Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
The bell rang for dismissal.
Cameron stepped outside the room, and Xander slapped her shoulder twice with a bit too much force. “Cameron. Not bad at all. That was some serious recognition you got. Let’s celebrate, yeah? Come on, I’ll take you to the best restaurant in Viremont.”
Elijah came up beside her. “Wanna go to the cafeteria together?”
“Sorry, Eli. I’m meeting Brad,” she said.
Elijah froze, thinking, ‘Since when does she have solo plans with Brad? Can’t I join them?’
Before he could respond, she’d already crossed half the hallway.
“Cam!” Austin jogged up.
She looked at him with a nod.
“Going to the cafeteria? Let’s grab food together,” he offered.
Cameron flashed an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Austin. I’m already meeting someone.”
Austin’s mouth opened, then snapped shut. He jogged to keep pace. “Who’s the lucky friend? Mind if I join you?”
She stopped. “It’s Brad.”
“Come on, can’t I join?”
Cameron just stared at him.
“Cameron!” Bradley’s voice sliced through the hallway.
She spun around. “Hey, Brad.”
In his blue uniform, he looked younger, almost carefree. His eyes flicked to Austin. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Austin nodded. “Do you think I can tag along?”
Bradley glanced at Cameron, then shook his head. “Sorry, man. We’ve got some stuff to hash out.”
Austin’s shoulders slumped. Cameron gave his arm a quick squeeze before falling into step beside Bradley.
Elijah sidled up as they walked away.
Austin watched them go, muttering, “Since when are they joined at the hip?”
Elijah stayed silent, jaw tightening.
Upstairs at the cafeteria, they claimed a private room.
As Cameron shut the door, she spotted Amelia at a table outside, surrounded by a new clique although Skyler had been expelled. With her family’s money, she’d always have followers.
Cameron nodded. Amelia tipped her chin in return.
Closing the door and sliding into a chair, Cameron asked, “All wrapped up?”
Bradley hummed in agreement and scanned the menu. After checking with her, he placed their order.
“Xander didn’t bother you today, right?” he asked.
“Not a peep.”
“Thank god for that.” He let out a relieved sigh, gazing quietly at her.
Cameron traced her fingertips across her cheek. “Brad, what’s on your mind?”
Bradley leaned forward, his voice serious. “Getting mixed up in Austin’s family drama? Not your smartest move, Cam.”
She bit her lip, silent.
With anyone else, she’d have turned a cold shoulder. But Austin’s story mirrored her own past too closely.
Back then, when despair threatened to swallow her whole, a helping hand would’ve made all the difference. She refused to watch Austin spiral down the same lonely path.
His tone softened, but the warning lingered. “Too late to back out now. Just brace yourself. Samuel trashed Wallace Villa yesterday Once he an done with the Wallaces, he’ll come after you next.”
“I’ve thought this through, Brad. Thanks for looking out.”
He studied her determined expression, frustration seeping into his sigh. “If things go south-no questions asked. Just let me know.
H? wanted to protect her. The urge to shield her felt instinctive.
Whenever trouble loomed, his first thought was putting himself between her and danger. Maybe that was just how deep real friendship ran.
Bradley grew up with six brothers. They were his family, his crew-guys he’d known his whole life. So he never bothered making friends outside,
But Cameron? He’d do anything to have her back.
“I’ve got this, Brad,” Cameron insisted.
Bradley just grinned, thinking, ‘Stubborn as ever.”
Down in the first-floor cafeteria, Xander bumped into Elijah and Austin.
“Where’s that brat? Thought he’d be glued to you two,” Xander said, craning his neck to peek behind them.
Elijah’s brows knitted. He wondered, ‘I talked to Ms. Murphy this morning. She promised to get Xander transferred. So what is he still doing here?
Elijah didn’t actually care about getting Xander transferred. All he wanted was to keep him away from Cameron.
Because of Milena, Xander had been hounding Cameron non-stop-first once, then twice, three times, four times…
Cameron might have the patience to brush it off, but Elijah couldn’t stand by and watch. That was why he went straight to Tiaria, And now she’d gone back on her promise.
Elijah gritted his teeth, staying quiet.
Austin stepped in. “Xan, Cam’s grabbing food with Brad. Do you need something?”
“Eating?” Xander scoffed. “With everything blowing up at home, he’s out having lunch? Talk about heartless.”
That did it. “Xander, cut it out!” Elijah snapped.
Xander rounded on him. “What’s your problem?”
Elijah grabbed his arm. “We’re talking. Now.”
The cafeteria was packed, with too many ears around. Some conversations needed privacy.
He dragged Xander outside, into a deserted corner.
“Guys, hold up!” Austin came running after them, eyes wide with worry.
“Are you nuts?” Xander yanked his arm free.
Elijah’s eyes turned cold. “The crazy one here is you, Xander! Do you have any idea why Cameron moved out of Wallace Villa?”
“Like I’d know.”
“He cut all ties with the Wallaces. For good.”
Xander gaped, speechless. He thought, ‘Cutting off his own family? That only happens in soap operas. There is no way Cameron would do that.’
Austin nodded. “It’s true, Xan.”
That caught Xander off guard. Even Austin knew? Xander asked, “Why would he do that?”
Elijah said, “Amelia called off the engagement. Without the Chapmans backing them, the Wallaces turned on him. They almost pushed him over the edge.”
Xander stared, thinking, ‘Pushed him over the edge? You’re kidding. Cameron’s tough as nails. Who could break him like that?’
Austin frowned. “Eli, what are you saying? What really happened?”
Elijah took a breath. “Remember those hotel photos? I found him on the ledge, ready to jump. I talked him down for hours. He treated me to dinner to say thanks and got drunk, and I had to get him a room to stay the night.”
“Cam tried to kill himself?” Xander’s voice cracked. His mind refused to piece it together. There was no way, but Elijah’s stone-cold expression told a different story. He stood there, speechless.
Austin echoed, horror in his eyes, “Cam? Serjously?”
He’d always seen Cam as unbreakable. He thought, ‘How could someone that tough want to end it all?’
IVI
