The exposition of a story introduces us to the characters and sets up the conflict of the plot. In Stephenie Meyer's Twilight this occurs at the beginning of the story when we meet Bella Swan and learn that she is going to live with her father in Forks. The exposition continues with Bella's first day of school, when she meets Edward Cullen and cannot understand why he seems to hate her so much. Herein lies the conflict. Bella is greatly attracted to Edward, and she cannot stop thinking about him. That attraction sets her on a dangerous yet beautiful path.

The story's action rises in the interactions between Bella and Edward and in Bella's research into who Edward and his family really are, especially after Edward stops Tyler's van from crushing Bella during an accident. By the time Edward rescues Bella in Port Angeles, Bella is pretty sure she knows that Edward is a vampire. The rising action continues as Bella and Edward tentatively begin their relationship, spending more and more time together, and as Edward's family deals with this new area of his life.

The story approaches its climax when another group of vampires shows up in the area and James fixes on Bella as his prey. The climax arrives when James attacks Bella at the dance studio, almost killing her but also putting enough venom into Bella to change her into a vampire. Edward exercises the utmost self-control and removes the venom from her system.

The action falls after that as Bella recovers from her injuries and the Cullens and Bella go to prom. The story doesn't entirely resolve, however, for a question still hangs between Edward and Bella about how they can pursue their relationship and if Bella will eventually become a vampire.