Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
“Cam!” Austin beamed from ear to ear.
Cameron gave a nod in reply.
Elijah frowned at Austin. The guy looked like a total dork, grinning like that.
Ever since Cameron saved him that morning, Austin hadn’t stopped looking at her with that goofy smile plastered on his face. Elijah just rolled his eyes.
Cameron dropped her textbook on her desk with a thud. “Does anyone need the bathroom? If not, I’m hopping in the shower.” She always took forever in there.
Elijah shook his head. “Good to go.”
Austin sidled up. “Cam, why not shower together? We’ll cut down on time.” I can even help scrub his back,’ he thought.
Cameron just stared at him, her expression somewhere between awkward and speechless.
“Not a good idea?” Austin’s shoulders slumped.
“Sorry, Austin. I’m not into sharing showers,” Cameron said flatly.
Disappointed but still forcing a small smile, Austin replied, “Sure thing.”
As Cameron turned to the bathroom, the dorm door slammed open.
“You little brat! I knew I’d find you here!” Xander burst in, out of breath.
He’d just checked Class 15 and struck out. He didn’t expect to actually find Cameron back in Room 316.
Cameron scowled. “Where else would I be?”
“Home! Shouldn’t you go check on things?” Xander demanded.
“Can you back off?” Cameron snapped.
Xander stepped right up to her. “Cameron, don’t give me that! How can you be so cold hearted? With everything that’s gone down hon chilling here?”
Cameron’s brows knitted so tightly they formed a deep crease. Enough was enough.
Austin furrowed his brows. “Xan, what happened at…”
Wham. Before he could finish, Cameron launched herself forward, striking Xander hard on the back of his neck. He crumpled instantly, crashing onto the floor with a bone-jarring thud.
“Finally,” Cameron muttered, stalking into the bathroom with a blank face.
Elijah stared. Austin gaped. The two guys exchanged wide-eyed looks.
“Eli, what do we do?” Austin hissed. “Just leave Xan here?”
“He’s blocking the walkway, Drag him over there,” Elijah said.
“Got it.”
At about six feet two inches tall with solid muscle, Xander easily tipped the scales at around 176 pounds.
The effort left Elijah and the weak Austin red-faced and panting.
Just then, Bradley walked in, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. “What the hell’s going on?”
“Brad, give us a lift.” Austin panted.
The three of them grunted and heaved, finally shoving Xander to the side.
Bradley stared down at the limp form, confusion written all over his face.
Bradley’s eyes locked on Xander who was sprawling on the floor. “What the hell happened? We can’t just leave him here-he needs to go to the Infirmary.”
“Listen,” Austin coughed awkwardly. “Don’t freak out, but Cam knocked him out.”
Bradley just stared, wondering, ‘Cameron? Knocked Xander out? Why?’
His eyes scanned the dorm. Hearing the shower running, he asked, “He’s in there?”
“Yup,” Elijah grunted.
Bradley frowned at Xander. “This won’t do.”
With Bradley barking orders, they shoved chairs together and propped Xander onto the makeshift bed.
Cameron stepped out, towel-drying her hair. “Hey, Brad,” she said casually.
Bradley said, “You knocked Xander out.”
“He wouldn’t shut up,” Cameron shrugged.
Austin jumped in. “Cam, Xan said your family’s in trouble.”.
“Austin,” Elijah cut him off. “Keep poking that bear, and you’re next.”
Austin’s mouth snapped shut.
Cameron snorted, “Elijah, really? You think I’m that violent?”
Elijah’s rare smile lit up his face. “Not at all.”
Austin watched that smile and somehow felt ill at ease. He wondered, ‘Since when does Eli smile like that? He’s Mr. Ice-Cold.
Seeing him beam like this made Austin feel that something wasn’t right.
Cameron furrowed her brows at Xander lying on the chair. “Why leave him here?”
Bradley grinned. “You really can’t stand him, huh?”
“Constant headache,” Cameron deadpanned.
Every time Xander wanted to see Milena, he’d drag Cameron into his schemes. That alone was enough to drive her crazy. Otherwise, he wasn’t so bad.
Austin groaned, “Cam, it took the three of us everything to hoist him onto that chair. He weighs a ton.”
Cameron sized Xander up. “Which dorm’s his?”
“Next door, 315,” Elijah replied.
Xander had begged Tiana non-stop to move back in, but she only relented enough to shift him to the neighboring room.
“Fine, I’ll get him back,” Cameron said, slinging her damp towel over the chair.
She crouched down, hauled Xander onto her back, and stood smoothly. It looked like she was carrying a sack of feathers.
Bradley, Austin, and Elijah stared.
“Cam, let me help you,” Austin started.
“I got it,” she cut him off.
Cameron slung Xander over her back and headed for Room 315 next door. Bradley, Austin, and Elijah trailed behind, figuring she’d need backup.
But she just climbed the bunk ladder and plopped Xander onto his mattress as if he weighed nothing.
She even tucked the blanket around him-though being a germaphobe, she left his shoes on.
One of Xander’s roommates quickly kicked off his sneakers. “Hey, what’s up with Xander?” the roommate asked, looking worried.
“Sacked out,” Cameron said.
Bradley, Austin, and Elijah were speechless.
Back in their dorm, Cameron scrubbed her hands raw, then changed into fresh clothes. She flopped onto her bunk and grabbed her phone.
There was a message from Austin: [Cam, is everything okay at home? I’m worried about you. No pressure to answer. I’m just checking in.)
Cameron glanced over at Austin, who was staring at his screen. She typed back: [No biggie. Samuel showed up at Wallace Villa with some goons.]
Austin’s reply popped up instantly: [Samuel? Shit! Cam, this is my fault.]
She shot back: [Actually, I owe you one.]
Austin sent a question mark.
Cameron: [I cut ties with the Wallace family ages ago. So, what do you think? Should I be pumped that Samuel’s stirring up trouble at Wallace Willar
