"We've been watching matches all year, and this year's C+C scholarship will be awarded to…" Mr. Caplan paused dramatically as the entire room held their breath.

"…Gary Furlong." Applause broke out around the room, particularly from the Top Guns' corner. Cody let out a shriek and hugged her friend as the other girls did the same, and even Nate managed a smile and a pat on the back. He glanced over at Cameron to see that he, too, was clapping, yet he didn't look nearly as thrilled as everyone else.

Squib made his way onto the stage to accept the scholarship, posing for pictures with both Bates and Mr. Caplan. After a few formal congratulations, he fought his way through the crowd back to his friends.

"This is so great!" Adena cried, hugging him once again.

"Thanks," Squib laughed lightly, a little flushed from all the attention on stage. "Let's get out of here and celebrate." As the group made their way towards to door (interrupted only once by Rick flying through the air and latching onto Squib with a cry of "Squibey!"), he leaned down to Cody and whispered, "Where'd Cam go?"

"He left while you were on the stage," she told him. "Squib, I think he's pretty upset…"

"I know," Squib nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt, "I'll talk to him."

"Hey, man," Squib said, approaching Cameron where he sat on the old, worn down bleachers. "I figured you'd be hiding here."

"Yeah? How'd you know?"

"Because…" Squib paused, "well, everyone comes here." Cam let out an amused breath but stayed quiet.

"Look, I'm sorry, Cam…"

"Don't be," Cameron stopped him, shaking his head. "You did nothing wrong."

"Yeah, but you wanted this-,"

"And I should have worked harder for it," Cameron said with an air of finality. "It's okay, Squib. I'm not mad at you," he told him, looking at the ground.

Squib spoke again after a long pause, "Well, do you want to come inside and-,"

"I think I just want to be…alone for a while," Cameron interrupted him.

"Okay," Squib nodded slowly, rising. "Well, we're in the girls' dorm if you want to join us," he watched Cameron nod.

"Hey, Squib," Cameron called out as he left, "congrats."

"Poor Cameron," Cody said softly as she ate lunch with Tanis and Adena the next day.

"Yeah," Tanis agreed, "he's pretty down."

"Well, can you blame him?" Cody asked. "I mean, this was pretty much his only shot at college."

"Well, Squib did deserve the scholarship," Adena pointed out.

"Adena!" Tanis scolded her.

"I'm not saying I didn't want Cam to get it! I just mean…it' not as if we can protest it or anything. Squib is the better player."

"It's true," Cody nodded, "even I can see that."

"Shut up," Tanis spoke quickly, focusing on her food.

"What-,"

"Hey, girls," Squib said as he sat down next to Adena. "How's it going?"

"Good," Adena nodded.

"…You were talking about me, weren't you?"

"…How did you know?" Tanis asked.

"I've never seen all three of you quiet at the same time. Ever."

"We were just talking about the scholarship," Cody told him.

"I feel bad," Squib shook his head. "I don't know what to do."

"Well, you never know," Cody tried, "maybe if he works for his dad for a few years, Cam can save the money and go to college later…"

"Yeah…" Squib mumbled.

"Well, I bet your dad was happy," Tanis offered.

"Oh yeah," Squib said. "I don't think he's ever been so thrilled. He actually called me Squib. Not Gary or Boy."

"So, are you two getting excited yet?" Adena asked as she walked down the hall with Cody and Nate.

"Yes!" Cody exclaimed as Nate shrugged.

"Oh, that's right, Nate," Adena laughed, "I forgot- you're emo, you don't get excited."

"Haha," he laughed dryly as she stuck her tongue out.

"What about-," but Nate was cut off as Sunny came marching down the hall, two girls in tow who looked rather scared.

"The Open is this way- you'll be spending a lot of time there, usually playing cards," Sunny stopped in front of the three older students, grabbing one of her followers and standing her next to Cody.

"Hmm," she said, looking at the timid girl's auburn hair, "yeah, I think you'll do…" she grabbed her and the other by the arm and continued down the hall, "how do you feel about photography?"

"…What is she up to?" Adena exclaimed.

"Come in," Bates called when he heard a knock on his door.

"Hey, sir," Squib said, slowly stepping into the office.

"Squib, my boy!" Bates called happily; the two had been on much better terms since Squib had received the scholarship. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you could tell me something about the scholarship?"

"Well, what do you want to know?"

Squib took a seat opposite the headmaster, "Who else were they considering?"

"Well…" Bates paused, trying to remember his many conversations with the C+C executives, "All the Group A students were in the runnings, of course…Sean Miller from Group B was being considered…a few others, too…Cameron had a really good shot, actually. He's really improved this year," Bates told him, "I think it came down to you and him…Why? Checking out the competition?" Bates smirked.

"Uh…not quite," Squib spoke slowly, looking up from where his gaze had been fixed on the ground. "Sir, I can't accept the scholarship."

"I just got a call from C+C," Cameron flopped onto the couch next to Squib. "Apparently there was a mix up with the scholarship."

"Yeah," Squib spoke, looking at the TV, "apparently they checked my record again and decided I had too many detentions. And suspensions. And expulsions. For which, it turns out, the limit it zero."

Cameron sighed, "Squib-,"

"Too many pool parties, man," he shook his head.

"I know-,"

"Never should've stolen that key."

Cameron paused and finally looked his friend in the eye," Thanks man. For all the pool parties."

I'm really sorry if there are a lot of typos. I'm typing on a laptop (in Ontario) and my long nails keep hitting the wrong keys.

Reviews will make this vacation so much more awesome. Three chapters left, at the most.

I tried to post this on vacation, but wouldn't let me. I'm back now, so let's hope this works.

Aaaaand now it won't let me put in those lines to divide. So we have stars this chapter.