Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
He needed to figure out how he really felt. His nd was a mess, but his eyes slowly landed on Cameron’s lips.
The first time he met Cameron, he’d thought her lips were beautiful. They were soft and pink, and shaped just like flower petals.
He stared at her, unaware of his Adam’s apple bobbing.
When he snapped out of it, he thought, ‘What am I even doing? Isn’t this just my imagination? So, was Eric actually right? Did I really have feelings that ! shouldn’t have for Cameron?’
Bradley felt his heart sink. Noticing his stare, Cameron touched her own face. “Brad, what’s up?”
Bradley just kept staring at her.
“Brad?” Cameron waved her hand in front of his face.
“Huh?” Bradley snapped back to reality. He kept that polite, easy smile on his face as he slid the menu over to her. “This place is famous for its foreign cuisines. Give it a try.”
Cameron took the menu and casually picked out two dishes. Bradley ordered two more dishes and a soup as well.
Four dishes and a soup were plenty for the two of them.
Trying to keep things light, he said, “Military training must’ve been a breeze for you. You didn’t even get a tan.”
Cameron grinned. “That’s because I’m serious about sunscreen.”
Bradley lifted his arm, showing off his healthy tan, and laughed. “No wonder. I didn’t bother with sunscreen.”
Cameron laughed. “But on the bright side, you go yourself a free tan.”
The two of them chatted as they waited for food to be served, and the atmosphere in the private room was easy and laid back.
Soon, the waiter served all five dishes; and they looked and smelled incredible.
As they ate, Bradley asked casually, “Now that you’re in college, everyone’s got more freedom. You can date whoever you want. Anyone in your department that catches your eye?”
Cameron shook her head. “Nope.”
Hearing that, Bradley smiled faintly.
He was slightly surprised to hear that, but then he remembered Cameron once mentioning she wasn’t into girls, which raised a different question entirely.
Now, he wondered, ‘If Cameron doesn’t like girls, does that mean he swings the other way?”
Even though Cameron had a delicate, handsome face, her personality and the way she handled things were actually pretty manly.
Bradley had to find the answer to this question.
“You don’t like girls?” Bradley asked, trying to sound casual as he sipped his drink.
Cameron shook his head. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
Bradley had no words. He didn’t quite get her answer. He thought, ‘So, does that mean he likes girls, or does he not? Or is he just dodging the question?
Cameron said, “Oh, by the way, Brad. It turns out I got into the same university and major as Amelia,”
“Amelia?” Bradley frowned without even realizing it when he heard the name.
Cameron’s so-called ‘heroic’ pursuit of Amelia was legendary at Langford Academy.
Right now, Bradley could clearly feel the annoyance bubbling up just from hearing that Cameron and Amelia would be at the same university.
If he only saw Cameron as a friend or brother, he wouldn’t feel this way. So, he saw no point in lying to himself anymore.
He really did have feelings for Cameron, and those were forbidden feelings. He didn’t even know when he started to swing the other way.
All along, Bradley had always thought he was straight. Now that he’d finally admitted it to himself that he might not be, he could barely handle it.
“Yeah, and we’re even roommates,” Cameron added, deciding that there was no point in hiding the fact that she was a girl from Bradley anymore, so she just told him right out.
When she mentioned that she and Amelia were roommates, Bradley should’ve been able to put two and two together and realize she was a girl, or at least, that was what Cameron thought.
Cameron finished talking, expecting at least a flicker of surprise from Bradley. Maybe he’d ask why she’d been pretending to be a guy all this time.
But Bradley didn’t say a word.
He just sat there, frowning. He was so lost in his own thoughts, he didn’t even hear what Cameron said.
Cameron was slightly surprised, thinking, ‘If Brad’s so chill about this, does that mean he already knows? Well, Austin and Xander already knew, so one of them probably told him ages ago.
‘Guess I was just making a fuss over nothing.’
Since Bradley didn’t say anything, Cameron dropped the topic. She kept eating, while Bradley didn’t even touch his cutlery again. He just sat there, frowning hard.
Cameron took a few more bites, then put her cutlery down. She was already full.
“Brad, should we head out?” Cameron asked.
Bradley didn’t respond.
“Brad?” Cameron called again.
Still, he sat in his seat, unmoving.
“Brad?” she called once more.
“Hm?” Bradley finally snapped out of it. “What is it?”
Cameron asked, “Are you done eating?”
Bradley looked at her for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, I’m done.”
Cameron nodded back. “I have a class meeting this afternoon, so I need to head back. Let’s hang out next time.”
Cameron stood up, and Bradley did too, but he grabbed her arm and said, “Cameron.”
It was still blazing hot in September. Cameron wore a short-sleeved tee, and Bradley’s palm wrapped easily around her wrist.
His touch was warm-hot, even-and it sent a jolt through her skin like a burn.
“What is it?” Cameron asked.
Bradley stared at her for a long moment before he slowly let go. “It’s nothing.””
They walked out of the restaurant together. Cameron stepped up to the counter to pay, and Bradley didn’t fight for the bill with her this time. He was clearly off somewhere else in his mind.
They walked to the door, and Cameron said, “Brad, I’m heading back now.”
She had her license, but the car her parents gave her was a little too flashy for everyday use. She planned to buy something more low-i
Bradley nodded. “Alright, I won’t walk you out then.”
Cameron nodded back. “I’ll just take a shared bike back to campus. It’s not that far.” on.
And with that, Cameron left. Bradley stood there, watching as her figure disappeared down the street. Even after she was out of sight, he didn’t move,
Sun 15 Jun
He stayed like that for ages, until someone accidentally bumped into his shoulder. The person apologized repeatedly, finally snapping him pater fis daze.
He walked into a nearby convenience store, bought his first ever pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
Back in the driver’s seat of his car, he lit one, took a drag and coughed.
The bitter taste hit the back of his throat like fire. He choked and coughed, then pushed his glasses up and tried again,
The smoke curled around his face, softening the sharp lines of his features as it drifted toward the open window.
He was still wondering if he had fallen for Cameron.
Bradley rested his hand with the cigarette out the car window and flicked off the ash.
He laughed mockingly, wondering, ‘Am I some freak who likes men, or do I only care about Cameron?’
Bradley stayed in the car, smoked two cigarettes back to back, then stopped. He just sat there in silence until night fell and neon lights lit up the street outside.
Bradley pulled out his phone and called Eddie. It rang forever before Eddie finally picked up with a groggy voice, “Hello?”
His voice was thick with sleep, like someone who’d just been woken up.
“Took you long enough to answer,” Bradley frowned.
