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

Chapter 73

After arriving back at her own house, Cori was surprised to see the chiefs car was missing from his house, yet not at the station when she had rolled through town.

She had thought about stopping by the Swan's, but her fear of talking to the brunette kept her from stepping foot onto their door step.

Though where Cori was afraid, Bella was determined with a different task. She wanted to find their meadow, the one where Edward had always taken them to relax and well, explore his side of the world.

Each girl had a different core memory that was created there.

For Bella, it was the first time the three had laid together. The first time that she had seen his skin shimmer like diamonds in the sunlight and not be afraid of the affects it would have on either of them. It was the first time, outside of school, where the three got to just be together, where silence filled the air, yet so much understanding and love as well.

For Cori it was different. Edward had shown her his meadow first in hopes that it could become their place, and of course the girl loved it. She always ran through the flowers, picking them to busy her hands when she was nervous, making flower crowns that Edward would always place on top of her head, looking at the redhead like she was the most perfect thing in the world.

Yet what changed the meadow for her, what really set that place apart from the other spots that were considered theirs, the cubby in the library, the corner just beside her row of lockers, the stream just behind the house, was all because of one instance.

Edward had planned a date for the two of them to go on. It was the end of summer, just turning into fall when he carried the basket in one hand, and held her hand tightly in the other making sure she wouldn't trip.

Arriving to the meadow, Cori took in the sights as she always did, how the leaves on the trees were already starting to change colors, and yet somehow there were still the late blooming flowers that turned the scene picturesque.

Edward laid out a blanket that was given to him by Alice for this such occasion, it's dark orange, white, and black plaid brining out the colors of nature around them. He had packed her some blueberries, crackers, and other snacks that he knew she liked and they both pulled out their current book they were reading. Lying practically on top of each other, the couple made practically a movie scene.

It wasn't until Cori's mind started to wonder that she got uninterested in her book, and more so of her boyfriend.

Gentle whispers turned to fluttering touched, that soon turned into heavy petting. The two got lost in their own world as that day they both shared parts of themselves that no one else had seen, finalizing their relationship in ways that Cori didn't even know was possible. It made the couple closer than ever before, and yet brought on its own set of challenges.

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Knocking on the Austin's door knocked Cori out of her spiraling thought as she looked through the glass to see the brunette head of her girl friend. Cori paused, wondering if she should truly open it, when Bella spoke. "Lia, please. I need your help." She said as Cori made up her mind.

Opening the door, she was met with the determined face of Bella. "What do you need help with?" Cori asked with a tilt of her head. "I want to find the meadow." Bella said which made Cori freeze. She didn't want to go there. She hated that place and what it stood for now.

"Why?" Cori bit out and Bella flinched at the harsh tone of her girlfriend. "I want, need to feel close to him." "He didn't want us Bella. Don't you understand that?" Cori said shielding her emotions, letting her anger take over. She hated talking about him, anything even associated with him. He broke his promise, and he shattered their hearts, leaving them and everyone else to pick up the pieces.

"Lia, I just, I need to find it okay! You're the only one who knows the way to it like the back of your hand. Please?" Bella asked, her eyes begging. Cori stood strong, but eventually crumbled, thinking they would have time to talk. "Fine, but I'm not stepping foot in it." Cori said finally, and Bella nodded, not quite sure why she was incredibly angry at the spot they had shared so many good memories, other than the glaringly obvious.

Grabbing her hiking boots and a jacket, the two stood at the doorway awkwardly. Bella could tell something was wrong with Cori, she just figured it was the location she wanted to find.

"We better get going then." Cori said as she grabbed her keys from the hook and headed towards her Jeep.

The two sat in silence as Cori drove, and it was eating Bella alive. She knew silence was not something Cori was capable of most times, and when she was quiet, something made her that way. "Lia, what's wrong?" Bella asked quietly as to not disturb the stillness of the Jeep too much.

"Nothing." "I know it's something, just talk to me." Bella pleaded. It was another long stint of silence until the red head whispered. "Why did you say that?" "What? Say what?" Bella asked confused.

"Why did you ask if he was breaking up with you? Do you love him?" Cori asked, her voice not harsh, yet not light either. "How did you hear that?" Bella asked, her head snapping towards Cori, her brown eyes wide, only for the Austin girl to be looking straight ahead. "It's something new. Answer the question, please." Cori asked as she bit her lip anxiously.

"I don't love him. Not like that. He's a friend, a good friend, that I leaned on too heavily. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. It felt like he was leaving all over again. I can't lose Jake." Bella told her softly.

"You can't lose him?" Cori asked softly. "No, I can't." "It sounds like you love him." "I don't. Lia I don't." "Maybe finding whatever solace you need at the meadow will clear things up for you. We're here." Cori said as she got out of the driver side, her Jeep pulled off on the side of the road in a small gravel patch. "We better get going. It's a long treck in." Cori told Bella, though not looking back at her.

A/N: I'm alive guys!!!! Are you ready for this little turn of events? It's gonna be a slippery slope from here.