Two national United States news stations called her for interviews. Didn't they know to go through her agent? It looked as though Bee's dad finally got to calling during his lunch. Next, Naughton had called. She wondered where he had gotten the information about where she was staying. Then there was another call from Tibby. Then there were a few well wishers from school that she really didn't know very well.
Bee decided that Tibby would be the first person she would call back.
"Hello?" Tibby answered the phone.
"Hey. You called?"
"Hey! You were great! Whats it like having a gold medal?"
"When you get your Oscar, you'll know how I feel."
Tibby chuckled, "Seeing you on TV is so weird!"
"I wish you guys could have been here."
"Me too. We have to do something together when you get home."
"I promise we will. All four of us."
"Okay."
"I will warn you though, it may be a while before I get home. I have to do the interview circuit, then I have endorsements to do. Eric asked me to go on a vacation with him when this is all over. We'll always have our weekend."
"You promise now that you're a star, you won't forget us little people?"
"I promise Tibs. I'll keep our weekend free."
'Thanks," Tibby paused, "Listen, I'll let you go. I imagine you've got tons of people to call back, and that you're incredibly tired."
"You imagine correctly Tibberon."
"Okay. So bye. I'll see you near the end of the summer."
"Bye Tibs. I love ya."
Lena was next on Bee's list.
"Hey, Lena answered.
"Hey."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm great! Just really tired. You've just got to see the necklace Eric bought me. He must have spent a month's pay on it. God, its divine!"
"Damn," Lena replied, "I saw a picture of him coming out of a jewelry store in the Inquirer today when I was at the store. I was betting it was ring. So was everybody else in the entire world."
Bee chuckled, "He wants to take me on a vacation after we finish with all the press. Maybe then, we can take on the label 'dating'. Talk to me a year or so after that for the engagement," Bee heard a microwave bell go off in the background. "Am I keeping you from lunch?"
"It doesn't matter," Lena replied.
"So the Inquirer huh? Can you pick me up a copy?"
"Sure."
"You know you're someone when people care enough to put you on the cover of the Inquirer," she paused. Hearing Lena eat her food, "I should call Carma. It was really awesome to hear your voice. I hope I'll see you soon."
"Bye Bee. Congrats."
"Thanks Len."
"Hello?" Carmen's roommate answered the phone.
"Hey, is Carma home?"
"Actually, she went back to Bethesda for the summer." "Thanks Ashley."
"Welcome. Congratulations on the gold."
"Thanks."
The second time was the charm, "Hello?" Carmen's mom answered.
"Hey. Its Bee. I hear Carmen is home for the summer?
"Yes Bee. Congratulations. Here's Carmen."
"Bee!" Carmen shouted into the phone, "I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks. Have you seen the Enquirer like Len has?"
"Yeah, I was there when she did. Its a really bad picture of Eric."
"What was your bet for what it was?"
"Tennis bracelet."
"Gold three stone necklace."
Carmen gasped, "I can't wait to see it!"
"It has so much heart to it. He picked out a stone from every place we'd ever traveled to together. Baja, Pennsylvania, and Italy. A cobalt calcite, an amethyst and a diamond."
"Whats a cobalt calcite?"
"Its a rare gem found in Baja. You just have to see it to believe it. That stone is a family heirloom of his."
"Wow."
"We kissed," Bee confessed, "He fled afterwards. Not sure if it was because he has his game tomorrow or if he was scared. Maybe it wasn't meant to be like this. Maybe its my fault. I was wearing that black dress."
"Good choice. Anyways, if that necklace is as wow as you're saying it is, he wants you."
"I'll trust you on that."
"Crap," Carmen yelled, "The baby is crying and I'm babysitting. I've got to go."
"Bye."
Bee hung up the phone and dialed again. For some strange reason, she decided to call Naughton next.
"Hey Naughty! Proud of your old coach?"
"I always knew you had it in you. Let me tell ya though, I was yelling at the TV something fierce right before half-time."
"Thats sweet."
Bee could practically see Naughton blush, "thanks."
"Listen, thanks for the call. I've gotta call tons more people."
"You're welcome. Congratulations."
"Bye."
Bee hung up and dialed again. First her home, then Diana. There were so many more people to call, and Bee did that until 11 pm. She changed into her pajamas and then fell asleep.
