More twilight.

[kippurbird]

Phenomenon Chapter Three


Bella wakes up the next morning. I almost put Stephanie. Still, Bella wakes up. A very exciting way to begin a chapter. "When I opened my eyes in the morning, something was different." Ooo exciting! The something different is that the water has turned to ice. She gets up. She gets dressed. She has cereal and orange juice for breakfast. She looks forward to going to school, "I knew I was eager to get to school because I would see Edward Cullen." She's talked to him once and she's smitten. Clearly smitten, and only for his looks. He hasn't show a spark of personality at all. The only thing we know about him is that he's pretty and doesn't eat. Also, he looked at Bella like he hated her. But that's not the way love works, does it?

When she leaves she nearly kills her self trying to walk across the ice. This is reasonable because if you live in sunny Phoenix Arizona, you aren't going to know how to deal with ice and snow.

To distract herself from the icy roads as she drives she tries to think about why all the guys seem to like her.

Driving to school, I distracted myself from my fear of falling and my
unwanted speculations about Edward Cullen by thinking about Mike and
Eric, and the obvious difference in how teenage boys responded to me
here. I was sure I looked exactly the same as I had in Phoenix. Maybe it
was just that the boys back home had watched me pass slowly through all
the awkward phases of adolescence and still thought of me that way.
Perhaps it was because I was a novelty here, where novelties were few and
far between. Possibly my crippling clumsiness was seen as endearing
rather than pathetic, casting me as a damsel in distress. Whatever the
reason, Mike's puppy dog behavior and Eric's apparent rivalry with him
were disconcerting. I wasn't sure if I didn't prefer being ignored.

Here we have the classic Sue trait of not knowing that she's pretty. As for her crippling clumsiness, I haven't seen any of it. Just that she's bad with volleyball and that doesn't make you clumsy. Crippling clumsiness would be walking into things all the time, dropping things, tripping over every little thing. This is a false flaw, given to her to make her seem more human and sympathetic. Notice how she sees Eric and Mike's attentions unwanted but if it were Edward, she'd be happy for it.

When she gets to school, she parks and notices that her dad put chains on her wheels.

When I got out of my truck at school, I saw why I'd had so little
trouble. Something silver caught my eye, and I walked to the back of the
truck — carefully holding the side for support — to examine my tires.
There were thin chains crisscrossed in diamond shapes around them.
Charlie had gotten up who knows how early to put snow chains on my truck.
My throat suddenly felt tight. I wasn't used to being taken care of, and
Charlie's unspoken concern caught me by surprise.

I was standing by the back corner of the truck, struggling to fight back
the sudden wave of emotion the snow chains had brought on, when I heard
an odd sound.

Not used to being taken care of? What? Did she have to go to the airport by herself? Did her mom not email her worried sick? And now that I think about it, why doesn't anyone have cell phones? They have email, but no cell phones. But I digress. It looks like she's going to have an emotional breakdown because of her dad putting chains on her truck, something that's completely out of character for her. Her normal response is "Why would he do that, didn't he think she could do it herself"? Of course if he hadn't done it, then it would have been, "Why wasn't he there to help her, what sort of father was he?" Theoretically, Charlie can't win.

Before she can get too emotional a van tries to run her over. I mean a van slides out of control and would have squished her except Edward saves her. Edward was four cars away and he managed to get to her in time and then move the van out of the way, making hand prints in the van while he's at it. No one will remember this except Bella. I'm certain of it.

Edward tries to convince Bella that he had been standing next to her the entire time. I think he's trying to mind-whammy her but it's not working. We can tell he's trying to mind whammy her because he gets serious and his gold eyes are all blazy and things like that. Bella, being thick headed and brainless special, is unaffected much to Edward's frustration.

The EMTs soon arrive and take Bella off to the hospital with a neck brace. She almost dies of humiliation because of the brace. Not really sure why she's humiliated about having to go to the hospital in a gurney with a neck brace. It's not like she did something incredibly stupid, say smashing your finger on the toilet seat cover while trying to pet the cat and spraining it, she just survived a terrible and potentially deadly accident. She's not even worried for Tyler, the driver. Instead it's all about her, about how her dad has shown up and not letting her get out of the gurney. About how they get a police escort to the hospital. And how Edward doesn't have to ride in back of the ambulance.

Inside the hospital Tyler is placed next to her and he begins a litany of "I'm sorry". Her interest in his health and well being is only empty gestures. Instead she tells us that "I was
trapped in the ER, waiting, harassed by Tyler's constant apologies and promises to make it up to me. No matter how many times I tried to convince him I was fine, he continued to torment himself. Finally, I closed my eyes and ignored him. He kept up a remorseful mumbling." She's being harassed by Tyler apologizing for almost killing her. She doesn't care about how he feels it's all about her, and how she's getting annoyed at what he says. She doesn't even try to steer the conversation away and ask how he's doing. She just ignores him.

Are you feeling sorry for her yet?

I know I am.

Sorry that she didn't get more seriously injured in the car crash.

Anywhoot, three guesses on the doctor who checks Bella out and the first two don't count.

Doctor Cullen, our Surgeon, "Then a doctor walked around the corner, and my mouth fell open. He was young, he was blond… and he was handsomer than any movie star I'd ever seen. He was pale, though, and tired-looking, with circles under his eyes. From Charlie's description, this had to be Edward's father." I would think model would be more appropriate here than movie star because not all movie stars are handsome. But I suppose that's a minor nit-pick.

The surgeon (for what we don't know) pronounces her a-okay partner and says she can leave. Edward is there with his daddy and she wants to talk to him about how come he started four cars away and ended up able to rescue her. He doesn't want to. They part ways, Edward not knowing why he rescued her.

When Bella finds out that her dad called her mother, she's furious.

We drove in silence. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I barely knew Charlie was there. I was positive that Edward's defensive behavior in the hall was a confirmation of the bizarre things I still could hardly believe I'd witnessed.

When we got to the house, Charlie finally spoke.

"Um… you'll need to call Renée." He hung his head, guilty.

I was appalled. "You told Mom!"

"Sorry."

I slammed the cruiser's door a little harder than necessary on my way out.
My mom was in hysterics, of course. I had to tell her I felt fine at
least thirty times before she would calm down.

Her dad is APOLOGIZING for letting her mother know that she might have been seriously injured. Dad has all the spine of a jellyfish. She's upset about the inconvenience this entire thing has caused her, not at all caring about the effect it's had on others. It's all about her and her problems. And the fact that she never seems to give a second thought about things makes her rather unsympathetic to me.

The chapter ends with her sleeping and dreaming of Edward.

Comments

[syderia]

Wait. It's the first time she drives on icy roads, she doesn't even think about chains for her tires and she distracts herself when driving? She's competing for the prize of the most stupid person -in addition to the most selfish and self-centered person- on Earth, isn't she?

Also, if I were her father, I wouldn't have put the chains on without telling her anything. I would have told her that she needed to think about putting them on when there was ice, and I would have shown her about to do it.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

She's competing for the prize of the most stupid person -in addition to the most selfish and self-centered person- on Earth, isn't she?

We have Darwin Awards. Can we now have Bella Awards?

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

And yet she's supposed to be so brilliant. One thing you should never do is be distracted while driving, especially when it's less than optimal driving conditions.

I know my dad would have done that. After all, what happens if he's not there to put them on for me?

[carolpent.livejournal.com]

You know, the thing about the Tyler thing that really bothered me was that Tyler apparently all bleeding and bruised - and he's the one profusely apologizing to her. If anything, Bella should be apologizing to the boy with the wrecked car and all the injuries.

I didn't know you were doing Twilight! I finished reading it a few weeks ago, and I'm dragging out Lolita to put off reading New Moon.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

If anything, Bella should be apologizing to the boy with the wrecked car and all the injuries.

Yes. After all he's the one who tried to get out of the way to not hit her.

I didn't know I was doing Twilight either. canadianevil made me do it.

[carolpent.livejournal.com]

I know, but it's hypnotizing, isn't it? Even when I absolutely hated every single character in the scene (read: Bella and the Cullens) I didn't stop reading.

[prototypical]

You've got a broken blockquote tag.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Yes. But what are your thought on Yaoi?

[smurasaki.livejournal.com]

Wait, this doesn't sound like the Pacific Northwest my mom grew up in. Icy roads that require chains? *wikipedia* 300ft elevation, so we're not talking high mountains. September temperature: average high 67.3F, average low 45.7F. Maybe it's October now? H:59.2 L:40.9 November? H:50.8 L:37.5 December? H:46.5 L:34.6 ... It's an alternate reality, yeah.

All right, it's not impossible, but it hurts my suspension of disbelief. Or would if I had any left. The fact that someone not hit by a car was taken by ambulance to a hospital would probably also have done in any disbelief I had left. I'm pretty sure ambulance crews in real life have better things to do. Like tend to people actually hit by cars. Or, in this case, the driver of the car that didn't hit her. (Never mind distracted driving on icy roads for the first time. Being too scared to drive on them would be a whole lot more realistic, frankly. Wait, did I just say realistic? This book? Bwahahahah. *snort*)

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

It snows in LA sometimes. The last time that it did and actually made a difference was when my mom was about ten. Which would be about 1957. At least I think that was the last time it snowed.

Edward said she hit her head really hard on the pavement and so they were worried about a concussion.

Being too scared to drive on them would be a whole lot more realistic, frankly.

My dad, a good driver, is always nervous about driving on icy roads. Newbie like her with a truck she's only had for a few days? Hah. She's lucky she didn't kill her self.

[smurasaki.livejournal.com]

Edward said she hit her head really hard on the pavement and so they were worried about a concussion.

Well, that makes more sense, though it does mean he's terrible at damsel saving. I mean, not only did he wreck some poor guy's van (and the poor guy), but he dropped the damsel. Bad form.

[indongcho.livejournal.com]

I consider this as an idiot plot, since in a small town where snow is very, very uncommon, they'd be most likely to have a snow day. Especially if there's still ice on the roads. And if there's ice, why wouldn't Bella first think, "snow day? Oh please oh please oh please"?

*stops self* Sorry, I'm getting redundant. I've been awake for practically two days now, and my coherency is falling asleep instead of my body.

[wariena.livejournal.com]

I think this one summarises why some teenage girls feel they can relate with Bella- because, like them, Bella is filled with resentment that the world around them isn't perfect for them, exhasperation at everyone else's imperfection and sheer ungratefulness for what they actually have. Seriously, I've heard girls in my class complain because they couldn't fit a second pool into their garden or because their parents are only giving them a car for their 18th birthday, omg, like how unfair is that?

Note, I said 'some': the rest of us are both insulted that Meyer thinks we're all like that and slackjawed at what a bitch Bella is.

On another note, clumsiness is often a big ol' faux flaw. Clumsiness means being able to "accidentally" trip and fall into Love Interest's arms, or need him to rescue you 24/7, or looking cute and ditzy when you drop things.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

*perks up*
Oh, thank you. I have been trying and trying to understand WHY this series appeals to teenagers and adults who think like teens. You've put it so perfectly.
In high school, I knew a "poor little rich girl" who threw a fit when Daddy wouldn't buy her a certain backpack -- for $500. Back then, I didn't even known backpacks cost $500.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

O_o $500 backpack?! What the hell do you get with a $500 backpack!? Why do you even need a backpack that expensive? It's going to get ruined really easily.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

I never knew what the backpack looked like. I did have some fun imagining, though. ;D

[dryaunda.livejournal.com]

(Deleted comment was originally this comment. I hate LiveJournal so much for not letting me edit.)

Utilizing the power of the global brain, I have discovered images of the fabled $500+ bag. Very useful information for me, since I'm (all-too very slowly) writing a Bratz fanfic. Got to get the introduction out of the way before I can show off my Sue being awesome.

Having to be rescued by some guy? My Sue would've dodged the van, Solid Snake style! (Not without slamming up against something for the aesthetically essential bit of humanity.) She'd check on Tyler, accept his apology (being broken, bloody, and contrite, he's learned his lesson anyway), give first aid well enough to cut into the paramedics' workload, and talk his ear off about SimCity and Ice Road Truckers until the ambulance arrived. Then she would've had pancakes.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Wow. Some of those are among the ugliest bags I have ever seen.

Mmmm, pancakes! My husband made pancakes for breakfast this morning.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

And I could probably get a better one that'll last longer at Target or a sporting goods store.

[wariena.livejournal.com]

Thank you. =D I'm not usually that coherent.

And a $500 backpack...? Okay, that's delving into the realms of "WHAT THE FUCKITY FUCK?". Why the hell do you need to spend that much money on a bloody bag?!

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

This is why I look at women's handbags that cost upwards of $2000 and say, "Erm... it's a bag. You put stuff in it. Unless it has actual gold and diamond stitching, it is not worth that much."
And some of the bags don't even have compartments or pockets. They're just... bags.

The most I ever paid for a bag was $60, and it was very high quality.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

And if it did have gold and diamond stitching I'd keep it locked up somewhere so no one would steal it, thus making it utterly useless.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Exactly. My most expensive purse is stowed away in a cabinet. It was a gift. I believe it cost the person around $85. I use it for special occasions. I compare it to my cheaper bags and there is really no difference, except maybe the quality of the leather and stitching.

[dryaunda.livejournal.com]

Anything that expensive had better be a spy gadget.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I've heard girls in my class complain because they couldn't fit a second pool into their garden or because their parents are only giving them a car for their 18th birthday, omg, like how unfair is that?

Why would you need a second pool?

I think this one summarises why some teenage girls feel they can relate with Bella- because, like them, Bella is filled with resentment that the world around them isn't perfect for them, exhasperation at everyone else's imperfection and sheer ungratefulness for what they actually have.

That does explain a lot, doesn't it? I know my mom beat that right out of me with her constant assertions that we should count our blessings.

[wariena.livejournal.com]

Why would you need a second pool?

It's for your butlers, silly. ;)

That does explain a lot, doesn't it? I know my mom beat that right out of me with her constant assertions that we should count our blessings.

XD Likewise. My mum never fails to remind me how, forget shopping, she always had to make her own clothes.

[dryaunda.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I've heard girls in my class complain because they couldn't fit a second pool into their garden or because their parents are only giving them a car for their 18th birthday, omg, like how unfair is that?

What school do you go to?

[trinadi.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't they salt a high school parking lot? Wait, I shouldn't even ask that. They would, there's more salt than ice in the student parking, and the bus loading strip at my school in that kind of weather.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Living in Los Angeles I am in ignorance of your strange ways in dealing with ice and snow. BUT from what I've read and heard from those who do live in those areas, yes that is true.

[trinadi.livejournal.com]

Living in Canada I am unsure if you in the States even use the same methods.

[smurasaki.livejournal.com]

Yep, most places in the States do exatly the same thing. Mind you, since this appears to be an alternate reality, what with snow chains just being on-hand somewhere that doesn't sound as though it would get horribly icy roads often, perhaps parking lot accidents are the done thing.

(Seriously, I live in Colorado. I do not own snow chains. I do not know anyone who does. Now, perhaps if I lived in Vail or Aspen... But we do salt and sand the heck out of everything when it gets slippery out.)

[trinadi.livejournal.com]

I'm by Toronto and have been up further north in winter. It doesn't snow there just as school starts, nor does anyone have snow chains over snow tires.

But yes, alternate reality.

[(Anonymous)]

She must be a total idiot if she drove all the way to school without noticing that she had chains on her truck. Try driving with some on some time. They make a racket and change the way driving feels dramatically.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

I know! It's rather disconcerting, the noise. Of course she was too busy distracting herself from Edward Cullen.

[thelittlebudgie.livejournal.com]

Ice chains? I don't think I've ever seen anyone use those, although maybe they're more common in rural areas. (Is Forks rural? It sounds like it.) But more importantly, what kind of idiot distracts herself while driving on ice for the first time?

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

I think we've already established what sort of idiot Bella is. As for Forks being rural, it has a hospital that has a surgeon on staff but only one high school. I think it is rather like the place Eragon lives in with butcher shops in small villages.

[gjohnsonkoehn.livejournal.com]

Since the driving/ice/chains stupidity has been dealt with quite nicely by everyone else, let's see what else we can find, eh?

Ah, here we go!
About how they get a police escort to the hospital.

Okay, I can see the cops having shown up, and I can see them taking a look at Tyler and his van and the conditions of the parking lot. Heck, I can even see them following the ambulance to the hospital, to ask Tyler a few questions. But a police escort? That's just plain ridiculous.

And speaking of Tyler, and by extension his van and Edward, is anyone but me getting kind of a Hancock vibe off this incident? Did Edward, who can apparently cover twenty feet in a second and leave hand prints in a van, really need to throw enough force into it to leave poor Tyler bleeding and broken? Couldn't he have just grabbed Bella, or nudged the van into a different, non-dangerous spin pattern? At least Hancock is a drunken, resentful bum; what's Edward's excuse?

And how come he is 'Charlie', but she is 'Mom', anyway?

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Heck, I can even see them following the ambulance to the hospital, to ask Tyler a few questions. But a police escort? That's just plain ridiculous

Would there be anything less for Bella, the sheriff's daughter?

Did Edward, who can apparently cover twenty feet in a second and leave hand prints in a van, really need to throw enough force into it to leave poor Tyler bleeding and broken?

It's more dramatic that way. Duh.

And how come he is 'Charlie', but she is 'Mom', anyway?

Because he never did anything for her. Actually, I dunno why.

[gjohnsonkoehn.livejournal.com]

Actually, if she is the sheriff's daughter (I hadn't known that was Charlie's job), the police escort does make sense. Cops are good at looking after their own and their associates.

[authoressarktos.livejournal.com]

Her dad is APOLOGIZING for letting her mother know that she might have been seriously injured. Dad has all the spine of a jellyfish. She's upset about the inconvenience this entire thing has caused her, not at all caring about the effect it's had on others. It's all about her and her problems. And the fact that she never seems to give a second thought about things makes her rather unsympathetic to me.

*snorts* In complete agreement, here.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Yup.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Yep.
Spoiled brat times ten, Bella is.

[mranon-y-mous.livejournal.com]

Spoiled brat times ten, Bella is.

Listen to Yoda, he is wise beyond your years young ones.

[lilibel.livejournal.com]

syderia told me about you reading Twilight and commenting on it.
As I never opened the book due to the fact I couldn't get pass the awful sumup on the cover, I'm gonna follow your blog, just in case someone drag me to see the movie.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Sure! You're welcome to come along and chime in on the stupidity.