Chapter Two (in which the plot doesn't thicken, but the horde of doting boys does))

On to Chapter Two, in which Bella immediately finds herself caught between two men. No, not Edward and Jacob. I mean Mike Who's From California and Knows What the Sun Is, vying for Bella's attention against Eric the Bad-Skinned Overly Helpful Chess Club Nerd. Team Mike, anyone?

CHAPTER SUMMARY-- Bella finally notices that she has friends, and she begins to settle into life at Forks High School. After the Edward Cullen Affair of Chapter One, however, she is both relieved and distressed (I don't get it, either) to find that he is absent from school. Edward ends up being absent for the rest of the school week, which means ample, neurotic musing from Bella. In essence, she's afraid that Edward hates her so much that he has dropped out of school, but she also kind of hopes that he's dropped out of school so she won't have to deal with him hating her that much. Mike (remember Mike?) continues to overshadow Eric (remember Eric?) in being overly friendly, which also stresses Bella out. Apparently, Bella can't abide men who clearly don't hate her. Finally, Edward returns to school after a nice frolic in the snow (I kid you not). Bella is terrified at the prospect of being stuck with him in Biology, but then he's very polite and asks her all sorts of prying questions, which she answers, overcome by his pasty charms and his crooked smile (oh, that crooked smile). Through Edward's nosiness, we now know that Bella is in Forks because her mom remarried a guy named Phil, who plays minor league ball rather poorly and moves around a lot. So, Bella left in order that her mom could be happy and move around with Phil the Not Very Good Ball Player. At any rate, class ends, Bella goes to PE and whines about having to participate, then she heads home. Not much else happens... oh, except Edward stares at her a whole flaming lot.

NOTABLE NOTES--

1. At some point in the chapter, Bella reads Wuthering Heights. For those who don't know, it's a love story between psychotic people. Isn't unintentional foreshadowing fun?

2. Edward has intimidatingly neat handwriting and a 'soft, enchanting laugh'. Just sayin'.

3. Once Edward starts acting like a more composed individual, Bella notices that his eyes are now a dark gold-ish color. Previously, when he was being a complete nutter, his eyes were black. I believe this validates my theory. Black eyes=dilated pupils. Bad acid trip. Yo Gabba Gabba in G major happened. Yep.

4. Bella's father can't cook anything but bacon and eggs. Now we know why everyone in this book is dead.