Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
“Alas.” Jack let out a long, heavy sigh. He wondered, ‘Has Mr. Moore stayed up all night because of the girl he likes? Is he this miserable because a turned him down?’ Jack hadn’t expected Elijah’s first crush to be so tough.
With another sigh, Jack felt awful for him, but there wasn’t much he could do. Love wasn’t something money, status, or even other people could control He wondered which girl would be so blind to reject Elijah.
After waking up and getting ready, Cameron was about to ask Elijah if he’d be coming to the company today when his message popped up.
[Cameron, I’ve got some things to deal with the next few days and won’t be coming to your company for a bit. Sorry.)
Cameron replied: [No big deal. Handle your stuff, You were just here to get a taste of the job anyway, so no pressure.]
Elijah, of course, didn’t respond-he was already asleep.
Cameron headed to Aurevia Biotech as usual. At lunchtime, she got an unexpected call from William.
“Mr. Drake,” Cameron said, putting down her fork. The cafeteria was loud, so she stepped into the stairwell to answer.
“Hey, kiddo,” William asked eagerly, “the SATs were days ago. Can you give me a ballpark of how you did?”
William had actually wanted to ask Cameron right after the exam, but he didn’t want to stress her out. That was why he’d waited a few days to call.
“A ballpark?” Cameron paused. “I’ve pretty much blanked on all of it.”
William panicked. “No way!”
“Chill, Mr. Drake,” she said. “I get why you’re antsy, but the scores are coming in like ten days. Let’s not sweat it.
“Plus, even if I guess now, do you think that’ll lock in my actual score? Let’s just hang tight. It’s only ten days. They’ll fly by.”
William went silent. Cameron was right, but these past few days, he’d been struggling to eat or sleep. The results were still over ten days out, and each day dragged by endlessly. Who could understand how he felt?
Maybe only Charles, the principal of Horizon Academy, could relate.
But Charles kept posting daily on his social feed about how his top students were predicting high scores on the exams. It made William so anxious that he’d even blocked Charles on Instagram.
Cameron added, “Mr. Drake, I won’t disappoint you.”
Those words gave William some peace of mind.
William exclaimed eagerly, “Young man, you’re the one who said that!”
Cameron replied, “Yes, I did.”
William said, “Good, good. Since you’re so confident in yourself, I have faith in you too!”
After hanging up, Cameron went back to the cafeteria to eat.
William was eagerly awaiting the SATs results-and truthfully, so was she. After all, there was a three-million-dollar bonus and a three-million-dollar house on the line.
The next day at 4 a.m., while Cameron was still sound asleep, Bradley dragged his suitcase off the plane.
After uncovering Eric’s lies a few days earlier, he’d immediately taken a flight back. He arrived in Viremont at 4 a.m. and took a taxi back to Silvernos Castle, getting there at 5 a.m. He hadn’t slept much on the plane and was dead tired at that hour.
The castle was completely quiet. He carried his luggage to his room, took a shower, changed his clothes, and went straight downstairs.
It was 5:30 a.m. In less than two hours, Cameron would wake up. He wanted to wait and have breakfast with her.
After waiting an hour, it wasn’t anyone else Bradley was waiting for it was Pearl.
When Pearl saw him sitting in the living room, it let out an excited yelp.
“Pearl,” Bradley called, waving to it.
Pearl happily trotted over and flopped down at his feet. Bradley reached out to rub its head. It yelped again.
Bradley smiled. Pearl was clearly delighted to see him back. He wondered, ‘Will Cameron also be pleasantly surprised to find me suddenly in the living room later?’
Bradley checked his watch. It was almost seven o’clock. Cameron should be waking up soon.
With both Cameron and Bradley away from the castle these past few days, the chef hadn’t been getting up early to make breakfast.
So when the chef came downstairs at 7:30 and saw Bradley sitting on the sofa watching TV, he started in surprise.
“Mr. Saunders, when did you get back?” the chef hurried down the stairs.
Bradley adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. Despite not sleeping all night, he still looked wide awake. “I arrived in the early morning. Looks like you slept in?”
The chef quickly apologized, “Sorry, Mr. Saunders. I didn’t know you were coming back. What would you like to eat? I’ll make it right away.”
Bradley didn’t press the matter. “Just make whatever Cameron usually has for breakfast.”
The chef looked confused. “But Mr. Wallace hasn’t stayed here for days. Should I still cook according to his tastes?”
Bradley was stunned. His eyes moved from the TV screen, and he frowned at the chef. “Did you say Cameron hasn’t been living here for days?”
The chef nodded. “Yes, he said it was inconvenient to stay here.”
Bradley fell silent. ‘Cameron must be at work’, he thought. The boy had mentioned taking a summer job before the SATS. He’d forgotten Cameron couldn’t drive-staying here really was inconvenient. He’d overlooked that.
“Just make a simple breakfast then,” Bradley said with a wave of his hand.
The chef understood and nodded, hurrying into the kitchen.
Bradley took out his phone. It was almost eight o’clock. Cameron should be awake now. He sent her a message.
At that moment, Cameron was having breakfast in the company cafeteria. Her phone vibrated. She looked over and saw a message from Bradley.
Bradley: [Cameron, are you up? I’m back in Viremont and noticed you’re not here. Did you move back to Noble Vista?}
Cameron picked up her phone to reply: [Brad, you’re back so soon? How’s Eric doing? Yeah, I moved back to Noble Vista. It’s closer to where I work.]
Bradley couldn’t help but laugh at her message. He thought, ‘If Cameron finds out Eric faked being sick to “split us up,” she’ll probably find it just as absurd.’ Even now, Bradley thought the whole thing was ridiculous.
He replied: [I had some law firm matters to deal with. There are others at home taking care of Eric, and he’s recovered a lot. Don’t worry. Since you’re back at Noble Vista, I’ll stay there temporarily too. It really isn’t convenient up here.]
Cameron paused, she thought, Was he only staying at the castle because of met Why go in such lengther shaddiy the jura de convenient?
Bradley asked: [What time do you get off work tonight?)
[Usually six, but not always on schedule, she replied.
(Got it. Let’s have dinner together. You focus on work first.)
After a moment of thought, Cameron finally agreed: [Okay, see you tonight.]
After a quick breakfast, Bradley went back to his room to sleep. He planned to rest, then head back to Noble Vista and wait for Cameron to get off work
He woke up at 4 p.m. When he checked his phone, he saw messages from his classmate Amelia.
Amelia: [Bradley, did you handle things at home?]
[Are you still abroad?]
She’d sent these two messages at noon, and Bradley was just now seeing them.
When Amelia sent the messages, she felt nervous. She was used to being the one pursued, so taking the initiative like this was a first. But hours went by with no reply.
Shortly after 4 p.m., Amelia finally got a response from Bradley: [Amelia, did you need something?]
Amelia paused, wondering, ‘Is he implying my messages are an interruption? I was just trying to show concern. Does he really have no feelings for me at all?’
She was the center of attention for almost every boy in school. How could he be unaffected?
She wondered, ‘Is he just slow to develop romantic feelings? Studies say boys his age are less emotionally mature than girls. Maybe I need to make a move.’
Frowning slightly, she replied: [Yeah, I do need to talk to you about something.] ‘If Bradley’s oblivious, I’ll have to drop a hint,’ she thought.
Bradley: [What’s up?]
Amelia bit her lip, her cheeks flushing. [Bradley, are you back in the country? Could we meet up sometime if you’re around?]
Bradley: [Sorry, Amelia. I’m still overseas.]
Amelia deflated immediately, her expression falling. She’d worked up so much courage to send that message, only to find out he wasn’t even in the country.
She replied: [Okay, let’s touch base when you’re back.]
Bradley: [Got it.]
Amelia threw her phone aside, her thoughts in a whirl. For some reason, Cameron suddenly came to mind. She thought, ‘Aren’t Cameron and Bradley good terms? Should I ask Cameron for help?’
