Willa

Chapter 11

Sam trudged up the stairs.  He really did not want to have this conversation with his parents.  He walked up to the third floor where his room was located.  His door was slightly ajar.  He pushed it open to find his father sitting in the armchair across from his bed.  He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was only his father.  Dad he could deal with and talk to.  It was his mom and sister that were the dramatic ones.  After living all those years at military school, he tolerates even less of the crying and whining and theatrics that the female in his family can do.  The only exception is the current Luna, his oldest brother's wife.  Luna Michelle was really sweet and soft spoken.  Sam walked over near his father and sat on his bed.  Charles looked at his youngest son for a minute. After a few seconds of fidgeting, Sam could not take it any more.  "You wanted to talk to me?" Charles shook his head. "Tell me about Willa."  Sam jerked his head back in surprise.  He thought his father came up here to yell at him about  Clarissa.  "What do you want me to tell you that you don't already know?"  Charles smiled. "I want you to tell me what you know about her and how you feel about her."  Sam quickly thought if he should tell the whole truth or just the cliff notes.  He decided he would feed him only the minimum and see where this leads.   "Well, I met her a while ago after I came home.  I really have not hung out with her to get to know her.  She is really pretty.  I know she is of mixed-race and likes to dance.  She hangs out with Clarissa but is nothing like her.  She is more like the opposite; why?"  " Do you notice anything special about her?" he inquired. Sam looked confused. "No. is there something I should?"  His father shook his head.  "No, but I noticed that she is the opposite of Clarissa as well.  She seems to calm her down whenever she is umm excited?"   Sam smirked. That was not the word he would use but dad was trying to be nice.  "OK." he stated.  Charles rolled his eyes.  "The point I am trying to make is that Clarissa is really attached to this girl and I don't want you to come between their friendship, just like I don't want her to come between the relationship you have with your sister.  If you had told me that you have some feelings for her and wanted to be with her then that is one thing, but it seems like you only have a passing fancy and nothing serious."  Sam frowned. " Look dad,   Willa does seem like a nice girl and could possibly be a really cool friend.  Is she my mate? No, but that does not mean I did not want to get to know her.  I get that she is Clarissa's friend and knew her first, but that does not mean she can't be my friend as well."   "So you do plan on spending more time with her?" inquired his father. Sam swallowed and decided to tell the truth. "Yes, I really want to get to know her, maybe even date her.  At least until my mate comes.  I am not sure when that will be.  I am two years older than her.  Willa is going to be seventeen this summer.  It's not like we are so far apart in age.  As long as we tell each other the truth and stay honest, I don't see a problem.  The only possible problem will be Clarissa."  His father sat back and looked at his son.  He understood the stubborn  glint that appeared in his eyes as he was talking.  He felt the same way when he met Laura and thought her family was going to get in the way of him courting her.  He sighed.  "Well, the only thing I have left to say then is just be mindful of your sister's feelings.  I am not going to stop you from getting to know Willa but I will ask you to do it separate from the time your sister spends with her.  She already feels betrayed by Mindy and I don't want you to be the catalyst that sends her into a frenzy over losing another friend to her older brother.  You have the ability to see Willa outside of this house, use that to your advantage."  Sam started to interrupt but Charles put up his hand to halt him.  " That does not mean you can't speak to her when she is here." he smiled as Sam relaxed.  "Ok, I understand, you want me to respect the time she has with Clarissa when she is here but I can still spend some time with her as well."  Charles shook his head.  Then he rubbed his face and clapped his hands together.  "Now, I have to pretend that I was in here lecturing you about your behavior at your sister's party.   By the way son, I did not know you were such a good dancer."  Sam's faced turned red.  The last thing he needed was his parents teasing him about that last dance with Willa.  He rubbed the back of his neck.  "yeah, um.. I learned while I was at school whenever we went to a party."  Charles got a teasing glint in his eye, "you might have to teach me that last dance.  I think I would impress your mom with that one."  Sam's eyes got wide as he flopped back on his bed and put a pillow over his head.  "I would rather be injected with wolf's bane and tied up in silver chains" he groaned into the pillow as he heard his father snicker as he left the room.  That was not so bad he thought as he rolled over onto his side with a smile on his face.  At least his father understood what he was trying to say and how he felt without him having to go too far into it.  Sam jumped up with a smile and began to whistle as he made his way towards the bathroom to take a shower.  Now that he pretty much got the green light to pursue Willa, he was going to make it his business to be around as much as possible whenever she was at the house and outside of the house.  He would just have to get creative and he knew just who could help. After his shower, he planned to call Willa to make sure she got home safe and plan a date by the end of next week. Tomorrow he would call Sidney and get her help with setting everything up.

Charles walked into his daughters room to see her laying down on her bed with her head in her mother's lap.  He mentally shook his head.  He knew that Clarissa was milking this with everything she got , but she is still his baby and he did not like to see her upset; especially on her birthday.  " Princess? are you feeling any better?" he asked as he came closer to her bed and put a hand on his wife shoulder.  She looked frustrated and frazzled.  Clarissa started sniffing and looked like she was about to turn on the water works when her mother distracted her. "Dear, why don't you tell her what happened with Sam?" his wife asked with a pleading look in her eye. She had been attempting to calm her daughter down for the last hour and quite frankly she was tired! Charles squeezed Laura's shoulder and motioned for her to move out the way so he could take her place.  She sighed as she stood up and walked over near the door.  Clarissa sat up and reached out to her father.  She knew he would get on Sam's case and make him pay for ruining her party and embarrassing her.  She wrapped her arms around his waist and he began to pat her back.  "Well, I did get on him about his intentions to Willa and how it would impact your friendship.  I told him that he better not come in between what you two have, that you was her friend first and I also did not want her to come between you too, That is your brother and he needs to respect your wishes and the boundaries you placed."  "But daddy? what about ruining my party."  Clarissa whined.  He looked over at his wife.  She shook her head at him.  "Yes, Princess, I did get on his case about your party and what he did.  I sent him to bed and he will apologize to you in the morning."  He stood up before Clarissa could protest further. "Now it is time for you to get some rest. It may not have ended the way you wanted, but it started out perfectly right?"  Clarissa shook her head. "Good, then focus on the good parts and know that the people that really love and care for you had a good time in your honor." Charles stated as he tucked his daughter in and began to walk out the room with his wife.  Clarissa was not entirely sure about what punishment Sam got, but she is sure it is a good one.  She will deal with Willa herself.  She sighed and closed her eyes. She thought about the beginning of her party and that dance with the cute guy in the black sneakers and she drifted off to sleep.  Clarissa's parents sagged onto each other in relief as they closed the door to her room.  They quietly walked down the hall to their room.  Once inside Laura looked over to her husband. "Did you really get on Sam about tonight?"  Charles looked at his wife.  "Of course I did.  I can't have him making my princess miserable at every turn now can I?" he stated.  As he walked into the bathroom to shower he heard his wife mutter under her breath. " He didn't really do anything and if you keep coddling her she will be a nightmare for her mate."  Charles poked his head out of the bathroom door.  "I heard that woman; and that will be his problem and no longer mine."  Laura shook her head as he laughed out loud.  She knows eventually she will have to step in and deal with her squabbling children. Its been that way for years. Hopefully it will get better as they get older, but she is not holding her breath.