Hey, guys! Sorry it took me a while to start a new story! I've been dealing with some family things, but I'm back. As requested, here is another Hush, Hush story! I hope you enjoy!

"Hey, babe." I jumped at the sudden noise by my ear. I turned from my sketch pad and saw Darren standing behind me. I felt a giant grin spread across my face, even if it wasn't entirely real. Darren and I have been dating for about two years, and he still interrupted me when I was drawing, even though I told him countless times not to. Not to mention I hated the word "babe". I was not a minature pig, nor was I a toddler. What ever happened to "beautiful" or "darling"? Now, those words would be appreciated. But, I loved Darren, so I didn't bring up the interruption or "babe".

I stood and stretched before reaching up to kiss him. Darren was a good five inches taller than me, but I liked that. It made me feel extra safe when he pulled me into a hug.

"What are our plans for tonight?" I asked him as I put away my sketch pad and pencils. Sunday night was our date night, but he was over kind of early for it.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk about. The guys are going to a concert downtown and wanted to know if I'd tag along. I know it's not your thing, but I was thinking of riding down there and coming back to have dinner with you. I could just meet you at Al's...?"

He finished the last sentence as a question, like it mattered what I said. If I said no, he'd sulk all night, and who wants to spend time with a grumpy teenage boy? This was typical Darren, though. I agreed to meet him at the diner and he set off for his concert.

Was it too much to ask for to have a guy pick me up at the front door, open the car door for me and pull out my seat? Sure, Darren had been that way in the beginning, but I guess two years with the same person makes you lazy. Sometimes I wondered why I stayed with Darren, but then I'd remember the butterflies I get the first time I see him each day, the way he whispers in my ear when I'm least expecting it, the way he makes me feel like I'm the only one in a room. I loved him, and you stayed with someone when you loved them.

I went to shower and stood in front of my closet for twenty minutes trying to pick an outfit. My mom was away for work, so I just grabbed my car keys and headed out. I called my best friend, Vee, and made plans to hang out with her the next day.

When I arrived at Al's, it was packed and I had to sit in a booth in the far corner. I looked at my menu as I waited for Darren to show up.

When I felt eyes on me, I looked up to see midnight eyes boring into my face. The boy must have been my age and had hair just as dark as his eyes. The way he was staring at me made me uncomfortable; it was like he knew every thought in my head. I averted my eyes back to my menu, but saw him stand out of the corner of my eye.

When he walked over to my booth, my heart sped up; and when he sat down across from me, I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. Surely this wasn't an appropriate reaction to strangers, but this boy made me feel very uncomfortable.

"Hello, gorgeous."

I sucked in a breath and sat my menu down. "Do I know you?" I asked, conjuring up any smile I could.

"No," he smiled back. It was a smile that sent my heart into over, overtime. "But you will."

"Excuse me?" Did he not realize normal people didn't say things like that?

He chuckled to himself and looked down at the table. "So, where's your boyfriend? Doesn't he know it's not polite to keep a lady waiting? Especially one so," he looked up at me before continuing, "beautiful. There are some bad people out there," he concluded, gesturing to the window.

At that, I felt goose bumps rise up on my arms.

"He should be here any minute, actually. And what does it matter to you? I don't eeven know you." Who was he to question how much Darren cared about me? What was going to get me in Al's Diner? An overcooked egg, mad at the world? This boy was crazy, that much was obvious."

"Like I said, you will." He looked at me with those dark eyes and I felt my anger swell up even more.

"No, actually, I won't. Nowif you'll move, my boyfriend just arrived." He laughed softly and slid out of the booth just as Darren walked into the diner.

"Who was that?" he asked when he sat down.

"No one. No one at all." But if that was the case, why was my heart still beating like humming bird wings in my chest?

So, I know this Nora seems a little more in-your-face, but I like her that way. Let me know what you think!