Chapter 9: The Bleacher Conundrum
The chilly morning air wrapped around Jay and Kenny as they sat on the cold, metal bleachers overlooking the football field. Their breath fogged in front of them, a reminder that winter was just around the corner. The field was alive with the sounds of cheerleaders practicing routines, the steady rhythm of their movements filling the air.
Jay sat hunched over, his hands tucked deep into his hoodie pockets, while Kenny balanced his ever-present laptop on his knees. The screen's glow reflected off his glasses as he typed furiously, pausing occasionally to glance at his notes.
"Alright," Kenny began, breaking the silence. "Let's go over what we know so far."
Jay sighed, leaning back against the bleachers. "Do we have to? I feel like we've gone over this a million times."
Kenny shot him a look. "Yeah, and until we figure out what the hell we're doing, we're gonna go over it a million and one times. So, humor me."
Jay rolled his eyes but nodded. "Fine. Go ahead."
Kenny adjusted his glasses, tapping a few keys on his laptop. "Okay. First point: your mom was working on Project Orion. Big, fancy nanite tech to supercharge the immune system. All above board, right?"
"Right," Jay confirmed, nodding. "That was her passion project. She was excited about it, always talking about how it could save lives."
"Cool. Now, second point," Kenny continued, "she used to work at Raven Industries. That's where Jan White comes in. Jan worked with her there, and the flash drive labeled 'Jan White' is packed with files about illegal chemical weapons, shady deals, and God knows what else."
Jay frowned. "Yeah, but Mom left Raven years ago. Why was she even looking at that stuff again?"
"Exactly," Kenny said, pointing at him. "That's the big question. Did Jan give it to her? Did your mom dig it up on her own? Either way, they both ended up dead within days of each other."
Jay's fists clenched in his lap. "And we still don't know who did it or why. The Fallen gang isn't involved—they're just street punks."
Kenny nodded. "Agreed. The Fallen aren't smart or organized enough to pull off a murder like this. This is something bigger."
Jay exhaled sharply, the frustration bubbling to the surface. "Okay, so we've got my mom's connection to Project Orion, her past at Raven Industries, and this flash drive full of incriminating data. But no leads on who's behind it or how to prove it."
"Exactly," Kenny said, typing something into his laptop. "Which brings me to my next point: the flash drive."
Jay glanced at him. "What about it?"
Kenny leaned forward, lowering his voice. "It's the only real evidence we have. Without it, all we've got is speculation and a lot of anger."
Jay nodded slowly, the weight of Kenny's words sinking in. "Yeah… but what do we do with it?"
"That's the tricky part," Kenny admitted. "We can't just sit on it forever. We have to do something. Go public, expose it. But who do we even trust with it?"
Jay tilted his head, thinking. "My dad's a cop. He's thorough and honest. But… this is Raven Industries we're talking about. It's way bigger than some local precinct can handle."
Kenny nodded. "Okay, so maybe not your dad. What about a journalist? The press?"
Jay hesitated. "And risk putting a target on our backs? Kenny, people have already died over this. My mom. Jan White. This isn't a game."
"I know it's not," Kenny said firmly. "But if we don't do something, what's the alternative? Sit on this forever and hope the bad guys forget we exist?"
Jay rubbed his temples, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "There's no good option here, Kenny. If we go public, we risk everything. If we do nothing, my mom's work and Jan's death mean nothing."
Kenny nodded solemnly. "That's why we need to figure this out. Together. We've come this far, Jay. We can't back down now."
Jay stared out at the field, his mind racing. "Alright," he said finally. "We'll figure out the right move. But first, we need to go through that flash drive again. Make sure we didn't miss anything."
"Agreed," Kenny said, his voice steady. "Whatever we do, we do it smart."
Melanie's Arrival
Their conversation was interrupted by Kenny suddenly going quiet. Jay followed his gaze and spotted Melanie Parker climbing the bleachers. She was still in her cheerleading uniform, her ponytail bouncing with each step. Her green eyes were locked on Jay, her expression unreadable.
Kenny glanced between Jay and Melanie, sensing the tension. "So, uh… I'm gonna go," he said awkwardly, quickly shoving his laptop into his backpack. "Catch you later, man."
Jay barely acknowledged him, his focus fixed on Melanie. Kenny gave Melanie a small wave before hurrying off, leaving the two of them alone.
Melanie stopped a few steps away, crossing her arms against the chill. She stood silently for a moment, her gaze fixed on Jay.
"Jay," she said finally, her voice soft but firm. "We haven't talked."
Jay shifted uncomfortably, pulling his hood tighter around his face. "I know."
She tilted her head slightly, studying him. "Are you avoiding me?"
"No," Jay said quickly, leaning forward. "I'm not."
"It feels like you are," Melanie said, stepping closer. "You haven't answered my calls or my texts. I've barely seen you. And now, you're sitting out here with Kenny like everything's fine."
Jay sighed, rubbing his hands together. "It's not like that, Mel. I've just… I've been dealing with a lot. My mom, moving in with my dad… it's a lot."
Melanie's expression softened, but her voice remained firm. "I get that you're going through a lot, and I'm not trying to push you. But, Jay, you're shutting me out. It feels like you don't even want me around anymore."
Jay hesitated, his chest tightening. "It's not that. I just… I don't know how to talk about this. Everything's upside down, and I'm barely holding it together."
Melanie's shoulders relaxed slightly, but the hurt in her eyes remained. "I don't need you to have it all figured out, Jay. I just need you to let me in. You're not alone in this—you don't have to carry it by yourself."
Jay looked up at her, his throat tightening. "I know. I just… I'm trying."
Melanie nodded, her voice softening. "I understand. I mean, I don't understand exactly what you're going through, but I'm here. For you. Whenever you're ready to talk or open up, I'll be here."
Jay swallowed hard, nodding. "Thank you."
Melanie gave him a small, sad smile. "I still care about you, Jay. I miss you."
"I miss you too," Jay said quietly.
She lingered for a moment, then turned and made her way back down the bleachers, leaving Jay alone with his thoughts.
As the cheerleaders finished their routine and began packing up, Jay remained seated on the bleachers, staring at the field. His mind replayed Kenny's words and Melanie's heartfelt plea. The flash drive felt like a lead weight in his pocket—a constant reminder of the choices he had to make.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, standing and pulling up his hood. "Time to figure this out."