Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
The area was beautiful, one of the more popular camping spots trending online lately. Since it was Friday, the place was packed, but thankfully, Elijah had reserved space ahead of time.
As soon as Tyler laid eyes on Amelia, his eyes went wide.
Amelia, meanwhile, gave the four boys a quick scan.
‘Alright. Elijah’s the best-looking one.’
She kept her cool, distant as ever. Tyler wanted to approach her, but his confidence wavered a little.
He glanced over at the other girls.
‘Two of them are cute. But one of them… kind of looks like a guy.’
“Which one’s Cameron?” Tyler asked Elijah.
When Tyler asked the question, his eyes were fixed on Lila.
She was cute, high ponytail, bright eyes, a fresh-faced charm that made her instantly likable. Out of the four girls, aside from Amelia, Lila seemed the most likely to have caught Elijah’s eye.
After all, Elijah had been turning down girls left and right ever since the semester started. And now, finally interested in someone? It had to be one of the two.
But then-
The short-haired girl standing next to Lila spoke up. “I’m Cameron. Why?”
Tyler’s jaw nearly hit the ground.
He turned to her, completely thrown. Even after hearing it straight from her mouth, he still couldn’t believe it. “You’re Cameron?!”
Elijah was into her?
He’d passed on girl after girl, many of them literal stunners, and this was who he liked?
Sure, Cameron was good-looking. Even surrounded by attractive guys, she stood out effortlessly.
But still. She was… a girl. And she looked almost nothing like one. If she hadn’t shown up with the other three Tyler wouldn’t have guessed her gender in a million years.
Cameron raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, but who are you?”
Tyler blinked. ‘Whoa, chill’
“What’s your deal?” Elijah shot him a glare.
Tyler snapped out of it, stepping back and laughing awkwardly. “Nothing, man. It’s nothing.”
Cameron didn’t seem bothered.
They got to work setting up tents. One per person.
The guys had theirs up in minutes and then headed over to help the girls.
Still in disbelief, Tyler pulled Elijah aside, lowered his voice, and gave him a thumbs-up. “Eli, you’ve got a very unique taste.”
Elijah gave him a pointed look and then replied flatly, “Shallow.”
“Alright, alright. I’m shallow,” Tyler said, grinning.
Elijah narrowed his eyes. “Don’t forget what I asked you guys to do.”
Tyler patted his chest. “Got it. I’m on it.”
Elijah had come prepared.
By the time night fell, the sky was glittering with stars, something they’d never seen in the city.
The boys opened the trunk of their off-roader and pulled out the grill and all the ingredients they’d brought.
Cameron and the girls joined in to help,
They set up eight chairs around the barbecue pit, and two tables were pushed together to hold the food.
Amelia stepped forward, offering to help with the grilling.
Tyler immediately stopped her. “Your dress is way too nice for that. Don’t want to risk getting it dirty.”
“Alright,” Amelia said, taking a seat. She didn’t stay idle, though. She laid out plates and poured drinks while the others worked.
With everyone pitching in, the grill was soon covered with food. They cooked enough to feed all eight of them.
“This smells amazing,” Lila said, eyes sparkling. “Elijah, where’d you get the seasoning? It’s so good!”
“Ordered it online,” Elijah replied.
Lila pulled out her phone. “Then let’s exchange contacts. You can send me the link later. I want to buy some too.”
Elijah froze for a moment, his hands stilling over the grill. He glanced instinctively at Cameron and then said, “Well, not the best time. Add Calder. He’ll send it to you.”
The guy named Calder Reeves blinked and then quickly pulled out his phone with a grin. “Got it. I’ll send it right now.”
“Okay,” Lila said.
In truth, she’d been hoping to add Elijah.
Could anyone really blame her? The guy was easily the best-looking one here.
But he’d turned her down, politely, but clearly. So she let it go.
They all took their seats, and Elijah naturally sat down next to Cameron.
Across the table, his three roommates picked up the signal loud and clear.
Elijah placed a skewer of grilled wings in front of Cameron. “Try these.”
“Thanks,” Cameron said with a nod.
The table wasn’t that big, and everything was within reach. Yet Elijah handed it to her anyway.
Lila caught the look in Elijah’s eyes as he glanced at Cameron, soft, deliberate, unmistakably fond. The moment she saw it, it all clicked.
‘No wonder he turned me down.’ If she’d lost to anyone else, she might’ve been upset. But losing to Cameron? She had to admit, it made sense.
Calder, sitting nearby, had a good first impression of Lila. He started up a casual conversation, and Lila responded politely, a little smile on her lips.
Sienna, on the other hand, was quieter. The guy sitting next to her wasn’t exactly a chatterbox either. The two of them shared a silence that stretched on awkwardly.
Amelia stayed ice-cool as usual. Tyler tried several different conversation starters, but everything he threw at her landed with a thud. Her answers were brief and flat, which left Tyler feeling mildly defeated.
Even though the vibe around the table wasn’t exactly buzzing, it wasn’t tense either. Just mellow.
Halfway through the meal, Elijah nudged Tyler’s foot under the table.
Tyler looked up sharply, meeting Elijah’s eyes. Instantly, he understood. ‘Right. The plan.’
He’d been so focused on Amelia’s frosty attitude, he nearly forgot what he’d promised Elijah.
Tyler clapped his hands together. “Alright, people! I know it’s our first time hanging out, but don’t you think we’re being a little too quiet? Let’s liven things up with a game!”
“I’m down,” one of the guys chimed in.
“What game?” asked Lila, always the enthusiastic one.
Tyler grinned. “How about Truth or Dare?”
“Yes! Let’s do it,” Lila said, already fired up.
Amelia gave her a side glance. “Don’t come crying to me later.”,
“What’s there to regret? It’s just a game,” Lila replied, laughing.
Elijah turned to Cameron. “You in?”
Cameron nodded. “Sure.”
Sienna didn’t object either.”
Everyone agreed-grilled skewers in one hand, cards in the other. Sounded like a good night.
Tyler pulled out a deck he’d clearly prepared ahead of time. He drew eight cards, placing one joker among them. Whoever drew the joker would have to choose between truth or dare.
