DISCLAIMER: ALL HUSH HUSH CHARACTERS BELONG TO BECCA FITZPATRICK

THIS STORY: This is my first story EVER, it starts off very slow (the beginning is intro's and get to know the characters before story really starts), it's VERY OOC, and Nora comes across very weak, especially towards the beginning so I ask you to keep in mind, this is a girl who is very young when this story really starts to pick up she's a young teen and has no experience with love of any kind really. Patch is five years older and has a lot of experience, but none of it with love, especially from his dad who was abusive. Both children are emotionally neglected, they only have each other and the events that will bind them together. It may be hard to start with to understand the way Nora feels, the choices she makes and what she puts up with, but eventually I think you will understand if you see it through a little bit. Like I said though, this is my first story ever so I'm learning the ropes. Please be kind, please read and review, it's the only way I will know how to improve and what you think...thank you and I hope you enjoy :)


FOLLOW YOUR HEART

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCING THE FAMILIES

Clista Grey looked at the four kids playing in the back yard. It was a large expanse of lush green lawn surrounded by impeccable gardens fitting of the upscale high-class it belonged to. The yard had an oversized opening on the left property line that was flanked by the same eight foot high shrubbery that was bright green and perfectly manicured lining the property line creating a natural privacy fence. Everything about this house and property screamed money and begged attention. If you walked through the arch joined the Cipriano family plot. Clista didn't live here, she had her own grand home, no this home belonged to her son Harrison Grey and his gold digging wife. Harrison had inherited an obscene amount of money when Cyclist's husband Nick had died, much to her dismay her Harrison and his wife Blythe had become the epitome of socialites. Her son now ran the multimillion dollar company her beloved husband had built from scratch with his hard work, blood and tears into what it is today. He had died many years ago and upon his death their only son, Harrison, had changed.

Harrison was a very smart man, except when it came to wife. He was kind of on the quiet side, but meeting Blythe he had become barely recognizable to Clista and that was not a compliment. Now all Harrison and his wife cared about was their precious appearance and reputation, both controlled how high they could climb the social ladder. That's what Blythe had turned her son into, everything Clista hated. Money hadn't changed her, she remained an intelligent woman with a spine of steel and a wicked sense of humor who spoke what was on her mind. Clista had a huge heart that had endless love for her grandchildren and those who earned her respect with no regard to money or society status. She had values and morals, she was equal parts traditional and not. While Clista's days were filled with her grand baby's and charity work her son's were filled with work and snoozing clients. Blythe spent her time socializing and planning elaborate parties they would host or help organize for the who's who in Coldwater Creek, Maine. Harrison's wife's time 'off' included mani/pedi's, getting her hair done and shopping, after all looks and money were everything in their circle of 'friends'. Let's not forget the time Clista was sure she spent cheating with the snake Hank Miller. Her son was a fool for thinking Blythe was in love with him, in fact her granddaughter, Nora, looked more than suspiciously like her son's best friend, Hank. Clista couldn't stand the thought that her son had been cheated on, but it would never change the love she had for Nora, no Nora was every bit her heart and soul as her sister Vee.

Clista took in the scene before her while relaxing by the pool. The new neighbors were old friends of Harrison and Blythe, the Cipriano's. They had much in common she thought, too much for her taste. The couples identical minus the type of company's they ran, they were in a different line of business, other than that they were cut of the same cloth, caring for no one but themselves and their precious status. Unfortunately both couples had felt the need to bring children into the world for the wrong reasons, first they would have an heir for their company. The second was because at the time it was the 'thing to do' since it completed the picture on the Christmas cards they sent out each year, you know the one's with the perfect husband, wife and two kids. It disgusted Clista, not the children, she was thankful for them, just not the reason they were here. Children needed good attentive parents who showed them love and affection. Nick would roll over in his grave and teach his boy a lesson if he knew how things had turned out. Clista did all she could for her granddaughters knowing they would be left to nanny's to be raised when she wasn't available so she gave up much of her life to spend time with the girls. Not that she minded, not at all since she'd always loved kids, they made her feel youthful and gave her back her spunk and the love she had missed since Nick's untimely passing all those years before. They offered entertainment and offered her back a good dose of humor, watching Nora and Vee grow and play was the perfect way to spend her days and had the added pleasure of her watching them drive Blythe nearly insane when they didn't act according to her expectations. Blythe wanted them dressed and behaved perfectly all the time, especially in the presence of company. In the most part they were excellent girls thanks to Clista, but she couldn't help but chuckle at the time they gave her daughter-in-law a run for her money.

Today was a gorgeous summer day perfect for the kids to all play together outside. Clista wasn't sure about these Cipriano boys yet knowing the trouble boys could be and these two had basically been raised by nannies so far to her understanding. With her protectiveness this made her extra cautious looking for any signs of trouble.

Harrison and Blythe had Vee was five years older than her little sister Nora who was five. The Cipriano boys conveniently were the same age as the girls. Patch Cipriano was a couple of months older than Vee and even at the tender age of ten the boy was a looker and could charm a snake and sell ice cubes to an Eskimo. He was charming and handsome with his raven black hair that was kept just a little bit long so that it curled at the nape of his neck, his eyes where sharp and slate black, darker than a million secrets stacked on top of each other and that scared Clista. His smile promised trouble with a capital T. She wasn't to sure yet if she liked him, she didn't want him being a bad influence on her grand kids, it was nice to have neighbors their age to play with though. The youngest Cipriano was Rixon, he was a handsome boy like his brother with blue-black hair and well-mannered, but again Clista had a feeling he had the potential to be trouble too. With looks like these two they were going to be heart breakers when they were older, she just didn't want those hearts to be Vee or Nora's. She did have a soft spot for them already though since these boys futures were already planned like her granddaughters, they were expected to take over their family's business like it or not when they became adults, no freedom in that much to the disgust of Clista.

Even at this age every school and class these kids took was handpicked with precision for both bragging rights and entrances to top colleges and universities that their parents fully intended on selecting for them.

Rixon was one month older than little Nora and if Clista knew anything about Blythe, which she did, she would bet her fortune Blythe had their wedding already mapped out. It wasn't long after thinking that that she would hear a conversation between her and the boys mom, Artlett, planning the future of the two youngest children. What could be better for the both of them then to have their kids merge the company's incurring more wealth and prestige for them and their future family's, more money than they could ever spend and definitely didn't deserve. Blythe was spoiled enough and by the looks of things so was Artlett. Clista set her mind to fight tooth and nail for these kids, when the time came for them to choose their futures and their partners, if they choose to have them, she would be there to insist they were with someone they truly loved and they would follow their own hearts in all that they did instead of caving to what their parents expected of them. In the meantime she would sit back and enjoy the time she got to watch them play carefree without their meddling parents. It was a sight that warmed Clista's heart, one that she wished Nick was there to enjoy along with her.

It was Clista who would get up each morning and head over to her son's house to make her granddaughter their favorite breakfast and drive them to school. Nora loved chocolate chip pancakes and bacon while Vee liked eggs with cheese and sausage and a big glass of chocolate milk with hers. It made Clista smile to see how close the girls were in spite of all their differences.


As I said, this starts off slow, you will learn a lot more later about who Blythe Grey, Nora's mom, in the chapter Facts Of Our Lives especially. Again, many of you won't like the way Nora comes across, you can either try later chapters or move on. If you don't like the story I understand, find something you do like, if you're not sure scan ahead, if you have positive feed back or constructive criticism please let me know. Huge thank you to all who read and all who review!