COLD WATER

one.            she's happy

▬ HEAVY PANTS LEFT HER LIPS. Her blue eyes darted around the room. She jumped when a sound echoed to her left and she turned, her hair shifting over her shoulder with the movement. Her cheeks were wet with her tears and it didn’t help that she stood in nothing more than a thin tank top and shorts.

“Cori.” His voice echoed and she jumped, a whimper leaving her lips but even as she turned she couldn't find him in the darkness. She knew he was there, she could feel his eyes on her, like a predator watching its prey.

“Why?” She called out, her voice shaky as she rubbed her arms trying to get the goosebumps that rose upon her skin to go away but it was no use.

She turned again, coming face to face with the blond vampire. “Boo.” He mumbled and she jumped back a gasp leaving her lips as his red eyes beat into her very soul. “Cori.” His voice softened suddenly, his hand moving to rest on her shoulder and she flinched away from him. “Cori, come on. Wake up. It’s just a dream.”

The girl sat up, her teary eyes glancing around as her blanket fell from her torso to her lap. She jumped back a little when she saw Paul sitting on the edge of her bed, but she relaxed and leaned forward, her forehead on his shoulder.

“Bad dream?” He asked, his voice quiet as he rubbed her back and she wrapped her arms around his bicep.

“Yeah.” She whispered, her throat sore. “I keep seeing him, that vampire. Everytime I close my eyes.” More tears welled up in her eyes but she never once pulled away from the boy that sat there.

“He can’t hurt you.” He told her, smoothing his hand over her hair. “And, if I can help it, no vampire is ever gonna hurt you again.” She nodded her head against him, taking a breath as she sat up. “Munchkin.” He sighed, moving his hand to her cheek to wipe at her tears.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, her hands moving down his arm until she found his free hand. “-for staying. I know the floor isn’t comfortable but I-”

“I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Lay down and get some sleep.” He gave her a soft smile and she nodded as she shifted in bed before laying down, her hand still wrapped around his. Then she turned and looked over at Rachel, who somehow had managed to sleep through all of her moving around and her crying.

“She really can sleep through anything.” She mumbled, looking back up at the boy and he chuckled as he nodded.

“She sleeps like the dead.” He told her, pulling the cover up over her. “Now, get some sleep. I’ll be right here if you need me.”

“Paul.” She gripped his hand a little tighter when he tried to move and he turned back to look at her. There was a fear in her eyes, a fear that had been there since that night a few months ago. And he absolutely hated it. “Can you just… hold my hand a little longer?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, giving her a soft smile as he settled against the mattress again. The girl rolled onto her side, pulling her legs up to her chest as she gripped his hand. He sat there for a while, his thumb moving over her knuckles to sooth her further until she finally dozed off and even then, he didn’t move until he was sure she was sound asleep. “Goodnight, Munchkin.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

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▬ CORI MADE HER WAY DOWN THE STAIRS, her hair hanging over her shoulders in braids. The hoodie she wore was a few sizes too big – it being Paul's – and her jeans had a rip in the right knee from a tumble she had taken when she tried to crowd surf at her birthday party.

"Morning, Daddy." She greeted, passing Charlie as he sipped from his coffee mug.

"Morning." He nodded, a smile pulling at his lips. "You're in a good mood." She had been getting back to her old self more and more each day and he was beyond happy to see that smile on her face. "So, are Rachel and Paul gonna stay over every night?" He raised a thick eyebrow, stopping the girl as she made her way towards the door.

She let out a breath as she turned towards him, her nose scrunched up a little. "You know about that?"

"Yeah." He brought his mug up to his lips and took a sip.

"Daddy, I-"

He shook his head. "The nightmares." He leaned against the wall. "Having them here helps, doesn't it?"

"Yeah." She nodded, shifting on her feet. "A-and Paul sleeps on the floor."

"I know." He nodded. "Went up to check on you and all three of you were snorin' like chainsaws."

She laughed, looking up at him and a smile tugged at his lips. "Pretty sure that was just Paul."

"Might've been." He mumbled then a car horn sounded from outside and they both turned to look at the door. "That Carter?" He nodded towards the red camaro through the window.

"Yeah. I'll see ya later." She gave him a quick hug before she made her way out the door. She bounced down the steps and started towards the car that sat next to the curb.

"Let's go, Peanut!" The boy shouted from the car, leaning towards the open passenger window. “We got, like, fifteen minutes.”

"You're late one time." She huffed, opening the door before she plopped into the seat, dropping her bag at her feet.

"One time?" He raised an eyebrow as he looked over at her. "We've been late almost every day since school started."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes as she pulled the door closed and buckled her seatbelt. "Well, let's go. Chop chop." She waved her arms a little and the boy chuckled as he shook his head. “Get a move on, mister.” She tapped her wrist.

"You're an annoying little shit, you know that?"

"Yeah." She hummed as the boy put the car in gear and started down the road, driving just a little too fast but Cori didn't mind, she even quite enjoyed it. "But you love me."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He reached over, placing his hand on top of her head and she groaned a little as she shook him off. She grabbed his wrist and laid his arm on the center console before wedging her fingers between his. "This is why people think we're a thing." He told her, not looking away from the road as they went around a rather large bend, nothing but amusement in his voice.

"People are idiots." She shrugged, looking out the window at the trees that were mere blurs of green. "I hold Noah's hand, too."

"Yeah, there's this rumor that you're cheating on me with him." He chuckled, simply amused by the whole thing. The girl sank in her seat a little as she tugged her hand away from his but he gripped her fingers, keeping her hand in his. "That's all they are. Rumors. Who cares what people think? You like to hold hands with your friends, so what?"

"I just… I really thought people would stop talking about me by now."

"Oh, Sweetheart, you're a big deal in Forks." He moved his thumb over her knuckles before bringing her hand up to his lips. He lightly pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and she gave him a small smile.

"But I don't wanna be." She muttered as he pulled into the school parking lot.

"I can beat people up." He suggested, pulling into the empty spot next to a black Dodge pickup.

"Would you? That would make me feel so much better." She mumbled sarcastically and he laughed as she pulled her hand from his and opened her door.

"You made it on time." Noah mused as he leaned against his truck, his arms crossed over his chest, his letterman hanging from his shoulders. “You get a gold star.”

“Really?” The girl asked, her smile wide as she looked up at him and he chuckled, shaking his head a little.

“You can’t keep promising her gold stars and not giving them to her.” Carter told the boy, draping his arm over Cori’s shoulders as the girl pouted slightly. “She’s gonna retaliate.”

“Yeah.” Cori nodded, her eyes narrowed. “It’s mean.”

“What are you gonna do, Pipsqueak?” He challenged, pushing himself off the truck, his eyes narrowed slightly but a smile played on his lips. She raised an eyebrow at him, her head tilted to the side before she glanced up at Carter. “Oh, that’s not fair.” Noah huffed, making the girl laugh. Noah was bigger, muscle wise, but they all knew that Carter could hold his own in a fight.

After the prom last year, he had taken on two drunk idiots who were messing with his date. They were both on the football team and neither laid a hand on the lanky boy, while they ended up in the hospital.

Cori had merely heard about it, her having missed prom and not even knowing who the boy was at the time. But she was impressed nonetheless. Even more so after actually getting to know the boy.

“We should get to class.” Cori hummed as she pulled away from Carter, his arm fell from her shoulders and she latched into his hand as they started towards the school. Noah fell into step beside them, his hands shoved in the pockets of his letterman. They really did look odd. Noah was the star quarterback, Carter was the school's mysterious bad boy, and Cori was a tiny little ball of, almost, spaztic energy. An odd trio for sure.

As the three walked past Alice and Jasper, Cori found herself looking in their direction. Alice smiled and waved, like she had every day since school started but this time Cori smiled at the two, nodding her head a little. Alice’s smile grew as she perked up, tilting her head back to look at her husband. All Jasper could do was smile at his wife as he rubbed her back.

“Is she happy?” She asked, hopefully.

“Yeah, she’s happy.”

“Good.” She hummed, her eyes settling on Cori once again. The young Swan had slipped on the stairs and both boys had jumped to catch her before she hit the ground. And once she was upright, they all laughed it off and continued up the stairs. “That’s good.” She mused, her lips pulling into a smile. And even if she was immensely happy that Cori was doing better, she felt bad for Emmett, who wasn’t doing better by any means.

⚘‎ nova speaks┆ i'm impatient lol here's the first chapter!!

i am literally so excited about this book and the characters i've added and the scenes i have planned!!

thank you so much for reading! i appreciate all of you and i hope you ENJOY!!