Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
But instead of picking between them, Cameron offered a suggestion. “Why not all go together?”
Xander jumped in right away. “Yeah, sure. Let’s all go.”
Elijah gave a reluctant nod.
Cameron pulled out her phone. “I’ll text Brad.”
She sent Bradley a quick message on WhatsApp.
Xander stared at her. “Wait? When did you add Bradley on WhatsApp? And why haven’t you added me?”
They had exchanged WhatsApp info just the day before.
Cameron did not answer him directly. Instead, she asked back, “Did you ever ask to add me?”
Xander was speechless.
Elijah pulled out his phone. “Cameron, add me too.”
Cameron nodded. Xander quickly held out his own, not wanting to be left out. In the end, Cameron added him as well.
Bradley replied almost instantly: [Wait for me at the classroom door. I’ll be right there.]
Cameron looked up. “Brad’s coming soon.”
Xander muttered, his tone sour. “Sounds like you two are pretty close.”
Cameron paused, caught off guard.
As expected, Bradley showed up soon after.
“All here?” Bradley asked with a faint smile in his eyes.
It was the first time the four of them had met outside the dorm.
Xander looked around. “There are four of us. My bike won’t fit everyone. Let’s take Brad’ s car.”
Elijah never parked his car on campus. He usually had someone drive him when needed; a single call, and the car would show up.
Cameron shook her head. “No need to make it complicated. Let’s just eat at the school cafeteria.”
Xander frowned. “What’s even good there? That stuff’s for peasants.”
Elijah said calmly, “There’s a private dining area on the second floor. You can order whatever you want.”
Bradley nodded. “Yeah, school’s fine. No need to run around.”
Langford Academy’s second-floor cafeteria was well-known. It had both a large dining hall and private rooms.
Students who valued privacy and a quieter atmosphere preferred eating there, though the prices were several times higher than on the main floor.
As soon as the four of them walked upstairs, nearly everyone turned to look.
“Oh my god. So handsome. Three campus heartthrobs and one total dreamboat. We’re so lucky.”
“They’re all gorgeous. I’m obsessed.”
“No wonder they couldn’t choose just one for the school’s most handsome guy. They’ re all insanely attractive.”
“The one named Cameron, right? I think he’s the best-looking.”
“I heard he broke off his engagement with Amelia. Guess we all have a shot now.”
“See? Hot guys only hang out with other hot guys.”
“Cameron must have a powerful background. No wonder he landed Room 316.”
Their appearance caused an immediate stir. Some students even pulled out their phones to snap pictures.
In the middle of the buzzing cafeteria, Amelia and Skyler turned to see what the noise was about.
Skyler was so shocked that she dropped her chicken drumstick. “Elijah? My god. It’s him. He actually came.”
Skyler had always hoped to run into Elijah, but he was rarely seen around campus. She had no expectations today, yet here he was. But then she noticed Cameron walking beside him.
Skyler scoffed, unimpressed. “Amy, look at Cameron acting all smug. You broke off the engagement, and he still has the nerve to show up here? Shameless.”
Amelia said nothing. Her gaze had already landed on Bradley. No matter who he was standing next to, she always spotted him first. Bradley was the one who always stood out.
Amelia’s eyes slowly settled on Cameron. Suddenly, it hit her. Aside from being a little shorter, Cameron really held his own standing next to Bradley and the others. In fact, there was something even more captivating about him.
‘Had Cameron always been this good-looking, and I just never noticed? Or had he changed somehow?’ she wondered.
“Amy, I’m talking to you. Or what? Want your dad to toss the school another donation so they’ll kick Cameron out?” Skyler muttered, her voice low and snide.
Amelia frowned. “That’s enough.”
Amelia had only tried to get Cameron expelled so she could break off the engagement. That goal was already achieved. There was no reason to keep pushing him around.
Whether Cameron stayed in this school or not meant nothing to Amelia anymore. She had no intention of targeting him again.
Skyler sighed. “You’re way too soft.” Amelia said nothing.
The four of them didn’t linger at the entrance. They headed straight for a private room. Once the door was shut, the noise from the cafeteria outside faded into silence.
Xander grabbed the menu, and, true to form, his old habit of extravagance kicked in again. “One of everything,” he declared.
The server blinked. “Excuse me, is this meal just for the four of you?”
Xander raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. Why?”
The server gave a polite but pointed smile. “Sir, we’d really appreciate it if you didn’t waste food. It’s not exactly something to be proud of.”
Before Xander could reply, Cameron snatched the menu right out of his hands. “Don’t mind him. Lunch is on me. I’ll order,” she said.
Xander blinked, caught off guard.
Cameron asked the others about their preferences, then placed a sensible order, six dishes and one soup.
The school cafeteria didn’t operate for profit, so the portions were more than generous. What Cameron ordered was more than enough for the four of them.
Xander eyed the spread skeptically, “This is it? Cameron, you’re being stingy.”
Cameron shot back, “Sorry, I don’t like throwing food away like you do.”
Xander opened his mouth, then Successfully unlocked! off guard by the comeback. He pouted and quickly changed the subject. Anyway, how’d you talk Mr. Drake into going all out for you like this?”
Cameron gave a brief shrug. “Secret.”
She had tried telling the truth this morning, but Elijah didn’t believe her. At this point, she didn’t even feel like explaining anymore. ‘Let them guess, she thought.
Xander grumbled, clearly annoyed. “Seriously? A secret?”
Bradley adjusted his glasses. “Why not go ask Mr. Drake yourself?”
That shut Xander up.
Bradley turned to Elijah, who had been quiet all this time. “By the way, Eli, did you ever find that math genius?”
Elijah shook his head. “I gave up.”
That person clearly didn’t want to be found. No matter how hard he tried, it would not work. So he let it go.
Then Elijah turned to Cameron. “Cameron, after lunch, are we heading back to class, the dorm, or the library?”
Cameron froze. ‘He’s that eager to start tutoring me?’ she wondered.
Xander leaned in, curious. “What are you two up to?”
Elijah answered plainly, “Mr. Grant asked me to help Cameron with her studies.”
Xander huffed. “What about me? My math sucks too. Why don’t you help me out while you’re at it?”
Elijah didn’t even look at him. “You’re not in my class. I’m not responsible for you.”
Xander frowned. “I’ll pay you, how about that?”
Elijah replied coolly, “I’m not hurting for cash.”
