Right from the Start (bwwm) - 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙿𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙴

02: claiming

"Alright, that's gonna come out to $23.78."

Jordan sighed as he counted out the $24 he needed from his savings.

He'd spent every Saturday morning for the last 2 years gardening for Mrs. Tally, an art teacher at school, and although he'd had his eye on a new gaming-headset, that would have to wait.

These sweatshirts were necessary.

After he got his change, he took the bag from the clerk and turned around to see a large grin on his mom's face.

"What?"

She smirked and shrugged in defense before the pair walked out of the store and back into the throng of mall-goers that Saturday afternoon.

Once they were in their car in the parking structure, Jordan finally spoke.

"Whatever's on your mind, Mom... just say it."

She smiled as she turned the car on, checking behind her before carefully pulling out of her spot.

"It's nothing, I just-- you got those sweatshirts for you and Dahlia, right?"

Jordan looked over at his mother like she had asked him if he liked football.

"Of course, Mom! Who else would I get them for?"

She shrugged again defensively, loosening her grip on the steering wheel for a moment as her shoulders slumped.

"Just checking. I mean, I know you two have been tethered together since you were little, but this is the first time you've ever done something like this, and I don't know... it's cute."

Jordan's face suddenly felt flushed, so he slumped back in his seat and pulled his hood over his long, dark, side-swept hair.

"Whatever, Mom."

His face became even warmer and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep the stupid smile off of his face.

"You gonna give it to her tonight?"

"Mmm-hmm."

Jordan rolled his eyes as he kept his eyes focused on the buildings they passed. He didn't want to admit it out loud, but a big part of the reason he went out and got these sweatshirts was because of Ricky.

Ricky fucking Perez.

✨

He was the new kid this year and every girl in the 8th grade had a crush on him-- every girl except Dahlia.

She was the exception, which made Ricky go after her even more, which in turn, drove Jordan crazier and crazier each day.

It all came to a head yesterday at lunch.

Jordan was sitting with the guys at their own table while Dahlia was with the girls at the table right next to him. It was something the two would do every day so they could spend time with their friends, but hang after they all finished eating.