Against All Odds

CHAPTER - 24

ELLE

"Thanks Liv."

I walked into the house and kicked off my shoes, but I was met with a shocking sight. Liam was lying on the couch all bruised and with a bandaged face. Instantly, worry and concern flooded over me, and I rushed over to him. "Liam! What happened? Are you okay?" I exclaimed, my heart pounding with fear.

"It's nothing. I got into a silly fight at practice today." He said, avoiding my gaze.

"A FIGHT!?"

He hesitated for a moment, then began recounting the events that transpired. He explained how they were practicing, but he couldn't concentrate today and missed a few shots. An argument broke out between him and the team captain. The tension escalated, and before he knew, it turned physical.

Fury welled up inside me, but I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Liam doesn't need my anger right now, he needed my support. Suppressing my anger, I asked. "Are you in pain? Do you need anything?"

Liam shook his head, a slight smile forming on his bruised face. "No, I'm alright, Elle. Just a bit sore. Cameron got hurt too. We both got suspended for two days."

Hearing that Cam was also injured brought conflicting emotions to the surface. Part of me wanted to rush to his side and make sure he was okay, but my blood boiled at the mere thought of anyone hurting my brother. Liam was always there for me, supporting me through thick and thin. Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself to stay composed and put my brother's well-being first. "Okay, Liam. Let's get you settled in."

We headed to Liam's room and I ensured he was settled in nicely. After a while, he was nearly asleep, so I silently tip-toed back to my room. I was still surprised and extremely angry at Cam for what he did. I was aware of the unresolved conflict between them, but I never expected it to escalate to a physical fight. Unable to contain my anger and concern, I immediately reached for my phone and dialed Cam's number. My fingers trembled with rage as I waited for him to pick up. Finally, he answered.

"Hello-"

"How could you do this to my brother? How could you hurt him like that?" I yelled.

"It wasn't entirely my fault, Elle! Your brother provoked me. He had it coming."

"You think that justifies your actions? No one has the right to hurt another person like you hurt Liam."

"You think it's okay for Liam to hurt others, to provoke a fight? But when I defend myself against his agression, suddenly I'm wrong?"

I scoffed at his words. "Defend yourself? I don't care about your petty rivalry. Violence is never the answer."

"So you don't care about my feelings? I've been hurt too, physically and emotionally. You're putting all the blame on me, but-"

He fell into a brief silence. His words hit me hard, momentarily halting our intense argument. As I reflected on the events that led to this confrontation, I couldn't help but wonder if my focus on Liam's well-being had blinded me to Cam's emotions. But before I could respond, Cam spoke again, his voice tinged with sadness. "You know what? It's fine." He went quiet for a moment, then said. "Goodbye, Elle." before ending the call.

His accusation stung, and guilt washed over me like a tidal wave. How could I have been so blind that I neglected his feelings? What kind of a person was I?

In that moment, I felt my heart breaking, realizing the consequences of my actions. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the phone. A heavy silence settled around me and I found myself alone with my thoughts. Cam's hurt and frustration echoed in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that engulfed me.

I paced back and forth in my bedroom, replaying the entire incident in my head. I had been so focused on Liam's pain that I hadn't even considered the fact that Cam was also in pain. Regret washed over me, and I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face. I picked up the phone, intending to call Cam back and apologize. But hesitancy washed over me. Would he even want to hear from me?

CAMERON

"So you don't care about my feelings? I have been hurt too, physically and emotionally. You're putting all the blame on me, but-" My voice choked with emotions.

Elle's silence on the other end was deafening, as if all words I spoke were simply empty echoed in the vast space of emptiness. Seconds felt like an eternity as I anxiously awaited her response, desperately hoping for some kind of understanding or remorse. But all I received was the haunting sound of her silence, a stark contrast to the conversation we used to have.

I felt my heart sinking even further into the depths of my stomach, I couldn't help but wonder if my pain held no significance for her. A wave of hurt washed over me, the overwhelming realization that the person I cared deeply for, to whom I had exposed my deepest fears and insecurities, did not share the same level of affection towards me.

The prolonged silence weighed heavily on me, as a mix of frustration and sadness waged war inside. I couldn't come to the terms with the face that Elle seemed to side with her brother, over me, without even considering my perspective or the circumstances that led to the fight. I couldn't bear it any longer. "You know what? It's fine." I took a breath. "Goodbye, Elle."

I hung up.

Anger began to simmer beneath the surface, intertwining with the hurt. I had never allowed myself to become so invested in someone else's emotions before, believing it to be a weakness. But with Elle, it was different. I had opened myself up to her. A hollow silence enveloped the room. Exhaling a shuddering breath, I slumped onto my bed.

A part of me longed for her to call back. I wished that she would realize how significant our connection was to me, and how deeply I had been hurt by her indifference.