Chapter 119 The Rejection
Suddenly, Xander wrapped his arms around Cameron’s leg.
Startled, Cameron reacted on instinct. She kicked him hard and sprang up, landing
straight on her bed in one fluid motion. “What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped, her expression icy cold.
Everyone froze.
Xander, now sprawled out on the floor, winced as pain shot through his shoulder. He looked up at her, still perched on her bunk bed.
“Seriously, Cameron? I just asked you to join the basketball team. Did you have to kick me like you were trying to kill me? And it’s not even the first time,” he said.
Cameron replied flatly, “I don’t like people touching me.”
Bradley’s fingers twitched at his sides. ‘She doesn’t like people touching her?‘ he thought. ‘I pat her head all the time, and she’s never reacted like that. Must be she just doesn’t want Xander touching her.’
Xander scoffed. “You think I enjoy touching you?”
“I’m not joining your damn basketball team,” Cameron said, her tone razor–sharp.
Xander shot up from the floor in one quick motion, furious. “As if I begged you for it.”
At practice that night, a few of the guys were clearly off their game. Xander had been worried, which was why he tried to bring Cameron on board, to keep things solid. He hadn’t expected her to shut him down so fast and so harshly.
‘Fine. Whatever. We don’t need her. We’ll win without her anyway; he told himself bitterly as he wondered.
He stormed out of the dorm room, slamming the door so hard the walls rattled.
Austin let out a helpless smile. “Still the same hothead.” Austin was the youngest in their dorm.
Bradley turned to Cameron, curious. “You don’t like basketball?”
“It’s not that I like it or dislike it,” Cameron said. “I’m just not into competitions.”
Elijah added, “With the SATS coming up, it’s pointless to waste time on things that don‘ t matter.”
Cameron went quiet. Then she lay down, pulled the covers over herself, and said, “I’m tired. Goodnight, everyone.”
“Night,” Bradley replied, heading to the bathroom for a shower.
Successfully unlocked!
Elijah kept reading. Austin grabbed a pillbox from his desk. He had to take medicine before bed. The pills were bitter. He furrowed just thinking about it.
Right before lights–out, Xander came back. He walked straight over to Austin’s bed and
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Chapter 119 The Rejection
shook him awake. “Austin, how are you feeling now? Are you doing any better? I
wouldn’t even come back here if I weren’t worried about you. That guy in this room just
gets on my nerves.”
That person, meanwhile, was pretending to be asleep.
Austin’s deep eyes were hazy with sleep. “I’m fine, Xander. It’s late. Go get some rest.”
“Alright.” Xander raised an eyebrow, satisfied with the excuse, and headed off to
shower.
Bradley rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, “You’re really something, finding the perfect excuse to come back.”
****
The next morning, Bradley went out for his usual six a.m. run. Cameron woke up naturally, no alarm needed. Just as she got out of bed, Elijah did too.
While brushing his teeth at the sink, Elijah glanced at her. “Cameron, hurry up. Get to the classroom early. If you’re quick enough, I’ll have time to walk you through two questions before the first class.”
Cameron froze. ‘Help. Someone save me, she thought in panic, deliberately slowing
her pace.
Xander climbed down from his bed, grumbling. “Elijah, if you’ve got all this energy, why don’t you help me study? I’m way smarter than Cameron.”
“I don’t have time,” Elijah replied without looking up.
Xander stiffened, glaring at him. “So you’ve got time to tutor Cameron, but not me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
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