Hope

7

(Sorry for lack of updates for the past year! I couldn't figure out where to write this so now this is around Season 8 Episode 22) 

"Graduation's a month away," I said as we walked out to the parking lot, " I can't believe it. We've known each other since we were 6 and we graduate in a month."

Jack sighed, " I know," he replied as we continued walking to my car, " and then we'll be off to college."

"How does time fly by so fast?" I asked with a laugh, " it doesn't seem like it was that long ago we started middle school."

Jack smiled, " I still have a picture of it somewhere, our first day of middle school," he told me as we got in my car.

"You do?" I asked, " that's amazing. And I'm still coming over for Sunday dinner tomorrow right?"

Jack stayed silent for a second before he answered, " I think so, I'll ask my dad," he replied, " and we're still doing that big dinner party thing at your house the day after graduation, right?"

"Yep," I replied. I sighed as I pulled into my driveway, Jack gave an odd look as I turned the car off, " sorry, it's just that, I was thinking."

Jack gave me another odd look, " about what?" He asked as we got out of my car.

"Thinking about how Chloe's not going to the same college as us," I replied as I unlocked my front door, " and I know she's only going to MSU and that's not that far but at the same time it still is."

Jack forced a smile as we walked inside, " It sucks, I know,  but you've still got me. And Michigan isn't super far if we go through Canada."

I chuckled as I set my bag down by the door, " have you done those little card things yet," Jack looked at me confused, " the ones that you send to your family so that they can come to your graduation?"

"I just have to send mine out, I have mine for you with me," Jack replied as he dug into his bag, " even though that you know I'm graduating."

I chuckled as he handed it to me, " it looks nice," I said, " mine is supposed to come in today."

We both stayed quiet for a few mintues until I heard a knock on the door,  I got up to answer it and saw Chloe on the other side, " hey, Stella. Hey, Jack," she said as I let her in.

Jack waved as Chloe walked in, " so," she started, " we graduate in a month, we've gotta do something big."

"Like what?" I asked, " you're the only one who's already 18, and we've gone to every major tourist spot in New York: twice."

Chloe smiled, " I know, but what if we did something even bigger?" 

"Well, we're having a giant party with all three of our families," Jack said, " we've got three months before we all have to go to college. What are you thinking?"

"What if we go on a road trip," Jack and I both looked at her, confused, " relax, it won't be a big and long one like in the movies. We could go to South Carolina or Michigan or Tennessee or whatever."

Jack laughed, " this has been in your head for months, hasn't it?"

"Kinda," Chloe replied as she flipped her bangs out of her face, " I've been thinking about this since senior year started."

Jack and I smiled as we continued talking about our upcoming graduation.

* * * 

The weekend came and went and the seniors all had to go to the nearby community college to use their arena to rehearse graduation.

Chloe, Jack, and I sat together towards the back as our principal explained the graduation ceremony.

"Have you gotten a dress yet?" Chloe asked me as the principal gave us a few minutes to talk.

"Not yet," I replied, " Mom's taking me tonight when she gets off work. What about you?"

"Bought mine last week, it's not even a dress, it's a jumpsuit," Chloe told me, " it's going to be awesome."

I smiled as we continued talking, " have you gotten a suit yet?" I asked Jack as I checked my phone for the time.

"I'm getting it tonight," He replied, " we already found it online. It's like the one my grandpa wears when he's at press conferences and stuff like that. It's really nice."

"Nice," Chloe said, " I wish I could wear a suit and tie to homecoming but the school said no, so the jumpsuit is my next best option."

"Wait," I said suddenly, " did we tell Chloe what happened this weekend?"

"Tell me what?" Chloe asked as she flipped her bangs out of her face.

Jack chuckled, " my uncle Jamie now has a fiancee," he told her, " he proposed Sunday morning before Sunday dinner."

"Congrats," Chloe said as we got up to get in the line we would be in for graduation, " this is going to be an interesting graduation."

* * * 

The three daunting weeks had finally passed and I was sitting in my room the afternoon before graduation. I sighed as I looked at my face in the mirror, I just finished doing my hair and my dress was already on.

I heard my phone go off from across the room and quickly picked it up and answered it, " hey, Jack," I said, " you ready for graduation?"

Jack chuckled, " no way," he replied, " what about you?"

"Nope, it's so weird. I've known all of these people for so long and in one night we're all going to be gone and never see each other again," I said.

"Well, a lot of them are going to colleges in state," Jack reminded me, " so we'll unfortunately still get to see some of them."

I chuckled as I looked in the mirror one more time, I sighed, " I gotta get going, I'll see you in a bit."

"See you in a bit," He replied. I hung up as I grabbed my keys and phone from my desk and went out to my car. I backed out and put on some music as I drove to the college.

"Well, tonight's the night. You ready?" Chloe asked as we adjusted our caps in the bathroom.

I smiled, " I'll say that I am," I replied, " even though you know that I'm not."

We took a couple of pictures with Jack and some of our other friends and classmates before we stood outside to walk into the ceremony.

* * * 

After everyone had received their diplomas and had thrown our caps in the air in a circle outside, we all went to our families who were so proud of us.

"I can't believe it," Ian said as he hugged me, " my baby sister officially graduated from high school."

I laughed as I hugged him back and Mom herded the three of us together to get a picture and soon after she got a picture of Jack, Chloe, and I together.

After multiple pictures and several hugs from family and friends, we all went back to my house.

"Well, we did it," Chloe said as we stood at the kitchen counter, " we finally did it."

Jack smiled, " have you decided where we want to go on this final road trip before we go off to college?"

"Kind of," She replied, " what about Cedar Point? It's not super far and it's been a while since we've gone."

I grinned, " that works, we just have to buy tickets and do it next week," I said, " it'll be less than a week-ish."

Chloe and Jack laughed as we continued talking, reminiscing about all of our high school memories.

really weird ending but I didn't know how else to do it. the multiple snow days I've gotten in the past two weeks have been helpful for updating!