LET DOWN

six.            tree

▬ "YOUR SISTER?" Angela, a girl Bella had met, asked. Her eyes were wide as she looked over towards where the girl in question stood with the biggest Cullen.

"Yeah." Bella nodded. "That's Cori."

"She's holding hands with Emmett Cullen." Jessica started slowly, still trying to wrap her head around it.

"She likes physical contact." The older Swan shrugged, not getting why both girls were completely shocked. She glanced back at her sister, there was a small smile on Cori's lips as she looked up at Emmett, who stood in front of her just a few steps from the table the rest of his siblings occupied. Their fingers still intertwined.

Her eyes drifted from her sister to the boy with copper hair, his eyes on her and his eyebrows creased. Bella turned in her chair, looking away from the boy, her eyebrows pinched in confusion.

"Bells." Cori got her sister's attention as she neared the table she sat at with a few other people. All eyes were on Cori, the two girls gaping and Eric offered her a smile.

"Hey, Cor." Bella smiled. "And you were worried about not making friends."

"How'd you do it?" The brunette asked and Cori looked over at her, confusion contorting her soft features. "The Cullens? How'd you do it?"

"I'm gonna get food." Cori mumbled as she turned and made her way towards the line, grabbing a tray.

"Ignore her."

She jumped a little, turning to see Emmett behind her.

"Sorry." He chuckled lightly. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"No, I just wasn't expecting you." She told him as she put a few things on her tray, nothing really looked all that appetizing. "Is the food always this... bleh?"

"That's why we usually bring our lunch." He nodded, lying through his teeth but she just nodded her head. "Hey, let me know if anyone gives you a hard time, okay?"

"Are you gonna defend my honor?" She asked, an amused smile tugging at her lips and for one of the rare moments that day, she didn't care that most of the student body was watching her. Each time it happened Emmett was smiling at her, an emotion she couldn't quite read dancing in his eyes. It made the tips of her ears turn pink.

"Hell yeah." He nodded, his smile growing. "A menacing look usually does the trick."

"I'm sure it's only because of the look." She hummed sarcastically. "Has nothing to do with the fact that you're built like a tree."

"Listen here, Shortcake." He stepped closer to her and she couldn't help it when her smile grew. "I am not built like a tree."

"Wanna find a tree and compare?" She tilted her head to the side, a sense of challenge rising in her, and he couldn't help but laugh. It was loud, echoing around the room, silencing a few nearby tables and all she could do was join him. His laugh was thick, swirling around her and she could drown in that sound.

"Come sit with us." He told her once he sobered up. "I know you said you were gonna sit with your sister, but you looked uncomfortable when Jessica asked you about me and my family."

"Why is everyone so obsessed with the fact that you're talking to me?"

"They have nothing better to do?" He offered and she let out a breathy chuckle as she shook her head. "I just want you to be comfortable, it's your first day and people can be judgemental."

"Are you sure it's okay?" She asked, her voice low as her hands tightened around the edge of her tray. "I don't think your brother likes me."

"Travis?"

"No, Edward."

"Oh, he's just a bitch." Emmett waved it off. "Like I said, ignore him."

"Thank you."

"Stop thanking me." He gave her a soft smile and she returned it before he placed his hand on the small of her back and led her right by the table Bella sat at and to his family's table.

"Travis tells us you have a good spike." Alice smiled once Cori and Emmett sat at the table, the latter keeping her chair close to his. He even draped his arm over the back of her chair.

"It was-"

"It was not a lucky shot." Travis cut the girl off, his eyes narrowed slightly but a playful smirk tugged at his lips.

"I played last season at my old school, it isn't really my sport though." She shrugged, poking at the food on her tray.

"So what is?" Emmett asked.

"What?"

"Your sport."

"Um, well, I never played on a team or anything, but my stepdad, Philip. He's a minor league baseball player and I've always liked playing with him and I'm not terrible."

"Baseball." Emmett mused, nodded his head.

"You play any sports?" She asked him. "You're basically a tree, you look like you'd be good at sports."

"I'm not a tree." He chuckled.

"You kinda are." Travis added, getting a laugh from Cori as she pointed at him.

"He gets it. I like you." She hummed and his smile grew even wider as the girl turned back to Emmett, who just smiled at her.

"No, I don't play any sports. At least, not for the school. Mostly just us goofing off." He answered her question and she nodded, bringing her water to her lips.

"Hmm." Edward hummed, his eyes on Cori and his brows pinched.

"What?" She asked, worried she'd done something wrong and panic flooded through her veins.

"Ignore him." Emmett placed his hand on her back, nothing more than a simple comfort. "He's weird." Cori relaxed a little, turning back to Emmett with a small smile. He could still tell that she was confused and a little worried so he looked over at Jasper, who gave a simple nod.

Cori let out a small breath, her worry fading little by little. Emmett gently moved his thumb across her back and she gave him a smile. She wasn't sure how, but he had seemed to pick up on the fact the physical contact calmed her nerves but she appreciated it. She even leaned back into his hand just a little.

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▬ THE CLASS SHE had been waiting for all day finally arrived, and to her surprise, Emmett didn't bid her goodbye like he had when he walked her to every other class that day. He followed her into the room and plopped down at one of the tables, grinning as he pulled the chair beside him out for her.

"You're taking art?"

"Easy A." He shrugged as she sat next to him.

"Don't let him fool you, he's pretty good with a paint brush." Alice sat at the table to Cori's left, a smile on her face.

"Really?" She grinned, turning back to the boy. He let his head hang forward, a sheepish look taking over his face. "I can't wait to see."

"She's crazy." Emmett huffed. "Don't listen to her. What about you? You any good?"

"I'm alright." She shrugged. "I mostly like to doodle, but I like painting. My mom wouldn't let me paint in the house though, it got a bit messy. And it was entirely too hot to paint outside."

"How are you liking the weather?" Alice asked, her chin in her hand. "Forks is definitely not Arizona."

"I love it." She grinned. "I hate the heat. But I like the weather here. I also like that I can wear my hoodies and my beanies and my fuzzy snowman socks."

"Snowman socks?"

"Listen here, Tree, they're soft and warm." She poked his shoulder and he chuckled as he held his hand up in mock surrender. Beside them, Alice just smiled. It wasn't the first time she had seen this scene play out, but this was better.

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▬ CORI HUMMED TO HERSELF as she made her way down the front steps of the school, she had already turned in the slip she got signed by all of her teachers and she was waiting on Bella. She had just reached the red truck when she spotted a familiar black Chevy across the parking lot.

She grinned as she started towards it, the door opened and Paul slid out, a wide smile on his face as the girl approached him.

Emmett, who had been making his way towards the girl the moment he saw she was alone, stopped in his tracks. His entire family focused on one thing and one thing only, the boy that now had his arms around Cori.

"How was your first day, Munchkin?" He asked, but she didn't untangle her arms, she stayed pressed against him, making him chuckle as he rubbed her back.

"It was good." She hummed. "I made friends."

"You're not replacing us, are you?"

"Never." She shook her head as she looked up at him, her chin against his chest.

"Come on, it's cold!" Rachel shouted from the passenger seat and the two laughed as they pulled apart, Cori making her way towards the side of the truck the girl sat on as Paul made his way towards the driver's side. His eyes, narrowed into a glare, briefly landed on the Cullens, who still watched them. Every last one wore a similar glare.

"No, Cori, what are you-" Rachel mumbled as the girl climbed over her lap, hitting her in the head with her backpack.

"Sorry." The younger girl mumbled before flopping into the middle seat, her bag now at Rachel's feet.

"Really?"

"I wanna sit in the middle."

"There are easier ways that you could've done that."

"I like a challenge."

"Are you two situated?" Paul asked as he lifted himself into the truck.

"Aye, aye, Captain." Cori nodded, pulling the seat belt over her lap.

"Have I mentioned how much I missed you?" Rachel asked, wrapping her arm around the girl's shoulder and all Cori could do was beam. Paul chuckled at the two as he started the trunk, it was loud and a few people looked their way as he pulled out of the parking space and the second he was on the road, his arm was draped along the back of the seat. His hand toying with the ends of Rachel's hair. And Cori sat happily between the two as she poked at the radio.

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▬ "WOLVES!" Emmett huffed, pacing the length of the living room where Travis and Rosalie sat on the couch. "Fucking wolves!"

"She used to live here. She's bound to know a few of them." Travis reasoned, despite the fact that he didn't like it either.

"Why didn't Alice mention that?"

"I can't see the wolves." Alice stated, joining the others, Jasper close behind her. "I was curious why there were a few blank spots, but it makes sense now."

"Blank spots?" Rosalie asked, her perfect eyebrows creased.

"I can see some of Cori's future, never all of it. Just bits and pieces. Pieces of her and Emmett. But I can't see much other than that."

"Are you sure it's only because of the wolves?" Emmett asked, his worry for the girl easily beating his anger. He knew that when Alice couldn't see someone's future it meant they didn't have much of one.

"Cori's gonna be fine." She gave him a soft smile but Edward, who was shoving things into his bag in his room, heard what she dare not speak. Especially not to Emmett.

For now at least.

⚘‎ nova speaks┆i freaking love this book so much! cori owns my heart!!

thank you so much for 1k reads! i appreciate you all so much!! you have no idea.

so, what do we think so far???? i'm always open to feedback but please don't criticize my characters

i hope everyone has a nice day!!