The Love You Give

That's How the Cookie Crumbles

Lunch was over and Ezra was a mess of emotions. She felt angry, confused, but most of all she felt stupid for thinking she could have a relationship with three guys she hardly knew. Ezra couldn't help but compare herself to Charlotte. Of course, that was what Jace liked. Thin. Blond. White. Then there was Owen. She couldn't give Jacob what Owen could. She felt pitiful. "You okay?" Lucy Jane asked her as they made their way to their classes. "Yeah, I just don't feel good." She nodded in understanding. "You barely ate your salad. Lucky we just have two more classes to freedom." Ezra nodded thankful that all the boys would be busy after school and she could wallow in peace. They had to stop at their lockers to exchange books and were pushing it time wise. As the final bell rang, Ezra made it in. She tried looking for open seats, but Ezra's eyes were stuck on the fact that Jace and Charlotte were sitting next to one another, while Owen and Jacob sat together in front of them. She snapped out of it and took the open seat next to Mason.

The teacher immediately began teaching in French. There was no introduction or anything she just started talking in French and cared not for those who didn't understand. Ezra felt bad for them. They were obvious too. They all sported the same look of confusion on Mason's face. "I'll help you," Ezra whispered to Mason causing ruler to hit her desk. "Nous ne parlons pas anglais dans cette classe. Comprenez vous? (We do not speak English in this class. Do you understand?)" Ezra could tell by the smug look on the teacher's face that she was trying to embarrass her. She looked around and saw the worried expression on the guys faces, as well as, the irritating smirk on Charlotte's. "Je comprends. Je disais juste à ma camarade de classe ici que je ferai le travail de m'assurer qu'elle comprend ce qu'on lui apprend. (I do understand. I was just telling my classmate here that I will do the job of making sure he understands what he's supposedly being taught.)"

The way their faces dropped was comical. Ezra would've laughed loudly if she didn't feel so awful. "What's your name?" The teacher asked in English shocking everyone. "Je m'appelle Ezra Cole (My name is Ezra Cole)." Ezra wasn't about to give her another chance to snap at her. She looked over to the where the boys sat and saw Charlotte whisper something harshly to Jace. She didn't know what it was about, but it didn't change the fact that they were so familiar. French class went on making her feel worse. If she wasn't thinking about the guys, then she was thinking about her Haitian mother who would always speak French to her. She was truly ready for this day to be over.

As the bell rang, Ezra sluggishly gathered her things. "Your last class will be fun. Mrs. G. is a riot!" Mason encouraged as they made their way out. She couldn't look at either of the guys. "Are you okay?" Mason asked her concerned. "I just don't feel good." He placed his hand on her forehead. "You don't have a fever." She smiled up at him. "I'll be fine, Mase. What's your last class?" She asked him. "Chemistry. At least you get to end your day with a fun class." She chuckled at him before waving goodbye. She found the class very easily with all the other electives in the electives hallway. She took a seat in the back row near the window and just stared out. She heard the bell ring and someone take the seat next to her but she never turned. The teacher explained they would be watching a short documentary on a psychological disorder called Borderline Personality Disorder.

The lights were turned off leaving the room mostly dark except for the shallow light that peaked in from the window Ezra stared out of. She felt a hand on her thigh and jerked. She got some stares, but finally realized that Jackson was sitting beside her. "Baby girl, what's wrong?" The question was simple, but she wanted to cry and have him hold her. She knew he could see the tears forming in her eyes, but she shook her head and blinked them away not wanting to ruin her light makeup. "Ezra," he whispered. "I don't want to cry on my first day of school, Bubba. Just leave it alone for now, please." Jackson could hear and see the earnestness in her plea and sat back in his seat. If anyone messed with her, he'd skin them alive. Ezra willed herself to focus on the documentary and was happy she had. It was a fascinating disorder that they had to write a one-page paper about by tomorrow. She was learning quickly that Clarkson High loved to pile on the homework.

The bell rang and Ezra was the first to get up. "Wait, baby girl." Jackson tried to start. "Don't you have an art thing to get to?" She asked with a hint of an attitude. "I can be a few minutes late. What's going on, E?" She felt the familiar pricks of tears and began to move past him, "Ezra," Jackson grabbed her arm. "Ask your brothers or rather their significant others." She removed her arm from his grasp and made her way out. Jackson knew this would come back to blow up in their faces. He had warned both brothers of their choice in partners, but did either listen, no. Charlotte was a narcissist who prided herself on being and having the best. Anyone that seemed to be better at something than her was likely to be torn to shreds by herself and her minions. Owen, Jackson actually liked, but saw before Jacob that he wasn't cut out for monogamy. He knew the two of them would do something to upset Ezra and they had. He was going to kill his brothers.

Ezra made it to her locker and then car in record time. She could hear Lucy Jane calling out to her from behind, but just wanted to escape. "Where's the fire?" Lucy Jane said out of breath as she caught up to their cars. "I need to work out." She sighed loudly. "You're so skinny though." Ezra said looking at her thin breathless friend. "It's an illusion," she panted. "I'm a very big, unhealthy girl on the inside." Ezra laughed at that before opening her car. "Give me your number, so I can pester you outside of school." LJ said holding her hand out. Ezra unlocked her phone and handed it over. Soon she heard Wifey by Qveen Herby playing as Lucy Jane dialed herself from Ezra's phone and smiled. "We have the same musical taste." She took back her phone and waved goodbye before getting in her car. She placed her now heavy backpack in her passenger seat before starting her car and setting the GPS for Home.

She looked up to see Jacob across the parking lot outside of the auditorium with Owen. They looked to be having a serious conversation as they were very close with Owen's hand on Jacob's cheek and hip. Ezra knew she shouldn't watch. She told herself to leave and get home and have Pierre give her ice cream and a brownie, but she stayed there. Fixed. Owen seemed to be pleading and if Ezra was being honest Jacob seemed to be waning. When she had finally made the decision to leave, she watched as Owen kissed Jacob. Jacob kissed him back before breaking away. That was all she needed. Ezra put the G wagon in drive and took off. She was home in no time and ran upstairs thankful to not be disturbed. Barry Allen followed her up and as she threw herself onto her bed and cried the once happy pup laid down right next to her.