The song for this chapter is Enemies by Ryan Cabrera

As I opened up to the third-from-the-last chapter of Twilight, I accidentally leaned back in my chair, scraping the edge of the cover against the side of my desk. Alas! There is now an injurious scratch on the edge of the book’s spine, with part of the black peeled away to show the white paper underneath. It is a sad sight. But one which made me think of the old velveteen rabbit: obviously, I’ve been getting loads of reading out of this one (though my recent mistake probably merited me this again).

Recommendation: do not attempt to eat salsa while reading Twilight, especially this chapter. For, as I quickly discovered, when your eyes get to the end of the page, your mind does not care that your fingers are still clutching tortilla chips, and instinctively lash out to turn the page so the scene does not stop. The action and suspense have increased with Alice’s vision and Bella’s plans being made: and with Edward arriving very soon, Bella’s got to be out of there in a flash.

Bella’s escape from the airport was wonderfully planned, as she knew the area, and I could very nearly feel the other two close behind. However, it was James’ plan that struck me by surprise. Go on: you can start laughing uproariously now. I caught a few giggles from people as I skimmed the comments last time, about how ‘I was gonna find out’ in the next chapter. I will admit, I was a little confused, since if Bella’s mother was there, that would be an outsider who knew about the vampires: which would not be good at all. Still, I was not expecting James to have been able to put together such a scheme in so little time, so it took me by surprise.

Funny thing about ballet: the only ballet performances I have seen are two of my sister’s, and a few of her practices at the studio. This studio was nearly a photocopy of the one which Bella was lured to: mirrors all about the walls so you could look one way and see yourself multiplied. The most interesting part about this studio, though, was the stairway which no one ever went up. Somehow it got into my head that the place was haunted at night, and an old witch lived upstairs. I figured she must have been a rather poor witch, forced to rent the rooms below out to noisy, screaming children practicing ballet below her feet.

Move over Phantom. There’s a new act in town.

I really enjoyed the fact that Bella actually went back to her house. The reason for this is that the book is now circular: the first pages start out shortly after Bella left her house. It is powerful, then, to see her return, and to think of all the things that have changed since then. Edward appeared. Bella was nearly hit by a car. The men in the alley. Meeting the Cullens. Losing count of guys asking Bella to the dance. So many things have happened, so that when I paged back to the beginning of the book, just to see it again, I was shocked to read Bella’s oh-so-eloquent thoughts back on page 4:

 I detested Forks.

So much has changed since then. Bella’s entire character has made such a transformation, this is what she thinks 22 chapters later:

 More fiercely than I would have dreamed I was capable of, I wished for the green, protective forests of Forks…of home. 

Not only have so many things happened to Bella, but she has changed completely as a person. Is this all because of Edward, I wonder? Or is Edward just a large part of it: a decoy that has made her open her mind to her new home and see things in a different light, that maybe Forks isn’t quite as bad as she was expecting it to be.  Quite a change has come over her since she was last in that house back in Phoenix.

This was perhaps the most powerful line in this chapter:

There was no time to look back at my house, and I didn’t want to see it as it was now — empty, a symbol of fear instead of sanctuary. The last person to walk through those familiar rooms was my enemy.

Again, it brought me back to the very beginning of the book: tying the two ends together. This time, it was a line in the prologue:

Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something.

——NOTES——

- Someone asked me what I would do if I ever become a famous author. I decided to make a video answering that, which includes a newspaper, the back of Lemony Snicket’s head, a phone call to Stephenie Meyer, a wall of photos that does not exist, and more. Also, sunburn. Check it out over here…

-The next round of picking the song for Twilight starts this weekend! I’ll have the new voting form up with the top ten on Saturday or Sunday, but for now, you can keep suggesting songs (it’s currently in the high thousands).

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Some of the most common reasons I have found that guys pick up Twilight is because they first mistakenly believe their girlfriends have fallen for some new guy named Edward, only to find out (amidst buckets of laughter from their girlfriends) that he is from a book. Take JC for example:

EDWARD NEARLY STOLE HIS GIRLFRIEND   "Okay, the only reason I read the Twilight Series was so I would get what my girlfriend was talking about. First, you have to understand the situation. Emily (The girlfriend) Loves to read. After awhile, I started hearing her and her friends talking about "Edward" And how hot he is. And how they wish they could date him. She, of course, had no idea I was within hearing distance when she and friends said these things. By coincidence, a new kid named Edward had joined our school that year. Nothing that special about him. I was understandbly confused, as most of her friends are dating other guys steady as it is, and she was(and is) dating me. Then I started hearing about how she wishes Edward would bite her. Strange. At this point, I was tired of hearing her and friends whisper about him, so I asked if she wanted to break up with me. She started to cry and asked why I didn't want her any more. I was like....Uh, I thought you liked Edward. Her response :"Edward? Who told you i liked Edward?" I told her about what I'd heard her say. She started laughing and explained Edward was a character in a book. I still didn't get what was so great about him, So she had me read the series and I actually like them. The kicker? I bought the Twilight book for her for her birthday." Submitted by JC.

He gets a t-shirt for free from Twilightteez.com for his story!

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The song for this chapter is Broken by Seether and Amy Lee (suggested by Sarah)

Thanks to the many suggestions of snacks I should try for the next chapter of Twilight, I have taken one I got by email and consumed it: cereal. I know, how abysmally boring. But, a snack nonetheless, and one to add to my list as I venture into the serious and interesting business of Chapter the Twenty-First!

Somehow deep down I knew that James would find a way to get Bella’s mother before they had a chance to save her. The visions seen by Alice spelled to me that he has been lurking in the area, and it was only a matter of time before he found the only hole in the Cullen’s plan: no one was watching Renee. After all, there are only so many vampires to go around, and us weakling humans haven’t a chance to fend for ourselves. It is in times such as these that one wishes there was at least something resembling a Vampire Police Force to be called, in order to deal with this odious hunter.

Now there’s a scary thought

The truth of the matter is that Bella has already seen the powers of vampires through Edward: actually, she’s seen quite little of it due to Edward’s reservations from hurting her, but what she has seen is enough. She knows well what James could do if he wanted. And she knows she has no choice but to go to him.

It would be a strange feeling, knowing that you are walking towards your death, with little or no hope for something happening to save you. In the back of Bella’s mind, I know she wishes that Edward would show up: but the other side of her knows that if he did, he might be killed with her, and her mother– and anyone else James might strike out against in revenge. The feeling that your hunter will kill you no matter how much you try to fight him is one that usually only resides in nightmares.

I can remember a very odd dream I had when I was about 10, and it was so terrifying I remembered it when I thought about Bella in this chapter. I was lost in a labyrinthal house, and no matter which hall I went down, I was always turning in the wrong direction. I could see through windows outside to a very bright desert, but I just couldn’t get out. What made it worse, however, was that the hallways were made of old wood and were so thin I had to squeeze through in places. And, not to be left out: the woman hunting me in the halls with the pitchfork, who literally said her name in the dream and still sends shivers down my spine when I think of it.

The feeling was one of utter lack of hope of every getting out: very vividly that I had no other option but to stay in that house and die. It immediately makes me think of Bella now, who is on her way basically to be killed: and not only that, but to be killed by a vampire who is a hunter.

It might just be misguided, but in my mind a Hunter won’t just kill his prey. More than likely, he will want to chase her down, like a lion hunting a mouse. Already, it seems that he actually enjoys the hunt far more than the kill itself, and I gravely doubt also that he plans to let Renee go after Bella arrives.

We shall see in the next chapter.

——NOTES——

- Thanks to you, I have now passed 1,000 friends on Myspace! Thanks everyone over there.

- Don’t forget to keep suggesting songs if you haven’t already! The nominations end this weekend and voting begins the same day! Just so you know, there were over 5,000 songs suggested in the first 48 hours. And guess who has to dig through them all at the end of this week? (*faints)

- I just caught up on all emails up to June 4. If you sent a message before June 4, check your spam box. All others: I will reply soon!

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I have been planning this for a while now, and as I near the last two weeks of reading Twilight, the time has come to open the polls!

Everyone knows the importance of the final song in a film, the one that plays during the credits. The purpose of this is to bring the film to a closing with a song that seems to represent the movie you just watched. As songs have been such an important part of each chapter post, I have decided to take a vote for what the final song for Twilight should be, in the opinion of all the Twilighters around the world!

The goal is to find a song that seems to represent Twilight (the first book) as a whole to you. You can nominate up to 3 songs, but you must submit them separately.

There will be two rounds. One, will be suggesting songs. The second will be voting on the top-ten of those suggested. I will post the song for Twilight when I write on the epilogue, with my final thoughts on the book.

Also, as I am one who abhors polls with no prize, I am offering a free BITE ME HAT and MITCH HANSEN BAND CD to a randomly chosen person from those who enter– all straight from TwilightTeez.com!

cforms contact form by delicious:days

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For the many of you who missed out on buying the tickets to any of Stephenie’s now-sold-out concert appearances, you still have hope!

According to Stephenie’s website, there will be a contest for two exclusive trips to New York on August 1 to meet Stephenie, as well as being transported through the city via limosine to be one of the first to buy a copy of Breaking Dawn! You will receive complete VIP treatment with special seating at the event, a $75 gift card and a meet-and-greet with Stephenie Meyer herself.

On Stephenie’s website, Seth accidentally added the letter ’s’ to the end of the link, thus linking people to an incorrect page. However, I dug it up, and since it starts today, head on over here for the official rules and how to enter!

Note: Another not-as-big announcement coming soon

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 The song for this chapter is Snakes On A Plane by Cobra Starship

I mentioned in my last two chapter posts that I had a goal of reaching 1,000 Youtube subscribers for my channel before the end of the summer. Out of anyone in the world, I should have known what would result. Within two days the goal was reached, and what is more, I’m nearing the 1,050th subscriber as I write. You people are truly amazing and I can’t thank you enough!

While on the topic of numbers, I have leapt right into chapter 20 and realize that there are only four left before I finish the book. How fitting of a title for this chapter! I seems to describe the very feeling I detect being aimed at me:

email I got Monday (GL– I promise I’ll still reply):

Hey Kaleb a.k.a. Twilight Guy! Alrite, I just have one thing to say…CAN U HURRY IT UP ALREADY? Look, me and (almost) everyone i know have been waiting PATIENTLY for you to get to New Moon, which is my FAVORITE of them ALL. (…) so, you did two chapters last time…how about…FIVE next time?

G.L.

Sheesh! In Chapter 20, the obvious question that has been lurking in the back of my mind is finally voiced by Bella: ‘…how do you become a vampire?’

Alice’s answer gave me some insight into why Edward was originally avoiding Bella. If the transformation is so powerful and painful, he would more than likely not want Bella to experience it. He seems to have wanted to distance himself from her, though his feelings for Bella were too strong for him to leave. This leaves a number of questions in my mind, as to if there are any alternatives, or if there is a way to reverse the procedure. Or I might just be reading much too deep into it…

When it came to the part where they were describing what was happening with James, I was suddenly caught by the line where he got onto an airplane. A thirsty vampire on an airplane full of people is not a very palatable thought. After all, I am claustrophobic enough without having to glance over my shoulder every few minutes to make sure the person behind me isn’t sniffing the air or looking at me like a tasty snack. If anything, there should at least be added security measures for vampires wanting to board airplanes, maybe even a completely separate entrance and seating arrangements.

Welcome to Vamp-Air

The elaborate plans weaved by the Cullens only make them that much cooler in my mind. Not only have they traversed the country in different directions in order to lead these other vampires off, they are keeping up with people they must protect in multiple cities.

Also, the entrance of the ballet hall was a delightful twist. Like everyone here, I have also seen the trailer for the upcoming film. While reading the book, I have been waiting anxiously to see where that scene with the mirrors comes in. Sadly the trailer served as a partial spoiler, as I know something will happen there and I’m on the lookout, though I haven’t a clue how they’ll get there, and for which I am very ready to see in one of the next chapters.

 ——NOTES——

-Remaining posts for this week will be shorter than usual: I have two college exams. On the eve of June 28th, however, it all ends for 2 months, and you should be able to hear my cheer around the world.

- Stephenie’s Breaking Dawn events: mostly sold out within hours. It appears (according to Stephenie’s site) that Seattle is still open, though I searched for tickets and it says they’re out. I immediately went to eBay to see how much these are going for. Let’s just say you can get eight Hannah Montana tickets in exchange for two Stephenie Meyer. Or, a pair of Christina Aguilera’s pants. So, those who got them: they’re worth far more than their weight in gold. Hold on to them tight!

- For those of you keeping up with the various snacks I have enjoyed whilst reading chapters of Twilight, go ahead and add ‘nachos’ to the list. That makes lasagna, pizza, popcorn, ice-cream, sandwiches and nachos. Any special snacks I should try as I near the final chapters of Twilight?

- For those who have scruples against reading FAQ pages, and continue to friend me on Facebook: thanks so much, but I’m sorry, I still can’t unless I know you personally. My Myspace is so much better

- Big announcement coming soon.

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THE SECRET TWILIGHT GUY   "I'm a typical 16 year old guy. I love sports, especially baseball. I have a black belt. I hate reading, and I hate yucky romance stuff. But my sister, Nollie, who is older than me by 3 years, is the Queen of the Twilight here in our house. She's already converted 2 of her friends over to the "Twilight" zone, one of whom is a real tomboy that loves baseball and football. I thought I was safe from my sister and her Twilight antics...that was until she came home from college for the summer. With two convertions under her belt...she started on another victim --I mean friend-- our own mother. And I think--well I now know--that she has her eyes set on me for convertion. Why? The first day--FIRST DAY--she was home, she showed me this pretty neat clip. I see guy running, tackling some animal, I see a van about to kill this girl and the guy stops her, I see him throwing girl on back and out a window. It was...interesting. I play it off as like "Okay...what was that?" not so she knows she got to me. She said "That was the trailer for Twilight." "What's Twilight about?" I asked. "Vampires," she said, smiling. Oh dangit...she already has me hooked on seeing the movie just at saying "vampires." But it gets...more attached when she then tells me, on our way to the Hockey Playoff game, that the movie also includes...baseball. BASEBALL?! My calender is marked for Dec 12 for the movie. But her plans don't stop at just me seeing the movie. I asked her, my loving sister, to help me with a project and she goes, "Only if you read Twilight." Now, I don't do reading. Writing, heck I like to write short stories about guys and sports, none of the girlie stuff. I go "...okay, but I won't read it...I'll listen to it." Now every night, I hide around the corner of my parent's room where she reads chapter by chapter to my mother, recording my mum's reactions and thought about each chapter for her blog segment called "my mum's becoming a Twilight mom"...while at the same time, I'm becoming a secret Twilight Guy. Darn my sister being home." Submitted by Z.

I have little doubt that he’ll be out in public soon And he gets a t-shirt for free from Twilightteez.com for his story!

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 The song for this chapter is Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

As you all surely noticed, something is different about this post, and the difference is that I have covered more than one chapter. One of these is my excuse:

1. A band of masked Twilighters led by Bailey leapt through my window, chained me to my desk, and threatened to stone me with textbooks if I didn’t read faster.  Or:
2. I caught a fatal type of Dangermagnetosis and must now read double-speed in order to finish before my premature death. Or:
3. Stephenie ended Chapter 18 at a part in the story no sane being, male or female, human or vampire, could set the book down.

Yes, I just kept on from 18 to 19, and might have gone onto 20 if I hadn’t stopped myself. In a flash it transformed. The beginning of the book was great (I’m a guy, so Edward-gushing wasn’t completely my type of reading), but this part is thrilling. Vampire action? Vampires running beside the car, chasing and tracking Bella down? If there are any guys reading this, still on the fence about reading Twilight, know that the romance and stuff guys don’t usually enjoy, at the beginning of the book, is entirely worth it for what is happening now. In fact, those parts are of great importance to make this part of the book so strong, so you know just how imperative it is to Edward that Bella stays alive.

There are hardly words to be said about this chapter, as I’m still trying to resist pulling it off the shelf and jumping right into the next part. Like I said at the beginning of this site, I am not one who has ever enjoyed vampire books or movies. For some reason, they just didn’t click with me. But Stephenie’s have completely rendered a new view of vampires in my mind– from the old Dracula with capes into something worthy of vamptastic.

In these chapters, there is a very strong tension in the air at all times, which is handled so masterfully I can’t get over it. Somehow, I can feel James watching from the shadows, circling the house, running next to the car– this constant danger that at any time could strike from the dark. At the same time, Edward is there as well, showing an aggressive side I have not yet seen. He has gone instantly from this romantic fellow into a vicious, dark defender, ready to hunt James at whatever cost. The prospect of having to tear James to shreds and burn the pieces does not even sway him for a second from what he has to do. There is a driving force to protect Bella that leaves no room in Edward’s mind for questioning what has to be done. She’s worth whatever it takes for him to keep her alive.

Believe me when I say that the absolute, sudden shifting from a romance into a page-turning thriller within the space of 20 pages had me shocked. Regular vampire romances do not do that. However, Twilight is not a regular vampire romance.

Unfortunately, my mind wandered off again, snickering back at me as it did:

“What’s your hunting range?” Laurent casually inquired.

“Somewhere in that direction,” Carlisle said, pointing. “But, you might rather wait a month or two. After all…”

He gestured towards a sign which read:

I am looking forward to grabbing Chapter 20 with the greatest anticipation, and hoping that I can resist from just leaping upon the rest of the book and devouring them all at once with near-vampiric fury. 

——NOTES——

- I’m about ready to celebrate: my Youtube is up to 870 subs! My goal is 1000 by the end of summer, so if anybody likes Youtube be sure to check out my channel.

- This week is my final exam in college before summer break, and then I will be much free-er to get back with everyone’s emails. However, I just received the editorial letter for my novel. Thus, following June 27, my email-answering speed will fall again while I work on that. But I will still reply!

- For those who haven’t heard, most of Stephenie’s Breaking Dawn shows were sold out within the hour. Wowsa. So you were all right: my 3 hour guess was way too much

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LIVING WITH A TWILIGHTMOM   "To guys with girlfriends who are obsessive Twilighters, and think it's crazy, just wait. Try living with an obsessive Twilight MOM. Every day, I awaken to my mom sitting at the computer, rushing to check every website or blog for updates (forgetting her son's breakfast). We have two or three copies of each book, some of them signed, others tattered, others always loaned out. My home has become a meeting place for her Twilight friends. I come in from school, and there they are, all gabbing about Edward and Jacob. And for hours, that's most of what they talk about. Jacob and Edward. Edward and Jacob. Thank you mom, I'll just have a microwave dinner...again. Imaginary boys are more important that little old George. Let me remind you of one fact: my mom is not twenty two. She is forty three. Not old, but still...she's gabbing with her friends about cute guys in books and the new movie coming and the latest vampire news *just like* almost every girl at school. I thought about conducting tests for mind-altering chemicals in our water. But it gets worse. There is this girl at school who was coming over to my house. A gorgeous, sweet girl who is a genius at almost everything. So I was taking her over to my house. I was very happy about this. But we walk through the door, right into the middle of a Twilight meeting. She hears the name Edward, and bam! They have a new member to their club. And I again go to warm up my own microwave dinner, while *they* all sit and talk...without me. So after this going on for quite a long time, and fearing the same to happen with every girl I ever bring near my mother, I decided it was time to grab one of the books and get reading. I nearly sent my mom into a heart attack when I grabbed her her signed one. Rule 1 in our house...do not touch mom's singed copies. Those were touched by Stephenie Meyer once. She should have just kept them in a sterile chamber. Anyway, I read the first one in about a day. Mom was thrilled. She had me on the second one the next day, and called all her Twilight friends. One of her sites every morning happened to be yours, so I got called a Twilight guy a million times after that. I finished the next one in 3 days. Right now, I'm onto the third book. And I have to admit, I love it. Now, when I come in from school, I can join in along with them (except, of course, the cute guys thing. As if I care! I'm a guy. I usually do homework when they start that up, or go watch some sports...trying to keep some hold on my man card there har har). The best is, the girl I mentioned earlier comes sometimes, and when my mom's friends are there it's like a little club. So yay. I might get to know her more. Thanks to my Twilight Mom. So I'm a Twilight guy now and proud of it." Submitted by George.

Thanks for the story George! This week’s TwilightGuy Reporters get a Runs With Vampires shirt from Twilightteez.com!

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Hello people! This is just a note so I don’t expect many comments today, but I didn’t want to leave anyone in the dark as to why there’s no post.

Due to receiving the editorial letter for my novel and having to do some intense thinking on it, there will be no (real) post today, Friday, June 20. My mind, as you can tell, is filled to the brim, especially after taking a college exam just hours before, only being told the material 2 days before that, and pondering intensely over other TwilightGuy news soon to be revealed.

So rather than post something uninteresting and stressful, I have decided to hold a TWILIGHTGUY DAY OF SILENCE in honor of EDWARD CULLEN’S BIRTHDAY. Oh, and if you’re looking for some videos to celebrate with, check out the ones on TheSpidermonkeyMafia or the FantasticTwihards. I heard they got pretty funny

–Kaleb

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