Chapter Number: Twenty-Three
Chapter Name: The Truth
Page Numbers: 500-521
Date of Chapter: Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Summary: Bella fights waking up from her dream/nightmare because she doesn’t want to lose Edward. When she does wake up she doesn’t believe Edward is really there, she thinks he is still a delusion. Edward tries to convince her that she is awake but instead Bella thinks she has drowned and is dead. Edward assures her that she is not dead. Slowly Bella realizes that she was indeed in Italy and everything she thought was a nightmare was real. Edward tells Bella that Charlie band him form the house and Bella is furious. She asks Edward what the story is for her three day absence but he doesn’t have a cover story.
Bella cautiously starts to question Edward about what he did while he was away, choosing the least important question first, what have you been doing? Edward responds by saying nothing exciting. Bella comments that he would say that if she were dreaming. Edward admits that he was tracking Victoria. Edward begins to apologize to Bella for leaving her in danger. He didn’t realize Victoria had such a response in her because he was too busy concentrating on James. He admits that he felt sick after hearing what she told Alice and seeing for himself what Alice saw. The worst part was that she had put her life in the hands of immature, volatile werewolves. Bella stops him, thinking he is apologizes out of guilt and nothing else. She wants him to be happy no matter the cost to her. Bella begins to tell him that the things that happened while he was away were not his fault. Bella feels the ghost of the hole waiting it rip open when he disappears again. Bella tells Edward he can’t go off to Italy because of the choices she makes.
Edward is stunned that Bella thinks the only reason he went to Italy was because he felt guilty. He explains that he can’t live in a world where she doesn’t exist. Bella is confused only focused on the words she remembers him saying in the forest. Edward tells her that he is a good liar but for her to believe him so quickly was excruciating. Bella thinks she is dreaming again because he couldn’t possibly love her. Edward leans in to kiss Bella, to prove she is not sleeping but Bella asks him not to, saying that when he leaves it would be too hard.
Edward asks Bella if there is someone else, if that is the reason that she was so hesitant every time he touched her and can she still love him after everything that has happened. Bella tells him that the way she feels about him will never change, she will always love him. Edward kisses her deeply. After, he explains that he isn’t leaving. He tells her that he only wanted her to have a happy human life but no matter how many miles he puts between them she can’t be safe. Edward explains what it was like for him to be away from her and she tells him it was the same for her.
Bella isn’t as concerned with Victoria returning she has bigger problems. At first Edward thinks the werewolves are the problem but Bella laughs him off. She states that the second biggest problem is the Volturi coming to check on her. Edward isn’t worried he has a plan. Edward again refuses the idea of changing Bella.
Bella decides that she is going to the Cullen’s. Edward is confused at first. He tries to convince her to stay home that she can’t take her truck it will wake Charlie. Bella insists on going to his house so he caves and says he will take her. When he asks her why she wants to go she states, “My motality. I’m putting it to a vote.”
Characters Involved: Bella Swan, Edward Cullen
Character Mentioned: Jacob Black, Alice Cullen, Esme Cullen, Victoria, Volturi, Charlie Swan, Rosalie Hale, Carlisle Cullen, Jasper Hale, Emmett Cullen
Places Visited: Swan House
Memorable Quotes:
“You should probably know that I’m breaking the rules right now. Well, not technically, since he said I was never to walk through his door again, and I came in the window….”
~Edward on being in Bella’s room
“Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night. Very dark, but there were stars- points of light and reason. And then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty. When you were gone, when the meteor had fallen over the horizon, everything went black. Nothing had changed, but my eyes were blinded by the light. I couldn’t see the stars anymore. And there was no more reason for anything.”
~Edward on what his life was like without Bella
“The odds are always staked against us. Mistake after mistake. I’ll never criticize Romeo again.”
~Edward on the odds being against him and Bella
“What kind of idiotic question is that?”
“Just answer it please.”
“The way I feel about you will never change. Of course I love you- and there is nothing you can do about it!”
~Edward and Bella discussing how she feels about him
“You do realize I’ll die eventually, right?”
“I’ll follow after as soon as I can.”
“That is seriously…sick.”
~Edward and Bella discussing her inevitable death.
“My motality. I’m putting it to a vote.”
~Bella on why she is going to the Cullens’
Important Information learned:
Bella thinks she is dreaming when she first wakes up and only after some persuading realizes that she is awake.
Edward tells Bella he was hunting Victoria while he was away.
Edward starts to apologize for leaving Bella to fend for herself but Bella interrupts him saying he shouldn’t feel guilty for her actions.
Edward goes to kiss Bella but she protests fearing the pain she will feel when he leaves. Edward swears not to leave her again that he wouldn’t be strong enough.
Edward explains that his existence was nothing without her and describes what it was like being in his self imposed exile. Bella is shocked because it was exactly how she felt.
Edward tells Bella that he is going to hunt Victoria.
Bella states that her second biggest problem is the Volturi.
Edward is still insistent on not changing Bella.
Bella decides to put her mortality to a vote.
Chapter Prepared By: be my escape
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