give you something to eat." she said walking ahead of him.

With the wind scrapping by his ears he was death to her words, but as the arm came into view and pointed right, he turned sharply, bending the bike closer to the asphalt, before lifting back up.  When the helmet touched his back, Griffin shifted his shoulder blades in surprise, and nearly missed her pointing to her house.  As they pulled into the driveway, he put his foot down and eased it up to the garage door, where he parked it.  He carefully took the helmet off and moved to put it back on his own head, but she stopped him by asking him in.  "Anna, I---"  Griffin went to retaliate but she was already walking to her front door.  He sighed in aggravation and turned off his bike, following after her with his helmet under his arm, and school bag slung across his chest and shoulder.  "...I didn't want anything back.  I have to go to work soon."

"But...why not a thing to drink?" she asked softly as she opened the door. "Come on. It won't take long." she said going into the kitchen.

 "...Fine."  He whispered after she had vanished into the kitchen.  What was with Anna?  He threatened her, scared her, hurt her...  And now she was inviting him into her house for a drink?  One of a kind Anna.  That's what she should change to, not 'Just Anna'.  He stepped inside her house and closed the door after him.  "...Where is your family?"  Griffin asked as he followed her into the kitchen.

Anna flinched slightly in pain. "They're on vacation." she said putting on a smile. "Here." she said giving him a glass of juice. "I hope you like juice." she said sitting down with her small glass of juice.

His narrow, almond eyes caught the flicker of her hand and watched it shift to the glasses of juice, almost in a manner to stop the sudden shake.  "..."  Before he could speak, the glass was shoved into his face, causing him to bend back slightly, but when it came into his vision he grabbed it carefully and followed her to where she sat down.  But he remained standing.  "...Thanks..."  He held onto the glass for quite some time, unsure about what to say.  Griffin never really had time to socialize.  "...Why didn't your parents take you with them?  Don't you have any siblings?"

Anna drank her juice then stoped and put her cup down. "I'm on only child...my parent are out of town." she said softly. "On vacation again." her eyes were slightly dull as she spoke about them. She looked up at him. "I-I'll be right back. I need to get a brush." she said walking passed him into the hallway. Something fell out of her pocket and onto the ground. Something like a card. It read "Giving 'lessons.' If needed call xxx-xxx-xxxx." Anna was in the hallway brushing her hair.

'Out of town on vacation', that's what she just told him, it was obvious it wasn't a topic she didn't want to talk about, so Griffin said nothing more.  The silence drew on for several moments longer, and just as he was gulping down his juice she got up and went to go and brush her hair.  He turned his head and body as she walked by him, still swallowing juice when he saw the piece of paper flutter to the ground.  Griffin quickly gulped the last bit and put his cup down, moving forward to pick up the paper.  "Anna, you--"  He knelt down and picked up the card, his eyes instinctively reading what was written.  'Lessons?'  What kind of lessons?  He thought as he stood up, not taking another step forward.

Anna walked back into the kitchen. "I'm back--" she stoped and looked up at Griffin holding the card that was in her pocket. Touching her pocket, she looked up at him. "Give me that." she said snatching it from his hand and turning away from him. Putting it into her pocket. "Y-You didn't read it did you?" she asked softly.

Griffin went to move his hand back, but he was slower, as he was suspecting her to actually take it from him - he felt it slip through his fingers.  And afterwards all he could see was her back, her black shirt and fitted knee length denim skirt with cascades of rich brown hair.  "Of course I read it."  He replied bluntly.  "That doesn't mean I understood it...  What kind of shit are you getting yourself into that you're so defensive about it?  Ruffled up hair, a card, what the Hell are you doing?"  His words were harsh and dominating, there wasn't going to be a way to make him back down this time.

Anna looked back at him. "I-It's.." she flinched slightly and stared at him. "Kissing lessons..and stuff.." she said quietly. "That's what it means.." she said keeping her back to him.

Kissing lessons?  What the Hell?  Griffin wanted to laugh, but he was still confused.  Who the Hell needs lessons on how to kiss?  "Wait...  You...  You go to kissing lessons?  You don't need lessons to kiss!"  Griffin threw his hands up and turned around to retrieve his helmet.  "Look Anna...  I just gave you a ride home because...  Nevermind.  But I meant every word that I said.  Stay out of my business and out of my way."  He stared at her face and shoved his helmet on, turning and walking towards the door.  He opened it with one hand and adjusted the helmet strap with the other.  "...Thanks for the drink."  With that he walked out the house and shut the door, jogging down the steps and to his bike, where he left to go to work.

Anna stared at him. "W-Wait I don't--" she said but stoped and watched him ride off. "I don't go to them...I give them." she murmured softly as she went back into her house. The next day at school, she was bothered by someone who had fought with Griffin the other day. "I'm sorry, but I don't do refunds. I stoped doing that." she said softly staring down at the ground. "Excuse me." she said stepping passed him, but was grabbed by the arm. "Let go." she said softly before pushed against a pair of lockers. "H-Hey." she said wincing in pain. "I said no.." he protested back, and glared at her lifting up a hand slaping her across the face. She gasped in pain and held her face, before he lifted up a hand and punched her in the stomach. Causing her to colapse to the ground huging her stomach. 

A sharp pain zipped across the boys forward as Griffin's gloved hand grasped the back of his head and smashed him only half as hard as he could - since he didn't want him unconscious - into the locker grate.  A metal burn, leaving a gaping red mark on the boy's forehead appeared, but Griffin was far from done.  He grabbed the boys shoulder and whipped him around, taking hold of the collar of his shirt as soon as possible and slamming the back of his head against the locker.  Griffin whipped him across the locker so that he was several feet away from Anna.  When Griffin approached him he weighted one boot on the boys forearm, and secured the other against the boys neck.  "...Care to explain yourself...?"  He said harshly, but calmly to the boy, teasing his weight on the boy's arm, contemplating breaking it.

The boy stared up at Griffin with wide eyes. "Mind your own business! She didn't fullfill the promise. I paid her for lessons. And she suddenly stoped!" he finched and growled in a low pain. Pushing Griffin off, he got to his feet and began to run away. "I'll finish this later, Anna!" he shouted at her as he dissappered.

Anna was gasping for air, it hurt to breath. "...Ow..ow." she kept whispering to herself holding her stomach and touching her cheek.

Griffin clenched his jaw in anger.  He put his body weight on the boy's wrist, snapping it instantly.  Getting off he reached down and picked him, carrying him with one hand on his shirt collar to the doors at the end of the hallway.  There he opened the door and threw the boy outside.  "Stay in school today, and you're dead.  If you leave, I'll only beat you to near death next time I see your face."  With that he slammed the door shut and went to return to Anna, but by this time a crowd of girls had gathered around her, checking to make sure she was okay, asking questions, and trying to help her up.

Anna looked brused on the cheek and she was having shallow breaths. "I'm fine.." she said softly but held her stomach.

"Move!"  Griffin yelled to the girls, some of them stepping out of his way as he went to Anna and helped her stand up.  "Why don't one of you actually do something useful and tell the school nurse?!"  With him screaming at them, they all rushed off to do it, afraid to be near him.  Griffin turned to Anna and helped carry her weight.  "What happened?  What's wrong?"

"He hurt my stomach..." she said quietly. "It's my weakpoint.." she flinched and held it. For some people the stomach was the softest place, and very easy to get hurt. She was one of those types of people. She tilted her head down. "I couldn't...fight back."

"No.  That's why I did."  He responded flatly.  The stomach was nearly all girls weak point, the guy scored a low blow.  Griffin picked her up and shifted her into his arms until he was carrying her, since she persisted in curling up over her stomach.  "Why was he hassling you?  What did he want?"  He demanded as he took her towards the nurse's office where he could see all the girls crowded around.

"I gave him lessons...but I stoped with him. And he wanted his money back.." she spoke in a mono tone. "I give lessons..." she said closing her eyes. "And I stoped doing them with him."

"Why the Hell are you giving these ridiculous lessons?  You might as well whore yourself out, it's nearly the same thing."  He responded, venom lacing his words.  Before more could be said they were in the crowd of girls with the nurse rushing up to them.  Griffin set her down carefully on the bed and turned his attention to the nurse who asked what happened.  "...She was hit on the cheek...  And stomach..."  As the nurse went to ask her how she was doing, Griffin disappeared, vanishing before any staff could catch him and get him into trouble for fighting at school.

Whore herself out? No...that wasn't what it was for. After school, she left and didn't see Griffin until the end of the school day. Letting out a sigh, she walked over to him. "Griffin.." she said tilting her head down. "You didn't have a right to say that to me." she said trembling slightly. 

Griffin, with one eye closed, glanced at her calmly and unapologetically.  "The right?  I do believe I have the right to say what I please, doesn't mean you have to like what I say."  He answered casually and turned his face back to the sky, closing his eyes and listening to the music that was coming out of the headphones strung around his neck.  Laying there on the school bench, arms folded behind his head, knees bent, one up and one laying on the bench, with the sun on his face, he felt peaceful and tired.  "Did you come here to make a point?  Or explain yourself? If neither of those, please leave me alone."

Anna flinched and bent down to him, feeling agervated she pulled the cord out of his music. "If you have a right, then so do I." she said harshly glaring down at him. "I gave the lessons so I could help." she said staring away. "If I need to explain. Then, whatever." she said steping back. "I don't want you...following me anymore." she said hissing threw her mouth. "Idiot."

When the music shut off Griffin immediately opened his eyes and found himself staring up at the face of Anna.   With his sunglasses pushed onto the top of his head, his brown eyes gazed back at her, not lost, offended, or defensive.  "Help?  Do you think how well you kiss is really that important?  You humor me."  He smirked and closed his eyes again.  "And don't flatter yourself thinking I follow you around."

"It sure seemed like it.." she said softly and looking away. "People have low self esteem..when it comes to that."

Griffin's eyebrow twitched in annoyance and the smirk disappeared, he thought Anna was finally going to leave him alone.  With a sigh he opened his eyes again, but he remained staring at the blue decorated with white clouds.  "People don't have low self esteem because of how they kiss, they have low self esteem of themselves and anyone liking them, because they believe the idiot belief that it only matters when other people like you.  What they need is counselling, not kissing lessons."  He grabbed the headphones and put them over his ears to block her out.  Sticking his cord back in his mp3 player, he turned his music back on and closed his eyes.

"I'm not done." She said pulling the cord out, and staying bent down. "I'm talking to you, Griffin.." she said squeezing the cord. "What do you know about me anyway? You say this things as if you know me."

The eyes snapped open once more, one thing he hated severely was being interupted when he felt at peace with the world.  His sleepy brown eyes looked at Anna and her down trodden, sad, soft expression, twinged with anger stemmed by hurt.  "...I wasn't talking about you, figuring out who doesn't have self esteem doesn't take much.  This is High School, Anna, hardly anyone has confidence!"  He shouted at her face, but immediately calmed down and clenched his jaw in annoyance.  "...Why are you doing this Anna?  Making out with random people...  Are you really trying to make them feel better, or yourself?  Seems like you're trying to replace what's missing with the physical attention of others in the same boat as you.  Well it's going to sink fast, it's not going to help them, and it's definitely not going to help you."

Anna flinched. "I'm perfectly fine.." she said letting go of the cord. "You're one to talk." she said softly letting go of the cord and standing up. She looked away. "See you.." she said walking off rubbing her head.

"...Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, you won't be so lucky."  He remarked as she stood up and turned from him, a grin appearing on his lips as he plugged the cord back in and blared his music into his ears.  He was one to talk?  Griffin may not be the nicest person, but he seemed to be one of the few who had himself together, he wasn't afraid of other people's opinions of him.  He'd do as he pleased, whether someone liked him, or not.  If they didn't like his kissing, they weren't worth his time.  'Anna, you're so absurd.  You ruined romance for yourself, that's what people are going to think of you...  Making out with whoever pays...'  He thought to himself as he drifted into a shallow sleep.

The following day, it seemed like things finally went back to normal. Passing in the hallways, she didn't talk to anyone or Griffin. Getting through classes were quick and painless for her since, she was ignoring people. At lunch she sat against the wall where she usually sat and ate.

Griffin made absolutely no attempt to talk to her or even keep his eye on her.  He passed her in the hallway and treated her just like anyone else, with silence and a sense of self authority.  Classes were sat through, notes were taken, and he didn't once glance to her seat.  Everything was back to normal, though there hadn't been fights since he pulverized the kid that attacked Anna, outside of school of course, but everyone knew about it.  People were being quiet, afraid to do anything that would warrent his anger.  School was peaceful.

After she finished her lunch she glanced at Griffin. Then looked away quickly. She was mad at him for a reason, she didn't even know anymore. But, she stoped and walked over to him. "You still have my pencil...I'd like to have it back." she said bluntly staring down at him. 

Griffin didn't even look at her as he took a bite into his sandwich, chewing it and swallowing it before he bothered to answer.  "I never took your pencil.  It's lying in the dirt outside somewhere, besides, I'm sure you have plenty, losing one pencil isn't something to harp about."  After he finished his words he took another bite of his sandwich, chewed, and swallowed.  This process continuing over and over again.

"I threw it at you.." she said tilting her head down. "Griffin." she spoke in an un-even tone. "You need to go get it.." she said closing her hands. "That pencil is importent to me."

"I need to go get it for you?  Well excuse me, I didn't ask you to throw the damn pencil at me..."  He took another bite, hoping she would go away after that response, but she didn't.  Already people were staring at them, no one went up and talked to Griffin so casually, especially asking things of him.  "Look, you threw it at me, probably to distract me again.  Well you accomplished just that.  It hit me, I turned around, and I stepped on it.  It's broken. Go cry about it somewhere else."

"Broken..?" she asked quietly. "You...broke my mothers pencil?" she asked trembling slightly. "Go get it for me, Griffin." she closed her eyes. "Go get it."

Griffin stood up, causing his chair to violently push out as he set his food down and confronted her with anger.  "It's your fault in the first place!  If it meant so much to you, you shouldn't have thrown it at me you idiot!"  His words boomed through the lunchroom.  Angered because she couldn't get common sense into her skull, Griffin kicked the chair in a fit of rage, threw the last remaining bites of his sandwich in the trash, and walked off out of the lunchroom.

She stood there for a moment, and stared at the ground. Closing her hands tightly, she felt mad. And glared towards his way. "Griffin!" she shouted out following after him. "You have gotten under my skin so much." she said to him hissing softly. "Only one person I ever gave damn lessons to. I did it once, then stoped because of you." she held her head. "You've messed with my head. It makes me want to..." she looked away and closed her hands again. 

Griffin swung the doors to the outside open with one hand and stormed across the dirt lot, listening to her ramblings with undeniable rage.  As she babbled he stopped and knelt down.  "None of those would have happened if you didn't try to interfer with me in the first place."  He answered coldly.  Standing up and turning around he revealed to her the two halves of the pencil.  Griffin used his shirt to wipe them clean.  "You can tell me any excuse, it won't change the fact that I honestly don't give a damn about you and your life."  He finished polishing the pencil and  harshly took hold of her hand, jerking her closer to him with an open palm.  Slamming the pencil into her hand and clenching her fingers around it, he gave his final words before he went back inside.  "Don't make me your reason for anything, and don't bother me anymore."  With that he left.

Anna stared down at the broken pencil, and looked over her shoulder at him leaving. "It makes me want to tell you I like you..." she finished and put the pencil away into her bag. And she stood there as he words kept replaying in her head. She began to walk inside.

Griffin didn't hear her, the doors had already closed behind him.  The next morning was a Saturday and Griffin was relieved it was the weekend.  He had grown tired of the dramatic happenings at school, but he wasn't as happy as he should have been.  That night he'd had a hard time sleeping, Anna would not leave his thoughts.  She pestered him so much at school, and part of him wanted to beat a brain into her.  So oblivious, over the top, depressed, annoying, exaggerating...  He could list off a thousand other adjectives.  She threw an eraser at him, apparently to make him stop fighting, she was sick of violence in her school.  He thought he'd cleared that up with her, it was never going to change.  But she persisted, in another fight, she threw her pencil at him - apparently, pencils were the new family heirloom.  Her mother's pencil?  Please.  Who had a pencil as an object of importance to them?  Besides, her family obviously didn't care about her, they were always out of town.  Next were kissing lessons, honestly...  Who needs lessons on that?  It was ridiculous, and just displayed her low confidence and esteem she had for herself.  But it didn't stop there, she would just not leave him alone... It was like she was looking for attention, because she lacked love from her family, but she was looking in the exact wrong place.  He gave a shit about no one, but himself.  Griffin sighed and stepped outside of his living space, one of those tiny, squashed houses, so the normal size building was actually five very small houses all attached to each other.  He had as much space as a regular apartment, but thank goodness he wasn't in the deep city, only just outside of it.

"Stay on the side walk." Anna had said from across the street. Dealing with kids, was something that made her happy. A weird day to be dealing with them, but she cared. A daycare worker- easy as pie to her. Looking across the street, she spotted Griffin. She stoped and stared at him for a second, then looked away. "Marie, I'll be right back. I see someone I know." she said waving to her co-worker as she crossed the street. "Griffin!" she called out from behind him. "W-We need to talk." she said shifting slightly. "I didn't get to finish what I was saying yesterday."

Griffin had been putting out his trash and returning to his front door when the voice of Anna broke through his eardrums.  His stomach churned, how the Hell did Anna happen to be anywhere near where he lived?  He turned around and saw Anna leaving a group of children from the day care across the street.  'Oh Lord...'  He thought as he halted on his doorstep and waited for her to reach him.  'I don't want to talk to you.'  Griffin thought, folding his arms across his chest.  "You're at work, you should never deal with your personal business when you're on the job."  His voice said bluntly, but he wasn't in the mood to put up with Anna's moodiness.  "...If you have a lunch hour, you can come here then..."

Anna flinched and looked away. "I get off in an hour.." she said softly turning away and looking over her shoulder at him. "I-I'll see you later then." she said running across the street. So many things had gone through her head as she got back to the daycare. An hour later, she left work. Crossing the street, she walked up the stairs and knocked on the door.  Waiting for him to answer.

With careful eyes he watched her cross the street, making sure she did so safely.  When she was back at her work Griffin disappeared inside.  He may seem uncaring, but he wasn't indecent.  Whilst she was at her last hour of work - she must have been there since very early in the morning - he took a shower and cleaned up his small messes that were all about the house.  He even started making lunch for her.  When he heard the knock on the door he stopped what he was doing and traveled through the small 'living room', which was pretty much a study it was so lacking.  As he reached the door he ran one hand through his still somewhat wet and spikey, red hair, the other opening the door for her.  "...Come on in..."

Anna looked up at him and stepped inside the house. "Thank you." she said looking around, she looked back at him. "Are you making lunch?" she asked softly and strenched slightly. "I'll let you eat, then I need to talk to you." she said softly as she stood in place. After lunch she sat quietly at the table. "Thank you for lunch, Griffin." she said looking up at him. "I need to tell you something." she said closing her eyes.

"I'm not going to make you watch me eat."  He remarked as he led her into the kitchen.  There was a small round table with two old chairs, that was all he could fit for eating space.  As he walked by one of the chairs he pulled it out for her casually with one hand, then went to the stove top and stirred the soup.  It had been a cold day out, it was one of winter's warnings in the fall days.  After he gave her a bowl of soup and a cup of water, he sat down in front of hers with his own and ate in silence, often stirring his spoon in the soup in intricate designs before swallowing any of it.  When lunch was finished, he took the opportunity to stand up and take the empty bowls to wash in the sink - he didn't have a dish washer - so that he could have his back turned while she talked to him.  "...What is it?"  He asked as he scrubbed at the bowls and spoon with a yellow sponge.

"You've twisted my mind so much I've..." Anna stared up at him. "I mean you..." she stared down at the empty bowl. "I like you, Griffin." she said bluntly and standing up. "Thank you...for lunch." she said bowing slightly and picking up her bowl. "Here." she said putting the bowl next to him.

So?  He didn't hate her either, she just aggravated him, he wasn't to the point of hating her.  Yet.  When her bowl appeared beside him he quietly took the bowl and proceeded to wash it.  Childish, her liking him was childish, she knew absolutely nothing about him aside from their run ins at school, it was absurd, after weeks of ignoring her, she would find someone else.  This wasn't the first girl who had liked him after all.  "...I don't hate you, Anna..."  Was all he could think to say as he set the bowl aside and washed the cups.  When that was done he dried them off and put them away in his cabinets.

Anna stared at him. Then looked away. "You probably think it's stupid for me to say that.." she said stepping back. "I won't leave you alone, Griffin." she said looking up at him.

When she said she wasn't going to leave him alone Griffin's hand dropped to the counter.  He turned around so that his body faced her.  "You're right, I do think it's stupid of you to say that.  You've hardly ever talked to me, and you know nothing about me at all.  What you feel is silly, ignorant, and childish.  What I want if for you to leave me alone, I want my life back the way it was two weeks ago."

"Back to when you fought every damn second?" she asked staring up at him. "It isn't stupid at all!" she raised her voice. "You talk like you know me. When you don't even..." she looked away from him. "I won't...leave you alone, Griffin."

"If I fought every damn second, I wouldn't ever attend class!"  He snapped back.  "I don't know you Anna!  I don't WANT to know you!  Fine, if you won't leave me alone, expect to get treated like everyone else.  I'll do what I have to, to hurt you and make you go away."  With that said Griffin went from the kitchen and through the few feet of wood floor hallway that he had until he came in the study room.  From there he grabbed his coat from a hanger by the door and slipped it on, zipping it up nearly all the way.

Anna stood in place then looked over her shoulder at him sadly. "Fine. If it has to be that way.." she said softly. "Fine!" she said as if accepting fate it's self. "I'll show you..and tell you about me." she said firmly.

Griffin turned back to hear, leaning his back against the crack of the door so that if she wanted to, she couldn't open it.  He folded his arms and crossed one ankle over the other.  "Why the Hell do you want me to know about YOU?  I don't give a damn.  There are people in school who will, go make some friends and find someone else."

"Because, I like you." she said closing her eyes. "I just do. And I can't help it." she stood at the door. "I don't care what you do..I will not leave you alone."

"Nothing will come of liking someone, who doesn't like you back.  I don't like you Anna, I never will.  Someone else will like you, and that's who you will like.  Not me."  With that he moved from the door and opened it, gesturing for her to leave with his arm.  "Go.  I have errands to run."

Anna stared at him then tilted her head down. "Fine." she said softly as she turned around and began for the door. Opening it slightly she looked back at him. In the pit of her stomach, she felt lonely once again. But she ignord it closing the door behind her.

Once she was safely on the sidewalk after walking to stone pathway that led from his doorstep, through a small patch of iron-wrought gated grass, to the sidewalk, Griffin closed the door.  Wandering into the living room/study he grabbed his school bag and slung it across his chest, checking the contents inside.  Grocery list...  Work check for the bank....  Bills for the post office...  Wallet, cellphone, kleenex...  Keys and sunglasses.  He pulled out the sunglasses and adjusted them over his eyes, then he took the keys and closed his bag.  Opening the door and stepping out he locked the door, dropped the keys in his pocket and walked down the path.  Anna was already down the sidewalk by this time.  Griffin stuffed the bills into the mailbox and raised the flag so the mailman knew they were messages to deliver.  Afterwards, he disappeared down the street in the opposite direction to head deeper into the bustling town.

That following school week went by quickly. She left him alone, and whenever pushing passed him she said the "excuse me, sir." like usual. Her glasses covered her eyes from the croud of people. She was once again to herself. Sketching in her sketch book, she glanced over her shoulder at Griffin. Who was listening to music and what not. Sighing she began to walk down the hallway, while sketching.

Griffin said nothing to her, even as she whispered 'excuse me' in the hallway.  He would just tilt his body like he did not anyone else and let her by without a glance.  Not only had the week been quick, but it was also quiet.  After the extremely severe fight he'd had with the boy who hurt Anna, no one wanted to act up.  It almost made the school seem...  Proper.  That evening after school when everyone was leaving for home, Griffin sat just outside the library on a wide window sill, made that way purposely for students to sit on.  He had his back against the wall, headphones on.  Griffin was working on his homework, waiting for the library to empty out.

Anna was sitting in the far back room of the library. Out of peoples way, and finishing up another sketch. She stared at it, then slammed her sketchbook and slid it away. Taking out a pair of thin ear phones she put them in, to listen to so music.  Putting her head down into her arms, she felt dizzy for some strange reason. Closing her eyes, she waited for her head to calm down. It annoyed her so much, it felt like a spike in her side. Griffin was completely ignoring her like he said he would. She couldn't take it much more, when she liked someone she stayed liking them for a long time.

Griffin had done his best to continue with his normal routine and train of thoughts, but you could never ignore the past completely, especially something so recent.  He hadn't minded Anna, before she started to interact with him.  She was quiet, she did her homework and sketched in the back of the room.  Anna wasn't loud and pestering like the other girls.  But Anna was becoming that now.  She wasn't sweet anymore, she was annoying.  She was craving the attention of others, she wanted to fit in and be like the others, and what made it worse...  Was that she was in complete denial of that.  But she would realize the truth when she was an adult and actually getting somewhere in life.  Perhaps he grew up too fast, that's why he knew these things, and that's why those around him annoyed him.  They were ignorant and silly.  How many people liked you didn't matter, it was those quality relationships that mattered.  How well you kissed didn't matter, because at some point, someone was going to like you for who you were...  Not follow you around, not knowing you at all, and being convinced they loved you based on nothing.  Griffin put his book down on his lap.  Anna would not leave his head, and it annoyed him, but he knew he didn't like her.  If he ever did like her, he liked the old her.  The one who kept to herself, sketched, and was nice and sweet when people interacted with her.  Griffin shoved the book back in his face.  'Just get your homework done, high school will be over in a little more than one semester.'

He probably thought she wanted to follow a croud or something. But not only was she the complete opposite of that, it annoyed her that he found out about those stupid lessons. It seemed like he was so arrogent he thought he knew best. Maybe, maybe not. It didn't really matter to her. Sitting up, so she could finished her homework. "School's at the end. I can finally move on soon." she whispered planning on leaving town all together. She did feel stupid for blurting out she liked Griffin. But, at the same time, she didn't. The reason she even started to like him was because he helped her so many times.. And was blunt about things she hated to talk about. Finishing up her homework she stood up from her chair and gathered her things together. And began for the entrance.

Griffin knew that she was convinced she was the opposite of others, but the funny thing was, everyone thought that in high school, and they all realized they were wrong when they got out.  Did he mention her denial?  That's because she was, but being in denial, she would never admit it herself.  Griffin knew there were some thoughts in him somewhere that would change after high school, but that was after high school, he was still in high school right now.  In high school, but not in his home.  Was Anna more blind than even he thought?  Didn't she notice that he was living in a tiny flat all by himself, without any relatives?  He paid for everything.  Completely unusual for a high school kid.  So many people whined without reason about their parents, just because they didn't have their way their parents were wrong, and the worst part about hearing them whine was because you knew it was exaggerated.  If things were really that bad, you wouldn't be living with them, when you had the chance to leave.  Griffin wasn't actually living with his family, but ironically, he never whined about it, because it really wasn't a big deal why he left.  He closed his book and stuffed it in his bag, readying himself to leave his current spot.

Anna got to the front and spotted Griffin. Looking up at him for a second, she quickly looked away and walked out. She had lied about her parents, they were no longer around. Died on a honeymoon three years ago, but never told a soul. She put her backpack on and left the school. Not even caring to look behind her.

High school had gone by quietly.  Second semester...  Griffin hardly had a class with Anna, and before long, it was over, and everyone split off to start life independently.  Griffin hadn't talked or seen Anna for years, she'd moved out of town, and that, was that.  Hours and hours from where Griffin still lived in his squashed, apartment-size housing an elementary school was gathering in its small gymnasium.  It wasn't a very large school, and it easily fitted its 1st - 3rd graders and all its’ staff with extra gym room safely inside its' walls.  Today the kids were having an in-school field day.  Excitedly they are gathered with their friends and classmates on the gym floor, some more rambunctious than others and requiring the assistance of the school teachers.  Once the kids were all settled the school’s principal, a kind woman in her later 30’s, took the microphone and explained to the children that today was a very special day.

“Please welcome some of our policemen and firefighters!”  Of course, the boys were particularly excited about this. 
Through the side doors entered two policemen and two firefighters, all grinning at the joy of all the children, and of course, all wearing their uniforms, it was part of the show.  The principal handed the microphone over to one of the policemen, a man in his 40’s, hairless on his head and wearing a pair of blue-reflective sunglasses.   

“Who here likes animals?”  He began, and all the kids raised their hands and started shouting.  As the yelling died down slightly the man spoke again.  “We have some very special guests for you today.  We wouldn’t be able to do nearly as much as we do without these guys.  Come on in boys!”  Bursting through the gym doors came three fully grown German Sheppard’s; one was sleek, the typical tan and black, the other similar, except extremely fluffy, like a golden retriever, and another rarer yet, who was mostly black.  They parked and ran excitedly up and down the gym, causing some teachers to jump in surprise but then laugh.

After the dogs another man stepped through the door, wearing black pants, and a navy blue, military styled jacket, half unzipped with a white shirt underneath.  One of the various patches sewn onto the jacket it read ‘K-9 unit’ and on another ‘Griffin Marone’.  Now in his early twenties, Griffin had grown an inch or two taller, leaving him a couple inches over six foot, still with that same, vibrant red hair that spiked across his forehead in a sweeping manner, and styled at odd angles at the back.  Even now he hid his brown eyes with a pair of sporty black sunglasses – some things never changed.  But this time, he smiled.  Without hesitation he whistled sharply and the dogs turned and came sprinting back to him obediently.

Griffin kneeled down, the sleek tan one putting its paws on his back and standing there, whilst his hands weaved through the thick hair of the black one and the other tan and black one.  

After highschool, Anna left town all together. She still owned the small nice house though, for just in case matters. She went to school in a state over, and thankfully mastered in Art. One day she had gotten a call from her old teacher back home, asking if for a part-time assistent. She of course was busy with her school work but, she had a love to teaching others about art and how great it was. She wasn't quiet and to herself anymore. She found a boyfriend named Josh. He was about a year older then her but loved what he was doing with his own art work. Perfect life for her right now. After highschool, she hadn't seen Griffin at all. He went his own way like planed. But deep down, she missed that feeling of liking him. It seemed childish to hold onto it, but she slightly did...she kept it hidden deep down, even though she really liked Josh. 
"Anna we have to go out into the gym to watch this show." Said her old art teacher, Mrs. Gabri. "Come, come."

"I'll be there in a second." Anna said fixing her thin framed glasses onto her head. Her hair was out of place and messy, and she grew an inch and got her womanly figure finally. Her hair, when down reached her shoulders slightly. She had switched to a shorter hair style. Her outfit was baggy looking since she had been pained for the most of the day. "I'm coming." she said following out just in time for the children to scream in glee. Someone brought dogs, how cute to see the kids cheer as the man who was dealing with the dogs bent down to them. "Wait a second..." she whispered to herself. Bright red hair. Griffin? It couldn't be. "Griffin?"

Griffin smiled as the two dogs he was holding onto tried to lick his face.  He told them to stay and stepped back, half standing.   The sleek and shiny German sheppard who had put it's front paws on Griffin's back, leapt onto his back as he went to stand up.  Griffin kept his amused grin and the children laughed as the dog rode around on Griffin's back.  After a moment he made a signal and the dog jumped gracefully over his head and onto the floor next to the other dogs.  The show went on for quite some time, the dogs being the main focus, since the world had become so sensitive, some child's family could be in jail or have died from something they couldn't do anything about - it was an upsetting subject.  So the majority of the show focused on the dogs, Griffin made them do tricks, he let the kids come up and help him, he let the kids give the dogs treats and pet them.  As the show came to a close the kids whined, not wanting to leave the three dogs.  Griffin chuckled slightly and told the kids they would see the dogs around.  When the kid's were petting the dogs though, he had to be careful, they could only pet with one hand.  These dogs were trained to attack after all, and certain signs the kids could easily do on accident could send them into a violent fury - but it was what they were trained to do.  Griffin whistled for the dogs to come to him as the kids were went off to go back to their classrooms.  Griffin stood in the corner with the dogs, waiting for the children to leave before he headed out himself.

As Mrs. Gabri talked to the police men about show. Anna stood there. It was him, he still had those sun glasses. "Mrs. Gabri. I'll be right back." she said running out after Griffin. Stopping behind him as he put up the dogs, she stared at him. Before tapping him on the back. "Excuse me." she said softly. "I hope I'm not bothering you. But, you look really fermiler." she said looking up at him with her dark green eyes. "Are you..Griffin Marone?" she asked softly. Putting a hand to her chest in an intoducing like way. "If you are. It's me...Anna from highschool."

Griffin was helping the last dog jump on the spacious car - the back seats went down into the floor - when he felt the tap on his shoulder.  Immediately he turned around, his ears greeted by a soft, angelic sound, rather shy which caused her to babble.  As soon as his brown eyes fell on the familiar face, a girl much more grown up - beautiful infact even through the dirty clothes and messy hair, he took his sunglasses off and put them on the top of his head.  "Anna?"  The new, older Griffin smiled, he still looked nearly the same.  Griffin was extremely physically fit, he worked out consistently every day, his hair was still the same, and his eyes were more soft, but could easily become stern and cold when need be.  "I didn't expect to see you, I didn't think you were around here.  What are you doing at this school?"

"I work here as an assitant for Mrs. Gabri. My old art teacher from highschool." Anna said looking up at him. "I take it everything has worked out fine with you." she said smiling up at him. "That's good." she felt dirty so she took down her hair and fixed it so it slightly fell around her cheeks. "You still in college?" she asked smiling up at him. Memories came back on how she felt about him. And it felt sinful to think like that but...she couldn't help it. "You still single?"

"Oh, wow, I see...  Good for you, I'm glad."  He replied, his hands fiddling with the leashes of the dogs, wrapping them around his hands, twisted them on his fingers.  "Well I...  Kind of, yes, but I'm doing a lot of specialized classes for my job, so...  I was only at an actual university for...  3 years."  Griffin watched her put her hair down.  He was slightly surprised and taken aback when she asked the last question, but he answered with ease, as well as a light laugh.  "I went on two or three forced blind dates that some people set me up with...  But none were my taste, and...  You can laugh, but I became one of those people who was so absorbed in school and work, I didn't have time to date, so yes...  I'm still single.  How about yourself?"

"I just got into a relationship." she said smiling up at him. "I hope you find someone." she said putting her hair behind her ear. "Well, I got to get back." she said waving at him. "I'll see you around town later, alright?" she said smiling kindly up at him. "See you, Griffin." she said looking over her shoulder at him. "We need to ketch up later, alright?"

"That's great, good for you."  Anna found that someone, good.  When she went to leave Griffin flinched and looked around.  "Wait--"  He reached into his pocket and pulled out his police officer card, it had his work number on it, but not his cellphone.  He quickly dashed down his cellphone number with a pen and handed it to her.  "Call me.  Though, I am still living in that same house, so, feel free to come by."  He smiled and slipped his sunglasses back on.  "Have a nice day Anna."  With that he closed the trunk and went around to the front of his car and hoped in to drive home.

Anna waved goodbye to him, and went back inside. Closing the door behind her, she let out a sigh. He was alright. That's what mattered. She got off of work at around seven that night. After talking to Josh for a short period of time, since he was busy again, she called Griffin. Waiting on him to answer the phone, as she drove next to his house and parked. He wasn't answering so, she got out of the car and went to the marble stairs. Knocking on the door, she hugged her jacket to stay warm.

When the phone rang, Griffin looked up from getting the dogs their dinner.  His phone was upstairs.  He dropped what he was doing and walked through the hall and living room - that had actually turned more into a living room now - and jogged up the stairs.  But when he reached the top, the doorbell rang.  "Shit."  The dogs started to bark, but Griffin signaled them to stop immediately, and quickly went back down the stairs.  In a  hurry he unlocked the door and opened it.  "Anna?"  He was surprised she had come already and not called for plans, didn't she have a boyfriend she was with?  "Come on in..."  He said and let her in.  His phone had stopped ringing.  "I was just feeding the dogs.."

Anna tilted her head slightly. "I didn't come at a bad time though, right?" she said stepping inside. It had changed since the last time she came over. "Josh was still at work. And he seemed busy so, I thought I'd stop by." she said smiling up at him. "And cetch up."

"No, no, of course not."  He closed the door behind her carefully, locking it and walking through the hall to the kitchen.  "Sorry the place is a little messy.  I used to live in this tiny place alone, but now I share it with three dogs."  Griffin grinned over his shoulder at her then went back to mixing the dogs dry food with some wet food, before setting it down on the kitchen floor where they rushed to eat it, tails wagging.  "Feel free, take a seat.  Have you eaten?"

Anna sat down and shook her head. "Actully I haven't yet." she said looking up at him. "I was supossed to tonight with Josh but, he got busy at work again." she smiled. "So, tell me what happened to you after highschool."

"I see, I'm sorry about that..."  He said, remarking on Josh.  "Honestly I haven't really done anything but go to school...  And you saw what I do.  Police work, dogs..."  He wasn't going to mention that on occassion he was an undercover police cop.  Mainly he trained and worked with K-9's, that's why his uniform specified that he was apart of the K-9 unit.  "Would you like something to drink?  Tea?  Coffee?"  Griffin asked as he began to get himself a cup of coffee.

"Tea please." she said looking up at him. "So, you've hit the book hard. That's good." Anna said before hearing her phone ring. "Hello?" she sat there for a moment. "Oh, I see, alright. I'll talk to you tomorrow then. Yeah. Bye." she looked back up at Griffin. "Josh has another shift to do." she said putting her phone up. Why was she going out with someone who was so busy, and could hardly see? She could only wonder. "So...anything else to ask?" she wondered outloud.

When he finished his coffee he immediately began working on her tea.  "I hope you don't mind this blend, it's all I have."  He commented as he removed the tea bag and stirred her cup with a silver spoon, leaving it in there as he set the cup in front of her and handed her the creamy milk to add herself.  He was silent as she was on the phone.  Griffin simply pulled out his chair and sat down, holding his warm coffee mug in his hands, though his hands were gloved, like always.  "...He seems to work quite a bit, that's a bummer, I'm sorry...  And yes, I have something else to ask."  He smiled.  "What would you like for dinner?  I can order us some quick take out."

"I'm used to him working alot." she said putting her phone away. "We've only been going out for a month now." she looked over at him. "Take out sounds good." she said leaning back in the chair slightly as she added some of the cream to her tea. "So, tell me about those blind dates?" she said smiling. "Those must of been fun." she said ajusting her hair.

"Fun?  Sure...  They were nice girls, one of them was pretty cute...  But I just don't have the time to date, and lets face it, a cop isn't exactly the most desired profession for women."  He said casually with a light-hearted smile as he stood up and went over to his counter, filing through some pamphlets before grabbing a thai food one.  Stepping back over to the table and taking a pen out his pocket, he set it out in front of her.  "Circle what you want."  Griffin sat back down and took a sip of his coffee.  "So how'd you meet Josh?  What does he do?"

As Anna circled the food she wanted she told him. "Threw school. Same class as me. He's a minor in art. But, he works at a facory downtown from here." she said as she slid the paper to him. "Sometimes. I wounder why I'm going out with him. I never see him."

"Because you love each other?  Not speaking from experience or anything...  But real love looks like it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices."  He answered casually, flipped the paper so it was facing him and dialed the number on his cellphone to place the order.  After ordering the food for the both of them, he thanked the woman and hung up.  "30 minutes, hope you can hold out."

"I'll be fine for 30 minutes." she said softly, shifting in her seat slightly. "The thing is. I don't love him, I only like him." she said looking up at him. A sudden urge came to her head, and before she could stop herself. She blurted out. "I still like you, Griffin." Flinching, she cover her mouth slightly. "That wasn't supossed to come out." she said feeling awkward.

"..."  Griffin looked down at his coffee, he suddenly wanted the take out to just get here so they could eat in silence.  After a moment, Griffin responded.  "...You've only been dating for a month.  Time tells a lot..."  He wanted to swallow those last words.  "...You still hardly know a thing about me.  I appreciate that you still like me, it's good to know people in town.  The town has changed a lot...  Only one of my five neighbors is the same, I don't really know anyone anymore..."

"Y-Yeah." Anna said looking up at him. "Is it bad that I still want to know you?" she said puting her tea down. "I don't want to be a thorn in your side." she said taking a drink of tea.

"...No...  ...Not at all, I have no reason not to want you as a friend Anna..."  Griffin tapped the pen on the table out of habit.  "...I don't mind...  Being your friend..."

"Oh good.." Anna said with releaf. "Alright then." she said still feeling a bit awkward. But it slid off slowly.

Griffin cleared his throat.  "...So...  What are you going to do about Josh though?  If you don't care for him...  You should let him find the one who does..."

"I care for him. But, more of a friend." she said truthfully and sturred her tea. "I don't know how to break up very well." she said looking up at him.

"...If anyone knows it well, they obviously aren't an ideal person to have a relationship with, don't you think?"  He grinned before taking another gulp of his coffee.  "Well I'm not any good at helping you, I never dated.  I'm sure Josh won't take it too hard...  You haven't dated long, and you've hardly seen each other by the sounds of it..."

"Yeah." she said nodding. "Tomorrow. I'll talk to him about this." she said smiling slightly. "Sorry...about before. Really." she said finishing off her tea.

'Before?'  He wasn't sure what she was talking about, but he let it slide.  Just when he was looking for something to say he heard the doorbell ring.  He checked his watch - 25 minutes, nice, that was extra tip worthy.  Griffin stood up and opened the door.  Griffin greeted the man, thanked him, paid him - generous tip, took the food, thanked him again, said goodbye, and closed the door.  He carried the food back and set the bag on the table, emptying it out and opening the packages for her.  "I have to admit - I'm certainly starving.  Don't mind me, I'm still barbaric in some ways, eating food is one of them

"It's okay." Anna said as she opened up the food. "Thank you for the food." she said taking out the plastic for and began to eat. She was extremely hungry. So she was digging into the food.

"Little unladylike, don't you think?"  He joked, he obviously didn't care.  He picked at his own food, but didn't take long to shovel it down himself, Griffin had hardly eaten a thing all day.

Anna blushed slightly and slowed down. "I'm hungry." she said as she put the fork down for a second to get a drink. After dinner she looked over at him. "Thanks for dinner." she said smiling up at him.

"I was kidding."  He said and smiled, giving a laugh, but remaining focused on eating his food.  When it was finished - what they managed - he stood up and put the leftovers in his fridge (lunch tomorrow).  "You're welcome...  It was good to see you again, Anna...  Call me if you ever need anything."

Anna blinked and stood up. "Alright then." she said waving slightly. "I'll call you later." she said going to the door. "See you later. And- wish me luck on tomorrow." she said opening the door up.

Griffin followed after her to say goodbye and make sure she left safely, it was pitch dark out now.  As she stepped out the front door he put his hand on her shoulder.  "I'm sure everything will be fine Anna...  Don't worry about it...  Sleep well."  He released her and waited for her to go to her car and leave.  "Night."

"Good night." Anna said getting into her car, starting it up, and driving off. The following day, Griffin heard his phone ring. She had broken up with Josh but, for some reason needed to talk to him.

"Right.  This is going to be an on-going investigation for quite some time.  They're elusive...  Right.  I probably won't be here for a week, and I'm going to put two of the dogs with the other K-9's here while I'm gone---"  Griffin was talking to one of his superiors on his way out from work, but he was stopped when he heard his cellphone going off on his desk.  "Alright...  Give me calls when you can for updates..."  "Of course, have a good week.  I'm sure you'll have a better one than me."  Griffin laughed and went to his desk, picking his cellphone and flipping it open.  "Griffin Marone."  He said into the phone, putting on his coat and taking his keys out of his pocket, waving to his coworkers before he disappeared outside, walking towards his car.

"Hey Griffin." Anna said into the phone, and let out a sigh. "I did it." she said while driving to her house. "I broke up with Josh. He wasn't so happy about it." she said softly as she closed her eyes. "Want to come over? I'm cooking dinner tonight." she said parking her car into her drive way.

"Hey Anna."  He said casually, auto-unlocking his car and opening the door, climbing in with ease.  As she talked he pulled the phone from his ear and attached it to his car phone, so that his hands were free, but he could hear her voice on the car speakers.  "...Sure.  I'll come over if you need me.  Where are you staying at?"

"My place. Do you remember where I live?" she asked as she set the table. "The house is a mess though. I haven't been home to fix it."

"Yeah...  Yeah, I remember.  What time would you like for me to come over?"  He said, clicking on his turn signal and rounding the corner to begin the fifteen minute drive home.  "And I don't mind the mess, I understand..."

Anna closed her eyes for a second. "At about 7." she said softly as she finished setting the table. "I'm about to start cooking."

"Seven?"  Griffin glanced at the clock in his hair.  "Alright then.  I'll see you at seven.  Bye."  Griffin shut off the phone and went on his way to his home.  At home he fed the dogs, packed his clothes for a week, stuffed his cash into the bag, and a variety of other things, in the end he had two bags, one with an old, soft sleeping bag attached to the bottom.  When it came to six-thirty Griffin freshened himself, but he didn't change clothes, he was too tired.  Afterwards he went to Anna's house.  Once he arrived he parked in the driveway and got out, glancing around at the small cottage.  Anna owned this now?  Griffin pulled his attention away and went to the front door, knocking on it.

Anna was sturring the food she was making for dinner. She glanced over her shoulder at the door and went over to it.  Opening it after looking threw the peek-hole. She smiled slightly and looked up at him. "Come on in." she said stepping back so he could enter.

"Thank you," Griffin said as he stepped into the hallway of her home.  He'd only been here once, and no farther than the hall and the kitchen.  "Smells good."  He remarked and smiled, unzipping his jacket to reveal a plain grey t-shirt that fit his fit and muscular frame properly, not tight but not loose; the rest of his attire was a casual pair of jeans, his shoes discarded by the door so he was only with socks on his feet.  Taking off his sunglasses, which he put into his coat pocket, he looked for a place to put his coat, quickly finding a coat hook by the door.  After hanging up his coat, he followed Anna to the kitchen.

"We're having beef stew if that's okay." she said finishing up dinner quickly. "I hope you like it." she said noticing him sitting down. She went over and picked up the two bowls on the table and went back over to the oven. Putting some stew in her bowl and his bowl. She went back over to him, and sat down.

"Thank you.  That's great.  Geez, some good home cooking, I don't get that too often.  I never have the time to make anything real good."  He remarked, thanking her again when she set down the bowl.  Griffin waited for her to seat herself and move for the first sip before he did.  For quite some time he was silent, but he knew he needed to talk.  "...So what happened?  With Josh?"

Anna looked up at him. "Well.." she put her spoon down. "I told him, we should stop seeing each other." she sturred her soup waiting for it to cool down. "And he was wondering why, and I said the truth. I didn't really like him like that." she stoped sturring and looked up at Griffin. "And he asked if there was someone I liked. I said yes, if that's alright to say." she continued to sturr her food. "He got all jealous and said I'd pay some how. But, he really is just empty words." she said softly. 

"...Even if you did like someone else.  I don't think you should have told him that...  It probably would have been best to tell him that you never had the time for each other, and you didn't have the feelings you should..."  Griffin ate some of the beef stew, poking at the chunks of vegetables, potatoes, and beef with his spoon.  "...He probably feels rejected, and unworthy...  He might think you cheated on him, when he had this false belief you loved him...  I wouldn't jump into a relationship any time soon with anyone, just for his security..."  'Stop having feelings for me Anna.  It's silly, and not healthy for you...'  He thought, taking a drink of water, his brown eyes glancing at her.

"I wasn't planning on jumping into a relationship." she said softly. "Don't worry. I know you think...I'm shallow." she whispered out the last parts as she finished her bowl of stew. She lifted up her hands. "I'm just blunt. I can't really help it." she rubbed her head. "It's kind of confusing." she whispered looking up at him. "It's nothing." she said standing up and getting another bowl of soup.

"...Please don't make assumptions about what I think of you Anna.  I haven't known you for years..."  Griffin went silent for quite some time, finishing his bowl of stew at a steady pace.  Once he was done he stood up and went to wash his things in her sink.  "...I'd appreciate if you tried to explain everything to me as best you could.  Unfortunately I can't read your mind."

"Ever since I was younger, I've been uncontrolably blunt." she said taking a small bite of her soup. "I say things I don't want to say just yet or, I jump into things head first." she pushed her food back.

"...It's just your personality, it's you, it's not something you should look at negatively.  Some people aren't blunt, so they never let their true feelings out..."  He remarked as he turned on the tap and washed his bowl and cup thoroughly.  When he was finished he dried them and set them on the side, since he did not know where to put them.

Anna thought for a second. "I guess your right." she said standing up from the table and going over to the sink. "Go on and sit down, I'll finish up the dishes." she said softly as she began to wash out he bowl and cup. "So, how was work today?" she asked glancing back at him for a second as she watched the dishes.

Griffin did as she said, since this was her home.  He drifted back to the table and carefully sat down, folding his arms over his lower chest and leaning back against the seat, watching her.  "Work?  It was fine, lots of paper work...  But that reminds me.  I won't have my cellphone avaliable for a week, and I won't be at home or at work...  I have some important work to do, so you won't be able to contact me...  And if, by chance, you do see me on the street, or anywhere, building, whatever...  Do not approach me or call my name...  It's very important."

Anna stoped washing the dishes for a second. "Under cover cop stuff or something?" she asked smiling slightly back at him, clearly joking. "Alright then, taken that I can't get ahold of you." she said as she finished washing the dishes and began to put them up. "If you get a break from whatever. I will always be avalible." she said as she put her cups up. "I'm just saying, don't take it to heart." she finished putting the things up. "Alright then." she said turning around to him. 

Griffin looked away for a moment, but after a second passed he grinned and turned his brown eyes her way again.  "...Well I'm not supposed to say it directly, but it's kind of hard to give someone the run around.  Yes...  I am doing some undercover cop work...  I'm not supposed to tell because you could be doing something and then my life would be in danger."  He sat there for a moment, contemplating things.  This is why Griffin would always have a hard time with relationships.  "...It's nothing extremely dangerous, since I'm unexperienced...  But Anna, if anyone comes to you asking questions about me...  Which I promise, I doubt it will ever happen, but if they do, deny knowing anything..."

Anna laughed slightly. "Don't worry." she said saluting him slightly. "I will deny ever knowing you." she said walking over to her chair and sitting down next to him. "Promise." she said looking back at the table. "What else is there to talk about?" she asked tilting her head slightly.

Griffin gave her a slight chuckle in return, though what he did was no light business.  He did very mild undercover work, thankfully, since he was actually a K-9 unit officer and the trainer of the dogs.  But every once in awhile, they need another officer to join in and check things out for a bit.  When Anna tilted her head, he thought for a moment at how easily Anna had broken up with Josh.  Josh seemed oddly...  Overly upset about Anna breaking up with him, it had only been a month right?  Something was odd about Josh, his stomach churned...  He didn't trust Josh.  "...Well...  How about yourself Anna?  Is teaching what you want to do?  Or are you aspiring for something else?"

"I'm a teachers assistent." she said smiling up at him. "It's only for a short time though, I'm switching colleges closer to home." she said fooling around with a rag. "It's real crazy. I just can't seem to get out. Even though, I'm on the peak of getting out." she said looking up at him. "I do the same type of art work like I did in highschool." she said pointing at a painting on the wall. "I've improved though. And teaching those how to draw flowers and simple stuff like that." she tilted her head slghtly. "What's wrong? Your stomach bothering you?" she asked standing up. "I can go get some medicine."

 "Hm?  No, no.  I'm feeling fine.  Not feeling sick at all."  'It's written on my face?'  He thought, then scolded himself.  'I should have my sunglasses on.  I don't like people seeing things through my eyes...'  Griffin fixed his positioning than continued.  "...I suppose it's what inspires you...  What you do must mean something to you.  Perhaps you should try doing that stuff with different kinds of art tools?  I don't know anything about art, I can't draw beyond stick figures."  He laughed faintly.

"I fail at oil colors, so I'm working on that right now." she said as she sat back down. "It not really hard." she said smiling. "Well, I guess." she shrugged slightly. "I'm hoping I can soon learn more about oil colors."

"Not hard for you, people who have talent."  He laughed.  "But it certainly takes a lot of time and patience, doesn't it?  I don't have that kind of patience"  Griffin remarked as he twisted his head to look at her painting.  It was quite magnificent...  Beyond words and his capability.

"Yeah, And I really don't have enough patience myself." she said admiting with a smile. "Crazy. Huh?"

Griffin turned back to her and nodded his head towards the painting.  "You must have patience to paint that.  There's no way you can do that fast.  Maybe you have patience for artwork, but no for anything else."  He smiled and gave a light laugh.

"It took me a while, to work on that. Not as long as people think though." she said leaning against her chair. "It's crazy. Really, I'm a quick painter but yet, I fail at one thing people look for." she sighed. "A perfect painting.."

"...Don't be absurd Anna.  Perfection isn't possible, especially since we all have different opinions on what we like and don't like.  That could be perfect to someone, maybe not you...  But I've never heard of anyone being perfectly satisfied with anything..."  Griffin responded.  Maybe it didn't take as long as he thought, but it certainly still took a lot of time.  One of his coworkers wives was an artist, and Griffin couldn't believe how many coats of paint went on a single painting...  All the tiny details...  All the shadowing and light techniques...

"Heh, that's is true." she said smiling slightly. "One day though, I'll get the oil colors down." she nodded her head. "Would you like to see my studio? It has most of my old art work in it."

"I would love to see your studio Anna."  Griffin said with ease and a light-hearted manner, to the point where he actually sounded excited and extremely interested.

Anna smiled and stood up. "Alright then, come on. I'll show you." she said almost laughing. She, began for the door to her basment. Opening up the door, she went down the stairs. "Here they are." she said turning the light on. A room full of colorful paintings seemed to come to life. "What do you think?"

Griffin followed her diligently through the hallway, taking the steps down into the basement one at a time.  Just as he was about to touch the floor, Anna flipped on the light.  Whilst he was walking Griffin had put his sunglasses back on, when her back was to him, but when his eyes caught the paintings he didn't hesitate to step past her and go right up to the paintings.  Griffin explored them one by one.  There was a definite theme in her paintings...  Nature, especially flowers.  Griffin stopped at one painting.  Her colors were so vivid...  Sharp.  It stood out, it didn't blend and disappear into a background.

Anna looked at him, and tilted her head. "Tell you what..." she said softly going ahead of him slightly. "You let me get to know you some...and you can have a painting." she said softly as she leaned against the wall slightly. 

It took quite some time for Griffin to take his eyes away from the painting and face her.  A grin crossed his lips at her comment.  "Tch.  I'm not bargaining like that..."  He answered and turned his face to one of the other paintings.  "...Anna...  What does nature mean to you?"

"Well.." Anna began, feeling a small sting from him turning out her offer. "I think nature is free...and I feel at peace when I drew it." she said softly as she spoke, and gently touched the painting in front of her. "I always forget about things, I don't like to think about. Like my parents being gone, or anything depressing."

Griffin immediately turned to her.  Her parents were dead?  Last Griffin knew her parents liked to go out of town a lot.  Did they die shortly afterwards?  They couldn't have.  It's illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to live on their own.  That she there was no possible way for her to pay her mortage on the house she lived in.  Either someone lived with her, or someone owned the house, and was paying for it for her.  Griffin decided not to ask her anything, it wasn't his business anyway.  "...If it means that much to you, don't you ever think about...  Living somewhere else?  Where you can be surronded by it?"

"One day...I'm going to get a gardian." she said softly looking over at him smiling. "I like living here, because it has memories I don't want to forget about." she stated softly before looking up at him. "What's wrong?" she asked softly looking over at him. "You look lost in thought again."

With his sunglasses on, there wasn't much of Griffin's face that could be seen, so he gave her a faint smile, so faint it was barely a curve of the lip.  "I think I always look lost in thought...  Must be my face."  He remarked and turned it away to look at one of her paintings.  "...Memories aren't something that you forget.  You don't need an object...  A place...  Nothing...  To have memories.  Your memories won't be forgotten, no matter where you are..."

"I know." Anna said softly looking up at the paintings as well. "But still, this studio belonged to my mother." she said with a dazed look slightly on her face. "That's why I can't leave this house." she shook her head. "Come on. Lets go have desert." she said smiling up at him slightly.

Her mother?  Griffin wondered, who paid for this place?  Her grandmother?  An uncle, aunt?  Perhaps a generous older cousin?  Maybe Anna paid for it now, but it was impossible to in high school.  But then again, she was only a teaching assistent, and she was paying for college.  She wasn't bringing in much, how could she pay for this place?  Maybe her parents left her all their wealth...  And slowly the inheritance was paying for it until she could afford to pay for it herself.  Griffin still didn't say a word, he just turned himself back to Anna to follow her upstairs.  "Dessert?  Trying to make me stay by luring me in with sweets?"  He smiled, it was obviously a joke.

Anna smiled back at him. "Oh of course." she said joking as well. "After desert. You can stay and talk somemore or go either way is fine with me." she said walking into the hallway, then to the kitchen. "I'll get the cake." she said going over to the counter, and bringing over a half-eaten cake. "It's chocolate." she said putting it down, then going to get a knife and two forks. "Here you are.." she said handing him a fork. Opening the lid to the cake, she cut two nice-sized pieces. "Here you go." she said sitting down and began to eat the piece of cake.

Griffin followed her up the slightly creeky wooden stairs, then down and hallway, and into the kitchen.  "I don't see any reason not to stay and chat for a little longer..."  He was not looking forward to the ordeals of his first morning under cover.  The first task...  Looking for a shamy, rundown place to rent for a couple days.  It was never very pleasant, but it had to be done, so he did it without complaint.  Griffin seated himself on a stool by the counter, taking the fork she gave to him.  When he saw the chocolate cake he glanced at her.  "A painter, a teacher, a future gardener...  And now a chef?  Is there anything else you want to be?"  He gave a light laugh, thanking her when she gave him a plate with some chocolate cake on it.

"A race car driver." she said clearly joking though her mouth. "Alright then, after we eat. The question game." she said taking another bite from the food. "It's a good way to talk, in my opinion. As long as they're not gross or way to personal." she said closing the cake. 

He chuckled at the 'race driver' comment, that would be quite the contradicting sight to who Anna seemed to be to him.  As he stabbed at the cake and put it into his mouth, he nodded his head, deciding that he would play the game he supposed, since things couldn't get too personal.  

Anna finished eating her cake, and looked up at him. "I'll finish cleaning up." she said going to the sink and washing her plate and fork.

A minute or so after she finished eating her cake, Griffin finished his.  He stood up and went beside her at the sink, to wash his own plate and fork.  "You are a very good cook. I can't imagine ever being able to bake anything without a disaster happening."

"It's easy." she said pointing to a cookbook on the counter. "That helps a whole lot."

"Still takes talent, easy for you, not for me."  He grinned and finished washing his plate and fork, drying it and setting it on the side.  "So who's going first, me or you?"

"You." she said taking his fork and plate and putting up. "That alright?"

"Don't see why not."  He said as he turned his body to lean himself against her counter, his hands gripping the edges for further support.  It took him a moment to think of something to ask.  "How long do you think you're going to be a teaching assistent?  Just during college?  What are you going to do after you finish up your last couple classes?"

"Let's see..." she said thinking for a second. "I don't know how long, probably still be one when I'm out, and.." she looked over at him then looked away. "I don't really know that one." she smiled. "My turn." she thought for a second. "Are you going to stay a cop? If not, what else do you want to do?"

So she planned to be a secondary teacher for awhile.  It probably had pretty good hours, and was satisfying, because it definitely had poor pay.  Teachers didn't earn much, teaching assistants earned much less.  When she asked his question he thought about it.  He didn't really have any plans for his future, this is what he did and he rather liked it.  "I believe so.  I like what I do.  I also train the police dogs, and that's something I very much enjoy..." Griffin had thought about becoming a detective, or maybe doing more under cover work.  But that would come in time, and depend on what his situation was in the future.  Right now he liked being in the K-9 unit.  "Outside of careers now...  What do you want to do in life?  Places you want to go?  Things you want to do?"

"I'd like to actully settle down in the future." she admited, making small circles with her finger on the table. "I want to have children, and I'd love to go to Irland." she said smiling to herself, then looking up at him. "What about you? What exactly what do you want to do?"

Griffin never thought about relationships, especially not having children, but he supposed it was pretty normal.  Most adults had children, he'd just never thought about it before.  "...Settle...  Keep a steady job...  But I'd also like to travel quite a lot, do things in places here and there.  Maybe I can find something that's close to an international cop."  He laughed slightly.  He'd have to learn a lot of different laws, countries were very different.