The Bonds Between Us • E.Cullen x Fem oc x B. Swan

Chapter 56

Awkwardness was not something that the two girls usually had to worry about. If Cori wasn't babbling on about something completely off topic, Bella would bring up a new book or enlighten the girl of her past.

But as they both sat on the couch in the Swan house, their hands seemingly bound to their own person, Cori's eyes trained on everything but the brunette sitting across from her, and Bella, well she was openly staring.

The young Swan didn't want to be first to talk, because she didn't know why Cori cast her out in the first place. Something must have been said or done for the redhead to push her away so quickly.

"I missed you." Cori said stiffly as Bella's brown eyes took in her words, Cori's blue eyes still not able to look straight at her.

Without thinking, Bella's words tumbled from her mouth. "I wasn't keeping you away." Knowing she messed up, Bella's mouth snapped shut, a remorseful look in her eyes.

"This was a mistake." Cori said standing up, walking to the door. "Wait! I'm sorry. It's just- I thought we would stick together. But then you distanced yourself and I didn't know what to think. What did he say Cori?" Bella asked, noticing how the redhead flinched at the mention of him, though she did stop.

"He said that I was a monster. That he played with me, because I was something he'd never seen. I lead him to you, and that's all he ever wanted. He toyed with my emotions for three years, used me, to get to the prize. And he said you knew. You knew what he was doing, and you played along with his sick little game." Cori hissed as tears threatened to fall.

"Cori, I swear to you that I didn't know. If he would have told me that, I would have left him. I would never hurt you like that." Bella told her, tears of her own building in her eyes. Cori scoffed, "No you wouldn't have. Bella, all you've talked about since you found out what they were is being bitten." "Because I want to protect you. I wanted to protect him. I'm weak compared to the two of you. I don't want to play princess in distress all the time!" Bella cried out.

"You're not! You're normal, Bella. You're human, and that's okay! It's not fun knowing if you're gonna kill everyone. It's a burden, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone" "You're not gonna kill anyone Cori." Bella said softly. "You saw what I did. I hurt them. I brought them to their knees! Imagine what I could do to a human! To you! to Charlie?  I'm dangerous Bella!" "No you're not!" Bella fought back.

"I'm not arguing with you." Cori said. Turning her head defiantly. "Fine, I'll fight with you then. I will fight to show you that you're not dangerous to me, your dad, to anyone, Cordelia! Edward left, fine, but I'm not losing you too." Bella told her, a fire in her brown orbs that started to tear down the walls Cori had placed around her heart.

"I can't just go back to how we were. I need time." Cori told her and Bella nodded. "Fine. I'll wait, I don't care." Bella told her as Cori's resolve started to break. Tears ran down her face and her face got hot as it always done when she cries.

Bella walked up to her bring the redhead into a hug as a sob escaped her, shaking the brunette to the core. "I'm not going anywhere Cori." She told her as Cori just pulled her closer.

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Walking back to the house, Cori froze as she thought she saw a streak of red disappear into the trees. Her heartbeat seemed to almost beat out of her chest, her thoughts racing as she began running the rest of the way there. she released the breath she didn't know she was holding when she accidentally slammed the door closed, when her dad smiled at her from the kitchen table.

"How did it go?" He asked, not realizing the stress his daughter was in. A small relieved smile graced her features. "We're working on it." Cori told her dad and he smiled. "I'm happy for you honey. I always did like Bella." He told her making a slight blush come to her cheeks.

"Well, that's good. We're gonna start over, friends and see where it goes." "If that's what you think is best." He nodded. "Dad? Why didn't you actually try to work things out with mom?" She asked as she remembered vividly the woman who she wished to never be in her life ever again, the striking red hair much like her own flashing behind her eyes.

"She was gone before I realized I had lost her. I tried Carrot, but I was playing a losing game. I was not only hurting myself but you, so I stoped. If anyone knows your mother it's me, and once she's got her mind on something, it's hers." Jonas told his daughter and she sighed as she pulled a chair closer to him, sitting, as she rested her head against his shoulder.

"It'll be aright kiddo. We'll get through this together. Promise." He told her, holding out his pinky finger in which she wrapped hers around instantly. "Together." She said as brown eyes seemed to infiltrate her mind as well as a pair of golden ones that she seemed to block out.

"What would you like to supper?" Jonas asked. "Pizza?" Cori asked and he nodded. "Pizza it is." Jonas said grabbing the phone, and calling in their order.

A/N: My babies!!!!