It was you for a reason - Part 1
Summary: Beau Arlen is a single father and the Sheriff of Helena. You are the principal of Emilys School. After a harmless accident at school, Beau is required into the principals office. But will their parts cross again?
warnings: slowburn, flag, no use of Y/N, fem!reader, first time writer
a/n: this is my first time writing fan fiction, I hope you can forgive me because englisch is not really my first language. But I swear I'm giving my all :)
Part 1
Beau Arlen was working on a case with Jenny when he got a call from his daughters school. „Sheriff Arlen speaking“, I heard his voice answer the phone. „Yes Sheriff Arlen, here is the schools principal speaking. Its about Emily, would you be able to make it to the school. Don’t worry she isn’t hurt or anything.“ I was waiting for his answer. „Oh um yeah, sure, Ill be on my way right now.“
——
Shortly after that a knock could be heard on my office door „Come in“, I say and the Sheriff makes his way into my office, eyes landing on his daughter sitting in front of my desk. „Sheriff Arlen, thanks for coming on such a short notice. Please take a seat.“ I gesture towards the free chair next to Emily. „What seems to be the problem?“ He asks. I turn towards Emily with a sympathetic smile „Emily would you please tell your dad yourself?“.
Sheriff Arlen turns towards his daughter, with an expecting look on his face. Emily looked up at her dad for a moment, then nodded „I- uhm, I accidentally broke a window in class.“ She says, looking at her shoes. Sheriff Arlen looks at her. „Accidentally?“ He raised his eyebrows slightly. „How does one accidentally break a window?“ He replied. „I was throwing a ball with my friends, it was an accident!“ Emily protested. „I swear! I dient do it on purpose.“ Beau just sighed, running his hand over his face. „What am I gonna do with you?“ He asked, not expecting an answer.
Emily huffed. „Im sorry dad. I really am, I didn’t mean to.“ She said, looking genuinely sorry. „Well, we believe you Emily, but still the window needs to be replaced“ I speak up. Beau nodded. „Right.“ He grumbled, digging through his pockets, pulling out a leather wallet. „How much?“ He looks at me expectingly. I smile at him sympathetically „The school will send you the bill, Sheriff.“
„Alright.“ He said. He then looked at his daughter. „You’re gonna be working for me all summer to make up for this.“ He said sternly. Emily groaned, her head dropping. He didn’t care, she had to learn her lesson. „You got that?“ He asked, raising his eyebrow at her.
„Yes sir.“ She grumbled. Beau nodded and then looked back up at me. Im still sitting by my desk and watch the interaction between him and his daughter. „So, we all good now?“ He inquired. „Thats all from me“ I smile at him. „Okay.“ He returned the smile, then nodded. „C´mon Em.“
He gestured at her and she rolled her eyes, standing up and following him out of the principals office. They went out into the parking lot, Beau walking to his truck. He unlocked it, opening the passenger door for Emily, waiting for her to get in. Emily got into the car and sat down, crossing her arms, still frowning and looking unpleased. Beau roll his eyes slightly and sat down on the drivers seat. He closed the door and looked at his daughter. „Whats with the attitude?“ „I just-„ Emily cut herself off and huffed. „It really was an accident. I dient mean for the glass to break.“ She muttered. Beau nodded. „I know, but you still broke it. You should’ve been more careful, Em.“ He said, starting the car.
„And you're still gonna make me work with you all summer, right?“ She huffed annoyedly. Beau just grinned at her and Emily knew, that yes she would have to work for it.
Later that day, still in my pencil skirt and blouse, I was at the grocery store grabbing some vegetables. Completely focused on my choice of vegetables I didn’t notice, that Beau was also there t the grocery store, shopping for some food. He was still in his sheriffs uniform. He was looking at the fruits and vegetables, picking up a tomato and inspecting it. He looked down at the tomato and placed it in is basket. And just then, his eyes caught a hint of my form in the corner of his eye. He looked up, realizing it was me. „Oh… uh, hey.“ He said as he looked at me, a small bit of surprise in his voice. Just as surprised I look up and recognize him, I offer a soft smile. „Oh hello sheriff.“ Beaus heartbeat quickened just a little when I smiled at him. He returned the smile, nodding. „Hey, didn’t expect to see you here.“ He simply said. „Why not? Do you think a principal doesn’t need food too?“, I smirk at him. He let out a soft chuckle, smirking as well. He shook his head. „I guess I didn’t think of that.“ He replied, his emerald green eyes looking at me.
There was an awkward silence for a moment as he looked at me. He then looked down at my shopping basket. „So, what are you buying?“ He asked, breaking the silence. „Just some stuff for dinner“ I shrugged. „Oh, what’re you making?“ He asked curiously, his glance going down to my basket again. „Veggie soup“ I smile at him. He nodded. „Sounds good.“ He said, genuine smile on his face. „I don't cook much when I’m at home. Im more of a take-out kinda guy, but I know how to cook. I just don’t have much time for it.“ He said with a casual shrug. I smile, more to myself, but I kind of think its cute how he is rambling. But I need to stop thinking so, he is still a father of a student. „So what are you buying then? Doesn't look like take-out to me.“ He chuckled softly, looking at his basket of food. „I’m just grabbing something for me and my daughter.“ He said, then added jokingly „Who is still in trouble for breaking that window.“ „Don't be so hard on her, Im sure it really was an accident. And all in all she is a good girl.“ I tell him, and its true. Emily is a good student, Im not just her principal but also her math teacher and she really is a good kid. He sighed softly and nodded. „Yeah, I know. But I still want to teach her her lesson. Thats parenting, I guess.“ I chuckle „Well, as her principal I appreciate that.“ He let out a soft chuckle, his smile widening a bit.
He looked at my shopping basket again. „So… just cooking for yourself?“ He asked, curiously. Is he flirting with me? No im sure he isn’t. „Yes, just for myself.“ I tell him. He nodded. „No partner?“ He inquired, raising an eyebrow. I just shake my head at him, holding eye contact. He nodded again. „Why not? Someone like you should have someone.“ He said truthfully, although he didn’t mean to be so honest and blunt with me. He was just saying what he thought. „Someone like me?“ I chuckle. „Yeah.“ He said simply, his emerald green eyes looking at me. „Youre a beautiful and smart woman … You deserve somebody to love.“ I get a bit flustered. „Oh well Sheriff. Thank you very much … but its a bit more complicated than that.“ I answer honest, because it really is more complicated. Beau picked up that I got flustered, and smirked as he chuckled softly. He raised an eyebrow, curiously. „ Why would it be more complicated?“ He inquired, leaning against the aisle lazily. „Well as a principal I don’t really hav much time to … to date.“ I feel my cheeks heat up a bit. Beau scoffed. „Oh cmon, I don't believe that. You cant tell me that every second of your life is spent working. You have free time.“ He said with a bit of disbelief, chuckling softly. „I do yes. But I also am freshly divorced… so…“ He raised an eyebrow then, looking at me more curiously now. He wasn’t expecting that. „Oh you are?“ He inquired, tilting his head to the side a bit. He took a small step in my direction.
I bite on my lip, a bad habit, and slowly nod. „Recently divorced, huh?“ Beau continues to ask, the small smirk still on his face as he looks at me. He leaned against the aisle again. „Can I ask why?“
I look up at him a small chuckle escaping my lips. „Oh thats a long story sheriff.“
And just then, Emily comes into the aisle. „Oh hello Emily.“ I smile at her, catching Beaus reaction as he turns around to see his daughter. „Hello“ is all that comes out of the teenager, a normal reaction to students meeting their principal outside of school. Beaus attention is still on me, still with that smirk on his face. „Oh Ive got all the time in the world.“ Emily catches the vibes and looks between us. „Wait, are you guys flirting?“ She asks a bit curious and weirded out. Beau immediately looked at Emily, clearing his throat as his face flushed a bit red. „N-no.“ He said, hoping his voice sounded normal. He looked back at me, still a tiny bit flushed. I try to safe the situation and escape it by saying „ No we’re not Emily.“ I smile at her and then up at Beau „well, I wish you two a good evening“ and with that I turn around and go on into an aisle where I absolutely don’t need anything, but Im happy that I could escape that awkward situation.
Beau nodded, his eyes following my form as I left. He sighing softly as he looked over at Emily, who gave him a cheeky smirk. Beau just rolled his eyes at his daughter. „Quit it, Em.“ He said as he continued shopping. „I didn’t notice you were such a player, dad“ She said with a taunting voice and a mischievous look in her eyes. Beau scoffed. „Oh shut it.“ He said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. He was still focused on his grocery shopping, grabbing a pack of cereal and putting it in his basket. Emily chuckled, clearly enjoying teasing her father. She walked a few steps ahead of him, turning around so she could walk backwards and face him. „You were totally checking her out, dad.“ Beaus ears turned red at her comment. He looked at her, still walking and rolled his eyes. „I was not“ He died to deny it, but even he knew it was a bad lie. Emily raised her eyebrows, a smirk on her face. „Oh you so weever. You were looking right at her butt, when she left.“ Beaus face flushed an even deeper shade of rad at that. He let out a soft huff, rolling his eyes yet again. „I was not looking at her… butt.“ He denied it, but was doing a terrible job at it. Emily crossed her arms, a teasing grin on her face. „Come ooon dad, admit it. She’s totally your type.“
Beau let out an exasperated sigh. „And what exactly would that type be, huh?“ He inquired, raising an eyebrow at his daughter. Emily thought for a moment, a mischievous glint in her eyes. „Well, smart, curvy, probably a big reader, sassy …“ She listed off, grinning even more now. Beaus face became even more flushed as Emily kept listing off the traits. He tried to maintain his composure, but was clearly getting flustered. „Okay, okay, I get it. She’s an attractive woman.“ He admitted, begrudgingly. Emily smirked, satisfied with herself. „Aaaand you were totally interested in her, admit it. You were practically drooling over her.“ Beau roll his eyes, trying to hide the fact that Emily was absolutely right. He grumbled. „I was not drooling over her, Em.“ Beau said defensively, but his reddened face betrayed him. Emilys smile grew wider at her fathers denial. „Oh you totally were. I could see it. You were totally checking her out, dad. Im surprised you didn’t lick your lips or something.“ Beaus face went beet red at her comment. „Okay, I did not do that!“ He said, his voice slightly higher pitched than usual. He felt embarrassed and flustered, and was trying desperately to hide it from his daughter. Emily thought that for now she got her dad flustered enough, but she wont drop it any time soon.