"Wow! Look at them go!" Callie said with a small laugh to Vanessa. "Frank wanted me to play, but I told him I was a bit too… vertically challenged… to partake in this game! Besides, it’s nice to spend some time out here with you, and to get a good tan. I have a feeling I’ll be working for a good part of the summer on this photo- journalism class!"

Vanessa’s eyes sparkled as she turned to Callie, and she rubbed more sunscreen on herself. "Callie Shaw!" she declared. "You know you’ve never turned down a chance to play sports, no matter how short…" She stopped as Callie shot her a pointed look. "Um, how… vertically challenged… you are! You just don’t want to ruin that gorgeous ring of yours. Let me see it again," she begged.

Callie rolled her eyes. "Vanessa," she said, as she took off her ring for what seemed to be the hundredth time, "I think you’ve worn it more than I have! Maybe you should marry Frank!"

"Nah," Vanessa said with a smile as she extended her hand out to look at the glistening diamond. "But I have to admit, he has good taste in jewelry. This is a rock!" Vanessa pulled her hair into a ponytail, and then returned the ring to Callie, who herself smiled as she looked at it again. "Oh, Cal," Vanessa sighed happily as she looked at her friend. "Can you believe that you’re actually getting married? I mean, we have to set the date, buy the dress, choose the songs and reception hall, book the…"

She was cut off immediately by Callie, who looked overwhelmed. "Whoa, Vanessa! I haven’t even thought about that! I mean, Frank’s parents were thrilled, and my parents were, too. Of course, Frank had already asked my dad, the little sneak!" The affectionate tone in Callie’s voice let Vanessa know she was secretly pleased that he had done that. "Anyway, I’m just getting used to being engaged. Who knows?" Callie closed her eyes and turned to the sun, and tried to suppress a smile, since she knew Vanessa was hanging on to every word.

"Who knows what?" Vanessa prodded. Callie was driving her crazy! Vanessa couldn’t wait to start planning for the wedding.

"Maybe we’ll elope," Callie said, dead seriously, and turned again to her friend, who had a stricken look on her face. "I’m kidding, Vanessa," she said, and laughed when she saw the look of relief wash over her face. "Geez," Callie chuckled. "I can just imagine how involved your wedding will be. I’m seriously just so happy to be with Frank. I know it sounds mushy and all, but I don’t care all that much about a big wedding and a frou-frou dress, you know?"

"Well, that’s why I’m your maid of honor, right? To worry about that stuff!"

"Are you?" Callie teased.

"I’m not?" Vanessa asked, stunned.

"Of course you are!" Callie returned, laughing. "It’s just you’re exactly like Joe. Frank told me that he already assumed he’d be the best man, without even being asked."

"Joe’s a wise man," Vanessa said playfully, as she watched Joe effectively spike the other team. "Woo hoo!" she called loudly. Joe, realizing he was being watched, took a grandiose bow and flexed his muscles. "YEEEAAHHH BABY!!!" he shouted.

"Oh, boy," Callie muttered, embarrassed. "You two aren’t exactly subtle are you?"

"Oh, live a little!" Vanessa said, exasperated, to Callie. "Why be conservative? If I wanted to go over and kiss Joe right now, I’d do it." Callie was only half-listening. She watched as Frank helped up someone on the other team who had fallen as a result of Joe’s spike. She gave him a little wave, and he winked at her. She was again struck by how much she loved him.

"Cal?" she heard Vanessa ask.

"Hmmm?" Callie replied, sitting up and stretching.

"So tell me, before the boys come back, about this project of yours. Do you have to write more articles? I mean, Frank must be so proud of you about what happened. I know I am!" Vanessa responded.

Callie blushed as she lay back down. "I didn’t tell him, exactly. Look, Van. It’s no big deal, really."

"No big deal?" Vanessa interjected, shocked. "Of course it’s a big deal. I mean, the day after you get engaged, the article that you wrote gets published. Then, a national newspaper, U.S.A. Today, sees it, loves it, and runs it in today’s paper. Buy, like, 20 copies later! It’s something to show your kids! What’s not to tell? You have to stop being so modest, Cal. Be an advocate for yourself—no one else will do it for you."

Callie shook her head. "Don’t give me kids yet, Van!" she chuckled. "I mean, it’s nice and all, and I was lucky to be able to get in contact with the local paper through college, and to get the messages from the national one through college as well. But—I don’t know. This engagement has taken priority."

"Yeah, well, it should," Vanessa said. "But still! Now, you can get national exposure and get your ideas about conservation out."

"I guess," Callie replied humbly. ‘They want me to write a few more articles as well, and I will, soon. It’s just been a crazy few days."

"True," Vanessa agreed.

At that moment, Frank and Joe jogged up to them, and the girls’ conversation was temporarily forgotten.

"Did you SEE ME out there?! I was on fire!" Joe exclaimed.

Callie rolled her eyes at him. "Nah. I tried, I honestly did, but for some reason, I couldn’t get any good sun, and I had to keep adjusting. I guess that big head of yours must have blocked it out!" she joked.

Joe stared at Callie for a moment, enough to make her nervous. "What?" she finally asked.

"Oh, so that’s how you wanna be! Fine then, Shaw. The battle’s on!" With that, he picked up a nearby bucket, quickly filled it with sand, and dumped it on Callie.

"Joseph!" Callie shouted, wiping the sand off. "War is declared! Bring it ON!" she said, standing up and flexing her own muscles playfully.

Joe snorted. "Now I’m scared," he replied.

And so, for the next half an hour, Frank and Callie battled Joe and Vanessa in an old game from high school called "Sand Wars" that Joe had invented, very similar to snowball wars in the winter. Soon after, with Joe and Vanessa firmly in the lead, Frank and Callie gave up. They spent the next hour or so wading in the warm, calming ocean water.

After that, the two couples decided to head up to their rooms to get washed up and changed for dinner. After her shower, Callie changed into a simple sundress and went to put on make-up when she saw Frank smiling at her from the bed.

"Yes?" she asked, amused, holding back a smile. "I’m afraid to even ask why you’re staring at me."

"I’ve got a surprise for you," Frank said, simply.

Callie turned around, and gave him a questioning glance. "Um, okay. I think you’ve done more than enough already, though!" she added, showing him her ring. "Let me just put on some make-up really quickly."

"You look beautiful. You don’t need make-up," Frank replied, sincerely.

Callie smiled as she looked at him.

"Now!" he said, excitedly. "Come over here!" He patted a spot on the bed next to him.

Callie laughed as she noticed how happy he looked. "You sound like a little kid!" she said, but sat down next to him anyway.

"Close your eyes," he said with a grin.

Callie did as she was told, feeling a little silly. At the same time, she loved how sweet and thoughtful Frank always was. "Can I open them yet?" she asked him, after a minute.

"Now who sounds like the little kid?!" she heard Frank tease.

"Touché!" she smiled, wrinkling her nose at him.

"Okay, now you can open them," she heard him say. There was a large package gift- wrapped in silver and pink. Puzzled, Callie gave Frank a questioning glance as she opened the gift.

"Oh, Frank," she said to him, feeling her eyes fill with tears. There, in front of her, was a copy of the paper from today, which had run nationally. Somehow, Frank managed to have the entire thing laminated, cut professionally, and framed. Her name was highlighted. She was speechless.

"Do you like it?" Frank asked, looking over her shoulder. "It’s your first national run, and I thought I should get you a little something to commemorate it. Congratulations, baby. I’m proud of you."

Callie finally found her voice. "B… but how did you know about this? I didn’t tell you."

Frank smiled, and replied, "Well, you told Vanessa, and Vanessa told Joe, and Joe naturally told me."

"Naturally," Callie laughed softly. Reaching over, she hugged him tightly. "Thank you. I love it. I don’t think I deserve you sometimes," she added, squeezing his hand.

Frank gave her a quick kiss. "Well, I know I don’t deserve you any of the time, so we’re even- almost!"

Frank leaned back on the bed, sitting up against the headrest. Callie sat next to him, snuggling close as she looked again at the frame in her hand and grinned.

"So, why didn’t you tell me?" Frank asked her.

"Oh, hon, I meant to, but… well, I didn’t know you’d propose!" Callie replied leaning back against him.

"I’m glad I did," he said.

"Me, too," she replied, blowing him a kiss. Frank laughed.

"But, you know, there is a funny story about this article, and the photos. I wasn’t even going to do it. You’d probably enjoy this. It’s a little bit of a mystery." Noting Frank’s interested expression, Callie recounted the story of the men in the woods, the rifles, the old video covers she found, and her trip back to the woods with Vanessa. When she was done, she couldn’t help but to notice the concerned look on Frank’s face.

"What?" she asked him.

"The whole story seems kind of fishy," Frank said. "I don’t like the fact that you went back alone, either. Please be careful, Callie. If you ever stumble upon something like that again, ask me or Joe to go with you. Choose one of us if the other isn’t available. Promise me. We can handle stuff like this."

"Like mosquitoes?" Callie teased him.

Frank looked at her seriously, and Callie stopped smiling.

"Seriously, Cal. Me or Joe- choose wisely, next time, okay? Vanessa can’t help you if you get in trouble."

"Choices, choices," Callie murmured. "We did just fine on our own," she replied.

"Well, maybe I should go back tomorrow and check it out with Joe."

"Honey," Callie said, trying to be patient. "There’s nothing there. Thank you, anyway. The only thing that I found creepy was when I looked at the pictures that I developed, there’s this guy who seemed to be looking straight into the camera." She shuddered, and felt Frank tighten his arm around her. "But, when we went there the second time, nothing was there. I have before and after pictures, if you’d like to see."

Frank let out a small breath. "No, it’s okay. Your article got published, and I read it—it’s great. You didn’t send in a picture of anyone’s face. You were professional. Sorry if I over-reacted," he said, sheepishly. "But it did sound odd, and I just want to make sure nothing happens to you."

Callie smiled. "Well, thanks for the vote of confidence! If you ever want to see the pictures, I have a ton in my suitcase, before and after. When this series of articles is complete, I’ll throw them out. Well," she continued, glancing at her watch, "We should meet up with Joe and Van pretty soon." She got up to put on her make-up and finish getting ready, being careful to put down Frank’s gift.

In an instant, she felt Frank’s arms around her, pulling her back towards him. "W… what?" she asked, startled, clinging to him.

Frank just smiled, and kissed her tenderly. "We have time," he whispered.

Callie, lost in the moment, could only say softly back to him, "We’ll be late."