Cori Jacobs

He was mentally checking out; his mind already set on walking to the med tent leaving her to her own devices. When he heard his name his mind stopped, and promptly drew his attention back to petite woman. Watching her fiddle with a piece of shirt he tried not to stare hard because he didn’t want to intimidate, or come off too intense. A slow smile spread over his face with admittance of her liking him coming from sober lips. Scanning the tree line before posing his question. “How about we make an agreement? I lieu of any mis-signals. How about I give you the power?  Our next kiss…must be initiated by you. I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but I like to think there will be next.”  

Keenly aware as her cheeks crimsoned further he wasn’t sure on how to fix this situation. She sputtered out her request for wanting fair warning, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of rejection. Lost in thought for a moment ruffling a hand through his hair which was his go to when he was frustrated by a situation. The sneaking feeling came over him the best way to remedy was to leave her alone. It was daylight after all. She’d be safe enough. His forehead knitted together. ”Yeah…well I guess I’ll leave you be. I’m sorry if I upset you. That’s never my intention.”

Cori sighed as she got the feeling that she'd said something to make him upset. "Zeke." She bit her lip as she searched for the words. "I'm not upset, well I am, but not because of you." She fiddled with a loose strand on her shirt. "I do want to kiss you. I do like you, or at least I think I like you. Just, give me some sort of heads up next time." She shrugged, unsure of what she was trying to say. All she knew is that she really just wanted to go back to her tent and figure it out.

"Guitar? That’s lovely. I’ve grown to miss music, being stuck out here," Vivien said, sighing softly. "You are right. Though, it would be nice to know that someone else here was uprooted from their normal life in my hometown. I think it would be a small comfort."

"I'll play for you whenever you want." Cori offered up her services with a bright smile. She loved to make people happy, and music seemed to be doing that better than her. "I guess you're right, so good luck on finding someone."

Zeke watched as the woman in front of him face burn as red as her hair. His jaw clenched down to the point where his back teeth hurt. When she stepped forward he tried to relax as he watched her verbally go back and forth. Finally when she came to a rest his shoulders fell upset that a simple kiss was the catalyst to this. “You didn’t humiliate yourself. You were intoxicated.  I feel bad you don’t remember because a lot of it was…really nice. No…trust me I don’t think your easy.” Hesitantly at first he reached out lightly touching her elbow. “I’m sorry that I startled you with that kiss. Guess I should ask next time.” The statement was fishing expedition because he very much wanted their to be a next time.

 Cori pressed her hands to her head once more, just trying to get her bearings. It was almost surreal to hear Zeke say the kiss, or kisses, was nice. She had very little practice in the art of kissing, and she knew that when the time came and she and Zeke actually consummated a relationship, the only knowledge she'd have would be from the internet. Cori froze. Why the fuck was she thinking about sleeping with Zeke? Her face burned with humiliation at the thoughts running through her head. "Yeah, a-a h-heads up w-would be nice." She stuttered her way through her statement as she tried to control the fantasies that seemed to run rampant through her mind.

The moment his lips struck hers he could tell something was off. Pulling away he could see the exasperation written all over her face as she fired off a rather disturbing question. He didn’t know what to say. Days ago she was propositioning him, and now he feels like he perpetrated a sexual assault. “Cori …I….it’s just the other night you came onto me.” Removing his arms he took a step back. “but you were drunk…and it didn’t mean a thing.” His last statement was low with disappointment.

Cori didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had propositioned him? Fuck, she did way more than just embarrass herself. "Oh my god." She placed her head in her hands. "That's what I did?" She let out a sound that conveyed both her humiliation and her relief. "I-- I don't remember..." She furrowed her brow and stepped forwards. "I don't think it didn't mean a thing... I'm notoriously honest while drunk..." She sucked her lower lip in, gnawing on it as she tried to formulate her thoughts. "I was just... surprised, because I don't remember what happened, I had thought I just embarrassed myself. Now I know I humiliated myself, oh god, you probably think I'm easy or something." She hadn't really meant to say that last part out loud, but she did.

I’m scared, Cori. Who’s next?

I'm worried too Charlie, and I have no idea. I pray every day that it will never happen again, but until we find out who is doing this....

You promise? Please promise.

I promise.

He can’t… He just- he can’t. I can’t lose anyone else, especially him. 

You won't lose him, he won't let you lose him.

His chest slightly rumbled against her when chuckling when she completed his statement, and again when she snorted. He loved it when she made the sardonic noise. It was honest. He peered down at her when she shifted her heard. Giving her a placated smile before he swept a pieces of renegade hair from her face. Not that it needed to go, but he wanted an excuse to touch her skin. “It looks like we are going to have to look out for each other.”  Unable to refrain he leaned down pressing a kiss against her lips as he attempted to recapture what they shared only a few nights ago.   

You won't lose him. He won't leave you alone.

He's not going to die. Like Zeke told me, Luke is one tough son of a bitch.

Cori...?

While he hated she was upset he’d be lying if he told you he didn’t enjoy the way she took to him, and relaxed in his arms. Resting his chin on the halo of her heard for a moment before she bent quickly kissing it. Wrapping his arms tighter around her as he listened letting out his own sigh when he realized it was about Rose. He had seen Luke already. Been there in fact when he was sutured. “Yeah, I know but he’s a tough son of a…well dude. He’s going to heal just fine, and have a gnarly story. I just worry about you. Promise you will be careful. Don’t go anywhere alone.” Zeke refused to let go until she wished it.

Cori nodded against his chest as he reassured her, and blushed when she felt him kiss the top of her head. Thank god he couldn't see it from his angle. "He is one tough son of a bitch." She snorted dryly at his reluctance to swear in front of her. "I know, I just worry too." She lifted her head to look up at him, not bother to break the embrace. "The same goes for you. If it can happen to Luke, it can happen to anyone."