Against All Odds

CHAPTER - 30

ELLE

Lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I felt the weight of the day pressing down on me. My confrontation with Cam had drained me emotionally, and all I wanted was to escape into the oblivion of sleep. But my mind wouldn't stop racing, replaying every moment, every word exchanged, over and over again.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling me out of my thoughts. With a sigh, I reached over and grabbed it, my heart sinking at the prospect of another meaningless notification. The screen lit up, displaying a new message from an unknown number: "Hi."

I frowned, feeling a pang of annoyance. I wasn't in the mood to deal with random texts, especially not from strangers. As the message bubble indicated that the person was typing again, I made a snap decision. I didn't have the energy for this. Without giving it another thought, I blocked the number and tossed my phone back onto the bed.

Closing my eyes, I tried to shut out the world, but the buzzing of my phone brought me back once more. I groaned, reluctantly picking it up to see what it was this time. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Cam's name on the screen. A text from him, sent just a few minutes ago.

C: I'm really sorry for what happened.

C: I know I messed up.

C: Can we please meet at the park? I want to explain and make up for my mistakes.

I stared at the message, my emotions a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and a tiny flicker of hope. As much as I wanted to ignore him, a part of me needed closure, needed to understand why he had done what he did.

I typed a response, my fingers trembling slightly.

E: I don't think meeting up is a good idea. I'm still really hurt by what happened.

I hit send and set the phone down, expecting that to be the end of it. But almost immediately, it buzzed again.

C: Please, Elle. Just give me a chance to explain. I owe you that much.

C: Meet me at the park in an hour?

I hesitated, my mind warring with itself. Meeting him could either bring closure or open up more wounds. But the need for answers won out in the end. I needed to hear what he had to say, even if it was just to finally move on.

E: Fine.

I sent the message and took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

The hour passed slowly, each minute dragging on as I wrestled with my emotions. I replayed the events of the past day, the hurt and anger mingling with a strange sense of anticipation. What could he possibly say to make this right? Did I even want to hear his excuses?

Finally, the time came. I grabbed my jacket and headed out the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

I reached the park a few minutes early, my nerves on edge. I scanned the area, hoping to see Cam already waiting for me, but he wasn't there. My heart sank a little, a sense of déjà vu washing over me. This was too reminiscent of the last time. Still, I tried to stay positive. Maybe he was just running late.

I found a bench near the fountain and sat down, my foot tapping impatiently. The Park was relatively quiet, the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the breeze filling the air. I glanced at my phone, checking the time. Ten minutes had passed, then twenty. I started to feel that familiar knot of anxiety in my stomach.

"Come on, Cam." I muttered under my breath. "Don't do this again."

Another ten minutes went by, and there was still no sign of him. I could feel the sting of tears forming in my eyes, a mix of frustration, anger, and hurt. I couldn't believe I had let myself get into this situation again. Maybe he wasn't coming. Maybe this was just another cruel joke.