For Once in My Life

Chapter One: Dirty Little Secret

Hollie Smith sighed in relief as the end of school bell rang, she brushed a stray hair from her face and smiled glad that the day was officially over; she loved the children that she worked with but it had been a very long day. 

Hollie got to her feet and moved to open the door so the children could head out into the playground and off home with their parents; she waved to some of them that she knew before stepping back inside. 

It didn't take Hollie long to dismiss her class, she was so glad that it was Friday and she knew what she would be doing as soon as she got home. 

Hollie didn't have any plans for the weekend and she doubted that her two sisters would be bothering her; they had lives of their own while their mother was away on some cruise. 

Hollie started to pack away her things when she noticed that one little boy was still sat alone in her classroom; she sighed knowing instantly what had happened. 

It had been the same since Benjamin's parents had divorced two years earlier, his mother had him most days while his father picked him up on Friday and dropped him off on the Monday. 

Hollie peeked out of the classroom window and sighed not seeing Benjamin's father, she was sure that he wouldn't be long and she knew that he had to come straight from training to pick the little boy up. 

"Looks like your father is running late again," Hollie said shaking her head, it had been the same for as long as Benjamin had been in her class; she didn't mind waiting but other teachers complained about his father being late. 

Benjamin nodded his head, he looked at his teacher knowing that she was his favourite and he was going to miss her when he moved up a year in September. 

"I am so sorry," said a voice making Hollie jump, she turned to see Benjamin's father at the door; he was still in his training kit and looked exhausted after rushing to get to the school on time.

Hollie waved Sergio off, she understood that things weren't exactly easy for him since his divorce and it had taken him a lot of convincing to get his ex-wife to agree to stay in Manchester so that he could spend time with Benjamin. 

"Papa," Benjamin shouted excitedly, he rushed over to his father pleased that he was here; he had been worried that his father wouldn't make it and his mother was coming to collect him. 

Hollie busied herself with her work, she was done for the day and she knew that she would be able to head home and relax; she was almost looking forward to the summer holidays. 

"Goodbye Miss Smith," Benjamin called walking out of the classroom with his father, he waved to his teacher knowing that in a few days she wouldn't be his teacher anymore. 

Hollie waved back to him before she turned back to what she was doing, she shouldered her tassel and stud detail bag and moved to lock the door that led out onto the school yard; she was ready to head home now and relax for the weekend. 

Walking out of her classroom, Hollie waved to the other teachers that she passed knowing that they all felt the same way; she peeked at the headmaster's office as she walked passed knowing that she had made it another day without the truth coming out. 

Hollie knew what she was doing was risky, the school had a strict policy on their teachers dating parents of a student; there had been some massive fall out from that in the past that meant if caught the teacher would be sacked on the spot. 

Hollie shook her head, she wasn't going to cause any problems with her relationship and she knew that by keeping it a secret then she was less likely to get into any trouble with anyone.

***

Hollie pulled off her blue flat shoes as she stepped into her apartment, she sighed in relief as her feet touched the cold floor; she moved to pull her ginger hair from the messy bun that sat on top of her head allowing it to fall around her shoulders. 

Hollie brushed her fingers through her hair and moved to set her bag down on the counter, she peeked at the clock knowing that she wouldn't be home alone for long. 

Padding further into her apartment, Hollie wondered when her boyfriend of a year was going to show up; she knew that he was busy but he had promised to come and see her. 

Hollie started to rummage through her fridge trying to find something easy to do for her dinner; she was so focused on what she was doing that she didn't hear the front door open and close. 

The arms of her boyfriend wrapped around her waist making Hollie jump a little, she turned around to see who it was before she smiled at him; she couldn't believe that he had managed to sneak up on her again. 

"I missed you amor," Sergio Agüero murmured kissing Hollie, he hated that he wasn't able to do this every time that he saw her; he had to pretend that she was nothing more than his son's teacher. 

Hollie wrapped her arms around his neck, she knew that this was far from easy on the two of them; they both knew why they couldn't be open about their relationship. 

Hollie faced being sacked by the school for dating a parent of one of the children in her class, plus neither of the couple were prepared to deal with the backlash that came with being together. 

Sergio had been divorced from his ex-wife for three years now, it still felt strange for him that his marriage had fallen apart and he knew that it had been for the best. 

Sergio's hands slipped under her print blouse, he slowly started to guide Hollie back towards her bedroom; he hated that he wouldn't be able to stay long but he had dropped Benjamin off at a friend's house for a few hours.

***

Hollie wrapped her bed-sheets around her as she sat up in bed, she brushed some hair from her face as she peeked back at Sergio; she watched as he slowly got dressed and she knew that he had to leave. 

"Don't look at me like that," Sergio murmured pulling on his shirt, he hated that look that Hollie was wearing on her face; he knew that things weren't easy and he didn't like making her feel bad about herself. 

Sergio walked over to his girlfriend and kissed her, he knew that leaving like this made her feel like a cheap, dirty secret but they couldn't go public just yet. 

"Te amo," Sergio murmured softly, he cupped Hollie's face wishing that things would be easier for them; he had to wait until Benjamin was at least in a different class before he did anything. 

Hollie closed her green eyes and nodded her head, she had no idea what was going to happen; she feared that they weren't going to make it much further in their relationship if things carried on like this. 

"I love you too," Hollie whispered kissing Sergio, the sound of his phone made the couple separated before Sergio moved to answer it; Hollie watched her boyfriend walk out of her bedroom and she groaned. 

Hollie heard her front door shut and she laid back down on the bed knowing that she was alone again, she used to love the tiny moments that they shared together but since their first anniversary, she had no idea what was going to happen now. 

Hollie stared up at the ceiling, there were only a few days left until the summer holidays and she already knew that she wouldn't get to do what she wanted; she would be alone most of the time while Sergio was away.