2. Stitches

Chapter Synopsis

Out of all the blood-thirsty vamps, Carlizzle is the only one who stays calm. He tells Emmett and Rosalie to get Jasper outside. Esme follows, apologizing to Bella as she leaves. Carlizzle, Edward, and Alice are left to tend to Bella and her various cuts and scrapes. Carlisle starts patching Bella up on the Cullens’ kitchen table (she has no desire to head back to the ER), and Bella becomes aware that Edward isn’t breathing. Carlisle, Bella, and Alice convince Edward to leave the room; he needs to go calm Jasper down anyway. Soon after, Alice has to leave, too, before she starts seeing Bella as a snack.

Carlizzle tries to comfort Bella, and Bella — trying to distract herself from the smell of her own blood (her anti-vom tactic) — starts asking Carlisle how he does it. How he brought himself to be able to resist human blood. Carlisle begins explaining why he chose his profession, and suddenly God gets brought into the equation. Carlizzle explains that he believes in God, and he hopes that his choices to become a veggie-pire will make God think twice before he damns him to hell. Bella wants to know if Edward shares this opinion. Carlizzle explains that he does — to a point. Edward thinks that, by turning someone, you damn their soul. Which is clearly why he has no intention of turning Bella. He doesn’t want to go all dementor on her ass.

Carlisle finally changes the subject from Bella’s desire to be turned. He starts talking, instead, about his choice to turn Edward, and how hard it had been. We find out that Edward’s mother was really responsible for it — she asked Carlisle to save Eddie before she died. We find out that Edward used to have green eyes. Apparently we are supposed to care. Carlisle thinks that, perhaps, somehow, Edward’s mother realized what Carlisle was, and actually wanted him to turn Edward in order to save him. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Carlizzle.

Bella is finally all stitched up, and it’s time for her to go home. Carlisle offers to take her, but Edward suddenly reappears and insists on doing it himself. He seems all angry and agsty at this point. Alice finds Bella some clean, blood-free clothes to wear home, and lets Bella know that Jasper’s upset, but okay. Bella, naturally, says everything is all her fault. Her and her yummy blood. She asks Edward to forgive her on the drive home, and Edward gets all pissy. He tells her that if she were dating, say, Mike Newton, a paper cut wouldn’t have led to anything like this.

They get back to the Swan house, and Bella asks Edward to stay the night. He agrees reluctantly, after Bella pulls the whole, “But it’s my birthday” card. Bella says a quick goodnight to Charlie, then hurries to get ready for bed. Edward is waiting for her in her room, with the rest of her unopened presents. These she opens — Carlisle and Esme got her and Edward plane tickets to go visit Renee in Jacksonville, and Edward burned her a CD with his piano compostitions on it. Bella cries while listening to her lullaby, and Edward asks her if her arm hurts. Cue some discussion about right and wrong (as per usual).

The night ends with a very intense kiss from Edward — a kiss that reminds Bella of another kiss last spring; the one Edward gave her when he went to hunt James, when he wasn’t sure if he’d ever see her again. Bella convinces herself that she’s just imagining things, and that everything will be okay in the morning.

Best Worst Lines

“‘Why are you so masochistic?’ I mumbled.” (32)

“No reason to get sick like a baby.” (33)

“‘You didn’t choose this kind of life, and yet you have to work so hard to be good.'” (35)   (That’s what she said!)

“I looked away from his wise, beautiful eyes.” (42)

“‘C’mon,’ Alice said. ‘I’ll get you something less macabre to wear.'” (42)

“‘I’d rather die than be with Mike Newton,’ I protested. ‘I’d rather die than be with anyone but you.'” (45)

“The last thing I wanted was for him to go wallow in remorse.” (45)

“He smiled my favorite crooked smile, and then he disappeared into the darkness.” (46)   (Damnit, we thought we were rid of the crooked smile!)

“‘Hi,’ he said. His voice was sad. He was wallowing.” (47)

“His body was cold through the thin quilt, but I crushed myself against him eagerly.” (51)   (Get it.)

“‘Which is tempting you more, my blood or my body?’ I challenged.

‘It’s a tie.'” (52)

Things That Really Irk Us

“Like everything in life, I just had to decide what to do with what was given.” (35)   [Let’s rip off some Tolkien, shall we? Ugh.]

Bella doesn’t know what an iodine swab looks like. With all her time in the hospital, you’d think she would know (especially since she’s a wiz in school, too).

There’s so much damn foreboding in this chapter. It needs to stop.

Final Thoughts

Well, considering the next chapter is titled “The End,” and Edward is being all distant and moody, we clearly have nooooo idea what’s coming. None at all.

An Extra Little Tidbit

The Destroying Angel truly enjoys listening to all types of music and constantly gets songs stuck in her head. Well, all of the angsty love between Bella and Edward got her thinking… so did the title of this chapter. While she hasn’t listened to them in a while, she realized that the song “Stitches” by Orgy quite fits the chapter. Posted below are the the lyrics.  For a nice throw back, check out the video from 1999. Please enjoy, and chuckle with us.

If it stayed I’d never leave it
If that turned around
I’d grieve the special dirty things that we used to talk about
I mean that loving you is strange
And adored by me throughout oh no it’s you again
Someday soon you’ll find that someone
Waiting for the chance to beat you
Drooling on the set to feel you
Blessing you with every kiss

Tying yourself to me
Stitch up my emptiness cause your the death of me
So precious loving the thrill
Tying yourself to me
Stitch up my emptiness cause your the death of me
So precious loving the thrill

Such the patient one who needs me
The spoiled one who wins
So shocking where’s your sense
Don’t you know I hate you, ohoh
Unsatisfied,you little girl.

Rolling dice and seeming queer
Bastard love,a sick affair
Let’s see what new disease you’ll fetch
I mean that fucking you is strange
And adored by me throughout
Oh no it’s you again
Blessing you with every kiss

So precious you know this hate of mine exploded
I’m so deranged you know
I will never be the same

 

 

Go to Chapter 3.