Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
Bradley gave Austin a firm pat on the shoulder. “Aus, maybe sit out the intense rides next time, yeah?”
Austin coughed, then said, “I’m good, Brad. I can handle it.”
Seeing Austin wouldn’t back down, Bradley just let it go.
Austin glanced over at Cameron. She was still lying quietly in the grass, her eyes fixed on the sky, completely lost in her own world, which pissed off Austin a little.
After a short break, he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture-Cameron, Bradley, and Elijah all ended up in the frame.
He posted it to his Instagram with the caption: [Today’s ride was exhausting, but totally worth it.]
Xander was slumped on the couch at home, bored out of his mind. He’d been daydreaming about grabbing dinner with Milena, but of course, that didn’t happen.
Absentmindedly, he scrolled through his phone…until something-Austin’s new post on Instagram-made him freeze.
Xander’s eyes went wide in an instant, and he practically jumped off the couch. “What the hell! That’s so unfair. How could they go without me?”
Xander was fuming and immediately slammed a video call over to Austin, who was caught off guard by the call.
Holding his phone, Austin glanced at the group and cleared his throat. “Uh…guys, Xan’ s video calling us.”
Elijah looked up at him. “Xander?”
Austin nodded. “Yeah. Should I answer?”
Bradley said, “Pick up. Maybe he needs something.”
Austin glanced at Cameron, who remained silent, then answered the call with a smile. ” What’s up, Xan?”
“Where are you guys?” Xander demanded, his voice sharp with irritation.
“We’re at West Hill,” Austin replied. “What’s wrong, Xan? You seem pissed.”
Xander snapped, “You all went out without me? Trying to freeze me out or what? Just for that little punk Cameron, you’re all ditching me?
“What did I even do? All I did was ask him to play basketball. Was that so unforgivable that you all had to leave me out?”
Xander was like a firecracker-ready to go off at the smallest spark. But Austin had no idea what to do.
Trying to smooth things over, Austin turned to Cameron and aimed the camera at her. Then, he explained, “Xan, you misunderstood us, seriously. We’d never leave you out on purpose. It just sort of happened,”/
Xander shot back, “I don’t care if it’s a coincidence or not. Just wait there for me, I’m coming over right now.”
“Xan-” Austin started, but Xander had already hung up.
Austin let out a long sigh. “He’s coming.”
Elijah barely looked up. “Doesn’t really matter.”
Bradley shrugged. “If he wants to show up, let him.”
The truth was, Bradley just wanted to go for a ride with Cameron. Austin and Elijah tagging along wasn’t part of his plan, so if Xander came over now, it wouldn’t make a difference too.
Cameron still didn’t say a word.
Successfully unlocked!
Austin kept sneaking glances at her before finally walking over. “Cam, you okay? You’ ve been quiet ever since I got here.”
Cameron looked at him calmly. “You’re overthinking it.”
Austin grinned. “Alright, just making sure.”
Xander said he was coming-and, sure enough, he did. About an hour later, he rolled up the mountain on his flashy motorcycle.
He yanked off his helmet angrily before he glared at Cameron. “You punk, you did this. on purpose, didn’t you?”
Cameron didn’t even flinch. She kept staring at the sky like he wasn’t even there.
Xander stormed over to Cameron, all fired up. “Hey, punk, I’m talking to you. What? Are you deaf now?”
“Xander.” Bradley stepped in, planting a firm hand on Xander’s chest and pushing him. back a few steps.
“If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me. I’m the one who suggested coming to West. Hill for a ride today, so if anyone’s leaving you out, it’s me. Be mad at me.”
Xander was caught off guard.
He stared hard at Bradley-the always-composed, hard-to-read Bradley-and for a second, his anger cracked under the weight of something more raw.
“You’re taking his side?” Xander questioned hurtfully. “Brad, really? Why are you defending him? You barely even know the guy. What’s he ever done for you?”
Bradley said, “I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m just being fair.”
“Xander, did you come all this way just to pick a fight?” Elijah frowned.
Xander snapped, “And you, Elijah? What the hell happened to you? You’re always the one who can’t stand slackers, so why are you standing up for him now? You look down. on me, but you’ve got no problem with Cameron? He’s even worse.”
“You’re wrong,” Elijah said calmly. “Cameron’s not a slacker.”
Xander shot back, “Not a slacker? He’s worse than I ever was. You’re such a damn hypocrite!”
Elijah’s frown grew deeper, “Xander, I’m only going to say this once more. Cameron’s not some lazy slacker, he-
Elijah paused. He’d been about to speak up for Cameron, to clear the air finally, but Cameron, who had been quiet this entire time, cut him off. “Xander.”
Cameron slowly stood up, her face blank as she stared straight at Xander. “Yeah, I’m isolating you. So what?”
Xander couldn’t believe his ears. He couldn’t believe that Cameron actually admitted that.
Seething, Xander ripped off his jacket and tossed it to the ground. “Alright, Cameron. Let’s settle this. You think you’re tough? Let’s see if you can back it up.”
“Xan, chill out,” Austin cut in, trying to ease the tension, albeit he was coughing mid- sentence. “We’re all roommates. No one needs to start throwing punches.”
“Move!” Xander snapped, shoving Austin hard without a second thought. He wouldn’t dare mess with Bradley, but he didn’t care about the rest.
With that shove, Austin hit the ground with a thud. He winced as pain radiated through his side. But even as he lay there, his eyes sparkled with something close to satisfaction.
This was exactly what he’d expected. But honestly, Xander had it coming, and letting Cameron teach him a lesson sounded pretty good.
Austin let out a couple of weak coughs, wincing as he sat up.
“You alright?” Elijah asked.
Austin managed a smile. “Eli, I’m fine. Xan didn’t mean it.”
Bradley helped Austin to his feet, but his expression had gone cold. “Xander, that was way out of line.”
This time, Xander was dead set on throwing down with Cameron. He squared his shoulders and tightened his jaw. “Brad, this doesn’t concern you. Stay out of it.”
He turned to Cameron with a challenging look. “Come on-just you and me. You got the guts?”
Cameron’s expression didn’t change. “Come here.”
Elijah blinked as he thought, ‘Wait, what? Is Cameron seriously going to fight him?”
He was half a head shorter and probably twenty pounds lighter than Xander. There was no way this would end well. Successfully unlocked!
Elijah shouted, “Cameron, don’t do anything stupid!”
“Shut up!” Xander barked.
Cameron glanced at Elijah. “Relax. He’s not going to win.”
Offended, Xander flew into a rage. “I’m not going to win? Oh, Cameron. Today I’ll show you just how good my boxing skills really are.”
Xander charged without hesitation, with his fist clenched and eyes locked on
Cameron like a target, as he swung a punch right at her.
With a smooth, practiced motion, Cameron shifted to the side to dodge Xander’s punch. In the same breath, she swept her leg low and clean, knocking his feet out from under him.
Xander’s body slammed into the ground with a heavy, gut-punching thud, which was loud enough to send a nearby flock of birds scattering into the sky.
Flat on his back, Xander stared up at the open sky, stunned into silence, wondering how he ended up on the ground.
He was the one who threw the first punch at Cameron, so she should be the one injured now. Xander couldn’t understand how he was the one laying in the dirt.
Xander was in total shock. Across from him, Bradley, Elijah, and Austin just stood there, too stunned to speak as well.
