Chapter Three-Hundred and Forty-Six
Barton watched as John stepped over to the little redhead swimming in the pool, noticing how his expression softened as he sat on the edge of the pool to speak to her. "The girl is his fiancée, right?"
Vernon nodded, chuckling when he saw Phoebe and Amelia sneaking up behind the teen. "Yep, they're getting married in three weeks."
John screamed as the girls pushed him into the pool, instantly clinging to Claire like a lifeline even though the water only came up to his hips at most. "You're both dead!" He shouted, climbing out of the water to chance them around the yard. "Get your little asses back here!"
Claire snorted a laugh, biting her lip as John slipped and happened to catch Phoebe's ankle while he went down. "Oh my God…" She muttered, shaking her head as John tickled Phoebe.
"Say it!" He ordered, pinning her legs under his thigh and holding her wrists with one hand. "Say it!"
"Mercy! Bender mercy!" She screamed, sighing in relief as he let her go. "You're an ass…" She groaned, yelping as he picked her up by the ankles and tossed her into the pool.
John smirked, sticking his tongue out at her only to reveal the silver barbell in his tongue. "Haha!"
Claire climbed out of the pool, grabbing his jaw and opening his mouth to see the piercing. "You did not do that…" She stated, shaking her head as he stuck his tongue out to show her. "Is that why you've been talking with a lisp all day?"
John smiled, drawing his tongue back into his mouth. "Maybe." He smiled, wincing as he caught the barbell on his tooth. "Fuck!" He placed a hand over his mouth. "I might need to eat soup for a few days."
She rolled her eyes, handing Phoebe a towel as she walked over to them. "You are an idiot."
Clarissa stepped over to the counter as John struggled to swallow a spoonful of chicken soup. "What did you do?" She asked, raising a brow at him.
He gave a little smirk, sticking his tongue out to show her. "It's hard to talk with it." He lifted his spoon to his lips, tilting his head to the side as he swallowed.
"That's what you get." She placed the test results on the counter, pulling one out that had the words 'hair sample' on it. "Can you explain this for me?" She asked, pointing to the result that showed alcohol had been in his system a few weeks ago.
He dropped his head, trying to ignore the look she was giving him. "I didn't mean to. My drink was spiked at the last concert." He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force his shame back. "I'd already swallowed it before I realized what it was."
Clarissa watched him for a moment, taking the soup from him and placing a little bottle of mouthwash on the counter. "Wash your mouth." She ordered, kissing his head and looking into his eyes. "I'm not mad, Pumpkin. I believe you. And your other tests were perfectly clean." She smiled, patting his cheek with a soft hand. "But we are going to talk about that hole in your tongue later."
He nodded, pouring the mouthwash into his mouth and swishing it around. He watched the clock tick, counting the two minutes until he could spit it out. "Yes Ma'am."