The Constant

Chapter 21

BEA POV

January 5th. It was officially the first day back. I had a lot of nerves because it was my first day back to school since my temporary move and now I was finally going to be forced to see Ryker again. 

I needed to look nice, pick myself up and carry on. It was my senior year after all and then that was it. College acceptances would be coming soon and I needed to keep my grades up. I applied to four schools, one in New York, and the other three in North Carolina. Ryker and I always dreamed of going to college together, but now I had no idea where that dream stood. He was even the only one who knew about the school in New York.

Mom agreed to drive me today so I had a few more minutes of relief until I had to face everything again which I was very grateful for. I just hoped that things would be okay again. 

RYKER POV

"Mom, Dad I'm leaving for school!" I yelled to my parents as I headed out the door to school. 

I tried contacting Bea everyday since that stupid party but with no success. Now that school was back, Bea couldn't avoid me forever. I was going to find her and talk to her and get us back to where we were. 

As I pulled out of my driveway I noticed Mrs. Turner's car was out of the driveway meaning she was probably taking Bea to school. 

I pulled into my usual parking spot and powered off to school, trying to find Bea. I passed Ari and her group of friends, who were all giving me the cold shoulder since my New Years party. I didn't care though, all I cared about was Bea. 

"Adams!" I heard Len's voice yell as he approached me. 

We clapped hands like guys do and he fell into step with me as I walked to the school. "Have you seen Bea Turner?" I asked him as we headed up the steps to the school. 

Len shook his head. "Nah man. You're still hung up on that chick dude?" He asked. 

"Well dude, Bea is my best friend and has been since I was a baby and I care about her deeply, so yes I would say I'm still "hung up" on her." I snapped. I liked Len but I was feeling frustrated so I picked up my step and got away from him. 

BEA POV

Being back at school was pretty anticlimactic. It felt pretty much like it always does returning to school after winter break. I had a few assignments already that I had missed previously but it was nothing that would take a long time. 

So far I have successfully avoided Ryker but I knew it was only a matter of time before I saw him seeing as we had four classes together. But for now I had art first, a class I shared with Miranda. 

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My first class of the day went smoothly and so far there was no sight of Ryker. "So are we gonna talk about the elephant in the room?" Miranda asked, breaking me out of my thoughts. 

"What elephant?" I asked innocently as I dodged a group of guys. 

She smacked my arm gently. "You know exactly what I'm talking about! You can't avoid Ryker forever." She reminded me. 

I ran my fingers through my hair, "I know, I know. Especially since we have this next class together." 

By this time we had walked to wear my calculus class was. I stopped short. "Are you going to go in?" Miranda asked.

I took a deep breath. The last students were shuffling in so by the time I walked in class would be starting, meaning no time for Ryker to try and talk to me. I nodded, "I think it's time." I answered. 

She squeezed my shoulder supportingly, "Good luck." She whispered. 

I walked in and immediately I saw Ryker. My heart was beating so hard I thought it was going to pop out of my chest. He looked good. As soon as I stepped in he looked up, his green eyes pierced into me. I tried to avoid eye contact with him and made my way to the back of the class room to the opposite side of the room.  

I had already picked up my assignments from my calculus teacher ahead of class so I was all set and could follow along with the class. I tried my hardest to follow along but it was proving difficult when all I could feel was Ryker's eyes on me the whole time. 

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After what felt like an eternity, the bell final rang and I shot out of my seat to escape out the back door. I tried to weave between the sea of people, desperately trying to ignore Ryker's shouts of my name. 

I thought I was away until I felt my arm being grabbed. I felt my body whirl around until I came face to face with Ryker. 

I rolled my eyes and started to turn away when I felt my arm being gently held so I would stay in place. "Bea." I heard his voice more firmly. 

I looked at him. "Please let me go, I have a class to get to." I said.

"Bullshit. You have study hall." Ryker said, his eyes bearing into mine. "Now I need to talk to you about New Years." He said. 

I crossed my arms and avoided looking at him. "I don't think there's anything to talk about." I said. 

Ryker tilted my chin up to look at me. "I think there is. I've missed you like crazy Bea." He said gently. 

"Yeah you missed me like crazy? Did you miss me when Ari Vonne's tongue was down your throat?" I asked sarcastically. 

He ran his hands through his hair which was starting to curl a bit from growing longer. "I really fucked up. I'm sorry." He apologized. 

"I just don't get it Ryker. When we were down in South Carolina things were so good. We kissed and you said you wanted to be more than friends. Then at your party you don't even bother finding me and instead kiss Ari?" I asked, my voice wobbling. 

"I know, I know I reacted badly. I saw you talking to a group of people and Jared was talking to you, his arm was around you and I thought maybe you wanted to get back with him, like you were having second doubts about me. I was jealous and I reacted badly." He said. 

"But why didn't you just talk to me? We're best friends, you know you're my number one person. You can always interrupt to talk to me." I told him.

He nodded, "As soon as you left I realized that. I'm so sorry Bea. I don't want to hurt you." 

I smiled, and cupped his cheek, kissing his other cheek."I forgive you... but you're on thin ice." I said with a ghost of a smile on my lips to let him know he was forgiven. His smiled was so wide it stretched across his whole face. 

He put his arm across my shoulders and we walked down the hall. "Well to get off this thin ice, how about I take you on a date, this Friday." 

I gulped, this would be our first official date. He chuckled at my caught off guard face. "I'm taking your face as a yes. I'll see you in English." He said casually, kissing my cheek before strolling into his class.