Chapter Number: One
Chapter Name: First Sight
Page Numbers: 3-28 (Hardcover)
Date of Chapter: January 17 and 18, 2005
Summary: We meet high school junior Isabella Swan, or Bella as she prefers to be called. She is a very pale skinned brunette with a quick mind and a sarcastic sense of humor. She is leaving her mother and stepfather’s home in Phoenix, Arizona to live with her father in Forks, Washington. She feels she needs to give her mother, Renee, space to be with her new husband, Phil, who is a minor league baseball ballplayer. She’s apprehensive about moving in with her dad, Charlie, who is the town’s sheriff. Up until now, they have only ever spent parts of summers together. Bella hasn’t been to Forks in three years.
Forks couldn’t be more different than sunny, metropolitan Phoenix if it tried. The weather is cool, overcast, and clammy most days. Forks High School, where Bella is to start school the following day only has 358 students including Bella.
Charlie picks Bella up at the Port Angles airport. Bella finds conversing with Charlie stilted at first, but they soon warm up to each other. Charlie has bought Bella a red, 1950’s Chevy pickup truck, formerly owned by Quileute tribal elder Billy Black, so she can have the freedom to come and go without depending on rides in the squad car. Bella is relieved to find that the truck is a lot cooler than she had imagined.
Bella takes herself to school her first day and learns to navigate the large campus that consists of many buildings. She soon realizes that she is ahead of the work in most of her classes. In general, she is a bright and talented student. Her only academic failing is gym, where she is completely uncoordinated.
Bella meets several classmates and ends up sitting at their table during lunch. Eric is tall and lanky with greasy black hair and is something of a nerd. Angela is repeats herself a lot. Mike is good-looking and easy going. Jessica is bubbly, friendly, and fills Bella in about the “devastatingly, inhumanly beautiful” members of the Cullen family that Bella has noticed.
Jessica describes in detail Rosalie and Jasper Hale, Alice, Edward, and Emmett Cullen’s relationship with their parents and guardians Dr. Carlisle Cullen and Mrs. Esme Cullen. The family moved to Forks from Alaska two years ago when Carlisle became the town doctor. They are a close-knit, somewhat aloof group that drive themselves to school in a flashy, silver Volvo. They often go on family camping trips.
Bella is assigned to sit next to Edward Cullen in biology class and has this odd feeling that he dislikes her. She notices that he alternates between glaring at her and clenching and unclenching his fists. At the end of the school day, Bella goes to the principal’s office to hand in paperwork and discovers Edward there. He doesn’t noticed Bella at first and continues his animated discussion with the secretary where he demands to be transferred out of his biology class. When he realizes Bella is there, he abruptly leaves. Bella drives herself home fighting back tears unsure why Edward Cullen has affected her so much.
Characters Involved: Bella Swan, Renee Dwyer, Charlie Swan, Mrs. Cope – school secretary, Mr. Mason, Eric Yorkie, Mr.Varner, Jessica Stanley, Mike Newton, Angela Weber, Edward Cullen
Characters Mentioned: Phil Dwyer, Billy Black, Alice Cullen, Emmett Cullen, Jasper Hale, Rosalie Hale, Esme Cullen, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, Mr. Banner, Coach Clapp
Places Visited: The Dwyer Home, Phoenix Airport, Port Angeles Airport, Forks, The Swan Home, Forks High School
Memorable Quotes:
“My mother is part albino.”
~ Bella trying to make small talk with Eric.
“So did you stab Edward Cullen with a pencil or what.”
~ Mike referring to Edward’s reaction to Bella during Biology class.
Important Information Learned:
Charlie and Bella have a relationship that they are still formulating, but they are willing to give each other the space they each need.
The Cullens throw uneaten food into the trash during lunch.
Edward Cullen has an intense change in demeanor when around Bella.
Bella doesn’t cry when she’s sad; she cries when she’s angry.
The members of the Cullen family are considered mysterious outsiders.
Edward doesn’t realize Bella is in the office until the another student opens the door and a gust of wind comes in.
Edward has deep black eyes.
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