Chapter One-Hundred and Sixty-Four
Claire watched as John and Chance made their rounds to see everyone who looked a little down, smiling with the knowledge that John was trying to make everyone's day better with puppy loves. She shook her head as she listened to John's shrill whistle, picking up her job application for Banana Republic and looking it over to make sure it was perfect. "First thing I'm gonna get is a new microphone for him." She whispered, jumping when she heard Medusa's voice behind her.
"You fucking slut." She hissed, shoving Claire against the lockers. "You're just using your money to buy his love. He would never be with you if you were poor."
Claire glared at her, pulling her hair until she started to cry from how it hurt. "You're the slut!" She growled, pushing her away from her. "John loves me. And if he had any interest in you, he wouldn't scrub himself raw every time you touch him."
Medusa spat in her face, kicking at her long legs. "Bitch!" She screamed, landing a good blow on Claire's shin just under the end of her skirt. "I called dibs on him in fifth grade!"
"WHORE!" Claire shouted, balling her fist and pulling back to strike a right hook until John's hand gripped her wrist.
"Let it go." He ordered, his voice low and rough as his dark eyes met hers. "It's not worth it." He pulled her away from Jessica as he sensed that she was still pissed off. "Calm down. I'm yours. No one can change that."
She heaved a breath, glaring at the floor before she slammed against John's body and pressed a hard hiss to his mouth. She forced her tongue into his mouth, not caring that he hadn't really invited her inside. She pushed her hands against his stomach, slipping them under his clothes, and forcing her body impossibly close to him. She ignored the wolf-whistles she got from the boys in the hallway, choosing to focus on John as he helped her harness her emotions. "I fucking hate her." She gasped when they separated, placing her hands on his chest and balling them in his shirt.
He shushed her, leading her to the stairway and sitting on one of the steps with her in his lap. "I know, Sweets." He whispered, tucking her hair behind one ear so he could actually see her beautiful face. "But if you react like that, she wins."
"You still love me, right?" She choked back her tears, letting him pull her to his shoulder.
He chuckled, rubbing his hands over her back with the gentleness that he'd tapped into when he was helping Julia deliver Johanna. "I will always love you, Clarity Penelope Faith Standish." He kissed the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent of coconut and vanilla. "Even when you're the biggest pain in my ass, and the most annoying woman I've ever met."
She laughed, wiping her tears away as she looked at him. "I can't be that horrible."
He smirked, kissing her lips with tender love. "Baby, you can be the devil's spawn at times." He flinched away as she struck his shoulder, faking hurt as he tried to play off that he'd been shocked at her reaction. "Hey! I didn't say all the time." He leaned toward her, kissing a line up her jawbone, until he was nipping at her ear. "Just when I'm a real jackass."