blossom ↣ joshler ✓

2. Brother

"Josh! You're going to be late for school, sweetie!"

Josh took one last look at himself in the mirror. His brown, curly hair was styled perfectly on top of his head and the glasses sitting on his nose accented his face perfectly. He grinned with his pearly white teeth and grabbed his phone and backpack before leaving his bedroom.

He bounded down the steps and was about to enter the kitchen but stopped when his dog ran up to him happily. "Hey, Jim!" he knelt down and softly scratched his neck. "I'll see you after school buddy, okay?"

Jim let out a bark and licked Josh's face, causing him to laugh. He kissed the dog's forehead before standing back up and going into the kitchen. "Morning!" He chirped when he saw his mom.

She turned and smiled at him, a tired smile on her face. Josh saw she was in her scrubs and assumed she was about to leave for work. "Good morning, baby," she replied. She turned to the giant dry erase calendar they had taped to the wall, making sure she had everything written down since it was already the second week of January. "Okay... Jordan has soccer practice for his club team Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Ashley has her poetry reading on Thursday. Abbie has cheer tryouts after school today. You don't start baseball until March. I feel like I'm forgetting something."

"Don't forget about taking Jimmy to the vet on Sunday," Josh reminded.

"That's what I was missing!" Laura smiled proudly. "I knew you were my favorite for a reason," she grabbed the granola bar off of the counter next to her and handed it to Josh. "Make sure you eat that. Breakfast—"

"Is the most important meal of the day," Josh laughed. "I know, Ma."

"Good," she pressed a kiss to his cheek since he was too tall for her to kiss his forehead without bending down. "Have a good day at school. I love you, baby."

"I love you too," Josh began walking out.

"Your father will pick the girls up after school since he'll be off of work but because Abbie has her try outs they'll be back a little late. I'm just telling you so you aren't confused as to why they won't be here when you get home."

"Gotcha," Josh nodded. "Bye, Ma!"

"Bye, honey."

Josh went to the door and set his hand on the doorknob. He was about to open it when he saw Jim sitting by it, looking at him with sad eyes. Guilt filled Josh's heart and he pet his dog once more. "It's okay, bud. I'll be home after school. If it's not icy I'll take you on a walk, okay?"

Jim seemed to have registered the word "walk" because he perked up and his tail began wagging again. Josh chuckled and exited the house, shutting the door behind him.

As soon as he neared his car, however, a groan left his mouth. He could see his brother sitting in the passenger seat, messing with the aux and turning the music up more and more every time he changed the song.

Josh got in and instantly turned the music down. "What the hell?" Jordan complained, sitting back in his seat.

"I'm not letting you blow my speakers out with your shitty rap music," Josh unplugged the aux cord from Jordan's phone and put it in his own. Jordan must've started the car already because the heat was welcoming and protecting them from the harsh temperatures outside.

"God I can't believe I have to ride to school with you," Jordan groaned loudly.

Josh backed out of their driveway. "Maybe don't do burnouts with your friends and ruin your tires and you won't get grounded from your own car," Josh suggested in a sweet tone of voice.

"This is worse than Mom driving me to soccer practice," he grumbled. "At least she just kisses me a million times. She doesn't even lecture me anymore."

"Okay, well," Josh paused, stopping at a red light. "I can kiss you a million times before we walk into school too. All you had to do was ask, buddy."

"Ew. You're annoying."

"I wuv you too, Jordy," Josh cooed, leaning into Jordan's face and pressing a big wet kiss to his cheek.

Jordan made a retching noise. "I can't believe I got stuck being your brother."

"You're one to talk," Josh scoffed. "You're literally a pig."

"Takes one to know one," Jordan replied. The light turned green and the two brothers looked at one another for a split second before they busted out laughing. Josh focused his eyes back on the road but he was still snickering. "I don't completely hate you."

"Aww that's sweet," Josh cooed. "I really hate you so..."

Jordan smacked him in the arm and the two started cracking up again. A few moments later, it died down and Josh's lips rested into an easy smile. He loved his little brother with his whole body and it was times like that morning that he really enjoyed having him around.

Jordan was a freshman and Josh was a junior but they didn't really ever see each other at school. And with Jordan getting the permit that allowed him to drive to school the summer before, he took himself to school every day since he did have practice some days after school.

His sisters were in middle school, Abbie being in sixth grade and Ashley being in eighth. Josh thought it kinda sucked he couldn't even accidentally run into them at school but he made sure to make time for them outside of school. He was close with his family and he loved that. He loved them.

A few minutes later Josh pulled into the parking lot, grateful he could get a spot close the entrance. He parked the car and turned it off before looking at Jordan.

"Thirty seconds," Jordan told him, opening the door.

"Dude I don't even know why you make me wait to get out of the car. People know we're related."

Jordan ignored him and got out. "Start."

Josh made no move to talk and Jordan gave him a look, causing the older to sigh. "One... two... three..."

Jordan shut the door and Josh counted to five before he got out, shutting his as well.

Jordan didn't notice he got out earlier than he wanted until he caught up with his friends and one of them turned to Josh and waved. "Hey, Josh!"

"Hey, Mason," he replied. Jordan turned and glared which only caused Josh to smile innocently in return.

Jordan gestured to his friends to walk faster and Josh laughed. He really did love his brother even if Jordan didn't always publicly reciprocate it.