Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
Xander paused. “Maybe…”
Just then, Austin finally arrived, his sharp features lit up with a warm smile. “Congrats, Cam
“Thanks, Cameron replied.
She looked around at the small group gathered around her and spoke up. “Thank you all for having my back. Now that everything’s settled, lunch is on me. What are we eating?
Bradley asked, “What do you want?”
“I’m easy,” Cameron said.
Xander grinned. “Then fondue it is
“Sounds good.”
No one objected.
There was a solid fondue spot right on campus-no need to leave school grounds.
Everyone began heading toward the restaurant. Everyone except Cameron.
She stayed put. “Xander,” she called, “do you have Amelia’s number?
He turned back. “Why?”
“If we’re celebrating, we should invite her too, Cameron said.
After all, Amelia had played the biggest role in taking Skyler down.
Cameron had tracked the source using her hacking skills, but it was Amelia’s recording that made it undeniable.
She’d drawn the truth out of Skyler and handed it over without hesitation.
Car
“You’re right,” Xander said, nodding. “She did help you.”
He pulled out his phone and sent Amelia’s number to Cameron.
As the group made their way toward the fondue place on campus, Cameron dialed.
But the call was immediately declined.
“Seriously?” Cameron muttered, frowning.
“Cameron.”
A calm, cool voice spoke from behind her.
Cameron turned-and there she was. Amelia.
She gave a slight nod and walked up to her. “Thanks for what you did about Skyler.”
Amelia’s expression remained composed. “I wasn’t doing it for you. I just couldn’t stand Skyler’s behavior.”
Cameron smiled. “Maybe not, but I still benefited from it. So I owe you lunch. A bunch of us are going-want to join?”
Her gaze drifted, almost unconsciously, toward Bradley.
Amelia’s eyes flicked to him, too, and then quickly moved away.
After a brief pause, she gave a quiet nod. “Alright.”
And just like that, Amelia joined the group.
She was “the only girl” among them.
With the four most popular guys on campus, plus Cameron-whose looks easily ranked with theirs-and Tyrell, who might not have been drop-dead handsome but was still decent-looking, the seven of them walking down the avenue drew immediate attention.
“Are you seeing this lineup? What kind of power squad is this?”
Students along the walkway stopped in their tracks, some pulling out their phones to snap photos.
They entered the restaurant in a wave of effortless confidence.
All heads turned the moment they stepped in, but none of them seemed the least bit fazed.
They were used to being stared at.
The place was large, with dozens of tables, but Cameron booked a private room.
The guys each found a seat, while Amelia lingered by the side, politely waiting.
Cameron remained standing as well.
Xander waved her over and pointed to the open seat next to him. “Hey, Cam-sit here.”
Cameron ignored him.
(+20)
Instead, she turned to Amelia. “You and Brad are classmates. You know each other better. Why don’t you sit next to him?”
Bradley blinked.
Amelia glanced at Cameron.
Is Cameron…trying to set me up with Bradley?
She’d asked him for help before, hoping he’d give her a chance to get closer to Bradley, and he’d shot her down.
And now this-was it because she helped him today?
There was no need for that.
When Amelia had stood up for Cameron, she hadn’t done it expecting anything in return.
Bradley spoke up, his tone surprisingly soft, “Amelia, come sit.”
Since Amelia had gone out of her way to help Cameron, Bradley had started to see her in a different light.
She was “the only girl” at the table, and given that they were classmates, it made perfect sense for her to sit beside him.
Her eyes widened.
That was unexpected.
But she quickly masked her surprise, her expression smoothing over as she let the faintest smile touch her lips.
She walked gracefully to the open seat beside him and sat down.
Cameron took the seat on Amelia’s other side.
Xander frowned. “Seriously? I saved you a spot, and you chose to sit next to your ex? What’s the deal-you two trying to rekindle something or what?”
Cameron didn’t respond.
Amelia didn’t either.
Elijah raised an eyebrow. “Xander, has it ever occurred to you that maybe Cameron just didn’t want to sit next to you?”
Xander shot a look at Elijah. “If anything, Cameron didn’t want to sit next to you.”
Cameron replied calmly, “Xander, you’re overthinking it. Amelia and I are just classmates now-nothing more.”
“I don’t buy it,” Xander muttered.
Amelia glanced at Cameron.
It was clear-painfully clear-that he had completely let go of whatever feelings he might have once had for her.
It just happened so fast.
(+20)
Before the silence could stretch, Austin jumped in with a grin, steering the conversation away. “Hey, Xander, didn’t you say you went looking for Skyler last night? Come on, tell us how you got revenge for Cam-“
He broke off, coughing dramatically. Xander let out a matching cough. “My aunt caught me in the parking garage. Didn’t make it out.”
