An Impasse

Death shouldn’t be this uncomfortable.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.459

I was almost too late. I could have been too late.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.459

I had no interest in being soothed. My mom was here and I was recovering from a vampire attack.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.459

You fell down two flights of stairs and through a window. You have to admit, it could happen.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.459

They gave you a few transfusions. I didn’t like it — it made you smell all wrong for a while.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.460

It was impossible… to stop. Impossible. But I did. I must love you.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.460

Don’t I taste as good as I smell?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.460

You should have waited for me, you should have told me.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.460

Oh, a sadistic vampire, intent on torturing her to death, sure, no problem, she runs off to meet him. An IV, on the other hand…
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.462

Alice had a little bit too much fun fabricating evidence.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.463

I was not finished kissing you. Don’t make me come over there.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.463

Don’t forget to breathe.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.464

He never leaves, does he?
Renée Dwyer, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.464

You didn’t tell me you had such good friends in Forks.
Renée Dwyer, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.465

Edward still had his eyes closed, but he looked too tense to pass as asleep.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.466

I think that boy is in love with you.
Renée Dwyer, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.467

I’m pretty crazy about him.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.468

Well, he seems very nice, and, my goodness, he’s incredibly good-looking, but you’re so young, Bella…
Renée Dwyer, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.468

Try to be more careful when you walk, honey, I don’t want to lose you.
Renée Dwyer, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.469

You stole a car?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.469

I would stay in Forks, Bella. Or somewhere like it. Someplace where I couldn’t hurt you anymore.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.470

He didn’t say anything; he watched my face warily as the pain that had nothing to do with broken bones, pain that was infinitely worse, threatened to crush me.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.470

Now relax before I call the nurse back to sedate you.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.471

I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here as long as you need me.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.471

Do you swear you won’t leave me?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.471

Are you tired of having to save me all the time? Do you want me to go away?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.472

If it weren’t for you, I would be rotting away in the Forks cemetery.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.472

I don’t seem to be strong enough to stay away from you, so I suppose that you’ll get your way… whether it kills you or not.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.473

Why didn’t you just let the venom spread? By now I would be just like you.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.473

I’ll be the first to admit that I have no experience with relationships. But it just seems logical… a man and woman have to be somewhat equal… as in, one of them can’t always be swooping in and saving the other one. They have to save each other equally.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.473

I can’t always be Lois Lane. I want to be Superman, too.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.474

I’ve had almost ninety years to think about this, and I’m still not sure.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.474

You are my life. You’re the only thing it would hurt me to lose.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.474

It’s possible to take bravery to the point where it becomes insanity.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.475

Renée has always made the choices that work for her — she’d want me to do the same. And Charlie’s resilient, he’s used to being on his own. I can’t take care of them forever. I have my own life to live.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.475

If you’re waiting for me to be on my deathbed, I’ve got news for you! I was just there!
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.475

I may not die now… but I’m going to die sometime. Every minute of the day, I get closer. And I’m going to get old.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.476

That’s how it’s supposed to happen. How it should happen. How it would have happened if I didn’t exist — and I shouldn’t exist.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.476

I’m hardly a lottery prize.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.476

Bella, we’re not having this discussion anymore. I refuse to damn you to an eternity of night and that’s the end of it.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.476

You’re not the only vampire I know.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.476

Alice already saw it, didn’t she? That’s why the things she says upset you. She knows I’m going to be like you… someday.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.477

You’ll never catch me betting against Alice.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.477

You need rest. All this arguing isn’t good for you.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.477

I’m not afraid of the needles. I’m afraid to close my eyes.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.478

I told you I’m not going anywhere. Don’t be afraid. As long as it makes you happy, I’ll be here.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.478

You’re talking about forever, you know.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.478

That’s the beautiful thing about being human. Things change.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.478

Don’t worry about that now, Bella. You can argue with me when you wake up.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.479

I’m betting on Alice.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 24, p.480

The Angel

This couldn’t be heaven, could it? There was too much pain for that.

Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 23, p.453

Edward’s face was drawn. I watched his eyes as the doubt was suddenly replaced with a blazing determination.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 23, p.455

Stay, Edward, stay with me…
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 23, p.456

I heard my favorite sound in the world: Edward’s quiet laugh, weak with relief.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 23, p.457

You can sleep, sweetheart, I’ll carry you.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 23, p.457

Hide-And-Seek

It had taken much less time than I’d thought — all the terror, the despair, the shattering of my heart. The minutes were ticking by more slowly than usual.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.433

Some things are more certain than others… like the weather. People are harder. I only see the course they’re on while they’re on it. Once they change their minds — make a new decision, no matter how small — the whole future shifts.
Alice Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.435

The minutes passed and Edward’s arrival grew closer. It was amazing how every cell in my body seemed to know he was coming, to long for his coming.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.437

I couldn’t cry yet, I told myself. I still had a long way to go.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.439

I imagined that I had stayed at the airport to meet Edward. I visualized how I would stand on my toes, the sooner to see his face. How quickly, how gracefully he would move through the crowds of people separating us. And then I would run to close those last few feet between us — reckless as always — and I would be in his marble arms, finally safe.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.440

So many questions I still had for him. I could talk to him forever, never sleeping, never leaving his side. I could see his face so clearly now… almost hear his voice. And, despite all the horror and hopelessness, I was fleetingly happy. So involved was I in my escapist daydreams, I lost all track of the seconds racing by.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.440

That was very quick. I’m impressed.
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.441

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.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.442

Terror seized me so strongly that I was literally trapped by it. I couldn’t make my feet move forward.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.443

Sorry about that, Bella, but isn’t it better that your mother didn’t really have to be involved in all this?
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.444

You don’t sound angry that I tricked you.
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.444

I will give your strange coven this much, you humans can be quite interesting. I guess I can see the draw of observing you. It’s amazing — some of you seem to have no sense of your own self-interest at all.
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.445

I suppose you’re going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you?
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.445

To be quite honest, I’m disappointed. I expected a much greater challenge. And, after all, I only needed a little luck.
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.445

Humans can be very predictable; they like to be somewhere familiar, somewhere safe. And wouldn’t it be the perfect ploy, to go to the last place you should be when you’re hiding — the place that you said you’d be.
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.446

It was all for him, of course. You’re simply a human, who unfortunately was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and indisputably running with the wrong crowd, I might add.
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.447

Well, I suppose we should get on with it. And then I can call your friends and tell them where to find you, and my little message.
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.448

I couldn’t help myself— I tried to run. As useless as I knew it would be, as weak as my knees already were, panic took over and I bolted for the emergency door.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.449

I thought this room would be visually dramatic for my little film. That’s why I picked this place to meet you. It’s perfect, isn’t it?
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.449

Wouldn’t you rather have Edward try to find me?
James, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.450

I heard, as if from underwater, the final growl of the hunter. I could see, through the long tunnels my eyes had become, his dark shape coming toward me. With my last effort, my hand instinctively raised to protect my face. My eyes closed, and I drifted.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 22, p.451

Phone Call

And what if you get hurt, Alice? Do you think that’s okay with me? Do you think it’s only my human family he can hurt me with?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.425

I walked to my room and shut the door, slammed it really, so I could be free to go to pieces privately.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.425

There was no escape, no reprieve. I could see only one possible end looming darkly in my future. The only question was how many other people would be hurt before I reached it.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.425

I can see this is going to be difficult.
James, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.427

Do you think you could get away from them if your mother’s life depended on it?
James, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.428

Before noon, please, Bella. I haven’t got all day.
James, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.429

Slowly, slowly, my thoughts started to break past that brick wall of pain. To plan. For I had no choices now but one: to go to the mirrored room and die.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.430

I had to accept that I wouldn’t see Edward again, not even one last glimpse of his face to carry with me to the mirror room. I was going to hurt him, and I couldn’t say goodbye.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.431

I folded the letter carefully, and sealed it in the envelope. Eventually he would find it. I only hoped he would understand, and listen to me just this once. And then I carefully sealed away my heart.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 21, p.432

Impatience

You have nothing to worry about. You are completely safe here.
Jasper Hale, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.410

What if something goes wrong, and they get separated? If something happens to any of them, Carlisle, Emmett… Edward… If that wild female hurts Esme… How could I live with myself when it’s my fault? None of you should be risking yourselves for me.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.410

You’re worrying about all the wrong things, Bella. Trust me on this — none of us are in jeopardy. You are under too much strain as it is; don’t add to it with wholly unnecessary worries. Listen to me! Our family is strong. Our only fear is losing you.
Jasper Hale, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.410

It’s been almost a century that Edward’s been alone. Now he’s found you. You can’t see the changes that we see, we who have been with him for so long. Do you think any of us want to look into his eyes for the next hundred years if he loses you?
Alice Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.410

My guilt slowly subsided as I looked into her dark eyes. But, even as the calm spread over me, I knew I couldn’t trust my feelings with Jasper there.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.411

I hoped that by myself in the dark, I could give in to the terrible fears that hovered on the edge of my consciousness, unable to break through under Jasper’s careful supervision.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.411

Bella, how many times do we have to tell you that there’s no danger to us?
Alice Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.412

I will always tell you the truth.
Alice Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.412

Tell me then… how do you become a vampire?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.413

As predators, we have a glut of weapons in our physical arsenal — much, much more than really necessary. The strength, the speed, the acute senses, not to mention those of us like Edward, Jasper, and I, who have extra senses as well. And then, like a carnivorous flower, we are physically attractive to our prey.
Alice Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.413

It’s difficult on both sides — the blood-lust on the one hand, the awful pain on the other.
Alice Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.414

For everyone else, the pain of transformation is the sharpest memory they have of their human life. I remember nothing of being human.
Alice Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.414

I told you not to worry about anything but yourself.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.417

It’s like you’ve taken half my self away with you.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.418

I will make you safe first.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.418

Could you believe that, despite everything I’ve put you through, I love you, too?
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.418

Immortality must grant endless patience.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 20, p.421

Goodbyes

I felt moisture filling up my eyes as I looked at Emmett. I barely knew him, and yet, somehow, not knowing when I would see him again after tonight was anguishing. I knew this was just a faint taste of the goodbyes I would have to survive in the next hour, and the thought made the tears begin to spill.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.391

Edward opened my door and took my hand, then drew me into the protecting enclosure of his arm. He walked me swiftly toward the house, eyes always roving through the night.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.391

I love you. I will always love you, no matter what happens now.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.391

Keep Charlie safe for me. He’s not going to like me very much after this, and I want to have the chance to apologize later.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.391

I could think of only one way to escape, and it involved hurting him so much that I hated myself for even considering it. But I had no time, and I had to keep him safe.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.393

I do like him — that’s the problem. I can’t do this anymore! I can’t put down any more roots here! I don’t want to end up trapped in this stupid, boring town like Mom! I’m not going to make the same dumb mistake she did. I hate it — I can’t stay here another minute!
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.393

It didn’t work out, okay? I really, really hate Forks!
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.394

Don’t worry. He’ll forgive you.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.396

But it won’t be all right when I’m not with you.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.396

If you didn’t smell so appallingly luscious, he might not have bothered. But when I defended you… well, that made it a lot worse. He’s not used to being thwarted, no matter how insignificant the object. He thinks of himself as a hunter and nothing else. His existence is consumed with tracking, and a challenge is all he asks of life. Suddenly we’ve presented him with a beautiful challenge — a large clan of strong fighters all bent on protecting the one vulnerable element. You wouldn’t believe how euphoric he is now. It’s his favorite game, and we’ve just made it his most exciting game ever.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.397

I don’t think I have any choice but to kill him now. Carlisle won’t like it.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.398

How can you kill a vampire?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.398

Bella, don’t you dare waste time worrying about me. Your only concern is keeping yourself safe and — please, please — trying not to be reckless.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.398

Emmett had my door open before the truck was stopped; he pulled me out of the seat, tucked me like a football into his vast chest, and ran me through the door.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.399

Are you sure it’s worth it?
Laurent, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.400

I’m afraid you’re going to have to make a choice.
Carlisle Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.400

I’m sorry for what’s been unleashed here. Truly sorry.
Laurent, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.400

As soon as Bella is clear, we hunt him.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.401

What is she to me? Except a menace — a danger you’ve chosen to inflict on all of us.
Rosalie Hale, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.401

His eyes went blank, curiously dead, as he turned away. And they were gone.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.403

I can feel what you’re feeling now — and you are worth it.
Jasper Hale, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.404

If anything happens to them, it will be for nothing.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.404

You’re the first one to ask permission.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 19, p.404

The Hunt

I’m Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Edward and Bella.
Carlisle Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.377

Please don’t take offense, but we’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand.
Carlisle Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.378

Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking. My hair ruffled with the light breeze, Edward stiffened, and the second male, James, suddenly whipped his head around, scrutinizing me, his nostrils flaring.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.378

Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense, a feral snarl ripping from his throat. It was nothing like the playful sounds I’d heard from him this morning; it was the single most menacing thing I had ever heard, and chills ran from the crown of my head to the back of my heels.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.378

She’s with us.
Carlisle Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.379

You brought a snack?
Laurent, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.379

It appears we have a lot to learn about each other.
Laurent, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.379

The sense of exhilaration that usually seemed to possess Edward as he ran was completely absent, replaced by a fury that consumed him and drove him still faster. Even with me on his back, the others trailed behind.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.380

Edward was growling something too fast for me to understand, but it sounded a lot like a string of profanities.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.381

Dammit, Edward! Where are you taking me?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.381

We have to get you away from here — far away — now.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.381

You’re not ruining everything over me!
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.382

I saw his mind. Tracking is his passion, his obsession — and he wants her, Alice — her, specifically. He begins the hunt tonight
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.382

He’s no match for us, Edward. He won’t be able to touch her.
Emmett Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.383

You didn’t see — you don’t understand. Once he commits to a hunt, he’s unshakable. We’d have to kill him.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.383

Does anyone want to hear my plan?
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.384

I demand that you take me home.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.384

Bella, please just do this my way, just this once.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.386

She’s diabolical.
Emmett Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.387

Shut up, Emmett.
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.388

If you let anything happen to yourself— anything at all — I’m holding you personally responsible. Do you understand that?
Edward Cullen, Twilight, Chapter 18, p.388