Knowing Jude

8. Watch It, Little Brother

8. Watch It, Little Brother

"Ugh, no, I don't like going to the mall," I object automatically.

He arches his brow. "Why?"

"It's full of people."

"And?"

I groan and smack my forehead. "Nothing. Never mind."

"Okay, let's go," he says, sticking the lollipop between his lips and turning to leave.

I hesitate for a second more, then sigh in defeat. I survived detention, I can certainly survive the mall.

Here goes.

Minutes later, we are seated in his posh car, having rushed through the rain. I touch my hair, hoping it doesn't get frizzy. I fasten my seatbelt and lean back into the passenger seat. The seats are fine leather, and in here it smells nice.

"Loaded, are we?" I tease, running my hand along the smooth leather. I don't know much about cars, and I won't pretend to, but I know this is not a cheap one, and it's clearly brand new. Getting in, I caught the Subaru insignia on it.

Jude looks at me, an eyebrow raised. "Or maybe it's hard work."

"Mh?" I mutter, tilt my head side to side considering. "Okay."

He starts the car and eases out of the parking lot, then speeds down the street.

"What are you going to do at the mall, anyway?" I ask, my eyes moving with the wipers on the windscreen.

"To get a new line," he replies.

I look sideways at him. "For your phone?"

He nods, eyes concentrated on the road.

"Do you have to go to the mall for that? Can't you go to any ordinary shop out here?"

"I've always bought all my phone accessories at that particular shop," he replies.

I scoff. "Alright, loyal customer."

The rain is still falling, so I lean back in my seat. Me accompanying him to the mall is kind of outrageous, since the mall is the opposite direction from school from the direction my home is. I can't say I'm losing time though, since I would have waited the rain out at school, and if I had gotten lucky maybe mum could have picked me up on her way from work.

Out of the corner of my eye I notice that Jude still has the tootsie between his lips. "Isn't that supposed to give you a cold at times like this?"

His eyes flicker to me for a short second. "Not to me, no." His voice is muffled, and he takes the stick from between his lips. He then proceeds to lick his red lips, leaving them glistening. I look away before he can catch me looking.

"You're lucky," I tell him. "If I so much as had a sweet late in the evening, I'd be stuck with a cold and most unpleasantly a sore throat the next morning."

"We'll have to change that," he says and I give him a confused look. Before I can ask what he means, he reaches into the glove compartment and fishes out a sweet in red wrapping. Okay, this dude seriously has cherry issues. "Take this," he offers.

I take it and go to push it in my pocket.

"No, have it now," he instructs.

I scoff. "In this cold? Hell no." I definitely do not wish for a running nose.

"I promise nothing will happen, I'll get you a hot chocolate at the mall."

Okay, that sounds tempting but...