"His sister and parents came looking for him Bradley''s voice instantly grew heavy


    Those three weren''t good news. They''d cut ties with Cameronpletely, yet they Vista and that basketball tournament prize


    showing up to cause trouble. Balore, th


    Bradley''s


    s eyes shed with realization. This time, they were after that 15 million doftar check from Samuel


    "Yeah, it''s them." Elijah confirmed. "No idea where they we taken him.”


    "Have you checked around campus?" Bradley asked. "Talked to security yet?"


    "I''ve already hit the library and cafeteria-Elijah paused. "Wait. The music room. Cameron and Austin had ns to meet there Austin was going to y piano for him. I''m heading there right now."


    "Don''t bother going yoursell," Bradley said. "Just call Austin. I''ll head to security and see what they know. Let''s stay in touch-


    "Got it," Elijah


    replied


    packed with people who''de to hear him y. Yet his gaze


    In the music room, Austin sat dejectedly behind the piano. The seats below the


    stage were p kept scanning the crowd again and again,


    "Nothing Austin thought. "Cameron didn''t show up, neither did Elijah.


    Austin tried calling Cameron, but his phone was switched off.


    Is he avoiding me? Using this as a way to reject me?" Austin thought with a sinking feeling. “I just wanted to y him a song was my ying that bad?"


    Austin nced at the packed audience below. Despite not feeling it, he forced himself to perform two ces. Just as he was about to start the third, his phone lit up on the piano.


    While ying, Austin''s eyes darted toward his silenced phone, hope ring in his chest. But when he saw Elijah''s name on the instantly dimmed. He ignored the call. Even when the call ended automatically and Elijah tried several more times, Austin still didn''t pick up


    e screen, that spark


    Only after finishing the piece did Austin finally stand, grab his phone and call Elijah back


    Elijah was practically frantic. Before Austin could say a word, he blurted out, "Austin, is Cameron with you?"


    Austin froze. "No. Eli, y you and Cam were supposed toe hear me y. Wh What happened?"


    "Cameron''s missing." Elijah said. "He left right when evening study hall started. His phone''s off, and we can''t find him anywhere."


    The news hit Austin like a punch to the gut. Cam wasn''t deliberately standing him up-something was wrong. A creeping worry began to spread through his chest.


    Austin bolted toward the door of the music room, forgetting even his textbooks on top of the piano. "Eli, where are you right now?" he asked, breathless from running.


    "The dorm," Elijah replied.


    "I''m heading back now,"


    Austin said, already sprinting across campus.


    Halfway back to the dorm, Austin decided to call Xander. Maybe, just maybe, Cam was with him.


    "What''s up?" Xander answered, drenched in sweat on the basketball court. He casually lifted his shirt to wipe his face, revealing his chiseled abs and


    triggering excited squeals from the girls watching from the sidelines.


    Xan, is Cam with you?" Austin asked, his voice tight with worry


    "Nope," Xander replied.


    "Do you know where he might be?"


    "How would I know?"


    Austin swallowed hard, "Xan, Cam''s missing. Eli says he''s been gone the entire evening."


    Xander''s tone immediately changed, all the casualness dropping away. "Cameron''s missing? When are you guyst


    "I''m heading back to the dorm now."


    "I can''t get in there," Xander snapped, frustration clear in his voice.


    Austin let out an exasperated sigh.