Martha Critch drove up to the school parking lot and parked her van three spaces away from his truck. She always got butterflies in her stomach when she knew that she was going to be in the same building with him all day. It gave her a sense of happiness that no one else in her life had given her. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help how she felt.

"Bye, Mom!"

"I love you!"

Her two sons, Carter, who was 7, and Teegan 9, opened up the back doors of the minivan and got out. Martha snapped back to reality, "Have a good day at school!" she yelled out of the car window. She waited in the car until her sons were in the building, to save them from embarrassment. She then grabbed her briefcase from the passenger seat and headed into the school as well.

Martha, or Mrs. Critch as the students know her, taught 5th grade science at Lincoln Middle School. Her students loved her. Everyday they greeted her with smiles and happiness. Mrs. Critch was a favorite to many students. She was always there in case they needed help, and she was willing to work with each individual student to help them achieve their greatest.

"Hello Mrs. Critch!"

"Good to see you Mrs. Critch!"

She smiled and waved back, "Hi Eddie! Hello Althea!" Her students were very important to her and if they found out her secret she would be devastated. She tried her best to be a good role model, but there was one thing in her life that she was not proud of. The one thing her life that she would never tell a soul.

She got to her classroom and took a seat at her desk. Opening one of the drawers she takes out the syllabus. Today is a movie day. She would be showing the film "Fern Gully" to go with their deforestation lessons they've been having for the past week. The students start to filter into her room.

"Good morning class! Today is film day!" Everyone is class cheers for joy. Her students love learning, but film day has always been their favorite day of the month. Who wouldn't want to go to school to watch a movie? "Has anyone ever seen 'Fern Gully?'" About half the class raises their hands. "Deforestation has been a major issue in our country and this film will show a little bit about what happens. There are also little tidbits about how we can save our rainforests as well."

Mrs. Critch turns on the movie. She waits ten minutes before she announces to her class that she is going to the bathroom. "Please behave yourselves." She leaves the room and swears she hears some snickering as she closes the door behind her. She knew her class had a plan to do some nonsense while she was away.

Instead of heading for the bathroom she went straight to the principal's office. Her heart beating faster and faster with each step she takes. Beating with lust, she opens to door to the office and is greeted by the secretary.

"Is Mr. Garbel here today?" she asks the secretary, "Michael Weber had detention two days ago and I need to know if he is staying after again today. He's been having detention with me lately."

Anne Flicket, the secretary looks up from her computer screen at Martha and smiles. Martha and Anne have been best friends since they both started working at Lincoln Middle School. "Richard is in his office. You can go right in. But just to warn you Martha, he doesn't seem happy today."

"That's ok. I always have the knack of cheering him up." She walks away with a sly smile on her face, hoping Anne doesn't notice. Being her best friend, she would think Anne would understand why Martha was having an affair, but she didn't want Anne to get all motherly on her so she kept the secret from her too.

Anne was single. She divorced her husband two years ago and hasn't been on a date since. Martha thought that Anne had forgotten what it was like to be in a relationship. She also felt kind of selfish knowing that she had two and Anne had none.

She opens Richard's door and walks in. "You wanted to see me Mr. Garbel?" She closes the door behind her.

"No. I never called you," he says looking up from his computer. He seemed annoyed, but as soon as he saw Martha, his attitude on his face changed completely.

"Oh yeah, it was me who wanted to see you." She slowly walks toward him, trying to be sexy and act like she is walking on a runway, and sits down on his lap. She can smell his cologne and it smells like heaven has entered her senses. She leans in for a kiss and automatically he locks his arms around her waist and embraces her body. His nails dig gently into her back.

"You shouldn't be here," he says. "It's during school hours." Martha knew he couldn't resist her.

"I just wanted to see you before my day started," Martha started to get that butterfly feeling in her stomach again. She wants him right now and she can feel that he wants her too. She starts to kiss his neck and trails up to his ear over his cheek and ending at his lips. She feels him so much now. His pants getting tighter each time she shoves her tongue in his mouth. She begins to moan softly as his arms take an adventure around her body.

There is a knock on the door. Martha gets up and straightens herself out. Richard quickly slides his chair under his desk to hide his erection. They both have embarrased smiles on their faces, giggling too.

"Come in," he says glancing at Martha with a grin.

It was Anne. "Mrs. Critch, Betty Welch has come to the office. Says Charlie is interrupting class."

"Yes I will be right there. Thank you Ms. Flicket. And thank Betty for letting us know." She knew her class was going to be up to no good while she was gone. She had that feeling right when she left.

Anne walks out of the room and closes the door behind her.

"I will see you during soccer practice Mr. Garbel," Martha steals one last kiss from Richard and struts to the door. She glances back and gives him a smirk before she opens the door.

He blows her a kiss, "See you during soccer practice, unless you have detention today."

"I don't know. Does Mr. Weber have detention today?" Martha asks playfully.

Richard looks at his computer and types in a few words. "Not anymore," he says. He winks at Martha as she closes the door.

Mrs. Critch walks back to her classroom with the biggest smile on her face. She loves her little encounters with Mr. Garbel. Opening the door she turns straight to Charlie, "Do you need to be sent to the office Mr. Treel?"

Charlie looks at her nervously, "No, Mrs. Critch. I am sorry."

During lunch Martha spots Richard across the cafeteria. She tries to avoid his gaze because she doesn't want anyone knowing that the science teacher is fucking the principal. She especially wouldn't want her sons finding out about their relationship. They would be so hurt if they knew what she was doing, cheating on their father. It would be so embarrassing for them if the rest of the school found out. She insteads focuses on her own table of students that she is in charge of.

It's the last half of the day and Martha still can't stop thinking of Richard. This is how it's been for the last month.

It was before the school's annual bake sale. Her and Richard went to the school early to set up. He walked up to her and told her how beautiful she was. Ever since the beginning of the school year he would watch her from afar and imagine himself with her. He told her he fantasized about her at home at night and he couldn't stop thinking about her. Martha was not happy with her husband. All they ever did was fight, or just not talk to each other. It hurt every time Martha had to look at Jasper. That was when Richard and Martha had their first moment. They shared their first kiss and they both didn't want to stop. Martha was completely smitten.

"I can't do this," she had told him. "You know that I am married."

"You don't seem happy in your marriage. I've seen you with your husband and he doesn't deserve you. You deserve someone like me. Someone who will treat you with respect and satisfy you." She remembered his exact words and instantly she had fallen in love with him. She has been keeping the secret ever since.

The last bell rang and Martha goes to the field to help her boys get ready for soccer practice. She then goes back inside the school to Richard's office. She walks in without knocking knowing that he is there waiting for her. She closes the door behind her and locks it. There he is, laying on the futon he has placed in his office for students who need some time to relax. She starts to unbutton her shirt and walks towards him. He embraces her as she gets near and holds her in his arms.

"I've been waiting for you all day."

She lays down next to him and she can feel his hard erection. She places her hand over it and moans in satisfaction. She feels herself getting wet and starts taking off his clothes. She wants him right now. Their skin on skin makes Martha's breasts tingle. She takes a deep breath as he enters her, no time for playing first. It feels like her body's senses have exploded. He holds her with love and everything around her becomes a blur as her body feels pure ecstasy.

Martha gets up and starts to get dressed just in time for soccer practice to be over. It is Friday and she won't see Richard all weekend. She already feels lonely.

"I'll see you Monday," she says sadly.

"No you won't," he reminds her. "This is my week away to Jersey for a conference."

Martha has been dreading his week away for two weeks. She didn't want him to go, but she knew that she had no say in it. She would just miss him, that was all.

"Anne will be in charge," he assures her. She wasn't worried about who would be in charge at school. She was worried about getting that lonely feeling that she feels at home with Jasper. Jasper is a great guy and he is a wonderful father to their two sons, but he just doesn't fill the gap of the lust that she feels with Richard. Ever since the incident, Martha just couldn't see Jasper as a sexual partner anymore.

Martha picks up Carter and Teegan and heads home. Their pit bull, Brick, greets them at the front door when they arrive.

"Jasper are you home?" she yells to the empty house. "Hey boys please do your homework and I will start dinner."

"Ok mom," they say in unison.

She checks her phone and notices she has a message from Jasper. Staying late tonight. I will be home for dinner. Jasper works at Milton's Hardware and Tools. A hardware store down on main street. He's been staying late for the past week and Martha wonders if they lost an employee.

She heads to the kitchen to start dinner. She's thinking chicken fajita wraps, Jasper's favorite. Maybe it will make her feel better about Richard being gone knowing Jasper would be in a good mood. It's not that she didn't love him anymore. Martha did love Jasper, but something was missing between them and that something was filled in with Richard.

"Honey, I am home," she hears the front door close as she's putting the fajitas in the oven to melt the cheese. She goes down to greet him. She kisses him on the cheek and gives him a hug. Wondering about her mixed feelings, she wonders if she should just end things with Richard and forget it ever happened. They could always get help from an outside source, if Martha was willing to accept therapy. But would she be willing to be unhappy forever? Could she sacrifice that for Jasper's happiness?

"Dinner is almost ready," she says heading to the kitchen.

The small talk begins, asking about each other's day and talking about weekend plans. Martha acted casual like she always does and Jasper doesn't have a clue. Maybe she could keep it a secret a little while longer. No one will ever find out. If she was happy, then her family was happy. There was no point in bringing in drama to this perfect picture.