Beautifully Broken

Chapter 1

Anaya POV:

"You want me to what!?" No matter how much I had tried, I could not keep the disbelief and the shock out of my slightly raised voice. Mr. Stevenson quirked an eyebrow at my raised tone as he narrowed his eyes at me under the circled spectacles he had on. Blushing slightly, I mumbled an apology under my breath.

"As I was saying Ms. Adams before I was interrupted." Folding his palms on the desk in front of him, Mr. Stevenson carried on speaking. "Mr. Caden King is returning back to school starting tomorrow and I would like you to be his peer guidance counselor." My eyes widened with each word that processed in my brain.

"You." Pointing at the short middle aged man sitting in front of me who at the moment was glaring at me, "Want me", I pointed the finger back at myself before continuing, "To be the peer guidance counselor of a criminal?" I definitely did not expect to be hearing this when I had gotten the memo about the Principal wanting to see me after the last period.

"Caden King." The principal did obviously not like the fact I had addressed him as a criminal but like hell was I going to apologize over that. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that the principal has thrown my way.

"Wasn't he sentenced to two years in prison?" I voiced out my thought scrunching my eyebrows together in thought. How come he was out in just a year?

"Mr. King has his whole future ahead of him Ms. Adams. The court let him out on good behavior." I'm sure the King fortune had something to do with that. The Kings were the wealthiest family in town and basically owned it. How Caden was even sentenced to prison came as a shock to everyone in town. I guess everyone had expected daddy to buy out the law in order to save his only heir.

"He has always been a bright student so the board has decided to not have him repeat the years he has missed. He will be starting as a senior just like you Ms. Adams." The principal continued explaining the whole process to me obviously not caring that I was sitting there gaping like a fish out of water the entire time.

"Can't somebody else do it Mr. Stevenson? Its senior year and I do not want to take up a counseling case right at the beginning of the year." Finally I had managed to open my mouth and form actual sentences. There was no way I was up for being partnered with an ex-convict.

Shaking his head, Mr. Stevenson pinched the bridge of his nose, "Ms. Adams, you're the President of the peer counseling club and I'm afraid that if you decline this offer, I will give it to someone willing." A smile formed on my lips. That was easier than I thought. "Along with your position." And I spoke too soon. Giving the man the best glare I slumped in the chair. From the look of his face, Mr. Stevenson knew he had me cornered and the mean old man was fighting a smirk that was forming at the edge of his lips.

Letting out an exaggerated breath I sat straighter before speaking, "Fine, I accept but you will let me keep my position as president of the club." I needed that position for my college portfolio and Mr. Stevenson obviously knew that little fact because at the moment the man sitting in front of me was smiling like a Cheshire cat.

Lightly slapping his hands on the table he began explaining the whole process to me, "You will meet Mr. King tomorrow morning before school starts and you will be his peer counselor for the term. As usual, you will be helping him with his classes, be there if he needs someone to talk to and you will be making sure he stays out of trouble Ms. Adams." He made sure to give me a pointed look at the end of the sentence.

"Okay sir." With that I stood up, threw my pastel colored backpack over my shoulder and turned around to walk out the door. Just as I touched the door handle, Mr. Stevenson called my name making me stop and turn around.