---Chapter 31The library buzzed softly with the sound of flipping pages and hushed conversations. Jamal sat at the center of his team’s table, their notebooks and laptops sprawled across the surface. The group had made significant progress on their Future Innovators Project, but the mounting pressure was beginning to show.“I still don’t think partnering with businesses is the best approach,” Jasmine said, her tone sharper than usual. “They’ll want something in return, and that could complicate things.”Zoe frowned. “And what’s your alternative? A bake sale to fund free Wi-Fi hotspots?”“Enough,” Jamal interrupted, raising his hands. “We’re not getting anywhere by arguing. Let’s focus on the facts. Alex, did you finish the cost analysis for equipment and setup?”Alex nodded and pushed his laptop toward the center. “Yeah, but the numbers aren’t looking great. Even with community partnerships, we’re going to need more funding than we originally thought.”Jamal leaned back in his chair

Chapter 33Jamal sat at the head of the conference table, the weight of the future pressing on his shoulders. He glanced around at his team—Zoe, Alex, Jasmine, and Rachel—each of them focused, tapping away on their laptops or scribbling notes on notepads. It was the final stretch of the Future Innovators Project, and despite their best efforts, things weren't going as smoothly as they had hoped.They had refined their SkillBridge concept, adding workshops and partnering with local businesses, but the competition was fierce. Ridgeview High had already submitted their proposal, and from what Jamal had heard, it was impressive. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were running out of time.“We need to step it up,” Jamal said, breaking the silence. “Ridgeview’s proposal is strong, and I’m sure there are other teams we haven’t heard from yet. If we want to win, we need to give it our all.”Alex leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping restlessly on his laptop. “What if we include a

Chapter 35 The day after the competition felt surreal. Jamal and his team were still basking in the glow of their victory, but reality had already begun to settle in. The excitement of winning the Future Innovators Competition was just the beginning. Now they had to put their plan into action, and that was where the real challenge began. Jamal sat at the kitchen table, his laptop open in front of him, spreadsheets and emails strewn about. He was deep in thought, contemplating the next steps for SkillBridge. Rachel sat across from him, sipping her coffee, a grin on her face. “Are we really doing this?” Rachel asked, her voice filled with excitement and a little disbelief. Jamal looked up, meeting her gaze. “We are. This is just the start.” They had secured some initial funding from the competition, but they would need more to scale up. It wasn’t just about getting more partners or funding—it was about creating a sustainable, impactful program that would change lives. Rachel

Chapter 37Jamal was in the middle of presenting their updated roadmap for SkillBridge at a school assembly when chaos erupted in the audience. A loud argument broke out between two parents, each accusing the other of stealing their child’s spot in the program. The room fell silent as Principal Roberts stepped in to restore order.“Mr. Davenport,” he said calmly, turning to Jamal. “Let’s take a brief pause while we... handle this situation.”Jamal nodded, but inside he was panicking. This was supposed to be a moment to inspire confidence in SkillBridge, not a free-for-all in the crowd. He glanced at Rachel, who shrugged, and Zoe, who was trying (and failing) to suppress a giggle.“Well, that went great,” Zoe whispered as they stepped offstage. “Nothing says ‘trust us with your future’ like a brawl in the audience.”“Not helpful,” Jamal muttered, running a hand through his hair.---Back in their makeshift headquarters—a cluttered classroom turned office space—the tension among the tea

Chapter 39The bustling hallways of Lincoln High were as chaotic as ever, but Jamal had grown used to the rhythm of it. He maneuvered through the sea of students with ease, his mind racing with thoughts about SkillBridge and the mountain of responsibilities that awaited him after school. Yet, no matter how much he tried to focus, the lingering presence of Marcus was like an itch he couldn’t scratch.It had been weeks since Marcus had reappeared, strutting through the halls with a smug look that hinted at plans best left unspoken. Jamal had tried to steer clear, but their paths crossed more often than he’d like. And with the whispers about Marcus’s family still lingering, Jamal couldn’t shake the feeling that trouble was brewing.As Jamal reached his locker, Rachel and Alex were already waiting for him, their faces serious.“We need to talk,” Rachel said, her tone leaving no room for debate.Jamal raised an eyebrow but nodded. “What’s up?”Rachel glanced around to make sure no one was