Will

When your dad is an MMA legend, there's a lot to live up to. I knew when I was five years old that I wanted to be just like my dad. I used to watch him at the gym training with my Uncle Simon and think they were superheroes and what five year old doesn't want to be a super hero?

I'm only sixteen and not even eligible for professional fights, but there are already people trying to predict if I'll be able to live up to my dad's standards. Dad never pushed me into anything though. Growing up, he used to tell me that I didn't have to fight, that people would expect me to be great because he was and if I didn't want that, I didn't have to. Every time, though, I would tell him that I was up for the challenge.

Dad stopped fighting professionally when I was ten. He broke his leg in a fight and decided it was time to stop. Now, he runs the gym full time and is my head trainer, kicking my ass in the process. He also does some scouting for the organization to find the next big fighter and does commentary work for big fights.

I'm not a mixed martial artist because it's what my dad did. I fight because it's what I love to do, even though my mom would rather me sit in her studio all day and help her take pictures. I'll leave that for my brother, James.

James is only fifteen months younger than me and has every bit of Mom's artistic ability. Dad always jokes that the blondes and the redheads formed teams early on. James and I share our mother's green eyes, though. My brother is my best friend; there is no doubt about that. I love that kid more than anything. He started high school this year and I love the fact that the Herondale boys are both there to cause trouble.

The Herondale and the Lewis kids joined forces a long time ago. There really isn't any time you can find any of us without the others. In fact, Tessa, who is six months older than me and won't let me forget it, is on her way to becoming the next big thing in female MMA. That was a fun conversation to be a part of. Tessa decided when we were twelve that she could be just as good, if not better than the boys. Our dads were so against it at first, not that they thought girls couldn't fight. They just didn't want to see Tessa get hurt.

Eventually, they agreed and Tessa and I have trained together ever since. Sometimes I wonder if she knows how I feel about her and she just chooses to ignore it. James says that I'm so obvious it's a wonder she hasn't called me out for being creepy yet. I can't help it though. I've known this girl for my whole life and she is my best friend. We tell each other everything and we understand each other.

Aunt Isabelle has even asked me why we don't date, but according to Mom, she had our wedding planned before I was even born. Everything is going to change tonight, though. Tonight I plan on making my feelings for Tessa known and I only hope she reciprocates my feelings and I don't ruin our friendship because without Tessa as my friend, I don't know what I would do.

"Mom," I yelled as I walked in the front door of my house dropping my gym bag next to the door.

Clarissa Herondale, otherwise known as Mom, came around the corner and wrapped me in her arms, even though I was twice her size and she barely stood as tall as my chest. I loved my mom. She was awesome. She met my dad back when he was still fighting and they fell in love. I don't know how many times my dad had told me their story, but I could probably recite it word for word at this point.

Mom encouraged my brother, James and me in whatever we wanted to do and for me that meant mixed martial arts.

"How was the gym," she asked as we walked into the kitchen where James was sitting at the counter eating whatever Mom had made for us.

"Awesome, as usual. I kicked Dad's ass all over the mats." James snickered as Mom smacked my head.

"Watch the language, but I'm proud of you." She sat down at one of the bar stools and took a drink of her tea. Her crazy, curly red hair was thrown up haphazardly with a few pieces framing her face. "So, what time is Tessa coming over?"

"Ooooh, Will's got a girlfriend," James teased from the other side of Mom. I tried to reach around her and smack him, but she stopped me. "Hey, I'm just saying that it's completely obvious that you like her, Will."

"Yeah, obvious to everyone but Tess," I mumbled into my water. "Anyway, she said she was going to go home and change and then she would be here. Oh, and she's not my girlfriend."

"But you want her to be, right," Mom asked with a loving look in her eyes. "I mean, I've known since you were about seven how you've felt about her."

"Mom, come on," I huffed. "You're just feeding into Aunt Isabelle's dream. I don't even know if she feels the same way."

"Oh, honey, don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll love what you have planned."

"Or she could be completely freaked out and never talk to you again," James teased and my nerves soared.

"I hate you," I told my brother.

"No, you don't. You love me." He smirked from the other side of Mom and I knew I needed to get away from those two if I had any chance of making it through the night without completely losing it.

"Well, as amazing as this conversation has been, I'm going to go." I got up from my seat and kissed Mom on the head. "Please let me know when Tess get's here."

I headed to my room to shower and change before I made sure everything was ready. After I showered, I dressed in a nice pair of jeans and a button down shirt that Tessa always liked. I grabbed my laptop and made sure the playlist I made was perfect. When I was sure everything was perfect, I made my way downstairs where my dad had just walked through the door.

"Hey, Uncle Simon said Tess will be here in a little bit," Dad said as he dropped his gym bag next to mine. "Does she have any idea what you're planning?"

"No, but apparently everyone else does," I said shaking my head. No one could keep a secret around here. If I told Mom something, there was no doubt she would tell Dad. Most of the time, James could keep a secret, but every once in a while he spilled to Mom. "Can you help me for a second?"

"Yeah, sure. What do you need?" I led him out to the deck that led to the beach. Just beyond the house, I had set up a blanket and Mom had prepared a picnic basket for us. The sun was making its way to the horizon and I knew that I needed to make sure I timed everything perfectly with the sunset. I stopped when we came upon my setup.

"I don't really need any help, I just wanted to talk to you, away from team ginger in there," I told my father bashfully.

"Were they giving you a hard time," he asked with a knowing smile.

"Of course, they were. It's their prerogative, but it made me think for a second. Do you think I'm crazy? Is confessing my feelings for Tessa after all this time ridiculous?"

"Son, listen." He put his arm around my shoulder, a sure sign that he was about to drop some sage advice on me. "Love is crazy. How do you think I felt when Uncle Simon introduced me to Aunt Isabelle for the first time? I honestly didn't see them panning out, but after a few months, I realized they just worked. There was no way to explain it, they just did."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, but I'm just afraid that this will ruin our friendship. We've been best friends for so long and I don't want to mess that up."

"What if she does feel the same way?" He raised his eyebrows at me. "You'll never know unless you try, Will. You know your mom's and my story, so I won't bore you with it, but how do you think I felt that night at that party? I saw a beautiful redhead across the room and all I had to do was sit next to her. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if I hadn't because I probably wouldn't have you or your brother."

"Dad, you would have met eventually." I shook my head because he acted like it was some act of fate that they were both at that party, when in reality, if they hadn't both been there, Simon and Isabelle would have introduced them eventually.

"That's not the point." He smacked me in the back of the head. What was with everybody hitting me tonight? "The point is that that might have been our only chance. Sure, we could have met later on down the line, but it might not have been the same. We met because I made the decision to walk over and introduce myself. It wasn't Simon or Isabelle who introduced us, but me."

"Okay, I get it, but what does that have to do with me and Tessa?"

"What if this is your only chance?" He let that sink in and I realized he was right. "You kids are growing up and if you don't take a chance now, you might never get the chance to later."

"Thanks, Dad." I turned to him and gave him a hug before he turned to walk back to the house.

"Good luck, Will."

Dad was right. I had known I loved Tessa since I was ten years old. She was always the one for me, which was why I never even thought of other girls. I wasn't dumb; I noticed all of the guys at school looking at her as the three of us walked through the halls. Don't get me wrong, she's a beautiful girl, the most beautiful I had ever seen with her long brown hair and blue eyes that could pierce your soul. If I didn't make my feelings known, someone else would and I couldn't let that happen without her at least knowing how I felt.

The only thing that was holding me back was our friendship. It wasn't as if we never saw each other. We saw each other every single day, whether it be for school or training and we spent most of the day together. I could handle it if she didn't feel the same way, but if it affected our friendship, I would never forgive myself. I finally decided to push all of my worries aside and take a chance. I would never know if I didn't try and if I didn't try, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Like the true fighter I was, I started hopping up and down in the sand like I was getting ready for a fight. I threw a couple of punches to let off some steam and calm myself down. I closed my eyes taking a deep breath and thought of Tessa. She would forever be my calming force.

I realized then that I didn't just want to tell Tessa how I felt, but I wanted to know how she felt, as well. I wanted to know what was going through her mind every day we spent together while I was dying to tell her the I loved her.

"Will," my mom called from the deck, interrupting my thoughts. "Tessa is here, honey."

I guess I was about to find out.

Thank you so much for reading! As I mentioned in the summary, the is the sequel to my story It's Time and is set sixteen years from the last chapter. It will focus mainly on Tessa and Will, with some Clace and Sizzy thrown in there too and will be told from all of their POVs.

I just loved It's Time so much, that I couldn't walk away from the story there, so this is my chance to further the story and develop new relationships, which I hope you enjoy.

Once again, thank you for reading and please let me know what you think and leave a review! Should I continue? :)