It was a chilly afternoon in San Francisco, the sun was beaming high, as the bears sat in the living room discussing financial plans.
"Alright guys so how are we going to pay the electric bill, the phone bill, and the water bill?" Grizz threw out rubbing his head a bit as sorting out this type of stuff were usually the worst for him.
"Well I can try face painting for people on the street." Panda pitched in looking down a bit now as he honestly had no idea how getting cash worked. And it honestly scared him a bit at times as at any minute they could flop in getting money and be completely broke with no water, no food, no tv, no anything!
"Ice bear suggests we -" Ice bear began to add before he was cut off by a knocking at the door.
"I'll get it!" Grizz quickly said scampering up to the door and opening it
"Yes?" He asked before looking down to see Chloe below.
"Oh hey Chloe!" He cheerily said masking any type of worry. "I'm not sure if it's best you come right now, me and my bros are going through something.." He mumbled a bit pointing to the other two brothers gathered in a circle.
"Hey it's no problem, I might can help you guys with what's going on." Chloe threw back as she honestly wanted to help them.
"Uh alright then come on." Grizz moved away from the doorstep and let the Korean girl in as she went to sit next to Ice bear
"So what's going on? What's the issue?" She began
"Well..we're having some money issues and we don't exactly know how to get more money as it won't for sure get us enough money." Panda responded rubbing his paws together and leering down as he didn't feel fully comfortable telling the girl this.
"Well did you guys think of getting jobs?" Chloe asked
"Me and the bros already tried getting part time jobs actually, at a cupcake ATM but it didn't go too well." Grizz responded walking and sitting down on the couch now.
With that said the girl was hit with a speed bump. The only people who made money and were successful had part time jobs or jobs supported with degrees or some education. The thought then hit her Maybe I can get the bears to go to college and degrees!
Her face shown up and she excitedly began "O-Oh! I have an idea!" "You guys can go to my college and get a degree in whatever you want! And from there you can get a job based on that degree. A job that you actually want and love to go to everyday!" Chloe finished happily looking at the bear's faces for approval.
Panda held a look of excitement as his mind was willing to try this thing out while Grizz looked uncertain a bit looking down now and Ice bear just stared at her with his monotonous look.
"So what do you guys think?" Chloe asked a bit hopeful her idea would help them.
"I'm on board! That doesn't actually seem like a bad idea!" Panda grinned brightly.
Ice bear gave a small smile and said "Ice bear approves."
They all looked at Grizz now. The bear was honestly uncertain about this whole college thing. He wasn't even sure if it was for bears like him! But swallowing those doubts Grizz said through fake cheer "Yeah! College!.."
"Alright! I'm glad you guys like the idea, come to the college tomorrow so we can get you guys enrolled in." Chloe smiled and got up now "I have to go for now but see you guys tomorrow!" Chloe now left closing the door behind her.
"Guys do you really think this is a good idea?" Grizz shyly put in now unsure of wanting to do this college thing.
"Of course bro why would you think it'd be bad?" Panda questioned as Grizz also received a questioning look from Ice bear.
"Oh well…anyways I'm so excited for tomorrow!" Panda giddy said marveling in the idea of it
Grizz stood up and sauntered to his room "Hey bro where are you going?" Panda asked but received no response as the door closed shut.
"Ice bear suggests we give Grizz his space for a while." Ice bear told Panda and the Asian bear nodded in agreement.
After putting in his headphones and blaring through his 3rd play list he heard a knock at the door during a pause of one of the songs.
"C'mon bro come out of your room! You've been in there for hours! And I've been knocking for a good 10 minutes now!" Panda managed to get through the door continuously rapping his paws on the door.
Grizz answered the door much to Panda's dismay as he slipped onto the floor now as he rested himself on the door.
"Ngh.." He moaned before quickly getting up to look at his brother. "Dude this is the first time I'M saying this but you need to get out of your room."
"Why?" Grizz simply responded unamused looking at the other bear.
"Well one it's dinner time and two it seems like something is bothering you..is it the college thing? You know we can always forget about it if it's making you this uncomfortable." Panda reasoned putting a reassuring paw on the bear's back.
Grizz's eyes widened at the last part. While yeah he was uncertain and sorta uncomfortable with the idea he didn't want to ruin it for his brothers.
"No no man! Everything is fine! I just think I may be catching a cold or something.." he trailed off
"So anyways let's eat!" Grizz nervously derailed the subject ushering Panda off to the kitchen.
Panda gave a questioningly look but brushed it off going into the kitchen and siting down.
Ice bear simply placed the two dishes down. Which consisted of Panda's favorite salad and a big piece of salmon for Grizz.
As the three ate Panda and Ice excitedly clamored about college and how Panda researched on college and some things they do there.
Grizz initially picking at his food took big bites when they began talking about this college thing.
Quickly putting his dish in the sink he merely tiredly stated "I'm feeling pretty tired bros I'm gonna go to bed."
"Oh ok man! Goodnight!" Panda responded before going back to talk with Ice bear.
The bear lied in his bed now and slept off the rest of the day hoping tomorrow would be better.
It was morning and after a groggy wake up from his bros telling him Chloe is outside waiting and him getting prepared they all went with Chloe to the college.
While the headmaster was a bit a bit skeptical about letting bears get degrees she went with it anyways as she gave them a list of careers and asked which they wanted.
Panda confidently said "Web Design!" Ice bear said in his usual tone "Ice bear wants culinary arts."
Grizz nervously looked down at the list before quickly uttering "BIO MARINE TECH."
The lady gave him a questioning look but scribbled onto a piece of paper before giving them each schedules. Here are your classes you begin today since it's early and nothing has started yet.
As they took their schedules Panda ran off to get to his class and Ice bear walked out to go to his.
Grizz looked down at his schedule stuck in his own muse before Chloe snapped him out of it.
"Hey Grizz!" she said waving her hands in front of his face.
"Oh huh what?!" Grizz defensively went quickly looking around to look at Chloe.
"I saw you have the same class as me so I asked you do you want to walk with me to class but you just sat there zoned out." Chloe pointed out
"Ah..sorry sure thing Chloe." He said standing up and beginning to go with her to the first class Marine Biology.
And from Marine Bio to Calculus the bear just sat in the crowd of people and his mind zoned out unable to concentrate on the classes. And by the time it was english the bear was sleeping right by it being unseen past the hundreds of other students.
As the final bell rung it jolted the Bear as he quickly went out of the school to meet up with his two brothers.
Panda proceeded to excitedly say "HEY GUYS I HAD THE BEST DAY EVER! AND I HAVE SOME NEWS TO TELL YOU."
Grizz interrupted saying "Can't it wait until we get home?"
"No man it's actually really important." Panda stated before going on "So during lunch break I was sitting with some really nice girls and they told me about some dorms that are held across the street. It's really spacious and neat, and the rent is free for two months!" "I mean I know we can't all share one dorm..but it's just for while we're in college."
Grizz's body tensed at the mention of moving out and separating. While he honestly REALLY hated the thought of it, The idea seemed more practical instead of having to walk 4 miles in forest to the city and take a bus to the school.
"Ok man.." He said trying to stay upbeat about it.
And that night it was filled with moving stuff out, deciding who gets what decoration, and deciding to keep all old stuff in the shack.
Luckily the bears managed to get rooms right next to each other in one hall. Grizz felt a bit better upon that realization. After setting everything up in their homes Grizz asked "So pan pan how are we going to pay the rent?"
"Oh well maria said the cafe was looking for people of hire, I bet we can get the job and be able to pay the rent. The best part is that the rent pays for like everything else!" Panda happily explained wiping a tear.
Grizz then said "Well one thing I can say is that we can't go to school tomorrow. We've literally spent almost all night on this moving thing." He pointed out showing the clock that bared 4:30 AM on it.
Panda yawned and then said "I agree I'm gonna rest up now to be honest with you Grizz."
Grizz then waved "Ok then Goodnight bro.." Giving his brother a quick hug before going off to his room.
He went to his bedroom and lied down feeling a really bad feeling of hollow emptiness.
