Right from the Start (bwwm) - 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙿𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙴

83: flashbacks

A handful of children were running around the apartment, all screaming out what games they wanted to play.

"Oooh, let's play 'house'!"

The excited children all agreed and when the green-eyed blonde boy grabbed Dahlia's hand, an infuriated Jordan stood back and watched, fuming.

"Only if you're the mommy and I get to be the daddy."

Even at four years old, Jordan knew that the only way Dahlia would play Mommy is if he was Daddy.

He watched her pull her hand out of Preston's grasp, turning to run back to Jordan. She wrapped her arms around his torso and buried her face in his side before looking back at Preston.

"Jordy's Daddy."

✨

The Friday before Mother's Day was always the Mother's luncheon at school, and Dahlia absolutely hated it every year.

While all of the girls would sit in a special gazebo having a picnic with their mothers, Dahlia would usually skip it-- even when Charlotte offered to go with her-- it just didn't feel the same.

Having a mother was always a big chunk of what Dahlia felt like she was missing, and no matter how much she knew Charlotte loved her, on days like this it just didn't feel like enough.

"It's not your fault, Doll."

As Jordan attempted to assure her, all a thirteen-year-old Dahlia could do was shrug.

When she didn't look over at him, Jordan tilted her chin in his direction, forcing her to look at him. When she finally did look up at him, all Jordan could see were tears welling in her eyes.

"She died that day, Jordan-- the day I was born. How is it not my fault?"

Jordan wrapped his arms around Dahlia and pulled her in, not caring that her tears were soaking through his t-shirt.

He just held her, slowly rocking her back and forth as he kissed the top of her head.

"One day, you'll see-- it wasn't your fault."

✨

"I can practically see the smoke coming out of your ears from over here. You need to calm down."

Jordan nearly got a paper cut; he'd flipped the notebook page back so far, Dahlia thought he might slice his finger open as well.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head before setting his sights on Dahlia, who was sitting Indian-style on the foot of his bed.

"It's just an assignment, Jordy. And it's not even like I wanted to be his partner."

"But he wanted to be yours."

Dahlia huffed as her shoulders dropped in defeat. She shook her head before looking up at Jordan, who still had plenty to say.

"And we both know the only reason he got to be yours is that he's a teacher's pet."

Dahlia rubbed her face and groaned once again.

"Dude! What am I supposed to do-- go tell Ms. Skeltbaum that she should've partnered me with my boyfriend instead of with her nephew?"

Jordan shrugged and sighed as he looked away, knowing none of this was Dahlia's fault.

Ever since their first day of high school, Jordan could clearly see that Aaron Dobson had a thing for Dahlia. And now, a little more than a year later, Jordan had to sit back and watch as Dahlia and Aaron played 'Mommy and Daddy' for their Home Economics class.

Dahlia could see the pain in her boyfriend's eyes and, in an instant, was scooting closer to him, gently grabbing his face, her brown eyes boring into his.

"Like I said-- this is just a stupid assignment. The only actual babies I'm ever gonna have are gonna be yours."

Jordan's eyes widened in shock, and Dahlia's widened in embarrassment. She had always thought about having Jordan's babies, but up until this moment, she had never vocalized it.

"You-- you wanna have my babies?"

"I mean--you know-- one day. This assignment... it's just for the grade, okay? The only babies that are ever gonna matter are the ones we eventually partner up together on."

Jordan leaned in and kissed Dahlia's forehead before his lips found hers. He pressed his forehead against hers, inhaling the sweet scent that was Dahlia, just before she pulled away with a lazy smile on her face.

"You're my whole heart, Doll. You're it."

🌻