Hensenville Chapter 1.2

Griffin stood on the roof of his apartment building. He came up here sometimes to think. He watched the sunrise over his city and smiled. He could never watch the sunrise without thinking of his beautiful Dawn, but he couldn’t help but wonder where it was all going. Griffin loved Dawn with all his heart, and he was sure that she loved him too but she was trying to turn him into something he wasn’t.
Griffin loved painting and helping people. He has a gift for both. Dawn wanted him to become a cop and then she’d help him open a gallery. But cops can’t always make sure justice is served. They are bound by rules and the red tape of bureaucracy. He wasn’t. If there was a need for help, he was there doing the right the especially when the law couldn’t. As for his art, that was for her. Griffin never knew he could make something beautiful until Dawn came into his life, but he didn’t need anyone else’s eyes but hers to see it and love it.
He looked at his watch; if he was gone too much longer Dawn would get worried. He could take the stairs down, but where was the fun in that. The closest fire escape landing was at least two floors down, but Griffin felt the need for an adrenaline rush. He stepped back from the edge to give himself a running leap off of the roof. He twisted in midair to face the building as he fell. He reached out his hands to grab onto the railing of the fire escape and his fingers slipped, barely giving him enough time to swing his feet out onto the landing below him without hitting his head. Griffin looked up and then down, “That…was close.” he said. He walked down the ladder on the side of the building as silently as possible before slipping into his own apartment.
“It smells like breakfast in here,” he said loudly as he walked into the kitchen from the living room window.
“We are celebrating.” Dawn said closing the waffle iron. “I passed my bar exam!”
“Baby, that’s great! Why didn't you tell me? Did you call Edward?”
“I was going to tell you as soon as I got home but you were working late so I decided to surprise you. Edward wants me to come in at noon for a lunch meeting! I am so excited! Working with Eddie Luster, would be the second best thing to ever happen to me.”
“The second greatest? You have been dreaming of being a lawyer ever since you were a little girl. What could possibly be better than getting your dream job at the most respected firm in the state?”
“Being rescued by the man of my dream, of course.”
“Oh! Well I hope that happens for you soon Dawn. I hope that I’ll do in the meantime.” Griffin smiled putting his arms around Dawn as she laughed.
“If it hadn’t been for you, I would have been-”
“But I was there and you weren’t. And I took the liberty of getting you an early congratulatory gift, because I knew you’d pass the first time around with flying colors.” Griffin walked over to the closet and pulled out a duffle bag.
“You go me a gym bag. How sweet…Are you saying I’m fat?!” she asked with mock tears, removing the now cooked waffle and pouring another.
“Come open the bag, girl.”
Dawn came over to the couch and opened the duffle bag. Inside were fingerless padded gloves and workout clothes.
“OhmyGod! You do think I’m fat!” she accused.
“No baby. I signed you up for kick boxing lessons. I want you to feel safe and to be able to protect yourself when I’m not around, especially when you’re working late on a big case. I said I would always to be there for you. And now I can be, even when I’m not. Plus once you get really good you’ll be able to kick some major ass.” he pulled her in for a quick kiss.
“Thank you Grif, for always protecting me.”
“Just doing my duty ma’am.” They both laughed. “Oh, did you look in the whole bag?” Griffin released his woman to go check on the food. “There’s a front pocket.” Dawn fished around the bag and took out a tiny velvet box.
“Grif!” Dawn started shakily.
“Don’t worry it’s not what you think it is, just open it.” he said washing his hands.
Inside the box was a white gold necklace with a flower shaped pendant made entirely out of amethyst stones.
Dawn gasped, “How did you get this?!”
“I walked into the store. I told the girl what I wanted. She put it in the box. I gave her the money. She gave me the necklace. I walked out of the store.” He poured another waffle.
“You know what I mean, you dork, where did you get the money?”
“Between working at the bar, the club and whatever gigs Romeo throws at me, I’ve got quite a bit saved up. And this was important. So I bought my girl something nice. Unless you don’t want it…”
Dawn walked over with the box in her hand. “You gonna put it on me or what?” Griffin swept her sun blonde hair over her right shoulder and took the necklace from the box. After he clasped it on she turned for him to see, her eyes hopeful.
“It’s beautiful.” He kissed her. “Just like you.” Dawn beamed. “Go take a look.” He said grabbing the eggs from the fridge. Dawn ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror.
“I love it!” she squealed. “I love you.” She said putting her arms around him as he scrambled the eggs.
“Baby?”
“Yeah,”
“What were you doing on the roof?”