Nora couldn't believe what Ethan had planned for the talent show. "You want us to sing a duet?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Ethan nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! We can sing that song we love, 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran."

Nora's heart skipped a beat at the suggestion. She loved that song, and she knew that Ethan did too. But performing it in front of the whole university? That was a different story.

"I don't know, Ethan," she said, feeling a wave of nervousness wash over her. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that."

Ethan's face fell, but he quickly recovered. "Come on, Nora," he said, his voice persuasive. "It'll be fun, I promise. And we can practice together until we feel comfortable."

Nora hesitated, unsure of what to do. But as she looked into Ethan's eyes, she saw the excitement and enthusiasm there, and she knew that she couldn't let him down.

"Okay," she said finally, taking a deep breath. "Let's do it."

Ethan grinned, relief written all over his face. "Yes!" he exclaimed, pulling Nora into a hug. "We're going to rock this talent show!"

As they hugged, Nora felt a sense of trepidation wash over her. She knew that performing in front of the whole university was going to be a challenge, but she also knew that she couldn't back down now.

Over the next few days, Nora and Ethan practiced tirelessly, perfecting their duet and working on their stage presence. Nora's nerves began to settle, replaced by a growing sense of excitement and anticipation.

But just as things were starting to fall into place, disaster struck. The talent show organizers announced that the competition was going to be fierce, with several other talented acts vying for the top prize.

Nora's heart sank as she read the list of competitors. There was a dance troupe, a magician, and even a rock band. How could she and Ethan possibly compete with that?

Ethan, sensing her unease, put a reassuring arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, Nora," he said. "We've got this. We're going to blow them away with our talent and charm."

Nora smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Ethan. He always knew how to make her feel better, and she knew that she could count on him to support her every step of the way.

But as they took the stage on the night of the talent show, Nora's nerves came flooding back. The lights were blinding, the audience was cheering, and she felt like she was going to throw up.

Ethan, sensing her panic, took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You got this, Nora," he whispered. "Just relax and enjoy the moment."

Nora took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. She looked out at the audience, saw the sea of expectant faces, and knew that it was time to shine.

With Ethan by her side, she began to sing, her voice soaring through the auditorium as they performed their duet. The audience was entranced, cheering and clapping along to the music.

As they finished their performance and took their final bow, Nora felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. They had done it – they had faced their fears and performed in front of the whole university.

And as they walked offstage, hand in hand, Nora knew that this was just the beginning of their journey together. They had overcome their first major hurdle, and she knew that they could conquer anything as long as they had each other.