Chapter Three

"Selina, you ready yet?" Chloe yelled out. "Yeah, I'll be down in just a second!" Selina yelled back. It had been a month after Chloe had had that awful dream. Since then Chloe had not had another disturbing thought about Nick, which was a good thing considering that she was about to get married on Christmas Day which was in 4 months. It was 9:10am on a Friday morning... Chloe's graduation day. For the past 3 years she had dreamt for this day to come, and now it had finally arrived. She was finally going to graduate with honors from California's School of Design. Chloe felt a huge smile tug at the edges of her lips. She looked at herself in the mirror. A mature woman was grinning back, her chestnut hair tied back in a ponytail, wisps of stray hairs falling around her face giving her a sophisticated look. Her eyes sparkled, gleaming in the morning sun which filtered through a nearby window. Satisfied with her presentation she looked away from the mirror to glance at the clock hanging beside it. "Sh*t!" she called out. "Hurry up Sel, it's 9:15 already! The ceremony starts in 15 minutes!" "Yeah, I'm comin' already" she heard Selina yell back. Chloe heard Selina's footsteps as they raced down the stairs. Selina came into view. "Gosh Clo, you look great!" she exclaimed to Chloe. "Thanks" Chloe replied. She had gotten up at 5:30 in the morning to prepare an extensive beauty routine on herself. Looks like it paid off, Chloe thought happily. I can't wait to see Jesse's face. Just then the phone rang. Chloe ran over to pick it up. "Hello?" she said casually. "Hello Chloe! It's Jane! Just rang to tell you that we'll be there a bit late... but we'll be there! We wouldn't miss it for anything." It was Mrs Carter. "Oh hi Jane! It's so good to finally get to see you again. Yeah sure it's alright that you're coming a bit late. I can't wait to see you!" Chloe replied. "Well, sorry to be so short, but I've got to go, the kids are having a fight over something. I'm looking very forward to seeing you again after all these years Chloe. I'll see you soon!" was Jane's reply. She heard Mrs Carter yell in the background and then the soft click of the phone as she hung up. Chloe hung up too. It would be great to see the Carters again. Despite everything, she was glad they could come. Apparently Aaron coincidently had a promotional interview to do here, and the whole Carter clan decided to come along. Chloe had been in contact with Jane just a week ago, and had told her the good news about her engagement and her graduation. Jane had been so overjoyed for her, and insisted to be there at the wedding and at the graduation ceremony. Of course Chloe couldn't say no, and politely agreed. She just hoped Nick wasn't going to be there. But then again Jane had said her eldest son was over in Germany with the other fullas so he couldn't make it right? Not that he would want to come, thought Chloe. Although, deep down inside, Chloe was actually anticipating the thought that Nick just might be there. She wanted to see how he was... for some odd reason. It would have been ironic though... "Clo???" she heard her best friend yell out. Blinking she gazed towards her friend. "Yeah?" she said. "C'mon, do you wanna get there at all today? It's 9:23!" Selina retorted. "Oh sh*t!" Chloe swore realising just how late she was. Grabbing her graduation outfit & hat, she dragged Selina out the door.