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

Chapter 65

Cori despised her father at the moment. Though she knew it wasn't his fault that the leniency of the school board being over wasn't his choice, he was the barer of bad news, which in her eyes made him just as guilty.

The night she was told the news, Cori held herself up in her room, not speaking a word to her father, though he pleaded for her to. Jonas worried that this was a ginormous step back from the progress they had made, but he didn't realize had badly the news had been received until the next day.

Grudgingly putting back together her book bag, a note fell out. A note that Edward had slipped into her bag all those months ago, reminding her how much he loved her. The sight of the paper alone made her body wretch, shoving past her father who had come up to see how her progress was coming along only to hear Cori getting violently sick in the bathroom down the hall.

Picking up the small blue post-it from the ground, Jonas's hope was dwindling by the second. Not only for Cori to move past this boy, but for Cori to be able to live a normal life without the name Cullen being a setback. He understood Bella had her challenges as well, but Jonas was starting to wonder if he did the right thing, pulling Cordelia out of public school. Maybe she needed to be around people, even if she didn't socialize with them.

By the time Monday morning rolled around, Cori looked almost as she did a month ago. The bags were back under her eyes from the lack of sleep, there was a small quiver in her stomach that kept her on the edge of sickness constantly, the flashbacks and memories that she was trying to brace herself for, she knew she wasn't ready for. Everywhere she would look there would be a Cullen or a memory of one. There was no sacred space any more. No safe haven. They were all tainted.

Even her friends. She hadn't spoken to any of them. She knew that Bella did, well, she had started to, and had filled them in on their barely surviving relationship. As per usual, Angela and Mike were the only ones who truly cared. The others just wanted to know what happened or why she decided to drop off the face of the face of the earth for months.

The thing that made her the most nervous was what lay in her hands at the current time. Her phone with a text from Bella from the day after her father had dropped the bomb on her.

"What did your dad have to say."

Cori hadn't told her yet in fear of what may come of it. Would Bella be excited? Would she think it too soon? Instead of answering her back directly, the Austin girl parked behind the Swan's truck, blocking her in. "Lia?" Bella asked as she came out the front door, book bag slung over one shoulder, "What are you doing?"

"Want a ride?" Cori offered. "A ride?" Bella asked, a confused look on her face that to Cori looked adorable. "To school." Cori said and Bella's face lit up. "You're coming back?" She asked, her smile wide. "Yeah, my first days today." Cori told her, and Bella could hear her apprehension. "I'll be there. If you need anything." Bella reminded the girl, and Cori nodded. "I know."

Climbing in the passenger side, Bella looked at the redhead. "Did you eat today?" She asked softly. "I couldn't." Cori told her. "Lia-" "Unless you want to see it again sometime today." Cori told Bella sternly and the brunette girl sighed. "Maybe it won't be that bad." Bella said. "Maybe it'll be worse." Cori said with a shrug of her shoulders and Bella frowned.

🩸

Pulling into the parking lot of the school, Bella saw Cori tense, a shuttered breath exit her body. "It'll be okay. I'll be right by your side." Bella reminded her, linking their hands together. Cori seemed to cling onto Bella's hand for dear life as if it was a literal lifeline.

Looking over, Cori took in Bella's appearance. Her dark circles were back along with the same hollowness that Cori had in her own eyes. The hollowness of heartbreak. "Bella? Are you okay?" Cori asked, focusing on the girl beside her instead of the problem in front of her, classic Cori.

"Yeah, yeah. My nightmares came back last night. Nothing big, just something Jake said." "Jacob?" Cori asked getting riled up. "It's not what you think. He didn't do anything thing to hurt me. His words had unintentionally touched me. It's not his fault." Bella said, seeing Cori settle down.

Hearing the first bell ring, it made both girls groan. Bella was tired and school was going to mentally drain her more than she already was, and Cori, she wanted to be anywhere other than where she was. "Let's get this over with." Cori told the brunette and Bella nodded as they stepped out of the Jeep, seemingly immediately finding each other again. "Together." Cori whispered, Bella hearing her words. "Together." Bella whispered back, squeezing Cori's hand as they headed towards the school, eyes of their classmates focused in on them, more importantly Cori and their entwined hands.

🩸

Most of the classes had went by without a hitch. Several teachers telling Cori they were excited to have her back in class, a few even letting the girls sit by one another as they could physically the anxiety rolling off one another when apart.

The problem came when lunch came around. Cori wanted to spend it the thirty minute period in her car, and Bella thought it would be good for Cori to visit with her friends. The Austin had seemed to be avoiding them all day. Cordelia had this aura around her that made everyone worried she would fall apart in the matter of seconds if talked to, and while they weren't necessary wrong, it still wasn't fair to them.

"Just one little conversation. It won't kill you I promise." Bella told her, finally breaking the girl down. Walking to the cafeteria, Cori almost clamped her eyes shut. There were so many memories along this route that her stomach had already begun to churn.

Seeing the doors ahead that opened into the large open seating area, Cori's heart started to beat faster and faster the closer they got.

"Are you hungry?" Edward asked as he looked down at Cori fondly, their hands linked together. "I'm always hungry, Eddie." She said, smiling back up at him.

Voices from the past, memories seemed to echo around her making her break out into a sweat. Bella felt her tense, how she seemed to flinch every once in a while, and who her hand got sweaty, but Bella knew this was difficult for her. Get it over with once, and she'll be okay.

The doors opened, and everyone's eyes seemed to shift to them. Cori's eyes widened as her heart beat hammered in her chest, her breathing uneven as it seemed she couldn't catch her breath as her eyes caught the table by are far wall, with its six chairs still empty, no one daring to sit at it.

"I can't-" Cori gasped out as she let go of Bella's hand rushing towards the nearest bathroom, throwing open the stall only to dry heave as her anxiety got the best of her. "Lia!" Bella called after her, trying to find where the girl went, but Cori curled up into herself, wrapping her arms around her knees on the bathroom floor as tears slid down her face, gasps and pants coming from her as she tried to breathe normally, but she was panicking. Everything came rushing back. Every memory, every word, every touch, every kiss, everything he ever did and as if sensing she needed the relief, her gasps turned into sobs.

That was how Bella found her, a sobbing mess on the bathroom floor. Bella's eyes were misty as she too had went through a similar stage, but watching Cori go through it was devastating to her.

Pulling her into her arms, the two girls sat there, comforting each other for the entirety of lunch. If that was what it took, Bella would do it. She would do anything for Cori, including sitting on a dirty bathroom floor.

A/N: How do you all feel about this chapter. I like it, but I'm not in love with it. I may change it some later on. Let me know your thoughts!