The Love You Give

I'm Going Down

Jacob couldn't focus in practice. Owen had kissed him. He was pissed. He told him he had no right to do that and that they were never getting back together because he was seeing someone and the glaring fact that Owen was a cheater. The remorse and sorrow all seemed to disappear the moment he heard Jacob was seeing someone else. He tried to figure out who he was, but Jacob informed him it was a she and he didn't need to know who. Owen took the time to reiterate that Jacob had kissed him back and had done the very thing he hated him for: cheat. Jacob knew he was right. He had cheated on Ezra and for what? He got so caught up in Owen's sorry and repentance. He loved him, but there was Ezra and he couldn't explain away his feelings for her. They were potent and powerful and he was going to lose her. Jackson was going to kill him.

Jace played best when his mind was in turmoil. The more chaotic his thoughts the clearer he saw a game. Practice was great and Coach Shelton seemed pleased with the way the team was playing. He made it back to the locker room with the guys to shower and head home. If he left on time, he'd be home in time for dinner. "Jace, you hear that hot new chick is dating Dixon?" Jace saw red. "What?" The guy shrugged knowing the disdain between the Scott brothers and Mason Dixon. "You said she had a boyfriend, so a few of the guys snooped and word on the street is it's Dixon." Jace tried to level his breathing. "Did he say he was her boyfriend?" The tight end shook his head no. "He said no, but we just figure he's pulling a page out of your book. I mean, you say that about you and Charlotte and you two have been together since last year." Jace was livid. He hated that people believed he and Charlotte were together and now they were going to think Ezra and Mason were too.

"Charlotte and I were never a couple. I just fucked her for a while, but that's over." The tight end perked up. "My boy Jace is on the market now, huh? You should totally be my wing man sometime." Jace shook his head. "Doubtful." He left to shower and get ready all the while the events of the day played in his head. The moment Ezra introduced herself in French class he knew it was over. Charlotte had put two and two together and realized that it was Ezra he was fantasizing about while she was giving him oral not some guy. He knew Charlotte. She was vindictive and downright cruel when she wanted to be and right now Ezra was a threat to her. He knew he should've listened to Jackson and ignore her cries for attention last year, but she was pretty and he was horny and here they were.

When she was all over him in the cafeteria, he knew Ezra saw. He couldn't bring himself to look at her. Seeing the sadness in those big brown eyes would've wrecked him. He needed to get home and see what damage had been done and how he could repair it. He dressed in a pair of gray joggers and a white t-shirt before throwing on his tennis shoes. He grabbed his football duffel bag and made his way out of the gymnasium to his car. He loaded the trunk before getting in his car. He loaded up the Life 360 app his mother made them all download to always know where they were and saw that his brothers were on their way home as well. He must've just missed Jacob. Ezra's purple dot showed her home and he sighed. He had no idea what to expect, but he hoped the damage was fixable.

Ezra had cried herself to sleep and woke up an hour later feeling drained. She took a shower to help wake herself up a bit and finished her homework. She heard when Celeste and Jansen came home and smiled. They found her cooking in the kitchen. "So, how was it?" Celeste said sitting on the bar stool as her husband stood behind her wrapping his arms around her. "It was decent. The school is great and the teachers, for the most part, are awesome. I like it." They both smiled at her. "I'm happy to hear that, Ezra. I have a lot of great memories at that school." Jansen said with a faraway look. "You were probably as wild as Jackson, a jock like Jace and the center of attention like Jacob, weren't you?" Ezra asked with a smile. Jansen chuckled before tipping his head and nodding.

"What are you making? It smells heavenly." Celeste sighed happily. "Étouffée," Ezra replied with a smile. "I can't wait for dinner," Jansen said watching as she turned the stew. "Ezra, I wanted you to know that those two police officers have been suspended without pay for four weeks and are taking race relation training courses before being admitted back. It's not much, but..." He was cut off by two arms wrapping around his waist. Ezra squeezed him tightly before looking up at him tears in her eyes. "Thank you." He wiped away a rogue tear and smiled at her. "As for the Hughes," Celeste began. "They've been told about their behavior and themselves and will be behaving accordingly moving forward. Ezra laughed out loud as she checked on the rice. "Did you give them a tongue lashing, Celeste?" She nodded with a large smile causing them to laugh. "I appreciate you both fighting for me. There aren't many who do, so thank you." Ezra gave them a warm smile. "Now get out. I've got to make the appetizer." Jansen saluted before they made their way out and towards their bedroom.