Reading Eclipse: Chapter 14 (Declaration)

The song for this chapter is When We Die by Bowling For Soup [suggested by Rita]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ahh yes: the chilling coldness of winter has set upon the great city of Dallas once again. It feels so odd: I remember when it was this time last year, and the ground outside was covered in snow, and my joy at actually seeing snow in Texas made all my northernly friends laugh out loud, since they see it every year. Still, I can’t help but feel a bit of Christmas cheer over my tiny apartment, just as I can’t help but feel a tiny bit of guilt for running the heater at the world’s most comfortable temperature 24/7…because in this apartment, we don’t pay electric bills. Muhahaha.

Anyhow, it’s been so vastly long since I’ve read a chapter of Eclipse that I realized a break from all the cheery chilliness would do me much good. Actually, it’s only been a week since the last chapter. But, as all of you know, a week from this book feels almost like a month or two. On to chapter the fourteenth!

Like Bella, I am also wondering if Alice has completely lost her mind. When you are being hunted by a manic vampire who wants to tear you limb from limb and drink your blood, the last things on your mind are plans to thrown a party. Who feels like celebrating at such a time? I would be too distracted boarding up every window, entrance and exit to even taste the Reeses-covered New York Style Cheesecake (an item pivotal to any party, in Forks and otherwise).

I was absolutely, totally offended by Edward’s obvious prejudice against us Texans:

Edward answered in a low voice. “Jasper thinks we could use some help. Tanya’s family isn’t the only choice we have. [...] He’s considering talking to Maria…but no one really wants to involve those backwoods, primitive, hicktown southerners.”

Oh I See

Sheesh.

I can’t begin to count the inquiries I’ve gotten by email about my Calculus test last week. If you’ve been following my site for any number of months, you would know my absolute loathing of Calculus, to the extent that it was one of the main reasons I recently transferred to an English degree minoring in Brand Marketing (which requires the minimal minimum of mathematics (say that 5 times fast) ). For all the people who asked, I give the same answer as Bella:

“…I don’t know about the Calculus. It seemed like it was making sense, so that probably means I failed.”

I have gone up against Jacob before, and his constant advances towards Bella despite the fact that she is already in a relationship with Edward. As with last time, I’m having a bit of trouble with him still. I don’t know if it is subconscious leanings towards Edward or if it is just because I know how I would feel if I was Edward and some werewolf was trying to steal my girlfriend. Maybe I am jealous in that way, where I wouldn’t like her always seeing Jacob, knowing exactly what he wants and even worse, being able to read his mind, knowing that he wants to tell her to leave me.

I know that there are thousands of Team Jacob people out there who radically disagree with me on this, but in my honest opinion, Jacob should really have a bit more respect for Bella and Edward’s relationship. It is a very big thing for Edward to let Bella go to Jacob’s house so often. Can’t Jacob accept that and try to stay friends with her?

I say that Edward ‘lets’ Bella go to Jacob’s house, and immediately I step back and try to rephrase my words, since this seems to appear possessive, as if Edward owns Bella and can order her about. When I say that Edward lets Bella see Jacob, I’m trying to say that no guy wants his girlfriend to be going out with other guys, just as girls do not want their boyfriends going out with other girls. Is this possessive? Is it a problem of trust? Or is it something that has to do with respect: Bella should respect Edward enough that she isn’t bouncing between both guys, trying to hold on to them both. How is that right to either of them?

Still, in defense, I understand Jacob’s situation perfectly. Bella is with Jacob’s enemy, someone who Jacob believes can be of great harm to her. Of course, he wants her to leave Edward. If my best friend was dating someone who drank blood and wanted to kill her, I might do the same thing. I can’t blame him for wanting what is best for her. He might be thinking that he is the only one who hasn’t been intoxicated by Edward’s vampire-ness, and is the only person who can see the Cullens for who they are. Maybe he is trying to do whatever he can to get Bella away from them, thinking he is saving her life? Maybe according to Jacob, Edward really is like heroin for Bella — and the longer Bella stays, the worse she will become, until she is one of them.

It’s so confusing, which as I think of it, is the nature of this vampire/werewolf love triangle. Is there really a safe side to be on? Neither Jacob nor Edward are intrinsically bad. Both of them want to keep her safe from the other, going so far as to both be watching her at night at the same time — and Bella is caught in the middle, unsure of which way she should go.

I seem to be caught there as well. Which one is better for her? I’m guessing this is what Team Switzerland was invented for

Question for the comments: Do you think Bella would be safer being watched by Alice or by Jacob? Who do you think could stand better against an attack from a newborn vampire?

——NOTES——

- Christmas time is here, and I’m traveling about. I’m unsure as to how posting will be this week, but I’ll be back for sure after the holidays!

- Keep watch on my Youtube and here for an extra-special BlogTV I will be doing with a Special Guest, mayhaps next week Friday-ish