Xander''s eyes widened.


    His expression turned instantly stormy as he red at the delivery guy.


    ''She left. She actually left. The moment he arrived, she was gone,


    Did she really hate seeing him that much?


    It had been nearly two months since theyst saw each other. And now, after all that time, she didn''t even want to stay for a few minutes?


    Right then, Gwen''s phone rang.


    "It''s Cam," Gwen said.


    Xander immediately leaned closer as she answered the call on speaker.


    "Hi, Cam," Gwen said gently.


    "Sorry, Mrs. Murphy," Cameron replied, her voice calm. "Something came up at school. I had to head back early. I called a courier to pick up my things. Do you mind handing them over for me?"


    Gwen nced at Xander before replying, "Of course, Cam. Let''s have dinner another time."


    "Sounds good."


    Cameron hung up first.


    Xander''s face was tight with frustration.


    Gwen handed Cameron''s bag and the clothes she''d gifted her to the courier, along with a generous tip.


    Tyrell, sensing the growing tension in the room, wisely kept his mouth shut.


    Gwen patted Xander''s shoulder. "Xander, Cam''s a remarkable girl. I like down to timing and fate."


    her a lot too. But love isn''t something you can force. Sometimes it justes


    At her age, Gwen could see it clearly. Cameron wasn''t interested in Xander. And there was


    Still, it felt like such a pity.


    Xander lowered his head, dejected.


    Gwen turned to Tyrell. "Stay with him, alright?"


    Right now, what Xander needed most wasn''t a parent/it was a friend.


    "You got it," Tyrell said, patting his chest. "I''ve got him."


    nothing anyone could do about that.


    Gwen gave a final nod, shot onest worried nce at her son, then picked up her purse, and left.


    ''Kids grow up."


    As much as it pained her to see him hurt, this wasn''t something she could fix for him.


    Once Gwen was gone, Tyrell paced a slow circle around Xander beforeunching into his best attempt atfort.


    "Xan,e on, don''t take it so hard. What if she really did have somethinge up? You''re overthinking it "


    Xander didn''t respond


    Tyrell tried again. "Okay, okay, look. With the way Cameron dresses, what if she''s not into guys at all? Maybe it''s not that she doesn''t like you. Maya th?. just doesn''t like men."


    Xander''s eyes widened.


    Xander''s head snapped around to stare at him.


    Tyrell pped his hands. "Right? That has to be it! Remember how she used to chase after Amelia like crazy? Everyone at school knew about it. Xan, this isn''t your fault!"


    "Shut up!" Xander suddenly jumped up and smacked Tyrell on the back of the head. "Don''t talk nonsense!"


    Tyrell winced andughed awkwardly. "Right, right. Total nonsense. My bad." But Xander didn''t look away. He just kept staring at him.


    "What


    Tyrell said, growing uneasy.


    Xander finally broke into a smile. "Yeah. Cameron doesn''t like men..."


    Then immediately scowled and muttered, “Wait. If she doesn''t like men, then what the hell am I supposed to do?"


    Tyrell sighed. "Xan,e on. There are plenty of fish in the sea-"


    "I don''t want anyone else," Xander said firmly. "It''s Cameron or no one."


    Tyrell stared at him, speechless.


    ''Xan''s emotionally blinded.''


    Clearly, nothing he said would change Xander''s mind now. He sighed, draping an


    arm around his friend''s shoulder. "Alright then. Want to go grab some drinks? Drown your sorrows a little?"


    "Lame," Xander muttered, brushing him off.


    It wasn''t the first time Cameron had turned him down.


    Later that night, Cameron gave away all the dresses Gwen had gifted her to her roommates.