“What? Seriously?” Becca got up and carried her chair over to Krissy’s side of the table, placing it right next to her friend. She leaned close to Krissy so she could see the iPad’s screen.
Krissy looked over at her.
“Have you not checked your accounts?” she asked.
“I’ve got more important things to look at on my phone, Krissy,” Becca admonished.
“Baking recipes?” Krissy snidely asked.
Becca glared at her.
“You certainly seemed to enjoy that pie last night,” she pointed out.
“That’s beside the point!” Krissy retorted. “And there’s another lesbian joke in there somewhere, I just got to find it!”
“Would you forget about the stupid lesbian jokes and show me how ridiculous people are being about me online?”
“With pleasure.”
Krissy then set about showing Becca just
how ridiculous people were being about her online.
“See? Hashtag ChiefRoberts is big. Hashtag MarryMeBecca is huge. I bet you have a thousand new followers on Twitter, Becs!”
“None of whom I’m following back!” Becca said.
“Ooh, look!” Krissy said after a few more taps. “You’re a meme!”
More like several memes. A clip from the news chopper footage, when Becca leapt forward to grab the firewoman, was available for things like I got you and Save me and Help!, while a clip showing Becca stepping out of her house and rushing back inside, startled at all the flashbulbs popping, was available for things like WTF, Scared, and Surprise!
Krissy peered closer at her screen, watching that last meme.
“Jesus, were you even wearing a bra?”
Becca kicked her under the table.
“I was just checking the mail, Krissy! I didn’t think checking the mail would turn me into a meme!”
Things weren’t better on Facebook. At least for Becca. Krissy, on the other hand, was delighted that the picture she had posted showing all of the press waiting for “my BFF #BeccaRoberts (the #LesbianWonderWoman)” had gotten over 300 likes.
“This is so stupid!” Becca said through clenched teeth.
“Oh, look…” Krissy began in a saccharine-sweet voice, after scrolling through the comments, “someone named Melanie wants to know if I can introduce you to her! Oh, fuck! She’s hot! Like, hot hot!”
“Wow,” Becca said, taking the iPad from Krissy. “She actually is. And she lives close by in Del Mar.”
Krissy pursed her lips, annoyed and jealous. She reclaimed the iPad from Becca.
“That’s probably not even her in those pictures,” she said.
“Aargh!” Becca moaned, resting her head on Krissy’s shoulder. “What do I do? I never wanted any of this! You know me, Krissy…I just want to do my job, help people and stay out of the limelight.”
Krissy nodded. Becca really was that modest. Despite her previous commendations for service and citations for bravery, Becca had never developed a super-sized ego or actively sought adulation. When new people asked her what she did for a living, Becca always said simply, “Firefighter.” Which was technically true. But she wouldn’t mention that she was a battalion chief, let alone the first female battalion chief in the city’s history.
“I know, but this is the world we live in,” Krissy told her. “But you see, this is why I know the press conference is going to be televised. You’re big news and if you think the City of Carlsbad and the fire department aren’t going to show you off to try to capitalize on this, you’re crazy.”
“I read some of my voicemails this morning,” Becca said. “Two Hollywood agents want to represent me. Nightline wants me on their show. So does Good Morning, America. How did these people even get my number? Also, I lied earlier. I did check my social media accounts. Melanie isn’t the only one who wants to meet me. Every unmarried lesbian—plus quite a few married ones—want to meet me. One of the stars from The L Word tagged me in a tweet about female bravery; three of the women from the national soccer team tagged me in Instagram posts; and the International Association of Lesbian Firefighters—which I didn’t even know was a thing, wants me to do a Zoom call with all of their members.”