My good mood, although slightly dampened, lasted all through the following day. So much so that I decided to make the most of it, getting back from work and straight into my running kit.

Sweeping my hair back into a ponytail, I quickly made my way out of the door and up the road, intent on getting in at least a short run before it got too cold and dark. That's the depressing thing about shorter days, they make you want to curl up inside and sleep for a lot of the time. That's why summer evenings are by far the best, late night runs being one of my favourite things to do.

To say I am looking forward to an entire Summer in Forks is an understatement.

As usual, my brain began to drift off as I started my run, mulling over the events of the workday, which admittedly there were very few. I had apologised to Samantha first of all, for my less than engaging behaviour yesterday. She had politely waved it off, stating that she knows how stressful life can get.

Thankfully she seemed to really mean it, asking instead how my meeting with Jackie went with genuine interest. I in turn had kept things brief, saying that she just wanted to talk to me about my current work and potential things to do in the future. Not a complete lie I decided, after all I'm still not entirely sure how common knowledge the expansion is. The last thing I want to do is once again go putting my foot in it. This luck can't last forever!

Other that that life had gone on smoothly, my only real job being to run though varying interviews and put together the pleas for a few minor offenders, other than the usual emails to answer and paperwork to sort through.

Keeping on top of court bundles is absolutely the worst part of the job. My desk is practically drowning with the amount of papers on there in this current moment. For a girl who likes everything nice and tidy – it's absolute killer. I am looking forward to the day all of it can finally go online, at least that will stop me from spending my days shuffling varying pieces of paper and receiving irritating papercuts.

Admittedly, I have also spent much of the late afternoon considering the events at the petrol station. Truthfully, thinking about exactly how I'm going to address the situation with Paul.

I can't lie, his actions have left me in somewhat of a conundrum. It seems to me that Paul thinks it is some kind of given that he is accepted into my life completely and fully, to the extent that he can literally come in and take over.

Yet in my head, that just isn't the case.

Why should I turn and run into his arms the second he starts being nice to me? Especially as the first time we met, he told me to my face that he doesn't want the imprint. That he doesn't want…me. Granted I felt the same way, but I haven't then displayed vastly hot and cold behaviour which leaves everyone confused.

As far as I can see nothing about our situation has changed, it's not like he has suddenly found a way out of the imprint and then magically developed these weird, protective feelings for me out of nowhere. So, what's with the sudden shift?

The other thing which is bothering me is the likelihood of him reverting back to how he felt at the time of our first meeting. Whilst I'm not entirely on board with imprinting I have at least come to terms with it, even accepting it to some degree. After all, I can't deny that I am attracted to Paul – the fact that he and I have a connection is not up for debate.

It's just that I am fed up with feeling confused, especially when he offers no explanation for his odd behaviour.

I am all for having a nice, open conversation about what is going on, after all. However, I am most definitely NOT up for him basically threatening every guy who comes near me. Especially when he makes no effort to spend time with me outside of when forced to, the party being a great example of such a time. And even then he hadn't spoken more than a sentence to me until the Katie incident.

But the way that Paul often doesn't seem to care about how his words or actions may affect me, I can't say I'm entirely surprised about his abrupt departure earlier. I thought we had perhaps gotten over all the bad-tempered crap, but it would appear we have only taken it to the next level.

Being bad-tempered and showing me affection at the same time? This is a level only Paul could manage.

I slowed as my phone vibrated for the fourth time since I had started the run, concerned that I had missed something of importance in my daydreaming. Slowing down to a brisk walk I looked to my phone, immediately seeing that I had a couple of messages and missed calls, most of them to do with work, but by the sounds of it not urgently requiring my attention. One name in particular caught my attention however, immediately making me open the message, curiosity flaring in my chest.

Speak of the devil.

To: Gemma
From: Paul

Are you free at all this week to talk?

This man confuses me.

Part of me wants to say no, to throw his invitation back in his face in a petty example that he doesn't get to make my decisions for me. I mean acting like I had committed an awful crime simply because I'm chatting to a guy? Not okay in my world, especially when he only started speaking to me last weekend.

Yet despite all this I couldn't force myself to do it, my curiosity and interest getting the better of me as I stared at the message, my fingers tapping away before I had fully thought it through.

I mean, I have just been ranting to myself about how he has never offered to spend time with me! Plus, I want to tell him to quit the confusing behaviour and actually tell me what's going on. So why not? I can hardly be snotty about it.

To: Paul
From: Gemma

Tomorrow, I have my lunch break. Meet me here at 1.

I quickly typed the address of the coffee shop at La Push below, knowing he would probably know it better than I do, but wanting to be sure anyway. The last thing I need is for him to actually make the effort to talk to me, and then getting the location wrong.

That idea in itself is laughable, especially since I am doing him a favour coming to La Push instead of dragging him up to Forks. I keep telling myself that it's for Sam's benefit, in case he suddenly needs him for any reason. With vampires around, I guess you just never know.

My phone chimed again almost instantly, my heart lurching before I had even checked to see who it was, my mind automatically turning to the person occupying my thoughts the most in recent times.

I couldn't stop the smile that took over my face when I checked the message.

To: Gemma
From: Paul

Great, I'm looking forward to seeing you x

Oh good lord.

Breathe Gem, try not to act like some kind of besotted teenager. It's only a text.

Unfortunately, however, the traitorous thought was running through my head before I could squash is down:

HE PUT A KISS ON THE END!

I mean for goodness sake, talk about letting myself down. One little 'x' hardly means anything. And neither should I let myself get carried away about the fact that he wants to see me, he has a lot of explaining to do after all.

It's just odd, that despite everything I face in day to day life, despite being an adult who has a very serious job and considers herself quite sensible, one text can reduce me to a wobbly wreck.

Paul never needs to know about this – I doubt he'd let me hear the end of it.

I decided at this point to turn left, aiming to create a wide loop before making my way back to my house. Truthfully I'm not up for my usual circuit, my brain too frazzled for continue thinking about the same events over and over again.

Oh no, I need a cup of tea and bed. And nothing can stop me!

Nothing it appears, other than a voice calling out to me, the pitch of it enough to make me stop dead.

"Excuse me, hi there" the tinkling bell sounded, having startled me. I looked around, my heart hammering as I caught sight of two of the most startling beautiful individuals I have ever met. It was the girl who had spoken to me.

She looked roughly 18 yet was absolutely tiny, her lithe body moving as though she floated, an elegant symphony of gracefulness. Her hair, cut into a pixie style, looked effortlessly placed, as though it would be a crime for even one hair to not conform. However, what's most startling is her eyes – gold.

And pale as anything too, as though she had no blood running through her veins.

It was that thought that made me freeze, everything suddenly falling into place. These creatures are far too perfect, too angelic – that is the first thing Sam told me to watch out for here in Forks.

They're dangerous, he had said. In fact I can still hear his serious warning running through my head now, repeating in an endless cycle as I stared at the two individuals in front of me.

"I'm Alice" she continued with a big smile, showing off her perfect teeth. Well, perfect as long as you don't think of them ripping into human flesh, I suppose "you're Gemma"

"Yes" I finally found my voice "sorry, do I know you?"

"No, but I've heard all about you, my friend's dad is Chief of Police and mentions you a lot" Alice approached took my arm enthusiastically, ignoring my cringe which must have been painfully obvious to her "This is my boyfriend, Jasper" she motioned to the male, who inclined his head to me.

Looking to Jasper, I could immediately see why many women would swoon and fall at his feet. He stands at probably 6 foot, broad shouldered and squared stance. His honey-blonde hair sat on his head in perfect waves, framing his equally golden eyes and pale skin. Dressed in a plain red button-down shirt and jeans, he could easily have come straight off the runway. But to me, that perfection only made the hairs on the back of my necks rise, the fight or flight so innately woven into humans kicking in full force.

"Ma'am" was all he said, his voice rigid, as though it was painful for him to stand within 6 foot of me, despite the outside air

"It's okay Jasper" she said sweetly, bounding back over to him, before facing me once again, an apologetic look adorning her angelic face "I'm sorry, he struggles around people sometimes"

It was this sentence which tipped me over the edge entirely, causing me to back away, muttering some lame excuse about needing to get home before it got dark. I don't care that they can supposedly run really fast… no way am I sticking around to become vampire food.

Especially as they have conveniently appeared on the road, which happened to be right next to the thick woods, without a vehicle.

I mean did they really think I wouldn't notice their lack of transportation? It's not like they have even bothered to dress as though they were exercising either.

"No worries" Alice's voice was warm, but her eyes suspicious, only scaring me more. Then again, they're vampires, wouldn't any human be terrified?

Any human other than Isabella, apparently. Or Bella, as I hear she likes to be called from her Dad.

"I'm sure we are going to see each other plenty" she continued "maybe one day we can be friends"

"Uh huh" was all I muttered, before practically hightailing it out of there, the gaze of the two vampires lodged firmly into the middle of my back.

That settles it, recently my life has become far too complicated.