Sweetener | Judd Birch

2 | bother me

(A/n; for now on, the book is going to mainly be in first p.o.v// alcohol involved in this chapter )

I rest my head against the window, watching as each car skitter past in a flurry of lights while silence fills the air. I avert my gaze towards Judd, whose eyes were fixated onto the road, his eyebrows knitted  together in concentration. I expected Judd to be a reckless driver, speeding and disobeying road rules but he was the total opposite with me.
The raven haired was careful and stuck to the speed limit.

Reality had hit me at that moment, I'm in Judd Birch's car. I bit my lip to prevent myself from smiling. Judd must've sensed my happy-giddy feeling as he took a quick look at me.

"You okay, retard? Why are you biting your lip so freakin' hard?" He grumbled. I shake my head. "It's nothing." I say, he scoffed in response. "I live on (street name), it's near that pla-"

"- I need to go to the liquor store first, then you tell me your address." His deep voice, cutting through my sentence before fiddling with his touch-screen radio, he then pulls out his phone with one hand, the other gripped onto the wheel. We stopped at a red traffic-light and he quickly tapped his password in, he then chucked the phone at me. I looked at him, tilting my head in confusion.

"Could you go on Spotify and put on my playlist? I hate driving without music." He asks and I nodded in response. His wallpaper was basic, just a simple white background."Don't you fucking dare look through anything else." He adds.

I see the familiar music app and quickly put on his playlist, a familiar harsh-rap song immediately bursts through the speakers, I took a quick look at the first song that popped up, Look at me! by xxxtentacion? Not surprised.  That's so his song...

The traffic light flickered green and an idea popped into my head, "Hey Judd. . . You're 18 years old right? Well, could you--maybe, buy me a bottle or 6 pack of Devil's Cut bourbon?  I already have money in my purse." I say sweetly, flashing a small smile at the male. He scoffs, rolling his eyes. "You drink bourbon? Thought you cheer-leading whores drink gay-ass wine because you weak bitches can't handle the strength of alcohol." He teases in a harsh tone, glancing my way.

Pursing my lips, I shake my head. "Well, you'd be surprised. You know what they say, don't judge a book by its covers." I piped. "Fuck off with that cheesy quote shit, geez, whatever, I'll buy it for you." He says and I grin in delight. 

"I'll buy it for you but--" He holds my eye contact for a spilt second, a mischievous smirk playing at his lips, he turns his eyes back onto the road. "--You'll have to prove it to me, drink a whole can of it in front of me then."

My eyes widened at his remark. "What the actuals. . . Judd? Seriously? I'm the one paying!" I say in defence, he chuckles in return.

"Well then why do you need it so bad? I don't want you to waste a perfectly good drink just because you can't fucking handle it. "

I paused, he did have a point. I thought for a moment, looking away from him. My thoughts were scrambled, I then decide to settle for the usual party excuse. Although in reality, I want to drink to numb this empty feeling. I've never gone out of the way to buy alcohol personally for myself, I honestly only drink at parties.

"I definitely can handle a bit of bourbon and besides, I think Rob is having a party at his place sometime this week. . ." I reply, turning back to him. Judd's mischievous grin instantly fell into a somewhat sad pokerface at the mention of Rob, he chewed at his lip for a moment before exhaling.

"Oh, you're still with him?" He asks and I nod in response, bewildered by his change of emotions.

"Yes I am." I pursed my lips, is he sad? Why would he be? "Fine, Judd, I'll prove it to you." I chirp, trying to cheer him up. A deep chuckle escaped from his lips. "That's good, because we're here. Get out of the car." He orders, cutting off the engine before climbing out of the drivers seat, closing the door harshly.