The library was mostly quiet except for the occasional whispered conversations and the turning of pages from a book. Paloma was actually surprised that most of the students respected the fact that the library was supposed to be a quiet space.

Saira was seated beside her as they worked on their chemistry homework together. Science had never been one of Paloma's strongest subjects, but she had never failed a class before. Her chemistry class at Forks High however, was surprisingly difficult and she feared failing the upcoming midterm exam. Saira must have felt that same as she insisted that the study during their free period before the class.

Kennedy sighed as she picked up the forgotten newspaper that was left on their table, she was obviously bored and was trying to find any little thing to entertain herself with. Even though Saira insisted that she could go do something that didn't involve being holed up in the library for an hour, Kennedy still chose to go with them.

"Well shit." Kennedy muttered softly causing both Saira and Paloma to look up from their notes. They early waited for her to say something else but she didn't look up until she had finished reading whatever piece of news had caught her attention. When she finally set the newspaper down there was a concerned look on her face, which was odd for some like Kennedy who was always so bubbly. "Someone else went missing in Seattle."

"Doesn't that make five in the last week?" Saira asked her face also overcome with concern.

"What are you talking about?" Paloma questioned her homework long forgotten. She hadn't heard anything about people going missing in Seattle, if it had really been that many she was surprised that she had not heard about it before.

Ken looked to Paloma in shock. "Girl have you been living under a rock?"

"I guess so." She replied as she reached across the table and practically ripped the newspaper from her grasp. On the second page there was a picture of a young girl.

Bree Tanner. She had been missing for three days now, just one of many people who had gone missing the last two months. But not only we're people going missing but there were also a string of murders happening all across Seattle. They were being described as work from a monster, the victims being drained of their blood. Their wounds being described as that of an animal attack.

"I can't believe I didn't know about this." Paloma said in disbelief, she was never someone that would always keep up with all the news but these murders and missing persons should have been impossible to miss.

Her father usually had the daily newspaper on the kitchen counter and she would occasionally look through it when she found herself too bored to do anything else. It was then that Paloma realized that she hadn't seen a newspaper in their house in weeks. It could have been a coincidence, maybe her father just decided to keep the newspaper in his office instead. But something about it all just felt wrong.

"Why had you never mentioned this before?"

"Not exactly a fun topic on conversation." Kennedy countered, and although Paloma didn't exactly appreciate her friends snarky attitude that the moment she knew it was true. Talking about people being killed only a couple of miles away from where they lived was going to sour anyones mood. Even now the three girls seemed unable to find another topic of conversation.

Suddenly the already quiet library seemed to go deadly silent as the door swung open, or maybe it only seemed that way to Paloma who happened to look towards the door just as the Cullens walked through it. The five Cullen siblings entered the library, Edward walking in last and the moment that he went through those doors. His eyes met hers almost instantly from across the library, almost like he sensed her even in the library's farthest corner.

Paloma hated the way that her heart skipped a beat when their eyes connected. It had been three days since their conversation in the music room yet it was like she was in that moment again. Like it was just the two of them. That there wasn't a sea of people between them, and it was a ridiculous considering that she hod told herself that she would stop thinking about him altogether.

Paloma looked away first as she turned her attention back to the newspaper in her hands. She was beginning to get frustrated with her life in Washington. Being in control was what she like best and she felt like she had lost complete control of her life. Her father and brother were almost strangers to her, there was a serial killer a couple of miles away, and then there was Edward. The boy who confused her and everyone told her to stay away from. The only people that felt like they were any comfort were Saira and Kennedy.

"So, you never told us if that Paul guy asked you out again." Saira suddenly questioned as she closed her chemistry textbook, it seemed that she no longer wanted to talk about the missing girl or anything that was happening in Seattle.

Paloma was actually surprised that it had taken this long for with Saira or Kennedy to ask about what happened at the beach with Paul. Not that much had happened, but the two girls always like knowing who was dating who in town.

"Yeah it seemed like you two were hitting it off." Kennedy added as she sat up straight happy to talk about anything that didn't involve chemistry or murder.

"He just said that he would show me around if I ever went back to the beach." She replied simply, there wasn't much to say. Although she did enjoy her conversation with him on the beach they had also been interrupted by his friends so their conversation had been set short. Although she knew that Paul was interested he made no effort to set a date or give her his number.

Kennedy seemed a bit disappointed in her response, almost like she expected Paloma to tell her about an epic connection that she felt with Paul.'"Well you're going to go back right?"

"I'm not sure yet." Paloma admitted, the truth being that she hadn't thought about it much. Normally when she liked a boy she would get the boy. Although she did like Paul and felt attracted to him she had no urge to pursue any real relationship. Her mind was elsewhere.

Saira looked at Paloma as if she had lost her mind. Maybe she had. Her conversations with Paul had been brief but she was aware that he was perfect. That she should want to pursue a relationship with him. What reason did she have not to?

In that moment she found herself answering her own question as she looked up to meet Edward Cullen's eyes once again. He and his siblings were seated only five tables away from her she and her friends were sitting. She wondered just how long Edward had been looking at her, or if it was a coincidence that she happened to look up at the same moment as him.

If he had been looking at her she would have expected some kind of yearning in his eyes, but all she saw was anger. Or maybe he was annoyed. Paloma didn't know what she could have done to have earned that look, even when she finally looked away she could still feel his burning stare.

A/N: More of a short chapter, but it is important as it will set up some important plot points for the future. Very excited for the next chapter it is heavy with Paloma and Edward moments. We're almost at the end of Act One meaning that some of my favorite chapters are coming up. Only five more chapters to go before Act Two! Comment any moments that you are all excited for.