Will
Sixteen Years Later
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.
A/N: Once again, thank you for reading! I think I'm going to focus on my new fic for a few weeks before starting the sequel, but you know me, if the words start to flow, I'll post the first chapter as soon as it's ready. I think I said everything I wanted to say in the last chapter, but let me say thank you one more time! :)
