Chloe continued what she was going to say. "There are so many downsides to being this 'prodigy' in college. I'm not old enough to drink, meaning I don't get to go to parties all that much and, when I do, the people have to make sure the place is 'kid-friendly' to make sure it is safe for me, making me feel like a pooper on everyone there. I also can't date anybody there because of my age, not like if I was back in my old school. It would not only be weird, but also illegal for any guy at college to do something like that. But what's perhaps worst of all". She froze and her voice started to sound more upsetting and sadder than before, like she was about to cry.
"What am I going to do after I graduate?" She now started to form tears in her eyes. "I mean, even if I stayed in college for all four year, I would graduate at 14, and what with child labor laws, I don't think I could get a job anywhere." Suddenly, her eyes opened wide at the starking realization she just had.
"Oh my gosh. I'll spend the entirety of my teenage life working." She buried her face into her crossed arms and wadded herself up into a ball, making Panda come out of his form. She started crying loud and uncontrollably, discomforting the bears once more until Grizz could no longer keep them in silence.
"Chloe, I…I don't understand. I thought you enjoyed being in college, around more understanding people." Chloe did not respond at first, still crying and her face still tucked into her arms.
"I…*sniffle*. I like that others are more caring towards me, but I don't like how much of my childhood I missed out on. Kids my age shouldn't be in college; I should be in 5th or 6th grade right now" she pleaded towards them.
Panda ended up asking "What about the bullies"?
Chloe looked at Panda to answer him. "They only picked on me because of my age, possibly jealousy also, but mostly my age. If I were as old as them, I wouldn't have ever have been bullied."
Grizz could not watch her be disappointed anymore and had to react. "Then why do you stay? Why don't you just tell your parents you'd rather not be there anymore?"
"you mean like… dropout?" Chloe responded.
"No, no. I mean, why not just go back to the earlier years you talked about? You don't have to go to college if you don't want to. We didn't after all" reasoned Grizz.
Chlow sniffled, wiping the last of her tears away "I suppose that could be possible, but my parents wouldn't approve."
Panda budged in this time. "How would you know?"
There was a long silence in the room as Chloe did not answer. So quiet, the wind outside could be heard blowing against the cave. Then she instantly started up again. "Going to college always seemed like what they intended for me. They were always so happy about my excellence and praised me CONSTANTLY! To tell them I did not want to do all the move-ups would only hurt them and disappoint them. I don't want my parents to be upset, especially towards or because of me.", and then came the tears again.
Instantly, Grizz, being the oldest and somewhat wisest of his brothers, jumped in before she could continue. He was fast, like Ice Bear and his martial arts skills. "Chloe, hey-hey-hey, it's ok, really it is. Hey. Look at me Chloe." She did as he instructed with the widest, saddest frown he possibly could, nearly destroying Grizz from the inside with all that sadness coming from just one little person. He pushed past it and went on with what he was going to say. "Your parents would never be disappointed in you; they love you very much. They only were happy because they were proud of you, not because they wanted you to do it. I got a feeling that your parents want what's best for you, not them. If you don't feel like wanting to be in college, just tell them. I'm sure they would understand."
Chloe wiped away the tears on her face and shrunk her frown some for Grizz, choking her voice again. "You…you really…think so?"
"Of course I do." replied Grizz once more. "Every parent wants what is best for their child. We don't push anything on each other if we don't feel comfortable with it; we just support each other is all. That's what your parents were doing. They were supporting you, not encouraging you."
Panda inserted "I agree with Grizz. If you would rather be a normal child than a prodigy, go ahead. Don't make yourself do something you aren't comfortable with or want to because of what others think." He got up off the couch and walked towards Grizz and Chloe.
Ice Bear came up from behind. "Ice Bear is proud of you no matter what" he says, then adds on "Is what Chloe's parents would say".
Grizz looked back outside one of the windows to see how much daylight was left. There wasn't much, and Grizz wanted Chloe to get home safe rather than have to ride back through the dark forest. What if she encountered a wolf like Alpha Grizz thought. Or possibly even Charlie? This joke made him chuckle a little.
"What's so funny?" Chloe said in a melancholy tone looking up at Grizz.
"Ah, nothing" he replied with a smile. "It's gonna be dark soon. You should probably head home". Chloe nodded in agreement, feeling she might have overstayed her welcome and caused the Bears enough despair, but lifted by their comforting thoughts about her and her parents. She walked towards the door, grabbing her purple bike helmet from off the floor where it laid next to her yellow backpack. She placed it over her head and snapped the buckle.
"Oh, wait! My homework is still in the kitchen." She ran in quickly to grab it and turned the lights to the room out from behind her. She proceeded to her backpack to stuff the papers into it. Zipping it up and throwing it over her shoulder, she reached for the door knob and opened it, ready to escort herself out.
"Chloe, wait." Grizz shouted. Chloe didn't look back Grizz and just stood there with the door partially open. "When you get home, promise us you'll tell your parents about your sadness. They'll understand, trust me." Chloe said nothing and simply leaned her head down and closed her eyes to absorb what Grizz said.
"I promise." said Chloe, with just a sharp enough pitch in her voice so the Bears could hear her. "Bye Guys."
"See ya" panda shouted.
"Bye!" yelled Grizz. Ice said nothing and waved like the others did, but Chloe still did not look back at them. She stepped forword and closed the door behind her, then proceeded herself to her bike, and rode away from the cave. Hopefully the ride home would give her time to think about what happened.