Jack hesitated for a moment, his mind still racing with thoughts about the competition and the damaged car. The clouds above seemed to mirror his confusion and anxiety. He glanced back towards the library, where he had just missed Professor James, then back at Sam, who was gesturing for him to come down.
Reluctantly, Jack decided to head towards the fountain where Sam and the girl were standing. He was still uncertain about how to approach the situation with Professor James, but he knew that talking to Sam might help him clear his mind. As he descended the stairs, the girl by the fountain caught his eye again. This time, he could see her face clearly—it was Christina, the same girl who had gone with Professor James to the redemption competition.
Jack approached them, still lost in his thoughts about the competition and the mess he'd made with the car. Sam greeted him with a smile, while Christina gave him a polite nod.
"Hey, Jack! What's going on?" Sam asked, his voice light and casual, trying to break through Jack's distracted state.
"I've... got a lot on my mind," Jack said, trying to sound normal. "I need to talk to Professor James about the competition, but I think I've messed things up with his car."
Christina raised an eyebrow. "You damaged Professor James's car?"
Jack nodded, a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, it was an accident, but I need to make things right before I can even think about entering the competition."
Sam, sensing Jack's frustration, put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, man. Things might not be as bad as they seem. Professor James isn't the kind of guy to make a big deal out of small mistakes. He's probably just focused on the contest right now."
Christina looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually, I think I saw him heading towards the admin office earlier. Maybe you could catch him there. It would be a good time to talk to him before he gets too busy."
Jack's eyes lit up with a spark of hope. "Thanks, Christina. That's exactly what I needed to hear." He turned to Sam. "I'll go check the admin office right now."
The clouds above seemed to part slightly as if the sky itself was encouraging him to take action. Jack turned toward the admin office, feeling a renewed sense of determination. If he could just find Professor James and explain everything, maybe he could still make it into the redemption competition and fix the mess he'd created.
As Jack walked toward the office, he reflected on the strange twists his day had taken. From the mysterious figure under the bridge to the chaotic morning with the bike and the car, it seemed like everything was happening at once. But for now, his focus was clear: talk to the professor, fix the car, and get back on track with the competition. It wasn't going to be easy, but Jack knew he had to try.