David rose quickly from his seat, both to keep whatever it was Arla was accidentally creating from spilling down onto his lap, and to act as a shield for her. "Look, I'll vouch for her. She's new around here, and with the skin condition ... she doesn't like being touched, but that's not a crime is it?"
Friendly defense, though, masked increasing concern. The manager himself didn't look particularly dangerous, a guy doing his job whether or not he personally agreed with it - although David had the impression that he did - but some of the other customers had started paying attention now, the boy was glaring at them and the man at the far table wasn't exactly small, and didn't look nearly as friendly when he wasn't chatting with his buddy from work.