Bradley''s eyes locked on Xander who was sprawling on the floor. "What the hell happened? We can''t just leave him here—he needs to go to the Infirmary."


    "Listen," Austin coughed awkwardly. "Don''t freak out, but Cam knocked him out."


    Bradley just stared, wondering, ''Cameron? Knocked Xander out? Why?''


    His


    eyes


    scanned the dorm. Hearing the shower running, he asked, "He''s in there?"


    "Yup," Elijah grunted.


    Bradley frowned at Xander. "This won''t do."


    With Bradley barking orders, they shoved chairs together and propped Xander onto the makeshift bed.


    Cameron stepped out, towel-drying her hair. "Hey, Brad," she said casually.


    Bradley said, "You knocked Xander out."


    "He wouldn''t shut up," Cameron shrugged.


    Austin jumped in. "Cam, Xan said your family''s in trouble.".


    "Austin," Elijah cut him off. "Keep poking that bear, and you''re next."


    Austin''s mouth snapped shut.


    Cameron snorted, "Elijah, really? You think I''m that violent?"


    Elijah''s rare smile lit up his face. "Not at all."


    Austin watched that smile and somehow felt ill at ease. He wondered, ''Since


    when does Eli smile like that? He''s Mr. Ice-Cold.


    Seeing him beam like this made Austin feel that something wasn''t right.


    Cameron furrowed her brows at Xander lying on the chair. "Why leave him here?"


    Bradley grinned. "You really can''t stand him, huh?"


    "Constant headache," Cameron deadpanned.


    Every time Xander wanted to see Milena, he''d drag Cameron into his schemes. That alone was enough to drive her crazy. Otherwise, he wasn''t so bad.


    Austin groaned, "Cam, it took the three of us everything to hoist him onto that chair. He weighs a ton."


    Cameron sized Xander up. "Which dorm''s his?"


    "Next door, 315," Elijah replied.


    Xander had begged Tiana non-stop to move back in, but she only relented enough to shift him to the neighboring room.


    "Fine, I''ll get him back," Cameron said, slinging her damp towel over the chair.


    She crouched down, hauled Xander onto her back, and stood smoothly. It looked like she was carrying a sack of feathers.


    Bradley, Austin, and Elijah stared.


    540 Mon ZO MUY


    "Cam, let me help you," Austin started.


    "I got it," she cut him off.


    Cameron slung Xander over her back and headed for Room 315 next door. Bradley, Austin, and Elijah trailed behind, figuring she''d need backup.


    But she just climbed the bunkdder and plopped Xander onto his mattress as if he weighed nothing.


    She even tucked the nket around him-though being a germaphobe, she left his shoes on.


    One of Xander''s roommates quickly kicked off his sneakers. "Hey, what''s up with Xander?" the roommate asked, looking worried.


    "Sacked out," Cameron said.


    Bradley, Austin, and Elijah were speechless.


    Back in their dorm, Cameron scrubbed her hands raw, then changed into fresh clothes. She flopped onto her bunk and grabbed her phone.


    There was a message from Austin: [Cam, is everything okay at home? I''m worried about you. No pressure to answer. I''m just checking in.)


    Cameron nced over at Austin, who was staring at his screen. She typed back:


    [No biggie. Samuel showed up at Wace Vi with some goons.]


    Austin''s reply popped up instantly: [Samuel? Shit! Cam, this is my fault.]


    She shot back: [Actually, I owe you one.]


    Austin sent a question mark.


    AD


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