The Love You Give

The Ass in Assumption

Hannah Johns sat behind the wheel of her old blue Volkswagen beetle and sighed as she looked at the sixteen-year-old teenager sitting beside her. Hannah had been a social worker for three years and the young lady sitting in her passenger seat had been her first client. Ezra Austin Cole was the sweetest young woman Hannah had ever had the pleasure of meeting and she had a lot of kids and teenagers on her plate. Like many children in the foster system, Ezra had a sob story that would pull on the most stalwart of heartstrings. She had moved from foster home to foster home for a variety of a reasons, but mostly due to fighting. A lot of kids in the system were hard thanks to their situations and didn't respond to the sunshine and rainbow package that was Ezra Cole.

All Ezra wanted was to make friends and play nice, but for the last three years she wasn't able to find just what she was looking for and what her heart needed. That was all going to change today. Hannah had briefly informed her of her new placement and Ezra was beyond excited. She was happy to hear that the Scotts didn't have any other foster children. She liked the idea that the Scott boys were her age and in the same grade. She was hopeful they would be fast friends and that her senior year would be the best one yet. She really wanted that. Ezra remembered the stories her mother would tell her about her own senior year and how pivotal that year was for all teens and she wanted to have that experience for herself.

"You nervous, kiddo?" Hannah asked looking over once more. "Hannah, you're not even ten years older than me." Ezra side eyed her with a grin. "Answer the question, child." Ezra chuckled before looking out the window at the changing scenery. "I just want them to like me. I want to be what they're looking for, what their family needs. If that all comes to pass then this will be right. This will finally be my placement." Hannah smiled to herself as they drove passed the Welcome to Connecticut sign. The hour and a half ride from Providence, Rhode Island wasn't bad with present company. They filled the time talking about what Ezra should expect and what there was to do around town since Hannah was a Hartford, Connecticut native.

"You just be your happy, joyous self and all will be fine. I know you're quite the observer and have a knack for trying to fix things and people, but please Ezra just lay low." Ezra looked at her social worker and sighed. She knew her incessant need to help others was the main reason she was kicked around so many times in the system. People didn't want to face their issues on their own let alone with the help of a sixteen-year-old orphan. "You have one more year until college and then you'll be an adult and out of the system. Let's just get through this year, okay?" Ezra hesitated, but nodded. They spent the remainder of the time talking about Hannah's basic tinder profile as Ezra added buzz words and choice photos that she was sure would attract the right kind of men.

They pulled up to a gated community where Hannah gave her name to the security guard at the post. In seconds the large iron gates opened for them to drive thru. "These houses are sick!" Ezra said looking out the window in shock. "Are you sure we're in the right place?" Hannah chuckled pulling Ezra back in her seat from the window before turning a street. The houses on this street seemed bigger than anything she had ever seen. There were only three houses on the entire street and they were all massive. "Here we are." Hannah announced as she parked her beetle in front of the contemporary mansion. "Your car looks so out of place," Ezra mumbled before they got out. Hannah laughed as she grabbed Ezra's carry on that contained all of her belongings, while she grabbed her keyboard player.

They made it to the front door and rang the bell. "Okay, kid, this is it. You okay?" Hannah smiled down at her. Ezra nodded before the door opened. A small Latina woman smiled at them before moving to the side and welcoming them in. Ezra didn't have time to take in the beautiful home as she immediately felt five pair of eyes staring at her. "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Scott, I'm Hannah Johns. We've spoken on the phone." Hannah smiled holding her hand out. "Yes, of course. Please call us Celeste and Jansen." Celeste smiled before returning her gaze on Ezra. "Celeste, Jansen, this is Ezra Cole. She'll be staying with you guys as your new foster." Ezra smiled widely at the two adults and it was infectious.

"It's really nice to meet you," Celeste said holding out her hand, but Ezra quickly engulfed her in a hug. "I'm a hugger," she whispered loud enough for all to hear. Celeste happily returned the hug. "It's nice to meet you too," Ezra smiled pulling back. She looked over to the three guys staggered on the stairwell trying not to make eye contact with any of them. "Ezra, these are our sons. That's Jacob, Jackson and Jace." Jansen introduced proudly. Ezra took the time to commit their names and faces to memory.

Jacob stared at her with eager eyes and a smile that was mischievous. His blond hair was sandier than his brothers', but they shared the same eyebrows, eyes and lips. His jaw wasn't as defined and angular as the others. They gave off angsty teen model, while he was definitely the boy next door. There was something dark about Jackson that made Ezra's Fix-It meter skyrocket. He wore all black as his shoulder length wavy blond hair fanned around him. His eyes held something that she couldn't decipher, but his face was expressionless. Jace's entire being was readable to all who would take the time and he was pissed. He used those beautiful blue eyes to stare at her with a venom she remembered too fondly from the girls at previous placements. She knew Hannah could tell she was becoming uncomfortable by the way she rubbed her back. Ezra was used to having issues with other foster children at her placements, but never with the biological children. She could feel her anxiety rising and that was not going to be good for anyone.

"You said you were getting a fucking baby!" Jace snapped. "She's not a fucking baby! She's not even a toddler!" Jansen glared at his eldest son. "We never said how old she would be. You all assumed. Now you're going to treat Ezra here with the respect she deserves or so help me." Ezra likened the look Celeste currently sported with a toned-down version of the Black Mama stare. Jace scoffed before looking back at Ezra. "What kind of name is Ezra? Parents too lazy to give you an actual girl name, Princess?"

Ezra wanted to slap the smirk off of his stupidly handsome face. He was the epitome of high school jock with the body to show for it. They were all muscular, but in different ways. Jackson looked like the younger white version of Jason Mamoa, while Jacob had a lean build to him like Channing Tatum in the early 2000's. Then there was Jace who mirrored Stephen Amell in all his Green Arrow glory. They were all tall, but Jackson was the tallest and beefiest followed by Jace and then Jacob. Jace's blond hair was the lightest of the three and as he stood there in prep attire, Ezra knew he'd live up to the stereotypes.

"What kind of name is Jace? Parents too lazy to name you Jason?" She quirked an eyebrow ignoring the snickers coming from Jacob and soft chuckles from the adults in the room. Ezra noticed the slight smirk on Jackson's lips and couldn't help but smile. There was a jingling sound before clicks could be heard on the marble floors. Around the corner came a big, blue nose Pitbull heading straight for Ezra's legs. The dog's tail wagged happily before jumping up to give her a kiss. She was only 5'3", so he didn't have much distance to cover. "Barry, get down!" Jansen warned. "No, it's fine." Ezra smiled. "Hi little bean! How are you doing, Barry Allen?" She gave him all the pets and scratches behind his ears.

"How'd you know his name was Barry Allen?" Celeste asked surprised. "If you're naming your dog Barry it's definitely after the fastest man alive." Ezra replied not taking her eyes off of the happy dog. Jacob couldn't help but smile wildly at the girl in front of him. He was a sucker for anyone who knew their comic book history. "How long have you had him?" Ezra asked no one in particular. "He was a stray. My dad has a thing for welcoming strays into our home to appease his constituents like what he's doing now with you, Princess." Jace smiled sarcastically. Ezra eyed him pointedly before standing back up.

"Well, I have to head back to Rhode Island, so I am going to leave you all to it." Hannah said awkwardly with a sad smile catching Ezra's pleading look. "You're going to be fine, kiddo. Give that jerk hell if you must." She whispered before giving her a big squeeze and shaking the Scotts hands once more. Ezra watched as the door closed behind her and then turned around. She hated this moment and feeling. It was the same at every placement. Being left alone with strangers in the hopes that things would be different and the placement would stick.