Chapter Twelve (in which nothing is more important than the knowledge that we're halfway there)

Ah, Chapter Twelve-- after this, we're officially halfway through this 24-chapter monstrosity! In honor of this glorious achievement, I'd like to take a moment to briefly review the important things that have happened so far.

Ha ha, just kidding. Nothing important has happened so far.

And now, on to the final obstacle between us and the halfway point-- the twelfth chapter. Be warned, toasties... this chapter drags on for what seems like an eternity. While reading, I honestly started to believe it would never end. At any rate, I'll try to make it as painless as possible-- the key term being 'as possible'.

CHAPTER SUMMARY-- The chapter kicks off with Charlie pulling up to the house, soon after Jacob and Billy Black. Billy and Charlie head off to the living room to watch some sort of sporting event on TV, while Jacob tails Bella into the kitchen. Conversation ensues, and since Bella is involved, Edward quickly becomes the topic. We learn that Billy and Charlie have argued about the Cullens in the past-- Charlie appreciates Mr. Dr. Cullen's contribution to society, while Billy holds the more traditional belief that they're dangerous (or rather, vampires). Anyhoo, Jacob and Billy leave before anything else of note comes up, and the next day Edward shows up as usual to take Bella to school. It's the day before the no-longer-Seattle trip, so Edward tells Bella that he's leaving after lunch to go hunting with Alice, who is apparently the most 'supportive' of his siblings. He explains that his siblings are worried that he'll lose control and attack Bella, thereby exposing the whole family. Bella then meets Alice briefly, Alice and Edward leave, and Bella goes dejectedly about the rest of the school day. That night, she's so anxious that she can't sleep, so she takes cold medicine to knock herself out--understandable, but then she spends such a long time agonizing over how bad she feels about her 'gratuitous drug use' that it's pretty much impossible not to judge her. The next day, she wakes up (disappointing), fusses over her outfit for a good long while, then meets Edward at the door. She insists on driving, so Edward directs her to a woody area, where he drags her along on a lengthy hike. Eventually, they come to a sunny clearing, where Edward makes good on his promise to show Bella what the light REALLY does to vampires. He rips open his shirt, steps out into the light, and... OMG CLIFFHANGER.

NOTABLE NOTES--

1. When Edward shows up at Bella's house, his outfit pretty much matches hers. I'm not sure who should be more embarrassed.

2. When they start out on the hike, Edward takes off his sweater, revealing a sleeveless, collared shirt. He buttons it down a bit. I'm now pretty sure he's the one who should be more embarrassed.

3. When Bella sees Edward in all of his sleeveless, buttoned-down glory, she is so overwhelmed by his god-like physique that she becomes incredibly distressed, almost to the point of being physically (certainly mentally) sick. She's so visibly upset that Edward gets worried and offers several times to take her home. I take it all back-- she's the one who should be more embarrassed, on account of being unable to cope with life and male musculature.

4. We're officially halfway done! Go take some gratuitous cold meds and sleep it off, kids.

INTENSITY OF EDWARD'S STARE-- The creepiest kid from high school, exaggerated tenfold and given an endless supply of eyedrops. It's a smolder to haunt your dreams, not to mention any exposed skin.