Chapter Nineteen
Clarissa waited for John to finish putting on the shirt, praying that they hadn't been too late to get him cooled down, when a young mother walked up to her.
"Excuse me, but isn't that the young man who was on the news a few months ago? The one with the methamphetamine addiction?" She asked, whispering the drug's name like it was a curse.
Clarissa's brows shot up, immediately going into mama bear mode. "He was on the news but he is not a meth addict." She stated, trying to hold her temper down.
The woman looked around, as if she shouldn't be speaking to her. "Well… do you think it's safe to have him around children." She looked to Amelia. "I mean, they're so impressionable, and they tend to do whatever they see teens and adults doing."
Clarissa pointed a finger in the woman's face. "You don't know how good of a man that boy is." She pointed to the bathroom door, knowing that John could come out any second, and she had to defuse the situation before he did. "Do you even know how he got that drug into his blood?" She waved to Amelia. "He took that needle to save that child. She was kidnapped, and he was the only one who knew where she was. He dove into action to save her. When the police pulled them from that house, he was the only one who had a mark on him. That child didn't have so much as a bruise." She crossed her arms over her chest. "He is like my own child, and I almost lost him. So next time you judge a child by his looks or what the media says, get the whole story."
John opened the door, showing Clarissa the shirt. "How's it look?" He asked, rubbing his arms with his hands.
Clarissa smiled, turning away from the baffled lady. "I think Amelia had it right when she said you're a knight."
John tied the old flannel around his waist, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I feel ridiculous."
Amelia ran up to him, giggling as he lifted her into the air. She leaned toward his ear, mischief clear in her movements. "We should get Sweets something." She whispered, her fingers starting to play with the necklace around his neck.
He chuckled, placing her on top of his shoulders. "What were you thinking we should get her?" He asked, ignoring the look that Clarissa gave the woman beside her.
She pointed to the Mickey-ear-caps. "I wanna get her that one." She smiled, as he picked up the one that had the word 'queen' stitched into it. She started to crawl down from her perch, selecting another cap from the display, this one with the word 'knight' written on it. "And this one for you."
John chuckled, taking the cap from her and placing it on his head. "How's it look?" He asked, cringing at the fact that he'd probably have to wear it for the rest of the day.
Amelia grinned, clapping her hands as she bounced up and down. "Yeah!"
Claire smiled, walking over to them. "I think it's kinda hot." She smirked, standing on her tip toes to kiss him. "You look cute."
John rolled his eyes, placing the 'queen' cap on her head. "You look adorable." He kissed her nose, slowly traveling to her lips.
"Gross!" Amelia stuck her tongue out, shaking her head and running off to see Jessop over by the action figures. "They're kissing again." She stated, disgust clear in her tone.
Jessop looked over at the two, making an over exaggerated gagging motion. "Barf." He croaked, causing the older teens to burst out laughing.
John tilted Claire's chin up, glancing at the children. "Look away kids, before your eyes are burned from the light of our love." With that, he pressed his lips against hers, feeling how she melted into his body and returned his affection.
"GROSS!" The kids shouted, running from the gift shop with their newly bought toys.