In Which Bella Is Super Manipulative
After the long night of practice, Edward takes Bella home. She wakes up the next afternoon.
Edward notes her new bracelet and tells Bella she has to accept some gifts. Apparently her tastes run homemade or hand-me-downs, so Edward begins to plot on that front.
The aregue about Jasper & Jakes idea about being bait. Edward is having none of it and reveals that Jacob is second in command to Sam, so Edward can just tell Jacob to order the Werewolves not to help Bella do anything stupid.
Note: The Werewolf mind control is yet another literary cheat. The fact that they're also psychic is annoying, but Meyer takes the time to go over some of the downsides. I think that there'd be quite a few more, but whatever. Mind control = GIANT CHEAT.
Edward also reveals just how much eavesdropping he got in during practice. Lots of infidelity, hostility, broken hearts and so forth. This is psychic voyeurism, and it's rather disturbing. I guess it pales in comparison to all the other nonsense, though.
Bella tops this with some over-the-top manipulation, though. She's determined to keep Edward nearby, so she pulls out the "I can't be away from you because you left me" card. She's very clear in her mind that this is an exaggeration, but she's determined to get what she wants, regardless of consequence. Edward, having no defense against her accusations of abandonment, still tries to placate her. She refuses, and gives him an ultimatum: Either the werewolves and vampires need you in the clearing because it IS dangerous, in which case I should be there OR they don't need you and you can go camping with me.
Just to point out, the third option is that the Cullens and Wolves need Edward to make sure everyone stays safe, and that by being there or taking Edward she's jeopardizing everyone else (a fact that Bella admits internally). Edward can't make that call because she's backed him into a corner, so he contacts Jasper to tell him.
Alice comes by for dinner and plays Charlie like a fiddle. The Cullens are going "backpacking" and she'll be all alone. Charlie offers to let her stay (creepy) but Bella gets herself invited to go with Alice "shopping" plus staying the weekend at Vampire Manor while Charlie fishes with Billy. That way she can escape early Charlie isn't worried where she is for the weekend.
Edward takes Bella back to the clearing to set the false trail, then heads off to practice some more. Jacob keeps Bella company. In the cold she uses him for heat and strokes his fur, which is really weird. I get he's a big dog physically, but she knows he's Jacob inside and she's sprawled over him and rubbing him. Tell you what, Bella, stop being a tease and everyone will be much happier.
SumUp D
Bella is pretty well off the charts for manipulative girlfriend and tease. There's just nothing left to like about her. Add to the fact that all this is just slow, boring buildup to the big fight and I'm getting extremely bored. There are nice details here and there: Bella pulls out hair and cuts herself to drip blood on the trail, but it all could have been done pages and pages ago! It's just yet another chapter of moaning about love triangles and fretting about how much danger is allegedly looming just over the horizon.
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