Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
Once he was gone, Bradley turned to her. “Let’s head out too.”
“Hold up,” Eddie cut in, tired of being ignored. “Brad, you’re seriously ditching me?”
Bradley smiled faintly, “Eddie, want me to call you a ride back to Steerfall?”
Eddie was at a loss for words. He could only watch helplessly as Bradley and Cameron walked out, abandoning him at the fondue restaurant. ‘Great Looks like another night in a hotel, he thought.
The black Mercedes cruised smoothly down neon-lit streets.
Bradley drove while Cameron sat silently in the passenger seat, face turned toward the window, watching the city blur past.
“So,” Bradley said, eyes fixed on the road ahead, “what did you think of the fondue place?”
Cameron pulled her gaze from the window. “Not bad.”
Bradley nodded. “That’s actually why I wanted to meet up with you today. To try that place.”
“What a coincidence we ran into each other there,” Cameron replied, her expression giving nothing away.
The corner of Bradley’s mouth twitched upward. He didn’t bother asking why she’d turned down his invitation but accepted Elijah’s. He wasn’t that petty.
“The food was pretty good,” Bradley said instead. “We should go back sometime.”
Cameron had absolutely nothing to say to that.
Bradley dropped the subject quickly. “So how’s the tutoring going with Xander? Is anything sticking in that brain of his?”
Cameron rubbed her forehead. “His basics are terrible. I’m struggling just to get him caught up.”
“Sounds like you need to charge more,” Bradley laughed.
Cameron finally turned to look at him. “30 grand an hour should do it.”
“That might cover it.” Bradley smirked.
They chatted easily, the vibe between them sliding back to how things used to be. Thirty minutes later, the car pulled into Noble Vista’s underground parking.
Cameron felt herself finally relax. “Brad, thanks for the ride. Later,” she said with a quick wave.
“See ya.” Bradley nodded.
Back in her apartment, it was nearly ten. Cameron took a shower, removed her chest binder, and flopped onto her bed in pajamas, planning to read a bit before crashing.
She glanced at her phone to check the time and noticed a WhatsApp message from Austin.
Austin: [Cam, you busy?] He was just checking in after yesterday, when he’d seen those big guys surrounding her. He was curious how she was doing.
Cameron: [Reading. What’s up?]
Austin: [I wrote another song. Can I play it for you now?]
Cameron: [Now?]
Austin: [Yeah, we can just video chat.]
Cameron instinctively glanced down at her black pajamas. Without her binder on, there was no way she could video chat with Austin.
Cameron: [Sorry, I’m about to crash.]
Austin: [My bad, didn’t think about the time. Can I play it for you tomorrow at school?]
Cameron: [If you want.]
Austin: [Cool, see you tomorrow.]
‘So Cameron’s injuries couldn’t be too serious, right? After all, he’d be back in class tomorrow like nothing happened,’ Austin thought.
Cameron set his phone down and leaned back against the headboard with a book in his lap. After reading for a while, his eyelids started to get heavy.
Just as he was about to lie down, he thought he heard the doorbell. He listened for a moment, but the sound didn’t re, at. With a shrug, Cameron turned off the light and settled in to sleep. A few minutes later, his bedroom doorknob turned slowly.
“Who’s there?” Cameron wasn’t fully asleep yet. He immediately sat up and slapped the light switch on.
The room flooded with brightness, revealing a Successfully unlocked! White button-down, black slacks, gold-rimmed glasses-it was Bradley.
“Brad?” Cameron blinked in surprise. ‘What’s Bradley doing at my bedroom door in the middle of the night?’ she thought. Bradley stood there with an easy smile. “Sorry, Cameron. I knocked, but you didn’t answer. I figured you were asleep, so I let myself in.”
Cameron sat up in bed, instinctively pulling the covers up to his neck. “Okay, but seriously. What are you doing here so late?”
Bradley sighed, “A pipe burst at my place. Maintenance is fixing it right now, so I can’t shower or anything. I was hoping I could crash here for the night.” He lifted the bag in his hand, which apparently contained pajamas and toiletries.
Cameron stayed put in bed, eyes narrowing. “You still have keys to this place?”
“Not keys,” Bradley explained. “Fingerprint access. Sorry about that.”
Cameron nodded slowly. “Fine. Are you planning to take over my room or use one of the guest rooms?”
“Guest room, of course,” Bradley said with a smile.
“Cool. Take your pick then,” Cameron said with a nod, still watching him carefully.
Bradley noticed Cameron just sitting motionless on her bed. He couldn’t help walking over to her. “You feeling okay?”
Cameron’s skin prickled when she saw him approaching. She’d messed up big time. Not only had she forgotten to lock her bedroom door, but she also hadn’t bound her chest. It would be awkward if Bradley noticed.
“Brad, I’m fine,” Cameron said quickly.
But Bradley was already standing right in front of her. He reached out, his palm resting against her forehead-normal temperature. “What’s bothering you?” he asked.
“Nothing, just tired. Don’t feel like moving,” Cameron said, then added, “Brad, it’s getting late. You should get some rest too.”
“Cameron, if something’s wrong, you can tell me,” Bradley said. “My brother’s a doctor. He might be able to help.”
Cameron shook her head. “Brad, I’m seriously fine. Can you please leave now?”
“Sure thing.” Bradley backed out and politely closed the door behind him.
The first thing Cameron did was leap off the bed and lock the door.
Standing outside, Bradley heard it loud and clear. The easy smile he usually wore vanished completely.
‘She’s keeping me out?’ Bradley thought. ‘We’re both guys, what’s the big deal? Or is Cameron starting to hate me? But why? Just yesterday he was all excited giving me that mountain bike. Is it because I didn’t accept it? Or something else entirely?”
Bradley was completely lost. He ended up staying in the bedroom next to Cameron’s, tossing his toiletries onto the table with a sigh.
‘Burst pipe? That was such a lame excuse, Bradley thought. ‘Whatever. As long as it gets me to stay here for the night.’
Meanwhile, Cameron locked her door immediately, then rushed to the bathroom to put on her chest binder. Only then did she feel safe enough to get back in bed, turn off the lights, and sleep.
*****
Cameron slept in until she naturally woke up. After freshening up, she finally ventured out of her room. The moment she opened her door, the smell of food hit her.
“You’re up?” Bradley sat on the couch watching a crime show, his golden-rimmed glasses framing eyes that crinkled with amusement as he looked at her. The TV was completely silent.
“Morning, Brad.” Cameron nodded, then frowned. “Why’s the TV muted?”
“I can follow the subtitles just fine,” Bradley replied.
Cameron grabbed the remote and turned the volume up. Bradley stood, jutting his chin toward the dining table. “Breakfast just got here.”
“Thanks,” Cameron said, heading to the table.
The spread was massive. Cameron picked up a glass of milk and sipped it slowly. Bradley grabbed his own glass ar joined her.
“We don’t have to be at school until evening,” he said. “Any plans for today?”
“Nothing specific.” Cameron shrugged.
“If you’ve got nothing lined up, why don’t we go Before Brodity could finish his sentence, Cameron’s phone started ringing.
Successfully unlocked!
“Sorry,” Cameron gave Bradley an apologetic look before checking her phone. Her brows furrowed, “Xander?”
‘Why the hell is he calling me this early? Cameron thought and picked up anyway. “Hello?”
Cameron barely got the word out before Xander’s voice blasted through the speaker, loud enough for Bradley to hear across the table. “Hey punk, you up? If you are, get your ass over here for tutoring.”
