Against All Odds

Chapter 16

The next day I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

I groaned, rolling over and blindly feeling for it. I didn't go to sleep until about two in the morning, the thoughts from last night weighing so heavily on my brain.

I finally grabbed my phone, squinting down at the caller ID as the bright light of the screen just about blinded me.

"Rowan?" I picked up, wondering why she's calling me as I rubbed my eyes.

She never calls me.

"I'm coming over in five minutes, are you decent?"

I groaned. "I just woke up, Ro."

She sighed on the other line. "It's 2 pm, Cameron, I'm coming over."

A heavy sigh escaped my lips. I knew there was no use in stopping her. Once she had a plan in her mind you couldn't talk her out of it.

"Alright." I hung up, placing my phone back on the dresser, making no moves to get up.

If she wanted to wake me up demanding to come over, she could greet me in bed.

Exactly five minutes later, I heard muffled voices coming from the living room, signaling to me that she was here.

A knock on the door followed soon after.

"Cameron?" She called out, waiting for an answer.

"Come in." She opened the door and headed inside.

"I'm opening the blinds." She announced as I laid on my back, wincing as the bright sun began to filter in.

She turned back around and I took notice of how her light green tank top brung out her eyes. Her hair was tied back today, held up by a brown clip.

I began the slow process of sitting up as she took a seat on the edge of my bed.

"Rowan." I smiled as she glanced down at my chest, frowning.

"Where do you keep your shirts?" I chuckled as she stood up, looking at my dresser.

"Middle drawer." I watched as she took out the first shirt she could find, throwing it at me. I pulled the shirt over my head as she went back to her spot at the edge of my bed.

"I want to be your friend again Cameron, but I want you to tell me things, I want you to trust me. I'm tired of secrets." She admitted and my gaze softened.

"I want to be your friend again too Rowan." I want to be more than friends, but I don't tell her that.

"Can you promise me one thing?" I nodded.

"Don't lie to me Cam, please."

"I won't Ro, I promise. I know I fucked up before but I'm trying to be better to you and everyone that gives a shit about me." She nodded firmly.

"I'll hold you to it." And she would, I knew it.

"So why were you still asleep at 2 pm?" I sighed.

"I'm tired, I feel like I'm using up all my energy just trying to get myself around." I ran a hand through my short curls.

"I know this probably isn't what you want to hear right now Cam but it'll get better with time."

"I want it to be better now, Rowan." I glanced down at my legs, letting out a frustrated sigh as she climbed across the comforter, taking my hand.

"I know you do Cameron and if I'm being completely honest, I'll never truly understand what you're going through right now. But what I do know is that you're stubborn and resilient even if you don't believe it. Recovery is hard, losing your ability to walk is hard. What you're doing right now is hard, Cameron but it's also a process, a huge, messy process. But it's a process I'll be here to help you with, whenever you need it." Tears welled up in my eyes as my gaze dropped to my lap.