Xanderughed, his smile tinged with a hint of indulgence. "Think about une dorm


    - who else is an obsessed with sweets as you?”


    Cameron said. "Can you stop smiling at me like that?"


    xander''s smile looked so out of ce to Cameron that she almost got


    goosebumps.


    Xander''s smile finde. He''d never expected his normally sunny and charming grin to be disliked by anyone


    He looked at Cameron nervously and asked, "You don''t actually hate me, do you?"


    Cameron was taken aback by his seriousness. She hadn''t expected the usually arrogant Xander to care whether the disliked him.


    She gave a vague reply, "Guess"


    Xander said, "You definitely don''t hate me."


    Cameron didn''t retort him.


    Xander heaved a sigh of relief, then cleverly changed the subject. "Have you been


    to this restaurant before?


    Cameron shook her head.


    Xander smiled. "Figured, it''s a dating restaurant, so it makes sense you haven''t."


    Cameron asked, "Why did you bring me here?"


    She found Xander''s unusual gentleness today strange.


    Usually hot-tempered and easily provoked, today he''d smiled the entire time- even when waiting for her half an hour.


    Seeing him be so gentle all of a sudden, Cameron felt so weird.


    Xander avoided her gaze. "Heard the steaks here are good and wanted to treat you."


    Cameron nodded.


    Xander smiled again and asked, "Cameron, what''s your summer n?"


    Before she could say anything, he continued, "How about I take you scuba diving by the sea? Or maybe we could travel the world? With yournguage skills, we''d be fine anywhere."


    Cameron replied expressionlessly, "What''s wrong with your memory? I said I would take a part time job during thest summer vacation before college."


    Xander said in confidence. "I know you need money. Work for me as a tour guide- we''ll y together. I''ll pay you well, I promise."


    Cameron shook her head. "Not interested.""


    Xander said,


    1. "Are you dumb? I''m paying you to hang out with me, and you''re not interested?"


    He couldn''t understand why someone who loved money would reject such a generous offer.


    Cameron said, "I like challenging jobs. Hanging out with you sounds boring. I''d rather be a couch potato at home"


    Xander was speechless. He thought, ''Am I really that dull? Does Cameron really dislike me this much?"


    He wondered if his past attitude had left a grudge, or if she was still mad about the Milena mix-up.


    21:49 Wed, 4 Jun


    Xander''s mind raced with thoughts-anonical but of overthinking for his straightforward personality.


    After lunch, Kander blurted out, "Cameron, you mad at mer


    Cameron was eating cake, in a good mood, and looked at him confused. "Mad about what"


    Xander said, "For mistaking Miles for you."


    Cameron said, "Your stupidity is your problem, not mine."


    Xander''s face twitched for a moment. He couldn''t argue he had been foolish with the matter of Milena


    Once full, Cameron turned to Xander, "So what''s the gh?"


    Xander snapped back to reality, his ears reddening at the thought of the present.


    He handed her an elegant g?t bag. "Here"


    "Thanks" Cameron took it and started to open it, but Xander stopped her. "Don''t open it here," he said.


    Cameron gave him a puzzled look but respected his wish, closing the bag Xander stood up. "I''ll pay the bill. Wait outside-my motorcycle is there."


    Before she could reply, he rushed to the counter, tripping over a chair in his haste


    He quickly righted the chair and nced back at Cameron, who was watching


    him.


    Their eyes met for a second, and Xander jerked his gaze


    away like he''d been shocked.


    Cameron was really confused about what was wrong with Xander today. He didn''t even dare to look into her eyes She got up and waited outside. When Xander emerged, she was sitting on his motorcycle, holding the gift bag.


    Even in men''s clothes, she looked striking, but she''d be stunning in a dress.


    Xander smiled at the sight, his ears burning hotter. His heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of his chest.


    Cameron heard his heartbeat. "You okay? Your heart''s racing"


    Xander ced a hand on his chest, mustering courage to meet her eyes. "Cameron, you can open the gift now."


    Cameron said, "Since you insist..." She trailed off as she opened the bag and saw the gift-a white strapless dress with a diamond-encrusted neckline. clearly expensive.


    She recoiled as if it were a hot iron, shoving it back into the bag and thrusting it into Xander''s arms. "I can''t take this


    She''d expected a small trinket, not an extravagant dress. She had just wanted to take it as a graduation gift and reciprocated epting it felt wrong


    "Why?" Xander''s confession died in his throat, leaving him stunned.


    Cameron said, "Kander, why a dress? I can''t ept this


    Xander said, "Don''t all girls like clothes, bags, makeup?"


    He''d nned to give her bags next, then cosmetics, easing her into his affections


    in case she would be scared.


    However, Cameron didn''t seem to appreciate his leishness.


    Cameron said dry, "Do look like a ''nomnul gif to you?"


    xander was confused. Even a ghlin disguise was still a girl, and Cameron''s tastes seemed pretty girly


    Cameron said, "Retrator give it to someone else. I won''t take it. With that, she turned and walked away


    "Cameron" Xander jumped on his bike and chased after her, trailing her in the bikene


    "Cameron, it''s not that expensive. Just take it," he pleaded.


    She didn''t look back. "No."


    "Fine, if you don''t want it, I''ll throw it away" Xander''s tone turned harsh


    This was the first time he''d ever tried to impress a girl, only to be rejected so


    bluntly.


    They were roommates, after all. She would at least ept a gift from her roommate unless she''d guessed his feelings.


    She probably knew epting the dress would mean weing his confession,


    so she rejected both the gift and him,


    Cameron stopped and said coldly, "That''s your choice."


    Xander was shocked.


    She added, "Xander, to answer your earlier question-yes, you can be really annoying sometimes."


    Xander froze in shock.


    Cameron walked away, and he watched her disappear, too stunned to chase


    after her.


    His racing heart slowly calmed. He understood now-she did hate him.


    The confession he''d rehearsed would never be spoken.


    Kander felt miserable, staring at the empty street long after she''d gone. Finally, he angrily tossed the gift into a trash can and rode off in the opposite


    direction.


    After walking several blocks and confirming Xander wasn''t following, Cameron


    stopped


    1


    Watching the traffic, she wondered why he''d given her a dress. Cameron thought, "Maybe he wants to see me in girl''s clothes?"


    He''d been so attentive to Milena because of her, so deep down, his attention was always on Cameron,


    She thought, "Wait, does Xander have a crush on me? The thought startled her, and she shook it off


    No one fell in love after just a couple of meetings. That was ridiculous. Xander was many things, but not that stupid.


    Even if true, she couldn''t reciprocate. Love wasn''t in her life n. Rejecting him bluntly was for the best.


    That night, just before bed, Cameron got a call from Bradley


    Flora was seven hours ahead of Zelpah-11 PM in Viremont was 4 PM in Fiora.


    21:49 Wed, 4 Jun


    "Are you asleep? I hope I''m not disturbing you." Bodley said toly


    Cameron asked, "No, I''m up.


    How''s The 7"


    Bradley replied, "He has a broken right leg an


    Cameron sighed in reliel "Good, Take care of


    mild concussion from the head injury, oothing serin


    of him. Hope he recovers soon."


    Bradley said, "Cameron, Fora has beautiful scenery. Want toe viuth