Chapter 80The following days felt like a whirlwind. With Rachel and Alex in town, the team had been running at full speed—working late into the night on revisions, brainstorming marketing strategies, and refining their pitch for potential investors. The presence of the two new members energized everyone, but the pressure was building, and Jamal could feel it weighing on him more than ever.By the end of the week, the team had made significant progress. Ethan had worked out a few major bugs in the app’s back-end code, while Leah and Zoe had finalized the marketing plan. Rachel had dived into the user research, offering insights that helped tweak their messaging. Alex, despite his packed basketball schedule, had been instrumental in helping refine the pitch. His ability to break things down in simple terms had been a game changer, allowing them to clearly communicate Skilbridge’s value proposition.But now, it was time for the next big decision: who to approach first for investment.Ja

Chapter 82The weeks following the pitch meeting were a whirlwind of emails, calls, and countless hours spent refining Skilbridge. Jamal, Leah, Ethan, and Zoe had their hands full, but the added energy of Rachel and Alex's visit kept them all grounded. Though their college lives were busy, their commitment to the app kept them connected in ways that were impossible to ignore.It was a crisp, sunny Friday afternoon when Rachel and Alex finally made their departure. They’d spent the last few days back on campus, catching up with old friends, attending meetings, and lending their expertise to Skilbridge. But now, it was time for them to head back to their respective schools—Rachel to Stanford and Alex to Boston for his basketball team’s next game.Jamal and the rest of the team had made plans to meet up one last time before they left. The campus quad was buzzing with activity, students lounging in the grass, discussing everything from upcoming exams to weekend plans. Some were walking be

Chapter 84The sun rose over campus, casting a warm glow on the bustling college grounds. Jamal was the first to wake, thanks to the blaring alarm he had set on his phone. He groaned, fumbling to turn it off before dragging himself out of bed. The faint sound of Ethan’s keyboard clacking could already be heard from the other side of the dorm.“You don’t sleep, do you?” Jamal asked, rubbing his eyes.“Sleep is for the weak,” Ethan replied without looking up. “I’m tweaking the user analytics dashboard. We need better insights on engagement metrics before the next beta test.”Jamal chuckled. “You know that’s not healthy, right?”“Neither is missing our meeting with Clarke,” Ethan shot back.Jamal’s eyes widened. “What time is it?”“Relax,” Ethan said with a smirk. “We’ve got two hours. I just wanted to see you panic.”“You’re the worst,” Jamal muttered, grabbing his towel and heading to the bathroom.---By the time Jamal returned, the dorm was alive with activity. Leah and Zoe had arriv

Chapter 86The morning of the investor pitch was met with nervous energy. Jamal woke early, sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the pitch deck on his laptop for the hundredth time. The stakes had never felt higher.Ethan was already awake, of course, sipping on a mug of coffee and fine-tuning the app’s demo on his screen. “You ready for this?” he asked without looking up.“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Jamal replied, closing his laptop. “How’s the demo looking?”“Solid,” Ethan said confidently. “It’s running smoother than ever. We’re good to go.”The rest of the team slowly trickled in. Leah arrived with a large paper bag of pastries, followed by Zoe, who was balancing a tray of coffee cups. Evan strolled in last, carrying a rolled-up banner that read: "Skilbridge: Bridging Gaps, Building Connections."“Why do we need a banner?” Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow.“Presentation is everything,” Evan said, unfurling it dramatically. “You’re welcome.”Leah chuckled. “I’m with Evan on th

Chapter 88The atmosphere on campus was buzzing with life as students spilled out of lecture halls and lounges, creating a lively hum of chatter and movement. Jamal sat on a bench near the main quad, sketching out ideas for a new project in his notebook. Skilbridge was still in the back of his mind, but he decided to let it simmer while focusing on other aspects of college life. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to take a break from the pressure. The app, the meetings, the constant rush—it all felt like a weight that had slowly crept onto his shoulders.Leah joined him, balancing a tray of iced coffee and a small paper bag filled with pastries. “I got your usual,” she said, handing him a cup with a smile.“Thanks,” Jamal replied, taking a sip. “You’re a lifesaver.”Leah settled next to him on the bench, tearing into one of the pastries. “So, how’s the app coming along?”Jamal paused, glancing at his phone screen where the Skilbridge dashboard sat open in front of him. “It’s… comin