Chapter 9 - Theory
Chapter 9 builds up to the backcover blurb, “About three things I was absolutely positive First, Edward was a vampmire Second, there was part of him - and I didn’t know how potent that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him. (1.9.195)” Bella rides home with Edward in his Volvo, after he’d saved her from some derelicts in Port Angeles, and taken her out to dinner in the previous chapter. Bella asks Edward for how he followed her and how he does his mind tricks, which naturally brings them to the topic on why he can’t read Bella’s mind. Edward’s theory has to do with AM and FM radio wave’s; perhaps Ed can only read FM, and Bella is on AM. Bella’s reply is both self-conscious and comical, “‘My mind doesn’t work right? I’m a freak?’” Edward replies with candid laughter, “‘I hear voices in my mind and you’re worried that you’re the freak.’” He next prompts her for her theory. Bella notices the speedometer on 100 MPH suddenly, and the point of an accident happening with Bella winding up as toast–but, she does reveal what she’d discovered since they last talked about what Edward is. Bella recaps on Jacob Black’s story, and also admitted how she was tricking the information out of him; she seems especially self-conscious and guilty about that affect. But, importantly, Bella tells him–it doesn’t matter what he is, even if he’s a monster. The chapter also reveals various misc details that make the conversation seem more real, such as the fact that the rest of Ed’s family don’t have his powers, Ed doesn’t (can’t) sleep, he’s 17, and sunlight and coffins being myths. Also, the possibility of the vampires being a danger to Bella isn’t nullified by Edward’s explanation that his family is vegetarian and feeds on animals. When Edward explains that he returned from hunting on Sunday, Bella immediately confronts him about his absence at school. It hurt her, though he was relieved she was safe. Edward’s next words would spawn tears in Bella’s eyes (which she’d hide), “‘This is wrong… It’s one thing for me to make myself miserable, but a wholly other thing for you to be so involved… It’s wrong. It’s not safe. I’m dangerous, Bella - please, grasp that.’” He apologizes, a silence follows, then Edward asks Bella what she had planned to do back there. Bella admitted she was trying to remember how to “incapacitate an attacker.” Edward is incredulous, but they’d arrived at Bella’s home already. Bella asks Edward if she’ll see him in school. Edward affirms, and Bella is delighted when he even promises to be there. Before she leaves, he asks her to promise to not go into the woods alone, citing “‘I’m not always the most dangerous thing out there’” He asks her to “‘Sleep well,’” before she leaves. She hurries back home, lies to Charlie about Jessica, and doesn’t notice how cold she is until she’s in the shower. She gives that ultimate paragraph on the back cover of the book before she falls asleep.
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