Xander''s handsome face under his short hair broke into a sunny smile. "You''re right," he said,


    All that money hadn''t been spent in vain.


    He loved ying basketball and spent so much time in the sun that his smile seemed to carry its warmth,


    Some girls nearby blushed at the sight, but Xander only stared goofily


    at the disy case


    Cameron was mostly satisfied with Xander''s results. As a student-athlete, his scores would get him into a solid university


    She turned and headed straight back to ss.


    Xander called her excitedly. "Cameron, I ranked 286th Awesome, right? Don''t I deserve a reward


    Cameron said. "Keep working hard."


    "Is that all?" Xander protested.


    Cameron replied, "Bye" Then, she hung up.


    Tyrell watched Xander stare nkly at his phone. "Let me celebrate with you," he


    said. "You did great!"


    Xander red at Tyrell. "It''s just 288th ce. Nothing to brag about."


    I rolled his eyes because Xander was literally bragging a second ago.


    Tyrell r


    During evening study hall, Brody held up the practice test results and beamed at Cameron, "Cameron has improved steadily these past months and now ranks fifth in the ss! Everyone should leam from her and strive to boost your scores in the final month!"


    "Impressive," a ssmate murmured. "He wasst in the ss two months ago."


    Cameron stayed calm, but Elijah wore a proud smirk. When she ranked first in the state, it would shock everyone.


    After the first study period, a ssmate approached her earnestly "How did you improve so fast in such a short time?"


    Cameron replied, "Besides doing endless practice problems, you need a-" She looked at Elijah and smiled. “A deskmate who''s great at studying"


    The ssmate froze. Practice problems were doable, but finding a top-tier deskmate was another story.


    Elijah smiled. "Are you serious?"


    The frustration he''d felt for two days vanished instantly


    Cameron smiled but didn''t answer.


    Elijah added, "I saw Xander improve too. You''re azing


    "Xander''s smart," Cameron said. "He just refuses to apply himself"


    "You''re a good teacher," Elijah insisted.


    In ss 10, Senior Year, the advisory teacher singled out Kander for his progress.


    TIT


    Xander scoffed. Everyone thought he''d improved, but not Cameron. He


    wondered, ''Does that man I''m still NMVUT


    Just then, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Milena. Milena Congrats! Heard you did really wall this time


    Xander stared at her profile picture-a cartoon character.


    He wished the message hade from Cameron Instead.


    Xander: (Thanks, but how did you find out?)


    Milena: (My brother told me


    Xander''s eyes widened. He typed rapidly: What did Cameron say? Are you guys on good terms now!]


    He thought, "So Cameron purposely didn''t praise me? He must be proud but doesn''t want me getting cocky. That''s why he acted alool