Cole Campbell

I felt a blush cover my face and looked down again. "She did. She... told you everything?"

I nodded slowly "Yeah, she told me everything. After I finally decided to listen, that is."

"Well that just... makes things all better. On top of everything already, you know all the... bullshit I had to go through. Just great," I said quietly and ran my hand through my hair.

"I'm not going to parade it through the streets, Timber told me everything because she trusts me."

"And you hate me. Or hated me. For good reason. Doesn't exactly... make me feel good that you know all my deepest darkest secrets."

"Timber told me so I would start tolerating you and that's what I plan on doing because I love your sister. I'm willing to establish a better relationship with you over time."

"I'll do anything for Timber. I love her more than anything. How is she? She... she hasn't been by in awhile. I know the pregnancy is getting hard for her though."

"She's doing good, we've had a lot of stuff going on but I'll make sure she makes it out here to see you or...you could come by sometime."

"I don't know if... that would be such a good idea. Not everyone there... wants to be tolerant of me. But I would love it if she came by. And... you could come too. If you want to that is."

"They're letting Allistair stay in the camp, surely they wouldn't say much about you coming to visit your sister."

"You can't honestly tell me they're happy about him being there."

"I didn't say they were happy but they're tolerating it for the time being. He helped a lot of other people get out of there. Brought his wife and daughter back here with him."

"Doesn't sound like the Allistair I know. Doesn't matter though, I didn't do that. I didn't help anyone, I don't have a family other than Timber. I just... did everything that I did... then showed up here with a nasty snake bite on my leg. I'm not stupid, I know almost everyone over in your camp would love to see me six feet under."

"No one has a reason to hate you like I do but here I am. I wouldn't let anyone bother you, neither would Cole."

"I'm sure that's true, but... I think I'd feel a lot safer just sticking around here for now."

"That's fine, I was just throwing the invitation out there."

"Thanks for the invitation. And like I said... you're welcome here too. If you want to come."

"Thank you." I told her "So, how have you been feeling?"

I looked at him then looked down again, it was so weird to have him asking how I was. "Good. I've been good. Still getting used to everything. And I still can't cook worth a damn. But I've been good. How about you?"

"I'm doing pretty good, I can't complain. Things could always be worse. Don't worry too much about the cooking, it will come in time."

"I don't know about that. The only thing I've ever successfully made is a bowl of cereal and hot chocolate, and that's been years."

"I'm sure Cole will teach you everything you need to know, he knows what he's doing."

"I know he does, but I'm beginning to think I'm hopeless."

"If you were hopeless he wouldn't be bothering with you, now would he? Have some faith, it'll take you some time to get the hang of it all."

"Maybe you're right. I kind of... quit having faith in anything a long time ago."