Let’s Re-Read Eclipse Together! Chapter 21

Welcome to the ‘Eclipse’ Community Re-Read! Join us by reading a chapter every Monday & Friday.  I’ll post a thread for each chapter in the book, counting down the days until the official release of the film on June 30th. So, dig out your old or new copy of Eclipse, read the chapter and then come back here, and discuss anything you find of interest that you might have missed the first time around.

 Chapter 21: Trails

I stared at him, feeling an unexpected kind of awe for my friend. He was more of a grown-up than I’d ever given him credit for. Like with Billy the other night at the bonfire, there was a majesty here that I’d never suspected. “Chief Jacob,” I whispered, smiling at the way the words sounded together.

Business is in the air! The Cullens’ have returned to their home, and everyone is busy as a bee, preparing for the upcoming fight with the newborns.

• Pg. 462  Alice seemed to be in an unusually bad mood. I chalked it up to her frustration with feeling normal, because her first words to Edward were a complaint about working with the wolves. “I think that you’re going to want to pack for cold weather, Edward. I can’t see where you are exactly, because you’re taking off with that dog this afternoon. But the storm that’s coming seems particularly bad in that general area.” Edward nodded. “It’s going to snow on the mountains,” she warned him. “Ew, snow,” I muttered to myself. It was June, for crying out loud. “Wear a jacket,” Alice told me. Her voice unfriendly, and that surprised me. I tried to read her face, but she turned away. I looked at Edward, and he was smiling; whatever was bugging Alice amused him.

• Pg. 464 After Bella talks with Billy Black and he reassures Bella that Charlie will be safe; he then extends best wishes to the Cullen family. Our Alice has grown fed up and decides to take Bella head on. “Bella, could I please speak to you alone?” Alice asked swiftly, “You’re about to make my life harder than it needs to be, Alice,” Edward warned her through his teeth. “This isn’t about you, Edward. This is a female thing.” He frowned. “Let her talk to me,” I told him. I was curious. I turned to Alice, worried now, but she didn’t look at me. Her bad mood hadn’t passed yet. She went to sit on the hood of her Porsche, her face dejected. “Bella?” Alice asked in a sad voice, shifting over and curling up against my side. Her voice sounded so miserable that I wrapped my arms around her shoulders in comfort. “What’s wrong, Alice?” “Don’t you love me?” she asked in that same sad tone. “Of course I do. You know that.” “Then why do I see you sneaking off to Vegas to get married with inviting me?” “Oh,” I muttered, my cheeks turning pink. I could see that I had seriously hurt her feelings, and I hurried to defend myself. “You know how I hate to make a big deal out of things. It was Edward’s idea, anyway.” “I don’t care whose idea it was. How could you do this to me? I expect that kind of thing from Edward but not from you. I love you like you were my own sister.” Oh Alice!!!    “To me, Alice, you are my sister,” “Words!” she growled. This is hilarious! I want it all in the movie lol. “Fine, you can come. There won’t be much to see.” She was still grimacing. “What?” I demanded. “How much do you love me, Bella?” “Why?” Alice puts on the saddest puppy dog face. “Please, please, please,” she whispered. “Please, Bella, please-if you really love me…Please let me do your wedding.” “Aw, Alice! No! Don’t do this to me.” “If you truly love me, Bella” “I’ll never, never ever forgive you for this, Alice.” “Yay!” she squealed, clapping her hands together. “That is not a yes!” “But it will be,” she sang.  How could anyone not love this woman? Alice is soo boss!

• Pg. 468-472 Bella and Edward head out to the woods to begin their hike. On the way the pair discusses their impending nuptials. On the way classic Bella trips and cuts her hand. Here we learn that Edward is no longer tempted by Bella’s blood. Personally, I’m impressed. Bella is now adding her bloody hand print to the trail along with her stray hairs, hoping to impress Jasper…cute.
• Pg. 473 Jacob’s back! Edward leaves Bella with Jacob and takes off to the campsite. Jacob relaxes himself as soon as the coast was clear. “What’s up, Bella?” he asked with a big grin. I rolled my eyes. “Same old, same old.” “Yeah,” he agreed. “Bunch of vampires trying to kill you. The usual.” “The usual.” “Well, let’s get going.” Making a face, I took a small step closer to him. He bent down and swept his arm behind my knees, knocking them out from under me. His other arm caught me before my head it the ground. “Jerk,” I muttered.  Jacob and Bella are running through the forest, to leave a trail and meet up with Edward. While running Jacob notices the diamond on Bella’s bracelet. Jacob also takes this alone time to talk to Bella.

• Pg. 476 “Does that mean that he’s a better kisser than I am?” Jacob asked, suddenly glum. “I really couldn’t say, Jake. Edward is the only person I’ve ever kissed.” “Besides me.” “But I don’t count that as a kiss, Jacob. I think of it more as an assault.” “Ouch! That’s cold. I did apologize about that,” he reminded me. “And I forgave you…mostly. It doesn’t change the way I remember it.” “I think it’s pretty irresponsible,” Jacob suddenly said. “Think about it, Bella. According to you, you’ve kissed just one person- who isn’t even really a person-in your whole life, and you’re calling it quits? How do you know that’s what you want? Shouldn’t you play the field a little?” I kept my vice cool. “I know exactly what I want.” “Then it couldn’t hurt to double check. Maybe you should try kissing someone else-just for comparison’s sake…since what happened the other day doesn’t count. You could kiss me, for example. I don’t mind if you want to use me to experiment.”  Raise your hand if you think Jacob is trying to be slick? *Raises hand* We all know good and well, if Bella had agreed to kiss him, he would go right back and play that image to Edward in his head.  He pulled me tighter against his chest, so that my face was closer to his. “Don’t mess with me, Jake. I swear I won’t stop him if he ants to break your jaw.” “You’re in a bad mood today.” “I wonder why?” “Sometimes I think you like me better as a wolf.”   I think Jacob is on to something here. What do you think?  “Sometimes I do. It probably has something to do with the way you can’t talk.” “No, I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s easier for you to be near me when I’m not human, because you don’t have to pretend that you’re not attracted to me.”  Okay, Jacob may be on to something here…grrr. Lol “No. I’m pretty sure it’s because you can’t talk.” He sighed. “Do you ever get tired of lying to yourself? You have to know how aware you are of me. Physically, I mean.” “How could anyone not be aware of you physically, Jacob? You’re an enormous monster who refuses to respect anyone else’s personal space.”  “I make you nervous But only when I’m human. When I’m a wolf, you’re more comfortable around me.”    Well I do agree with that.

• Pg. 480 Bella finally realizes what she has asked of Edward. Jacob tells Bella that there is no way he would miss out on the vampire fight, even if she begged him to stay. “But you wouldn’t stay with me, even if I begged.” “Everything’s going to go without a hitch. Even if you’d asked and I said no, you wouldn’t be mad at me afterwards.” “If everything does go without a hitch, you’re probably right. I wouldn’t be mad. But the whole time you’re gone, I’ll be sick with worry, Jake. Crazy with it. “Why?” he asked gruffly. “What does it matter to you if something happens to me?” “Don’t say that. You know how much you mean to me. I’m sorry it’s not in the way you want, but that’s just how it is. You’re my best friend. At least, you used to be. And still sometimes…when you let your guard down.” He smiled the old smile that I loved. “I’m always that,” he promised. “Even when I don’t…behave as well as I should. Underneath, I’m always in here.” “I know. Why else would I put up with all of your crap?” He laughed with me, and then his eyes were sad. “When are you finally going to figure out that you’re in love with me, too?” “Leave it to you to ruin the moment.” “I’m not saying you don’t love him. I’m not stupid. But it’s possible to love more than one person at a time, Bella. I’ve seen it in action.”  Sidebar-do you believe this mess? Honestly, do you feel it’s possible to be in true love with 2 people? 

• This chapter ends, with Bella confronting Jacob about the whole Alpha vs. Beta issue. In the end Jacob admits that it’s indeed him that has the legitimate claim to the Alpha position. Sam even offered Jacob the chance to step in and take the role, but Jacob declined, and is now second in command. We Breaking Dawn readers know what really goes down after awhile lol. So back to Mr. Black and his theory about being in love. Do you think Bella is in love with Jacob, or is it that she feels a lifetime of servitude to him for saving her life over and over? And if Edward is the love of her existence, how can she possibly be in love with Jacob? IMO, if it’s true deep love, there isn’t room for another. What do you think? I need some serious help from you all on this topic.

Category: Eclipse Re-Read