Twilight: Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Bella begs Edward to answer one more question, and when he agrees, she asks how he knew where she’d gone in Port Angeles. He admits he followed her scent, and then Bella asks him to explain his mind-reading. He explains that he can hear everyone’s thoughts, except for Bella’s. It’s like being in a loud room. He wonders if Bella’s mind just works differently, which bothers Bella—it makes her feel like a “freak.” Edward prompts Bella to start talking, but Bella realizes that Edward is driving 100 miles per hour, and she shouts for him to slow down. He rolls his eyes, tells her to relax, and slows to 80.

Bella admits that she doesn’t know how to begin, and that she’s afraid Edward will be angry. She says that at the beach last weekend, she spoke to Jacob Black, a family friend a member of the Quileute tribe. He told her a legend about vampires and mentioned the Cullens. Bella whispers that after that, she did some research on the internet—but then she decided it doesn’t matter. Edward is incredulous and asks if she really doesn’t care if he’s an inhuman “monster,” but Bella just sighs that Edward is angry.

Bella asks how old Edward is—17—and asks how long he’s been 17. He says it’s been a while. Then, he says it’s just a myth that vampires sleep in coffins and can’t come out during the daytime. He admits that he can’t sleep at all. Bella notes that according to Jacob, the Cullens only hunt animals and so supposedly aren’t that dangerous. Edward says the Quileutes are right about the animals, but the Cullens are still dangerous. Sometimes, they make mistakes, just like Edward is now by letting himself be alone with Bella. What they’re doing is very dangerous.

Bella sits in silence and suddenly just wants to hear Edward’s voice. She asks why he hunts animals instead of people. Edward explains that he doesn’t want to be a monster. Living on animals is a bit like being a vegetarian, but sometimes it’s difficult. Bella says that Edward isn’t hungry now; she can tell because of his lighter eyes. Edward admits that he went hunting with Emmett last weekend, and that he knew he had to hunt but didn’t want to leave Bella. It makes him anxious to be away from her. Edward admits that he’s been home from the hunting trip since Sunday, but he didn’t go to school because he can’t go out in the sunlight in front of people.

Bella insists that Edward could’ve called—she notes that he knew she was safe, but she didn’t know where he was, which makes her anxious. Edward groans that this is wrong—she shouldn’t feel this way about him because he’s so dangerous. Bella reiterates that she doesn’t care; it’s too late. In a harsh voice, Edward tells her to never say that, causing Bella to tear up.

Before long, Bella and Edward arrive in Forks. Outside of Charlie’s house, Edward promises to be at school tomorrow, and he asks Bella to not go into the woods alone. He says that he’s not the most dangerous thing in the woods. Bella opens the car door, but when she turns back to Edward, his face is inches from hers. His scent leaves her dazed, and it takes a moment for her to be able to get out of the car.

Bella watches Edward drive away and then lets herself into the house. Charlie seems concerned about Bella, so she wonders what she looks like. As soon as Bella sits down in the kitchen, the phone rings. It’s Jessica. Bella asks Jessica to bring her coat to school tomorrow; she forgot it in Jessica’s car. She also promises to tell Jessica everything tomorrow. In a stupor, Bella showers and climbs into bed. As she starts to fall asleep, she’s suddenly certain that Edward is a vampire, that he wants her blood, and that she’s madly in love with him.