"Sink it, then." Jonah shrugged. "If you can."
Jonah brushed the tablet across the table to Grace. Contacts, email addresses, and web links all filled the screen.
"Twenty-one inquiries. Twelve backers."
"A bunch of likes from startups like us," Grace scoffed. "Hard pass. We could do it and all, but...what's the point? Less risk, time, work, and energy to leave this whole thing behind."
"Exactly." Jonah quipped, a gilded smirk playing at his lips.
Grace raised an eyebrow.
"You literally could not be less persuasive."
"Besties say otherwise," Jonah tapped the screen, grinning wider.
Grace squinted, but Jonah glared back at her smugly, challenging. His moves were solid. He knew it, but more importantly in this situation, so did she. Problem was, if his partner balked at baby steps like THIS, they'd never be able to get anything financed before deadline.
He needed to close, fast. He tried a different angle. It was now or never.
"But no rush or anything," Jonah backpedalled. "Just twelve industry experts. Dozen randos, what could they know." He shrugged, shaking his head at the air in mock contempt. "Right?"
"Exactly. Dozen data miners backing a thing built by high schoolers when we may or may not be able to take their word."
He smiled. He had her right where he wanted her. "So don't take THEIR word for it, then." He scooped up his backpack, fishing out a small envelope and handing it to her. "Take Grell's, Simpson's. Mine. We're more than capable of becoming big-name devs."
Grace rolled her eyes.
"Okay. Maybe not Jobs or Zuckerberg tech moguls, but WE sourced this app from the ground. WE built the database, WE tailored it for other high schools, and WE ranked first in Toronto. That's gotta mean something." Jonah reached for the tablet, opening the app. "All we have to do now is make it official. This could be our big buy-in if you give it a chance."
Grace pursed her lips together. "I don't know."
Jonah straightened up. "I do. I talked to Grell and Simpson the other day-they both agreed to pick us up as co-mods if we gave them our contacts list. Said they'll set us up as soon as we come back to them with all the applicant information cased away." He paused, giving Grace a look.
"You want me to vet 'em," she deadpanned.
"Put their applications through. Figured I'd save you the trouble so I went ahead and checked background myself."
Grace stalled a beat, then peeled the note from the envelope, paring through the contents of the letter carefully. She was grasping for an out, but Jonah knew she wouldn't find any. The contacts, references, links, partners, and authorizations he'd compiled all checked out. He just wanted her full, voluntary support and consent as his friend.
Finally, she gave up. "Fine," she sighed. "What are we s'posed to call ourselves?"
"Cardinaak Hacks?" Jonah asked.
Grace gave him a look.
"What? Grace CARDINAL, Jonah HAAK."
She clipped under her breath. "Heart attack."
"What?"
"I said, 'I can probably do better than that'." Her measured scowl morphed into a slow, steady smile. "Nothing like a strong name."
"Fair. What's your alternative?"
She paused, giving it thought.
"Haardinal Solutions?"
Jonah flashed a grin. "Just the one we need."
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction based on the Degrassi television franchise, created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. All characters, settings, and concepts recognizable from the original work are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended, and this story is purely for entertainment purposes. The plot, any original characters, and additional world-building elements are the author's own creation. This work is non-commercial and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the original creators, publishers, or rights holders.