Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
“Xan, come on, don’t take it so hard. What if she really did have something come up? You’re overthinking it “
Xander didn’t respond
Tyrell tried again. “Okay, okay, look. With the way Cameron dresses, what if she’s not into guys at all? Maybe it’s not that she doesn’t like you. Maya th?? just doesn’t like men.”
Xander’s eyes widened.
Xander’s head snapped around to stare at him.
Tyrell clapped his hands. “Right? That has to be it! Remember how she used to chase after Amelia like crazy? Everyone at school knew about it. Xan, this isn’t your fault!”
“Shut up!” Xander suddenly jumped up and smacked Tyrell on the back of the head. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Tyrell winced and laughed awkwardly. “Right, right. Total nonsense. My bad.”
But Xander didn’t look away. He just kept staring at him.
“What
Tyrell said, growing uneasy.
Xander finally broke into a smile. “Yeah. Cameron doesn’t like men…”
Then immediately scowled and muttered, “Wait. If she doesn’t like men, then what the hell am I supposed to do?”
Tyrell sighed. “Xan, come on. There are plenty of fish in the sea-“
“I don’t want anyone else,” Xander said firmly. “It’s Cameron or no one.”
Tyrell stared at him, speechless.
‘Xan’s emotionally blinded.’
Clearly, nothing he said would change Xander’s mind now. He sighed, draping an arm around his friend’s shoulder. “Alright then. Want to go grab some drinks? Drown your sorrows a little?”
“Lame,” Xander muttered, brushing him off.
It wasn’t the first time Cameron had turned him down.
Later that night, Cameron gave away all the dresses Gwen had gifted her to her roommates.
Lila held a pale green slip dress against herself and spun in front of the mirror. “Does this nok ente?”
Sienna nodded. “It’s really cute.”
Lila turned to Cameron “Cam, what do you think?”
Cameron gave a small nod. “Looks good on you”
“Then this one’s mine! Thanks, Cam!” Lila squealed and rushed over, throwing her arms around Cameron in a bear hug
Cameron chuckled, “You should thank Mrs. Murphy.”
Lila grinned. “Still, thank you, Love you, Cam! Mwah!”
From across the room, Amelia was lying on her bed with a face mask on. “Aren’t you embarrassed at all?”
Lila flashed a radiant smile. “As long as I’m not embarrassed, it’s everyone else’s problem.”
Sienna burst out laughing, and the rest of the room followed.
Cameron genuinely loved living in this dorm. It was so much more peaceful and warm than the all-boys dorm she’d stayed in before.
Right before bed, she got a message from Bradley. Bradley: [Cameron, don’t forget our plans for tomorrow night.]
Right then, Lila piped up. “Echo Hall’s holding open auditions for the singing competition tomorrow night. Let’s all go check it out!”
Sienna’s eyes lit up. “Yes! I love live performances.”
Amelia added, “I signed up. You guys should come cheer me on.”
“No way,” Lila groaned. “You sing too? You’re already perfect, Amelia-leave something for the rest of us!”
Amelia peeled off her face mask and tossed it in the trash. “You’re being dramatic.”
“I won’t be going,” Cameron said as she checked her phone. “I already made plans with someone.”
Amelia paused mid-step on her way to the sink. “With whom?”
“Bradley,” Cameron replied without hesitation.
“And what exactly are you two doing?” Amelia asked slowly.
“He found a nice bar and invited me to hang out,” Cameron said.
“A bar?” Amelia froze. “Cameron, if that man’s inviting you to a bar, he’s 100% up to something.”
Cameron raised an eyebrow.
‘So inviting me to a bar means he’s definitely up to something?’
“Seriously?” Cameron said.
“Seriously,” Amelia shot back. “You think I’m overreacting? Ask them.”
Lila looked unusually serious as she carefully chose her words. “Cam, guys don’t take girls to bars just to hang out. Something’s definitely going on.”
Sienna nodded “Don’t go, Cameron. Bars aren’t safe?
Cameron blinked. She hadn’t expected them to be so manimous in trying to stop her. already sand yes,” she replied:
She didn’t think Bradley would pull anything. They hadn’t known each other long, barely six months, but he’d always teamed
While the others still looked ready to argue, Cameron climbed into bed and turned her back to them, effectively ending the conversation,
She sent Bradley a reply. Cameron: [Didn’t forget. See you tomorrow night)
The next evening. Amelia didn’t say much more. She still believed Bradley had ulterior motives, but Cameron was an adult. Friends had to resect each other’s choices. Besides, Cameron could handle herself.
Before Cameron left, Amelia just said, “Don’t drink anything you didn’t see poured in front of you.”
“I know,” Cameron nodded.
Bradley was already waiting by the school gate, parked under one of the tall lamps.
Cameron walked out with one hand in her jacket pocket, spotting him instantly. At the same time, Bradley’s gaze landed on her.
She was wearing a soft cream-colored jacket, her delicate features lit faintly by the streetlamp. There was something disarmingly sweet about her tonight, boyish and soft-edged, almost like the kind of “soft boy” aesthetic that had been quietly trending online.
Cameron slid into the passenger seat.
Bradley adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled. “Cameron,” he said, “you look adorable tonight.”
Cameron’s fingers paused mid motion as the buckled her seatbelt. She turned to glance at hadlay, giving him a new vi before paring a retrieve compliment in return “You look really handsome tonight?
Bradley smiled faintly. “Only tonight?”
Cameron faned an eyebrow. “You look even better than usual”
He chuckled, clearly pleased with the answer.
As he drove, his eyes focused on the road ahead. “The bar we’re going to isn’t exactly your typical place”
“How so?” Cameron asked, watching the city blur past outside the window, its edges softened by streetlights and neon signs.
“You’ll see when we get there,” Bradley said, deliberately vague.
Cameron gave him a quick glance but didn’t press further.
The bar was a bit of a drive from Stellanford University. It took Bradley nearly an hour to get there, and by the time he parked across the street, it was already past nine.
The city was cloaked in night.
The entire block was dark, save for a single building lit up with pulsing light and music, “Heat Index,” spelled out in glowing red letters above the door. Every other shop had long since closed.
Cameron scanned the area. “It’s kind of out of the way.”
Bradley nodded. “Yeah.”
