Was it possible to love two women at the same time? Craig thought very deeply as he lay beside his wife, racking his brain over what had happened in his life recently. Marie was beautiful and after twelve years together he respected her just as much as he did on that first moment they had fallen in love, despite their childless marriage. Together, they shared the disappointment of discovering that there would be no sons or daughters to call their very own, but what they had was the love for each other that kept their relationship intact.
He sat up beside her and slowly ran his fingers over her face. Marie slept soundly, dreaming, unaware of her husband's plight. He felt guilty about the situation he had gotten himself into during the past three and half months. If ever she found out about what he was doing, it would kill their trusted relationship stone dead. She was so faithful and trusting and he was now cruelly deceptive. It was becoming hard for him to hide the truth even more. The longer things continued, the harder the impact of discovery would become. He had to think about things rationally, but no matter how hard he did, the results were the same, it was either one or the other.
It all began on that first day at college. Craig entered his class and looked at the cluster of students. He called order so that he could make his formal introduction. Something he had done for the past eight years in his career as a lecturer in English literature at the sixth form college. There were the usual questions fired at him over clarifications on this and that. The process of getting to know each other went as smoothly as expected, until one student caught his eye. She was quietly spoken and stood out from the rest. He was captivated by her looks and her manners and the way she looked back at him. Craig felt as if he had known her from somewhere before, years ago, but that was impossible, she was still young. He found himself listening to her question and distracted by her beauty. His reply was hesitant and slightly confused, yet informative as it should have been.
Throughout that morning he found himself being forced to address the rest of the class focusing on her in particular. It was so hard for him not to notice her being there among the rest. And she knew it; smiling back at him with every glance he gave in her direction.
That morning Zoë felt nervous. It was the first time at Sixth Form College and she wondered how she would survive it. School was something she had always hated and now it was essential to complete her failed education to achieve the grades she wanted. At eighteen she had realized that her education was important to get the right job leading to the right career eventually. Careers meant success and money as well as a future. She had seen her mates getting the jobs they wanted and worked hard for while she herself rebelled against the establishment, thinking that jobs and money would simply fall into her lap no matter what. Reality had bit her so hard and it was time to re-think.
She felt alone amongst strangers. She had just cast aside a relationship with her long-standing boyfriend she had been with for three years. He was no good for her and she realized he was using her for everything he could get. Even the sex was not fun anymore and that morning she felt desperately lonely for the first time in years. She needed some kind of affection to make her feel happy At least and boost her confidence.
She listened to Craig giving his introduction. At first she saw him as another teacher, like the rest. Then as he progressed in his explanation of what they had to achieve between them she began to see that this set up was not the same as high school practice. He was sincere and made he himself more open and friendly in his approach to the studies ahead. It was different. The parental elements had gone. This man was more willing to teach as a friend. And, not only was he friendly, but he was handsome with it. She saw him in a different light to all those "cute" male teachers at high school. This man was someone who she could relate to as regards being a peer.
During the session break, Craig stopped her as the class dismissed. "Excuse me," he looked at the list of students and found her name. "Zoë Clarke, right?" She turned; surprised that he had singled her out. "Your questions were very interesting, especially regarding the differences between here and what you were used to at high school. Was it really that bad?"
"I hated it." She replied. Somehow he understood that. Quite a lot of his students felt that way, but they never queried as much as she did about the attitudes regarding teacher and pupil relationships and he was intrigued. "I don't want the same kind of treatment that I got in school."
"Yes, I can understand that. Here we treat you like an adult. The same pressures don't exist. It's up to you entirely now whether you work hard or not. I'm not going to force you like they did. I'm glad you raised that question. I think the rest got the gist of my answers too, don't you?"
"It was clear enough I suppose."
"Can I get you a coffee?"
"Yes, thankyou. I'd love one."
In the canteen they sat together, face to face at the single table in a corner. At first they were quiet regarding their conversation until it developed into something substantial. Craig asked about her high school days and she replied openly about her thoughts then compared to now. "Reality hits hard when it eventually creeps up on you," he said. "I remember my high school days clearly. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when it all ended. Took me a good seven years before I qualified in my subject, eventually. It was reality that made me think more seriously about myself and what I wanted."
Zoë listened and watched him intently. She wondered what it would be like to know this man more intimately. He seemed such a nice man with his first impressions. A mature guy that actually lowered himself to her level like nobody had ever done before. She looked around, noticing other students from their class. "What would they think if they see us together like this. I must look like the teachers pet or something?"
"Don't worry about that. I will most likely give the rest of them my one to one treatment somewhere along the line as time goes on." His eyes scanned every feature of her face, young and fresh without a blemish in sight. He was captured by her natural astounding looks. It had been a while since he had set eyes on such youthful beauty and she certainly had it. Her gentle and open personality even complimented it.
She thanked him kindly for the coffee and stood to leave the table. As she walked away he noticed more things about her. The way her short skirt upon her curvaceous rear hung above her thighs as she walked away leaving the rest of his imagination to fill in the hidden detail. She sexually aroused him and he certainly had the imagination that was needed. To him, Zoë was perfect and he saw her like most men would. He quickly tried to change his thoughts. He was married and happy with what his wife provided to him sexually, infact in all the years he had known Marie, he had never strayed once or even thought about it seriously as part of his agenda.
For four hours a week they saw each other. The lectures continued as usual. Life continued s normally as possible for both of them. But during those following weeks things had developed in both their minds. Craig found himself wishing she were there in class. He could not bare thinking about the prospect that she may be absent or give up her studies. Somehow, he had to see her consistently to feel good about himself. And the same respects with Zoë also existed. She looked forwards to him being at college. His very being their made her want to continue and study harder than should normally. With Craig in mind, there were no other reasons that caused her to be distracted. He became a central figure in her academic life, and he dominated her conversations with friends and family whenever they asked about her studies.
