Paloma quietly curled Saira's hair as Kennedy went on some rant about the budget cuts that were being done on the cheer team. They had been getting ready for the dance for the last three hours, and for those three hours it felt so freeing to not have to worry about all the other problems in her life.

Initially Paloma had been worried about Saira and Kennedy coming over to the Ibarra house, she was afraid that they would get scared off. But it was more odd that she had never invited her friends over, especially when she had visited their homes before. Anyway both girls had been eager to go through all of Paloma's makeup. And it felt nice to do her hair and makeup with other girls, though it made her miss Luciana more.

They had finished according to Sabra's schedule, which was a good thing considering that she would possibly have a breakdown in things didn't go exactly as she had planned. And they all knew that Saira would never accept being late to anything, even a school dance.

When they were finished they headed downstairs where Rodrigo and Emiliano were sitting in the living room watching a soccer game. They both stood and walked over to the girls when they heard them come down. Paloma wasn't sure what she was expecting from her father, but it definitely wasn't the blank expression that wore.

"I want you home before midnight. Have fun." Her father said before opening the door to miss office and disappearing inside.

"Liano can you take some pictures of us?" Paloma questioned as she looked to her brother who was still standing by the staircase, the expression on his face was unreadable. Ever since his accident he seemed more withdrawn then usual.

"Sure." He said as he took the camera from her, his arm was still in a sling and the bruises were still prominent of his arms and face. They spent a couple of minutes takings pictures outside, the forced smile on Paloma's face in the all pictures not revealing how upset she felt. "Stay safe Palomita."

Paloma simply nodded as she watched her brother go back inside the house, and she knew that something was going on. That something was going to happen, she felt in the pit of her stomach.

"Wow and I thought your brother was intense." Kennedy commented as they headed towards her car in the driveway.

Saira shot an annoyed look at her girlfriend before looking at Paloma apologetically. "No offense of course."

"No offense taken." Paloma assured as she slipped into the backseat. She knew exactly who her father and brother were. It hurt, but she couldn't be made at her friend for simply pointing out the truth. 

Paloma felt as if she was an empty shell, even as she smiled and laughed while dancing with her friends. None of it felt like it was real or as if it mattered. But like always she pretended like she was the most vibrant thing in a world void of any color.

It wasn't until a slow song started playing  that she silently slipped away from her friends leaving them to have a moment together.

Paloma stepped outside needing the fresh air or maybe just needing to be alone. It seemed that being alone was something that she needed to get used to, at least that's what living at Forks felt like.

It was still early into the dance, no one else had found themselves outside. Paloma couldn't help but think about how the others were missing out. The garden was beautiful even at night, everything lit up by the gazebo at the center that was decorated with golden lights.

Though selfishly she was glad that she was the only one outside as she walked into the gazebo taking a seat on one of the benches in the corner. Paloma put her legs out on the bench pulling them up to her chest as she looked out into the garden. It dark out but she knew the forest was a couple of feet away, she used to find the forest a little creepy. But in the last couple of months she had grown used to the darkness of Forks.

Wrapping her arms around her legs bringing them closer she sighed wondering what her sister was doing now. Had Luciana found happiness away from her family? Paloma hoped that she had. Because maybe that meant that when she turned eighteen she could move away too. That she could forget about how terrible her father made her feel, how Edward made her feel. Whatever that was. In a couple of years her time in Forks would be a distant memory.

Hopefully she wouldn't remember sitting by herself in a gazebo during a school dance. This was a memory that she would be happy to forget.

"Paloma." A familar voice said softly, so softly that she wondered if she had imagined it. Instinctively she stood up and turned towards the voice. And there he was. Edward Cullen standing at the steps of the gazebo, his going up up to his chest when their eyes met. He was wearing a tux and it was almost criminal how beautiful he looked. "You look beautiful."

Paloma really didn't even know what to think. What she did know was that she was angry, he had no right to seek her out now. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you." He stated as if it was obvious and as if he hadn't been toying with her the last couple of weeks. Paloma couldn't help but roll her eyes, she wanted to leave but he was standing at entrance. "I acted terribly and you deserve better."

"That's something we can both agree on." She snapped so tired of everything. Having the issues with her family onto of the feeling for Edward that she couldn't even begin to understand. Paloma didn't know anything about him and as much as she kept telling herself that she would forget about him she couldn't.

Not only did he keep appearing everywhere she went, but every time he was close to her she was drawn in by his presence alone. She couldn't make any sense of it.

Edward walked across the gazebo until he was standing in front of her and although she thought about moving away from him Paloma found herself unable to move. "Paloma, you don't know how long I've waited for you."

"You say pretty word that you don't mean." Paloma said her voice almost a whisper from how close he was to her. She felt almost breathless from the proximity, and she wasn't even sure if her heart was beating anymore, even though she felt heat rush through her.

But even when Edward spoke like a some kind of poet, she couldn't ignore that his words were empty. They had to be, because there was no other explanation considering the way that he had been treating her. His actions making her doubt herself or what was happening between the two of them.

Because there was something happening. She felt in every part of her body.

She felt it when he reached forward and his thumb brushed against her bottom lip. From the way that she seemed to stop breathing all together. His finger was so cold it sent a chill through her body.

He had almost kissed her before in the woods. She had stopped him then, but she wasn't sure if she was strong enough to stop him this time if he did decide to kiss her.

"I've meant every word." He said softly as his forehead rested against hers. The intimacy of this new proximity was blurring her senses. It was like nothing else existed beyond just the two of them. "You just... you scare me."

Paloma laughed softly at the idea of her intimating him. "I scare you?"

He nodded as he placed a hand on her cheek, tilting her face up so that he was looking into her eyes. Paloma leaned forward trying to close the gap between them, but he moved his head back in response. "Don't move."

She found what he was asking of her weird, but he smiled a little as he leaned forward again. This time she remained still as his lips slowly touched hers.

Edward kissed her slowly, it was almost painfully slow. His lips were as cold as his fingers, but they were also so soft. His cold lips contradicted what she felt because Paloma could almost feel herself melt in his arms as he continued to kiss her. She had never been kissed like this before.

Like every second mattered and he wanted to take his time to really know her. And Paloma found herself smiling into the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer. Needing him closer as she deepened the kiss. Some part of her was afraid that she would scare him off with how bold she was being, but instead she was rewarded as he placed a hand on her hip pulling her even closer. Her body was pressed completely against his as small moan left her lips causing his hand to tighten on her hip.

It almost felt painful but that was the last thing on her mind.

He pulled away from the kiss suddenly but he still had a hand on her hip keeping her close. Paloma immediately missed the feeling of his lips against hers, but she was glad that at least Edward was smiling as he looked down at her.

Paloma was sure that his smile was going to be the death of her. She felt butterflies in her stomach as she waited for him to say something.

Suddenly he started swaying both of them from side to side as he took one of her hands in his.

"What are you doing?" Paloma questioned as she tried to hold back a laugh not sure what was happening.

"Dancing." He said simply as they continued to sway to imaginary music.

"There's no music." Paloma noted as she looked around to see if anyone else had also found themselves outside. Before she could question him again he spun her around and dipped her. She couldn't help but gasp feeling flustered and surprised.

Edward smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her. Though it could have hardly been considered a kiss. He had brushed his lips against her before pulling her back up to her feet. Clearly he had to have taken a couple of dance classes in the past, all of his movement were precise as he took control over the dance.

It felt silly and maybe a little awkward to be dancing this way, but under the twinkling lights handing from the gazebo it had to be the most romantic thing that she had ever experienced. She didn't miss the dance and she didn't want to go back at all.

Paloma felt like she could stay here with him forever as she rested her head against his chest as they continued to dance to nothing at all.

Edward suddenly stopped looking down at her again, and apology already shinning in his eyes. "I have to go."

"You do?" She said unable to hide the disappointment her voice. The thought of him leaving and regretting everything felt very real. His actions always gave her whiplash, and she didn't want him to take this back and pretend it never happened.

The disappointment must have been clear on her face because Edward leaned forward and kissed her again. He kissed her like he hoped that he could kiss her doubts away.

"I'll call you." Edward whispered and Paloma didn't know why she believed him. Maybe it was cause in the couple of minutes that they were together he had completely entranced her.

Paloma couldn't find the words to describe what she was feeling only that it was all consuming. How could she describe something that she had never felt before? Like if all the darkness had suddenly faded away. All she knew was that she didn't want that feeling to stop.

Even when he left that feeling lingered as if it had become a permanent part of her. She didn't know how she was supposed to return to the dance when everything had changed for her in an instant.

A/N: Been missing the angst that these two give me. Its taken me so long to publish this story because I have really wanted this chapter to be perfect. This is such a big moment for them and I definitely wanted it to feel that way. From this point I'm going to start to really lean into the Romeo and Juliet side of things, which I'm really excited about.