Midnight Sun

On the way home, Edward reveals that he can track Bella through her scent. Edward also explains his mind reading abilities in more detail, theorizing that he cannot hear Bella’s thoughts because they run on a different frequency. This makes Bella worried that she is a “freak” (197). Suddenly noticing the extreme speed at which Edward drives, Bella becomes scared. This amuses Edward, although he slows down for her sake. Bella explains her new theory for what Edward is—to which an old family friend, Jacob Black, a member of the Quileute tribe, led her. It shocks Edward that Bella knows the truth, but still she is not scared of him. He thinks it is funny that Bella tricked the information out of Jacob by flirting, but he is angry to find out that Bella does not care that he is a vampire. Edward grudgingly answers Bella’s questions about vampire lore, explaining what is mythological and what is true. Sleep, for example, is impossible for him, although now he wishes he could dream of Bella. The question about Edward’s diet was already explained to Bella by Jacob—the Cullens consume animal blood, not human blood. Edward explains that vampires cannot go in the sun, not because it is dangerous, but because it would make it obvious that they were inhuman. At Charlie’s house, Edward has Bella promise to stay safe and out of the woods.

Back at home, Alice promises to keep a better eye on Bella’s future. Edward gets Carlisle’s advice on how to confront the man who almost hurt Bella. Carlisle promises to humanely take care of it for Edward. Edward returns to watch Bella sleep, and he promises himself that he will be her protector, her “guardian vampire” (218).

The next morning, Edward sees on the news that the man who almost hurt Bella was apprehended. He decides to drive to school separately from his siblings so he can pick Bella up on the way. Bella is surprised but grateful for the ride. At school, Edward overhears Jessica thinking she will have to demand more information about Edward from Bella. Bella wants to know what she should tell Jessica, and Edward says Bella could tell Jessica that they are dating.

Edward listens to Jessica’s thoughts to see how their conversation goes once in class. Jessica thinks both Bella and Edward must be interested in each other, but Bella thinks that she is more interested in Edward than he is in her. At lunch, Edward hears Jessica analyze everything that Bella and Edward do. He also hears Rosalie raging furiously inside her mind. Bella explains to Edward why she thinks she likes him more than he does her, saying, “sometimes it seems like you’re trying to say goodbye when you’re saying something else” (238). Edward tries to explain that he is trying to save her, but she insists that she would do the same for him. They arrange plans for the weekend, since Alice warned Edward that Seattle would be sunny. They also talk about Edward and Emmett’s hunting trip, which Bella, to Edward’s horror, wishes she could have seen.