LET DOWN

fifteen.            stay behind me

▬ CORI'S LACK OF FRIENDS became apparent when the Cullens didn't show up at school – the sun was out and the sky clear. It was unusually warm and that alone had made the little raven-haired Swan a bit upset.

In every class, she didn't have anyone to talk to. She didn't have Alice to help her when she got lost in algebra, she didn't have Rosalie to wake her up when she dozed off in Spanish class. She didn't have Jasper to offer his notes when she got behind in health class – a class she hated. She didn't have Travis to make jokes and keep her laughing at Emmett's expense. And most of all, she didn't have Emmett. He wasn't there to hold onto when she needed the contact and he wasn't there to pull her chair closer to his in history.

He had texted, wishing her a good morning and during every class he texted her about staying focused – which may have backfired. And he told her he'd be back the next day, his family had all gone hiking for the day since the weather was so nice.

When lunch rolled around, the young Swan wasn't sure where to sit. Most of the student body had occupied the courtyard, soaking up the sunshine they had been deprived of, so she joined them. Somehow, Emmett had managed to leave a packed lunchbox in her locker with a note taped to the front – Sorry I'm not there. I packed your lunch. Don't starve while I'm gone. - Tree

That brought a smile to her lips, especially that he had signed it Tree.

She made her way through the students playing hacky sack, then she dodged a frisbee that was flung to someone on the other side of her. Finally, she reached the table Bella sat at.

Jessica sat on the table top, leaning back on her arms as she soaked up the sun, her head tilted back and her eyes closed.

"Bells, can I sit with you?" She asked, her hand toying with the handle of the lunchbox she held.

"Yeah, of course." Bella slid over, pushing her tray to the side, giving her sister room to sit down. "What's with the lunchbox?"

"Oh, uh, Emmett dropped it off this morning before school." She lied as she laid it on the table, joining her sister at the picnic table. She wasn't quite sure how to explain that it was in her locker when she got to school that morning.

"Emmett packs your lunch for you?" Jessica asked, glancing at the younger girl.

"Yeah." She shrugged, pulling out a green apple – she preferred green apples over red apples and Emmett knew that. Of course he knew that. "He's sweet." Her cheeks flushed a little, just at the mention of the boy.

"Seriously, how?" Jessica huffed, shaking her head a little and Cori frowned.

"How what?"

"The Cullens haven't talked to anyone for two years and you show up and-"

"I don't know." She cut her off. "But maybe, just maybe, it has something to do with the fact that I actually talk to them and not about them." Jessica looked appalled, shocked the girl had said such a thing to her. But before she could respond Angela joined them at their table.

"Guys, I'm going to prom with Eric. I just asked him. I took control." She smiled.

"I told you that would happen." Bella smiled, giving the girl a quick hug.

"Are you sure you have to go out of town?"

"Oh, yeah, little family thing." Bella nodded.

"Wait, we're going out of town?" Cori asked, looking over at her sister. "Why does no one tell me these things?" She huffed. "And I was actually looking forward to prom."

"I thought I told you."

"You didn't."

"I think I did, you just don't listen."

"Okay," Jessica cut in. "We should go dress shopping in Port Angeles before all the good dresses get cleaned out." The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and Cori zipped up her lunchbox, which was still full of little snacks.

"Oh, Port Angeles? Mind if I come?" Bella asked before looking over at her sister. "And Cori?"

"Yeah, I need your opinion." Angela nodded, her tone ringing with an unsaid duh. "And it'd be nice to get to know Cori a little better."

"Really?" The blue-eyed Swan turned, looking up at the girl.

"Yeah, of course." She smiled, making Cori smile.

"Okay." She hummed. "Sounds fun."

.

.

.

.

.

.

▬ DRESS SHOPPING WITH Angela and Jessica wasn't nearly as fun as shopping with Alice and Emmett. So, she wandered the dress shop, her phone in her hand as she typed on the keyboard. It was opened to the group chat Alice had made that consisted of Cori, Emmett, Travis and herself.

ALLY
you're shopping without me??

TREE
I wanna go shopping again ;)

She giggled at her phone, she knew he didn't really mean shopping. He meant the make out session they had, then the two other times they had made out in two separate stores. It was like once they started, they couldn't stop. And it wasn't just him. Cori was all for making out in the middle of the store as Alice pulled clothes off the rack.

TRAVI
Is shopping code for something

CORI
Maybe it is ;)

TRAVI
Do i wanna know?

TREE
I miss you, shortcake

CORI
I miss you too, tree
wish you were here

ROSIE
Slightly offended I wasn't in the group chat to begin with but Esme wants everyone off their phones it's family bonding time

also, hi Cori

CORI
HI!!

but you guys go. I have to at least pretend i'm having a good time

TREE
See you later, shortcake.

CORI
bye bye

Cori shoved her phone back into her pocket, a smile on her lips as she looked at the dresses on the rack closest to her. She flipped through them before glancing over to see the others, Bella was sitting on a little stool by the window as the two other girls stood in front of the mirror – Jessica in a pink dress and Angela in a lilac dress. She wasn't entirely sure why Bella had asked for her to join them, then insisted again later that day. She wasn't really comfortable with the two girls. It wasn't that she didn't like them, Angela was nice and always tried to include her. Jessica, though she wasn't outwardly mean, kept giving the shorter girl weird looks – looks Cori didn't appreciate.

She turned back to the dresses and pulled a blue one off the rack, smiling a little – it was a shorter dress with a sweetheart neckline and the skirt was nothing but tulle.

"Hey, come with me." Bella stopped next to her sister, who looked up at her as she put the dress back.

"Where?"

"There's this book store I-"

"Book store?" Cori grinned and Bella nodded. "Let's go." She started towards the door and Bella chuckled lightly as she followed after her.

.

.

.

.

.

.

▬ IT WAS WELL AFTER dark by the time the Swan sisters had left the bookstore, while Bella had easily tracked down the book she wanted, Cori browsed the shelves, looking for a new read – even if there were books on her shelf she had yet to touch. She grabbed a few books, one about a love triangle between a woman and two hockey players and the other was a book that sounded similar to the story Paul had told her – it was fiction but she couldn't seem to get what he had told her out of her head.

"Why is this book so important that we crossed the entire city for it?" Cori asked, shoving her hands into her pockets, her books having been stashed in Bella's bag.

"Just something I saw online. It looked interesting." She shrugged. "And you're the one who spent nearly an hour and a half in there."

"You knew this would happen when you mentioned a book store." Cori pointed at her as they turned down an alley that led to a sidewalk but Bella stopped, her hand on Cori's wrist when she saw two guys stop and turn towards them.

"Come on." She mumbled, turning around and keeping her sister close to her as the guys followed them.

"Bella?" Cori mumbled, glancing over her shoulder at them.

"Just keep walking." She muttered, turning to the right, her hand still tight around Cori's wrist but they had nowhere else to go as three others neared them from the other direction.

"What now?"

"Saw you in the dress store." One of the guys called out, his voice slurred, clearly drunk.

"Bella?" Cori shook, her hand gripping the back of her sister's coat.

"Stay behind me."

"Hey, where you runnin' to?" Another asked.

"Look who it is. It's my girl." One smirked, looking from the taller girl to Cori. "Hey, baby." He nodded his head before looking at the two guys that were following behind the girls. "How you guys doing?"

"Look who we found."

Bella pulled Cori closer to her and tried to slip by them, but they quickly stood in her way. "Hey, whoa, whoa, where you going?"

"Come get a drink with us." They had the two surrounded and Cori buried her face in her sister's back, hiding the unshed tears in her eyes.

"Yeah, you should hang out with us."

"You're pretty." One reached out and brushed Cori's hair to the side, his finger grazing her skin.

"Don't touch her!" Bella snapped, turning to put herself between the guy and her sister which only resulted in another guy getting his hands around Cori's waist. She squirmed in his hold, trying to grip onto Bella but he pulled her back, squeezing her to hold her in place. She knew he'd leave a mark.

"No! Let me go!" She cried, trying to pry his hand off of her but he just wrapped his arm around her, holding her back to his chest.

"Don't touch her!" Bella shouted, this time louder as she shoved her backpack into one of the guy's stomach, making him groan, as she lunged towards the one that held her sister. But he took a step back as the other circled around Bella.

"You're a lot nicer than your friend." The one that held Cori whispered close to her ear and she flinched, her entire body shaking as she tried to get away from him and the smell of alcohol on his breath. "You should-"

He was cut off by the screech of tires and they all turned to see a silver Volvo skidding around the corner, the headlights bright in front of them as they squinted. Then two figures emerged, one bigger than the other. And most of the guys took off.

Emmett was quick in making his way over towards the guy that still held Cori, though his grip had loosened a little as he approached them.

Cori let out a relieved breath at the sight of him, though she had never seen anger on his face before. And before she could even think, his hand was around the guy's throat, squeezing as he easily lifted him off the ground. His arms loosened and Cori quickly scurried away from him and over to her sister, who pulled her into her chest, her face tucked into her coat.

"Get in the car." Edward told them, giving Bella a stern look and she pulled Cori with her, opening the back door.

"Cori, in the car. Come on." She rushed her and she listened, her body still shaking as she looked out the windshield. She could see Edward standing behind Emmett, his hand on his shoulder and the guy still dangling above the ground. His hands clawed at the hand around his throat to no avail. Bella closed the door and watched, only furthering her belief that the Cullens weren't human.

She slid into the passenger seat and closed the door, turning to offer her hand to Cori, who took it with no hesitation.

"We're okay." She told her, getting a small nod before Cori's eyes moved back to the two Cullen boys.

"Emmett, let go." Edward repeated, still getting no reply from the boy other than the murderous thoughts rumbling about in his head. "Emmett."

"He deserves it." He squeezed, watching as the life slowly drained from his eyes. "And worse."

"Cori can see you." He told him, knowing it was the only way to stop him. "She needs you right now." Emmett reluctantly took a breath, his hand loosening until the guy hit the cold pavement, coughing as he moved his hands to his throat.

Emmett, finally coming back to his senses, turned and made his way towards the car, Edward behind him, and he opened the back door. Cori just looked up at him, tears running down her face and her hand still clasped around Bella's.

"Hey, Shortcake." He tried to smile but the look of fear in her eyes made it hard. "Can you slide over for me?" She let go of Bella's hand and moved across the seat as he slid into the car, making the backseat seem smaller than it really was – he didn't exactly fit in the back of a volvo.

Once he was in and the door closed, Edward put the car in reverse and flung it around, throwing Cori around in the backseat a little. Emmett was quick to hold her to him before she hit her head.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his hands moving to her cheeks once Edward made it onto the main road, weaving in and out of traffic. "Did they hurt you?" He moved his thumb across her cheek.

"No." She shook her head. "Not really." She shifted closer to him, not caring that his hand – the hand that was so gentle against her – had nearly taken a man's life.

"No or not really?" He asked softly. "There's a difference, Shortcake." She leaned back and tugged her sweater up, showing him the red handprint on her side that she was sure would bruise.

"He grabbed me." Her bottom lip shook, tears spilling out of her eyes again. His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening and she swallowed hard as she let her sweater fall back into place.

He was speechless. He was angry, but he knew that didn't do him or Cori any good. So he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him, burying his face in her hair as she wrapped her arms around him – he made sure to be gentle.

"Let me take you home." He mumbled against her and she nodded, she knew her voice would crack if she tried to talk again. So they stayed like that until Edward parked the car outside of a restaurant called The Bloated Toad. Emmett climbed out of the car, offering his hand to help her out and once the door was closed, he wrapped his arm around her and they started towards his car.

It was a bit of a walk to his jeep and he was extra vigilant as he watched their surroundings as the girl clung to him. Her arms around him and her face pressed into his side, the cold air making the path her tears left cold but she didn't care enough to wipe at them. She didn't want to let go of Emmett.

.

.

.

.

.

.

▬ EMMETT SAT ON CORI'S BED, his back against the headboard as she laid next to him. She laid across his chest, her leg pulled up over his and her hand toying with the buttons near the collar of his shirt. Neither had said much of anything since they left Bella and Edward, she was sure she'd cry the minute she opened her mouth and he knew that anything she told him would piss him off to no end.

So, they laid there in silence. Just holding each other for a while.

But she was curious. "Were you really going to hurt him?" She asked, her voice quiet and scratchy.

"Yes." He answered simply. "Probably even worse." She closed her eyes and took a breath. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I was just so angry that he touched you." His arm tightened around her just a little. "You're mine."

"I am?"

He nodded. "And I'm yours."

"Really?"

"Shortcake, I've been yours since the moment you smiled at me."

She gave him a small smile as she leaned up, pressing a kiss to his lips and when she pulled away, he just reconnected their lips, pulling her into his lap so her legs were on either side of his hips. One hand cupped her cheek, the other rested on her hip, holding her in place as her hands slid up his chest before resting behind his neck.

"Thank you for my lunch today." She mumbled as she pulled back to take a breath, her thumbs moving delicately along the back of his neck.

"Couldn't let you eat cafeteria food." He hummed, swiping his thumb across her cheek to get rid of any remaining tears that may have lingered. "What kind of boyfriend would it be if I did?"

"Boyfriend?" She quirked an eyebrow, though her lips pulled into a wide smile.

"Yeah, boyfriend." He nodded. "I mean, if you want me to be your boyfriend."

She sat back a little, letting her hands slide down to his chest. "This is Emmett, my boyfriend." She mumbled, simply trying out the word and he laughed.

"What are you-"

"I like how that sounds." She cut him off, leaning forward so her chest was against his.

"Me too." He hummed, capturing her lips in another kiss and she softly moaned into the kiss, which made his smile grow.

"Can you stay?" She asked, her voice quiet, then she pecked his lips again.

"There's no way in hell that I'm leaving you." He kissed her again, his hand fisting in her hair. "Possibly ever." She giggled against his lips as she pulled back.

"Good." She hummed as she laid her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her to him, then he kissed the top of her head.

⚘‎ nova speaks┆so this week has been hectic, great but hectic. i finally got the chance to fly back home and see my family after nearly a year since i moved away. it was great seeing everyone, especially all the kids that i feel like have grown up so much in the time i've been gone.

but being here also reminded me of why i left in the first place. don't get me wrong, i love my family but they are... a lot.

i know i did the right thing for me and i will continue to do the right thing for me. even if i'm not entirely what that is at the moment.

and, i sorry this has kind of turned into a little inspirational speech of sorts, but if there's something you want to do for you, for your physical and mental health do it. and don't let anyone talk you out of it, not your friends, not your family, and definitely not yourself.

and yes, change is hard but it's worth it.

anyways, thank you so much for reading my book and loving my characters as much as i do! i appreciate every single one you so much!!