Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
“Xander, I’ve got great news,” a girl chirped as she bounced over to him, beaming with excitement.
Xander’s chiseled face twisted in confusion. “What news?”
The girl puffed up with pride like she was waiting for a medal. “We reported Cameron to the Academic Office For humiliating you like that? He had it coming.
“Your aunt’s definitely not gonna let him off easy. It’ll be either expulsion or at least suspension. Consider it our way of getting justice for you.”
Xander’s entire face darkened in shock as his eyes locked onto the girl like lasers.
Just as she smiled at him, expecting praise, he slammed his book shut with a loud bang. “Are you out of your damn mind?” The girl froze, flinching hard at his sudden outburst. Her shoulders tensed up, and panic flickered across her face. Did I do something wrong? I just wanted to help him, she thought.
Xander just shot out of his seat and bolted straight for the Student Affairs Office to find Cameron.
After a few strides, Xander spun around and shouted, his voice cold as ice, “All of you better listen up-Cameron’s my buddy now. If you mess with him, you’re messing with me.”
Everyone froze in shock. They thought, ‘What the hell? Cameron humiliated him, and now they’re bros? Unbelievable.”
At the Student Affairs Office, Cameron knocked and stepped inside the director’s office.
Tiana Murphy, the Student Affairs Director, was a poised woman in her forties. She wore a sharp professional suit, her hair sleekly pulled back without a strand out of place. Well-groomed and elegant, she was strikingly attractive.
“Ms. Murphy, you asked to see me?” Cameron said at the door.
“Sit.” Tiana gestured calmly, every move exuding elegance.
Cameron took the seat across from her.
Tiana studied her for a moment and then spoke, “So, you’re Cameron Wallace, the one who humiliated my out-of-control nephew, right?”
The footage of Cameron and Xander’s basketball face-off had made it onto the school forum, where anonymity gave everyone courage.
Some were blown away by Cameron’s skills. But most were gleefully mocking Xander, saying he got smoked by a “soft pretty boy”. Given how arrogant Xander usually was at school, the blowback had been merciless.
Cameron had no idea how to respond.
Tiana gave a slow smile. “Don’t be nervous. I didn’t call you here to punish you.”
Cameron replied coolly, “I’m not nervous.” Then, with a touch of confusion, she asked, “Ms. Murphy, so what exactly did you want to see me about?”
Before Tiana could answer, the door burst open and Xander charged in. “Aunt Tiana.”
“Aunt Tiana,” he called again, rushing over to grab her arm. “If you expel Cameron, I’m dropping out too. If you give him a suspension, then suspend me too. I started it. This has nothing to do with him.”
Both Tiana and Cameron were left momentarily speechless.
Tiana looked at her nephew who had just barged in and deliberately put on a stern face. “Xander, did you even knock before you barged in?”
“Aunt Tiana,” he said, dead serious, “with every Tiana looked like she wanted to rub her temples.
> knock?”
Successfully unlocked!
Xander continued Aunt Tiana, this was all on me. If someone’s getting punished, it should be me. It has nothing to do with him. Don’t listen to the nonsense people are spreading. You’re the kind of Student Affairs Director who’s always fair and just, right?”
Come and claim to… Don’t forget to check in daily for great rewards!
Tiana looked at the frantic Xander and let out a sigh. “Who told you I was going to punish Cameron?”
Xander froze for a second, then asked in disbelief, “Wait, you’re not?”
Tiana said calmly, “Cameron didn’t do anything wrong. Why would I punish him?”
Xander instantly fell silent, thinking, ‘Shit. Those girls totally misled me.’
Cameron spoke up just in time, “So, Ms. Murphy, why did you call me here then?”
Tiana smiled and ruffled Xander’s hair with fondness, chuckling, “I just wanted to see what the boy who finally gave my nephew a taste of his own medicine looks like.”
Both Cameron and Xander were at a loss for words.
*****
When they stepped out of the Student Affairs Director’s office, Xander trailed right behind Cameron like a loyal puppy.
Cameron came to a stop and reminded him, “Class 10 is that way.” He was walking in the wrong direction.
“I know,” Xander muttered.
“Then why are you following me?” Cameron asked.
Xander said, “Cameron, you really don’t want to join the school basketball team? It’s a great opportunity.”
“Pass,” Cameron replied, just as curt as ever.
Xander was instantly speechless. After she walked off, he kicked a nearby column in frustration and thought, ‘Whatever. If he doesn’t wanna join, fine. Why is he acting all high and mighty? We’ll win without him.’
*****
When Cameron got back to class, Zach shot her a look and sneered in that usual snide tone of his, “Someone got called to the Student Affairs Office and still came crawling back. Guess he didn’t get expelled, maybe just suspended.
“Hilarious. He’s always picking on his classmates-try picking on Xander if he’s got the guts.”
Cameron couldn’t be bothered to respond. Zach was all bark and no bite. Paying attention to him would’ve just been a waste of her peace of mind. She mentally tuned him out, treating him like a yappy little mutt with more mouth than muscle.
The last period was math. Josh walked in with his lesson plans in hand and asked Elijah curiously, “That problem you posted on the board has been up there for days, hasn’t it? Still no one cracked it?”
Elijah gave a cool shake of his head, his expression unreadable.
“It’s too hard. Even that mystery solver didn’t figure it out,” a few students chimed in, all agreeing it was just too difficult.
Since Cameron had never revealed her identity, they all referred to her as the mystery solver.
She spun her pen fast effortlessly between her fingers. She’d earned 30 grand off Elijah a few days ago, so she wasn’t hurting for cash.
She hadn’t gone near the Math Lab or even checked the class group chat lately. But since they all seemed so eager, she figured she’d swing by the library after school.
*****
After school, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. They’d earned themselves two days of rest. With the SATs just around the corner, the academic pressure lately had been brutal.
Most students either left campus right away or headed back to the dorms to pack for the weekend. Only a few, like Cameron, made a beeline for the library.
Just as she reached the entrance, her phone buzzed. It was a call from Heidi.
Heidi’s voice was as soft and sweet as ever. “Cam, are you out of school yet? Can you come home with Millie? I made a ton of your favorite dishes. You’ve been working so hard at school, sweetie. Come home and recharge.”
“I’ve got something to do,” Cameron replied coolly. “Let Milena go ahead. I’ll be back later.”
She had no intention of going home with Milena. There was a surprise she needed to prepare for them.
Heidi’s voice was still gentle on the other end. “Okay. Just be safe and come back soon. I’ll be waiting at home.”
After hanging up, Cameron headed straight for the computer section. She turned on a computer with practiced ease and logged into the class group chat. Just as she expected, that unsolved math problem was still pinned in the announcements.
She stared at her phone screen for a few seconds, then turned her attention to the computer.
Her slender fingers danced across the keyboard, quickly typing out the correct answer without hesitation. Then, as usual, she sent it to Elijah using a fake email account.
Once she was done, she wiped all traces of her activity from the machine and got ready to head back to the dorm to change clothes.
But when she got to the dorm room door, she still hadn’t received a payment notification from Elijah.
Subscrib
There was a trace of excitement in Elijah’s usually calm voice. “Brad, come look.”
He had been packing up to go home when his phone pinged with a new email. He had a feeling, opened it right away, and sure enough-it was from that mystery solver.
A rare light flickered in his usually indifferent eyes. He didn’t even bother to check whether the answer was correct before telling Bradley to come over.
Bradley was packing up when Elijah called out in a hurry, “Brad, that person showed up again. Come quick.”
“They replied?” Bradley asked as he headed straight to the dorm computer, which had been left on. He logged into Elijah’s email.
Elijah nervously gripped the armrest of Bradley’s chair, his eyes locked on the screen, completely focused.
“What the hell are you two so worked up about?” Xander said lazily, munching on an apple.