The Love You Give

You Got This

Jace's alarm blared far too loudly and soon. He quickly turned it off, afraid that it would wake Ezra before he was ready. He looked down at her sleeping face and smiled. Her small arm wrapped securely around his waist as though she were afraid he'd disappear in the night. He kissed the top of her forehead before gently removing her arm and getting out of bed. He stood there just staring, in shock at how they had all gotten to this point so quickly. It shouldn't have made sense, yet all reason flew out the door the moment she walked into their lives. He knew he had to get ready, but all he wanted to do was get under the covers with her once more and tune the world out.

Though their beginning was rocky, Jace felt more like himself with Ezra and his family than he did in a long time. That would all have to go to the back burner now that school was back in session. He wasn't really a terrible person at Clarkson, but he did have an image to keep as quarterback and captain of the football team. He didn't want Ezra to think badly of him, but he didn't want those ass hats at Clarkson to think he was going soft either. It wasn't like they could be a couple at school anyway, which angered him. He didn't want Ezra to see the girls incessantly flirting with him, especially Charlotte. However, it just dawned on him that boys might flirt with Ezra thinking she's single and his fist clenched.

He went to brush his teeth and get ready for practice as a distraction from his thoughts. By the time he was done it was 4:50 am and Ezra had turned into a starfish in his bed. He chuckled at her before moving her hair out of her face. He kissed her lips softly a few times before she deepened it and smiled against him. "Good morning, Princess." He smiled at her. "You have to get up. I have to go." Ezra pouted before looking at the time. She stumbled out of bed before reaching for Jace. He hugged her happily before kissing her once more.

"Come on," he said grabbing her hand and leading her out of his room and across the hall to hers. They saw Barry Allen on her bed sleeping soundly and smiled. "Sleep tight. I'll see you later at school." He kissed her sweetly before leaving. Ezra let out a huge sigh before her eyes landed on a canvas on her dresser. It was clearly a painting of her in a field of her mother's favorite flower. Jackson was proving to be a romantic and she loved it. She got in the bed and smiled to herself. It was definitely a great gift for the first day at a new school. She turned on her side before snuggling Barry and falling back to sleep.

It was 7:15 am and Ezra stood in front of her floor length mirror accessing her outfit. She wore light denim high waisted shorts that she didn't feel were too short, but wasn't so sure at the moment. On top she wore a black fitted crop tank with thick sleeves that showed off a sliver of her abs. She put on her black converses and accessories. Her locks hung around her as she looked herself over once more and sighed. She had always hated the first day. There was so much pressure to send off the right message in hopes of attracting the right people. It was exhausting. She heard a knock on her door and told whoever it was to come in.

Jackson and Jacob walked in and immediately took in her outfit. "No," Jacob said pointedly. "What?" Ezra followed his gaze and looked down at her outfit. "I don't want to have to kill every guy at Clarkson, sweetheart, so you're just going to have to change." Ezra shook her head. "We don't have time." Jackson hadn't said a word. He just looked at her intently. "Turn around." He finally spoke up. Ezra rolled her eyes but turned. Jackson wanted to squeeze her ass so bad, but that would distract him. He turned and left the room. "Where are you...where is he going?" Ezra asked. "Hopefully to get you another outfit." Jacob frowned causing Ezra to laugh. "There's nothing wrong with my outfit, sweets. Do I not look pretty?" Ezra wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his lips. "You know you look fucking gorgeous," he said as he palmed her ass with both hands.

"Here," Jackson returned with a white flannel button down with red and black lines. "Tie it around your waist if you don't want to be responsible for the deaths of any guy that looks at our ass." Ezra giggled at him before tying the shirt around her waist. She looked back in the mirror and actually liked the finished product. "Breakfast." Ezra smiled as she pulled them with her down the hall and stairs. "Good morning kids," Celeste smiled widely. She was glowing and they all noticed it. "You look beautiful, Celeste," Ezra complimented her. She wore a light pink dress that made her look like the classiest of Barbie dolls with her blond hair styled and pearls gleaming. "Thank you, angel. You look very cute yourself. I'm getting a 'laid back without trying too hard' vibe from you. Ezra squealed happily. "That's what I was going for. I just want to go through this year as invisible as possible."

They all took their seats as Marisol laid down crepes in front of them. "Invisible? Why?" Ezra knew someone like Celeste couldn't understand how attention affected someone like her. Ezra dealt with anxiety for most of her life and attention was the last thing she wanted or needed. She could feel her anxiety trying to creep up just at the thought of all eyes being on her simply because she was new. "Not everyone loves the spotlight, Mom." Jacob said to her before taking a bite of his breakfast. "Nonsense," Celeste said with a smile. "I hope today is everything you want it to be, angel." She gave Ezra's hand a squeeze before cutting into her food.

"I want you all to know that I found the person responsible for calling the cops on Ezra," Celeste said before taking a sip from her coffee. "I will be visiting the Hughes in a little bit to have discussion on how they should handle themselves moving forward when it comes to this family." Jackson knew that look. His mother was the fiercest Mama Bear and there was something about Ezra that made her even more fierce. "Just remember to be level headed, Mom." Jackson warned. "Don't do or say anything that'll make Dad flip." She took another sip before smiling. "Of course." Ezra noticed the look Jackson gave Celeste and smiled. He didn't believe for a minute that she'd behave herself and she didn't either. It felt nice having someone so maternal looking out for her. In a way, Celeste reminded her a lot of her mother in the way she was blatantly severe for those she cared for.

"Mom, where's Dad?" Jacob asked finishing up his plate. "He went to meet with the Sheriff." They nodded and Ezra tried hard not to think about last night. Jacob placed a hand on her thigh and rubbed small circles. She looked up to him and smiled. "You guys have to get going. I don't want Ezra being late." Celeste instructed. "Who's driving?" Ezra smiled at them, but their facial expressions had her worried. "I have practice after school, sweetheart and Jackson has some art nonsense he has to go to right at 3. We're going to have to ride solo today." Ezra's heart dropped. She knew it was irrational, but she wanted to have the cushion of her men when she walked into Clarkson. Jackson and Jacob took in her dejected faces and felt like crap.

"It's fine," she said finally seeing the guilt on their faces. "I guess we should get going." They stood up ready to leave, but Celeste stopped her. "I knew you weren't thinking about this, but I got this for you when we found out you were being placed with us. It has the essentials and you'll get your textbooks at school." Celeste handed her a purple backpack and smiled. Ezra pulled Celeste in for a hug and thanked her. "Have a good day, kids." Celeste called out as they made their way to the garage. "You okay with this, baby girl." Jackson said as he stood in front of her car. "It's fine, Bubba. I get you guys have lives." He pulled her in and kissed her deeply. Ezra felt breathless as he pulled away. "Anyone gives you a hard time come and find me. I'll kick their ass." She smiled up at him before pecking his lips. He walked over to his motorcycle beside her car and mounted it. She watched as he zipped out and away with nothing but the sound of the engine in the air.

"Come here, sweetheart." Jacob said pulling her close. "I'm really sorry about today. I totally forgot about it until this morning." Ezra shook her head before kissing his lips. "It's okay, sweets." She whispered against his lips. "I'll make it up to you." Jacob said squeezing her ass. "Jacob," Ezra began pushing away. "Not like that, geez, get your mind out of the gutter." He tickled her a bit. "I want to take you on a date, sweetheart. You and me...somewhere special." Ezra smiled at him then frowned. "Don't worry...we'll get creative and no one will find out." He kissed her deeply backing her up against her car. The kiss turned heated as Jacob lifted her leg and grinded into her. "Babe, we're going to be late." Ezra pulled back with a laugh. He huffed before letting her go. "To be continued."

She nodded before putting her backpack in the passenger seat and hopping in. "Drive safe," he warned before closing her door for her. Ezra watched as Jacob walked over to his truck before pulling off and heading to the preprogrammed address in her car. The whole drive there, Ezra thought of her mother and the breathing exercises they used to do together before a big event. "I wish you were here, Mommy." Ezra spoke out as she looked down at the navigation system. She would be there in 5 minutes giving her just 15 minutes to find her locker and her first class. "Damn those boys and their lips." She chided as she turned right. She practiced more breathing exercises until she heard his voice in her head. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Don't let your fear stop you from being great Ezra Cole."

Her father would say those words to her at the most perfect times. He would just know that she was overwhelmed and crippled with anxiety and would say those words coupled with her breathing and things would eventually settle. She hadn't seen her Dad since she was 13 and their last meeting wrecked her, but she wasn't going to focus on that. She would focus on his words and that famous quote by Marianne Williamson and power through.