Chapter 2: Destiny Undecided

"Alright class, that'll be all for today. See you all Monday!"

The minute the teacher had given them the okay to leave, the class swarmed out of the classroom like a bunch of busy bees into the hall. But one girl decided to stay behind, making her way up to the teacher's desk.

"Chloe? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing, Mrs. Margret. I'm just picking up Goh's homework."

"Oh, right. Sometimes I wonder why that child even bothers. With his bright mind, he could easily get into a university..."

"Who knows?"

Sighing, Mrs. Margret handed her the papers.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, dear. Tell your father I said hello."

"I will."

With that, Chloe took her leave, making her way out into the warm august air. A few of her classmates were hanging around the courtyard, chatting about their weekend plans.

"Hey Chloe, a bunch of us are going to the movies tomorrow. You wanna come?"

"Yeah, they're showing Pokemon in Love, the Director's Cut!"

Chloe shook her head, picking up the pace a little.

"Thanks, but I can't. I promised my dad I'd help him move some things into the new laboratory."

"Ha, lucky. Must be nice knowing what you're going to be when you grow up."

"Yeah, no doubt. She'll be a Pokemon Professor just like her father!"

"With her smarts, that's a no-brainer."

Chloe tensed up, looking down for a minute forlornly.

"Yeah...real nice."

Chloe hurried off, not wanting to continue the conversation any farther. The truth is that she didn't know what she wanted to do. Although she was well above the age to get a license, she had always put it off until she had figured it out. But that was easier said than done. Between gym battles, Contests, and all the other jobs that involved Pokemon training, she could never pick one path. What made matters worse was that everyone thought she stayed in school because she wanted to be a Professor when she grew up. Sure, she liked helping her dad in the lab every now and then, but she didn't know if she wanted to do that her entire life!

Chloe sighed with relief when she finally got to her front door. When she entered, she found the upstairs to be abandoned, although she had expected that. Her mother was at work, her brother Parker wouldn't get out from school for another hour, and her father...

KABOOOM!

...Was making a mess downstairs in his makeshift lab.

"Oh brother."

Sighing, Chloe made her way down to the basement. Sure enough, there was her father on the floor, covered in soot and coughing wildly while electrode rolled around him.

"Dad, are you okay?"

"Oh hi, honey! Don't worry, I'm alright. I was conducting an experiment with these electrode and, well..."

Chloe sighed, gently stopping one with her foot before helping her father collect the rest.

"So, how was school today?"

"Pretty good. Goh hasn't been here today, has he?"

"He was here earlier helping me feed Pokemon, but then he ran off. Said something about a Mew sighting or something?"

Chloe sighed. That's Goh for you, here one minute and gone the next.

"Thanks, Dad. Need help with anything else?"

"No, I've got it. You'd better go and give Goh his homework."

"Alright. I'll be home for dinner. Bye!"

"You'd better be. Don't want you kids having too much fun, now do we?"

"DAD!'

"Ha ha, I'm just kidding. Have fun."

Chloe just rolled her eyes. Her dad was so weird sometimes.

"Well, I know one thing's for sure. I won't be a Pokemon Professor like him. I'll definitely be more normal..."