Against All Odds

CHAPTER - 37

CAMERON

"Elle, wait!" I called out, but she didn't stop. She bolted through the halls, her pace quickening with every step. I kept up, my breath coming in short, desperate gasps. Just as I thought I could catch up, she veered into the ladies' room. I skidded to a halt, my hands clenching into fists. I couldn't follow her in there.

I stood outside the door, feeling helpless and guilty. This was all my fault. I should have reached out sooner, should have explained everything instead of letting my frustration get the better of me. Telling Liam about us had been a mistake—a stupid, impulsive mistake made in the heat of the moment. And now, Elle was paying the price for my thoughtlessness.

Realizing I needed help, I ran down the hall to where I knew Olivia and Grace were in class. Bursting through the door, I made up an excuse about an emergency, my voice frantic enough to convince the professor to let them go. They followed me, confusion and concern etched on their faces.

When we reached the restroom, I explained the situation in hushed tones, trying to keep my emotions in check. They nodded, sharing a worried glance before heading inside to find Elle. I stayed outside, pacing back and forth, feeling like the worst person in the world. My mind raced with thoughts of how badly I'd screwed up, how my actions had led to this moment. I leaned against the wall, my hands trembling. How could I have been so stupid? Betraying Elle's trust by telling Liam about us—especially when she explicitly didn't want him to know—was unforgivable. The regret gnawed at me, sharp and relentless. I had to fix this, but I didn't know how.

As I waited, a staff member approached, her expression stern. "You can't be here." She said, gesturing toward the restroom. "This is the ladies' room. You need to leave."

I nodded, reluctantly stepping back.

Defeated, I started walking away, my mind racing. What if Elle didn't come out soon?

Just as I rounded a corner, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I almost collided with someone standing right in my path.

Lara. She was suddenly there, her presence almost startling. Her face lit up with an unsettlingly cheerful smile. "Hey, Cam," She said, her voice dripping with a sickly-sweet tone. "How are you doing? What are you doing here?"

I blinked, trying to process the fact that Lara—of all people—was standing in front of me, acting like she was just a friendly acquaintance. "I'm fine, Lara." I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Why do you ask?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile never wavered. "Oh, I didn't expect to see you here. Just out of curiosity."

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But before I could respond, Lara's demeanor shifted, as if she'd remembered something important. "Oh, and by the way," she said, her tone suddenly earnest, "I wanted to apologize for the other day. About the yellow crop top Elle was wearing, I didn't mean to insult her. I really am sorry."

I stared at her, my mind reeling. An apology from Lara? The same Lara who had been nothing but trouble for Elle and me? It was almost too bizarre to process. "You're apologizing?" I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. "That's... unexpected."

Lara shrugged nonchalantly, her eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite place. "Well, I figured it was the least I could do. I know I can be a bit—what's the word—blunt sometimes."

I didn't trust her, not for a second. Everything about her apology felt off, like a carefully crafted facade. "You're acting weird." I said, unable to hide my skepticism.

Lara's eyes sparkled with an unsettling mix of innocence and mischief. "Weird? Maybe. But I really do want to make things right. I was actually hoping to talk to Elle and apologize to her in person. Do you know where she is?"