The Constant

Chapter 14

AN: I don't own the movie Titanic !***

RYKER POV

After leaving the Turner's house I quickly ran back to my house. I had a few things to pack and talk to my parents and then I was going to South Carolina and seeing Bea. 

I took out a duffel bag out of my closet and quickly began haphazardly stuffing clothes in the bag. That's when I heard the sound of the front door close. I quickly trotted downstairs and saw Mom carrying in some bags. I grabbed a few out of her hands and brought them to the kitchen. 

"Mom,' I started. 

"Ryker I can't give you any information on Bea, I told you they're having a hard time, just-' 

'Mom, I know where she is."  I interrupted.

She set her bag down, "What?" She asked. 

"I said I know where she is." I restated. 

"Ryker! Did you ask Joanne?" She asked. I shrugged sheepishly. "Ryker!" 

"Mom I had to know. I need to see her."  

She sighed, "I know. Which is why I've talked with your father. Go. Go see her." 

That was all I needed to hear to go grab my bag and key and head out the door. 

BEA POV

"C'mon Auntie Bea watch me dance!" one of my nieces yelled. 

"Okay I'm watching." I said, turning my attention off my book. 

She giggled and spun around in a circle. She was cute and made me smile but I couldn't help but still feel lonely. I remember being that young and happy and carefree. When I was five, life was great. Dad's drinking didn't start getting bad until I was seven, so I never had any problems at that point. I was so joyful, just spending time with Ryker everyday, playing games and taking walks with both of our parents. 

Life was so easy then, so happy, the future looked so good. 

"She's cute isn't she?" I heard a voice behind me say. 

I looked up and behind me and saw Heath. He quietly took a seat next to me. "She is." I replied with a small smile on my face. 

"I remember when you where that little. I was 14 when you were born, it was so weird when Mom and Dad told me they were having you. And I know growing up we were so far in age that we were never really close but I remember everything." Heath said quietly. 

"You know it's weird, all these years growing up I've felt like you and me were in different worlds, but now here we are and suddenly  we feel almost equal." I said. 

He squeezed my hand, "You've always been in my world, sorry I wasn't always in yours." He said, a trace of guilt in his voice. 

I squeezed his hand back, "You're here now Heath, and that's what matters."

He gave me a small smile. "We're going to go a community Christmas party tomorrow night, do you wanna come with us?" He asked. 

I shook my head. "You four go. I don't want to intrude." I said. 

"Bea, don't say that. You are never intruding, honestly. Please come." 

"I'm just not really in the Christmas spirit. But you guys go, really. I want you to have a good time." I told him. 

"Okay, but let me know if you change your mind, we're not going until tomorrow night anyway." he said. 

I nodded, but knew that I wouldn't be going. 

RYKER POV 

The rain was coming down hard, making it almost impossible to see the road ahead of me. But I was determined to keep going until I made it to Heath's house. 

I called him last night when I first got on the road. He seemed happy that I was coming down to see Bea. He said that she was sad and just wasn't herself, she didn't even go with them to get a Christmas tree. I was worried, this was usually her favorite time of the year and she was always so happy. I just needed to see her and help her. 

Tonight Heath, his wife, and two daughters were going out so Bea would be home alone and it would be the perfect time to just talk with her one on one. 

I was about thirty minutes away so I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Heath's number. 

"Hello?" 

"Hey Heath, it's Ryker. I just wanted to let you know that I'm about thirty minutes away from your place." 

"Okay that sounds good. We're about  to leave the house ourselves. Thank you for coming down to see her. You mean a lot to her and that means you mean a lot to me to. Take care of her okay, because honestly,  you may be the only one that can."

BEA POV

"Let Jack on! There's enough room for the two of you!" I yelled at the television as I watch Titanic for the hundredth time. Heath, his wife, and kids left the house about a half hour ago so I had the big house all to myself. 

I decided to order myself some pizza so I was just waiting for it to come. 

Even pizza made me lonely as it was always me and Ryker who got pineapple and bacon on our pizzas. No one else quite appreciated it like Ryker. 

The doorbell rang, breaking me out of my thoughts. I paused the movie and stood up from the couch. 

"Just a minute!" I called out while I went to get my wallet. 

I quickly picked it up and fished out some cash while I opened the door. 

"Hello, how much?" I asked, not even looking up. 

"I'm free of charge." That voice got straight to my core. 

My eyes shot up and there he was, like a bright light. 

"Ryker?"