Chapter title taken from the song "Humiliation" by Hugo from the album "Uncommon Courtesy"
Quil, Claire & Sharon: October 30 9:23 AM
Quil strode with a purpose, his long legs eating up the ground. He took the back steps in one large bound, whipped open the back door, and marched his way into the Ortecho kitchen.
Claire stood at the counter, her wet hair wrapped in a loose towel. She turned and looked over her shoulder at Quil.
"Oh, it's you," She said, trying to make her tone sound uninterested.
Quil walked up behind her, a scowl on his face. "That was very mean what you did to me this morning." He pushed himself up against her back, placing his hands on the counter on either side of her, effectively blocking her escape route.
Claire tipped her head back on his chest and looked at him, upside down. "What did I do?" She asked innocently.
Quil leaned down, his voice a harsh whisper in her ear. "You know what you did."
"Are you...are you upset with me?" Claire asked, feigning shock.
Quil growled deep in his chest. "It's not nice to tease," he murmured. He moved his hands off the counter and placed one arm across her chest, the other across her stomach and pulled her close against him. "You have no idea how hard it's been to stay away from you," he whispered into her ear, his lips caressing her earlobe. His hand on her stomach slid down to toy with the waistband of her sweatpants, his fingers brushing just underneath the elastic.
"I know exactly how hard it's been," Claire told him. She placed her hand on top of his and closed her eyes.
"Good morning, Quil," Sharon stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
Quil jumped back from Claire, more than a small part of him outraged at the interruption. He tried to control his temper and gave Sharon a grudging smile. "Morning," he practically barked at her.
Sharon's lips curled up in the corners for a moment, but she managed to put an impassive look on her face. "You here to help set up for the party?" she asked.
"Yeah, yeah that's exactly why I'm here," Quil grumbled.
Sharon gave him a large, overly cheery smile. "Great!"
Quil narrowed his eyes and then flopped down at the kitchen table. "So what do you need my help with?" His nose wrinkled at the thought of having to do anything girly like frost cupcakes or something even worse….like clean.
Claire turned to Quil and smiled. "Mom, why don't you tell Quil about the conversation we had this morning?" She beamed at Quil, an evil glint sparkling in her eye. "I have to get dressed and do my hair, but I'm sure he'd love to hear all about it."
"Good idea," Sharon said. "Thank you honey."
Claire smiled again and bounced out of the kitchen.
Quil cocked his head and watched her as she left, a slight smile tugging on the corners of his lips. Suddenly Sharon's face was right in his field of vision and he instinctively shrank back, the smile fading from his lips.
"'Sup?" He asked lamely.
Sharon sat next to him at the table, crossed her legs and leaned forward, her hands folded on the table top. "Well, what's up, is that we're going to have a little chat."
Quil nodded slowly. "Umm, okay," he gulped.
"Quil, I love you. I really do. You know that. And I appreciate how you've taken care of Claire all these years. I also know how hard this past year has been for you. However, just because she is turning sixteen, just because you are allowed to date officially now, that does not mean I am giving you permission to have sex with my daughter."
Quil's eyes widened. "Wh...wha...I...I wasn't..."
Sharon held up her hand. "I realize that you two are going to do whatever it is you are going to do and I can't stop you. I'll just say this. I wish you would wait. I told Claire the same thing. And if you don't, you better use protection or I will hunt you down like the mangy dog you are. " She leaned back and smiled. "Okay?" she said chirpily.
Quil's tongue felt glued to the roof of his mouth. The only thing he could do was nod dumbly.
Claire stuck her head back into the kitchen. If she was going to be humiliated, well then it was only fair that Quil be just as humiliated.
"She give you the safe sex lecture? She tell you to wear a condom?"
Quil squirmed in his chair. "Could we like, not talk about this?"
Claire smiled and pointed at her mother. "Don't look at me, she's the one who's all concerned about you keeping your manhood covered up."
Quil nodded. "Wow, this is just…..embarrassing on so many levels." He gave a weak laugh.
Claire covered her mouth to suppress her laughter and pulled her head back out of the door.
Quil frowned. Claire was such an instigator. She was going to pay for this one.
"Quil, I just want you to be safe," Sharon told him. "The last thing I want is my sixteen-year -old daughter getting pregnant."
Quil buried his head in his hands. "Please stop talking now," he begged.
Sharon smiled. "Now Quil, aren't you a little old to be acting this way?" His discomfort was becoming very amusing to her.
"I honestly don't think you're ever to old to be embarrassed about this," he muttered.
Sharon patted his hand and stood up. "I just want to be sure that we understand each other."
"I understand, I understand," Quil groaned.
"Faaaantastic," Sharon grinned. "Now, help me frost these cupcakes."
Quil dropped his head back and could do nothing more than sigh.