The Stranger I Met

Epilogue

3 years later...

"Seriously though, which one Care?" I ask again standing in front of my laptop screen, which is resting on my bed. I'm clad in a magenta silk bathrobe holding two dresses parallel to me on both sides for Caroline to choose. But rather than giving me her undivided attention through her own laptop screen, she keeps checking her phone between intervals.

" You know you really shouldn't have answered my call if you are busy." I say in a clipped tone which gets me her attention immediately and she puts the phone down.

" My bad, sorry. Now I'm looking." She says resting her chin on her palm and looking at the two outfits.

"Well.." She rubs her chin pensively. "Red is the ultimate choice for today's occasion, there is no denying that." She comments and I push the red dress in my left hand a little in front of me.

"But we both know that emerald has always been your colour. Then why the confusion honey? Go for green." She says and I hear her phone buzz again in the background but she promptly ignores it.

"Are you sure?" I ask doubtfully, looking down at the two dainty dresses. "Hell yeah!" Comes the reply.

"Trust me babe, your CEO is going to go crazy when he sees you in that dress and what's with the rest of your body? Have you been working out. I can totally see the results on your shapely legs hun." I cover my naked legs with one of the dresses but realize that she is just rambling to distract me from my nervousness.

"Back to the point, Care. I'm totally confused, I haven't even picked up any accessories or hairstyles." I groan thinking about it. "I wish you were here with me. It would have been so much easier." I drop the two dresses on the bed and plop down on my knees on the floor to sit at eye level with the laptop.

" Aww! I wish I was there too. But you know these internships have been eating me up." She replies and I can't help but chuckle.

"Really? Is it the internship or a certain devilishly hot drama teacher who's getting you all exhausted." I wink at her and she joins me in my laughter hiding her face to cover the blush creeping towards her cheeks.

" No! I'm out on an internship." She replies but I crease my brows." Fifteen days before we graduate. Wow! That must be a really important one, right Care." I tease.

Caroline is the only one who remained with me after high school as she too got in H.U.D.A , something I wasn't surprised about considering the heap of credentials and talent she has.

She and Ryan broke up soon after school ended as he had decided to become a part of a newly forming band and long distance was not something Caroline wanted to commit to.

But soon after we started our college, our 35-year old unmarried drama teacher, Mr. Xavier Ferron, caught her fancy and they started dating in the second year. It's almost been one and a half year since then.

Their relationship is still unknown to many but doubted by all, me being on the enlightened side of it.

"No offense, girl-" Caroline starts, bringing me out of my train of thoughts and turning the topic towards me. "-But are you sure your boyfriend even remembers that today's your third anniversary?" That catches me by surprise and I push my hair over my shoulder.

" Of course he does? Why would you think that?"

" Well, for starters, it's five in the evening and he hasn't even wished you yet." My eyes widen a bit at her observation.

"How do you know that?" I back up a little from the screen.

"If he had, you would have been blabbering about it first thing after I picked your call. " She pauses and checks her phone again.