Okay, I don’t want to hear any groaning when I announce this bit of news… I’m a Twilight saga fan. Oh yea! I not only read the books, but also went to all of the midnight opening shows, and furthermore, I was “Team Edward.” Okay, okay, I’ll allow one loud groan for that part. When our illustrious leader, Andy Burns, asked us to post a story for Tainted Love February, I picked the Twilight Saga and my take on poor Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) the shape shifter and his on again/off again relationship with the ever fickle Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart). Being a strong-willed Italian and a romantic at heart, I expect the lead female of any book or movie to know what she wants, but with the Twilight Saga, Bella and her relationship with Jacob goes through more dips and turns than a runaway roller coaster ride. If you think that Jacob was confused, well so was I. Meet me after the jump.
Twilight
In the first book we meet Jacob Black, a Native American teen from the Quileute tribe. The son of a good friend of Bella’s father, Jacob was
only a minor character in the first book and movie. He pals around with Bella, who is already falling head over heels for Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). Jacob, who is developing a strong crush on Bella, knows what Edward and his family are, and tries to warn Bella with a tribal legend about the “Cold Ones.” Werewolves and Vampires are mortal enemies, but the Quileute tribe and the Cullens have an uneasy treaty. As long as the vampires only snack on wildlife (Vegan Vampires) and not people, they are allowed to live in the town, but Jacob is afraid that Edward Cullen will turn Bella into a vampire. In the first movie, Taylor, who is a little cutie pie, looks like your typical teenager.
New Moon
Edward and his family leave town to protect Bella from the vampire world. Bella goes into a deep funk, and Jacob, who in this movie went from skinny to “The HULK”, tries his best to distract Bella by taking off his shirt at every opportunity. That crush that Jacob had on Bella now goes into super drive and we find our little Jacob madly in love with Miss Swan. Thinking that Bella has given up on Edward, Jacob serves his heart to her on a platter. What does Bella do with that heart? Drops it like a year old fruit cake and takes off to Italy to find Edward. Jacob is crushed! His friends are tired of the whole werewolf, fickle human, dead person scenario, and are looking for any excuse to attack the Cullens.
Eclipse
Jacob shuns Bella completely because of her betrayal in Book Two. To make matters worse, because of the Cullen’s return, Jacob goes through a werewolf version of puberty
(slightly more hair than normal boys). Bella finally visits Jacob, who I swear gets more muscular in each frame of the film and continues to find excuses to take off his shirt whenever Bella is nearby. The fact that Jacob is now a shape shifter doesn’t seem to bother Bella. I’m really trying to figure out this girl’s childhood upbringing? Normal boys, nope. Vamps and wolves, yep. Jacob professes his love for her, but Bella loves Edward. It’s not until Bella’s life is in danger (due to the vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) and her newborn vampire posse) that Bella realizes she loves Jacob too…just not as much as Edward. When she passionately kisses Jacob, he thinks that he has finally won her heart, only to learn that she intends to become a vampire and live happily ever after with Edward. Jacob, ever the gentleman even with his torn heart apart, helps to fight the revengeful Victoria and protect Bella.
Breaking Dawn
Okay, is it possible for someone so young too have muscles this big? Jacob tries once more to keep Bella from becoming a vampire; he’s still in love with her even as she takes her vows of marriage to Edward. Due to some unknown vampire biology that I’m still trying to figure out, Bella gets pregnant, and goes through the worst case of morning sickness I’ve ever seen. Jacob, who is sworn to kill Edward if he changes Bella, must now stand down in order for Edward to save Bella’s life. Edward delivers Bella’s baby by doing a Vampire’s version of a C-Section, which I’m sure is not covered under any medical plan that I know of. Do Vampires have HMO? You actually hear Jacob’s heart break in two when he is forced to watch Edward bite and change Bella into a vamp. When the baby is born, Jacob imprints on the female child and now must spend his life protecting her. Really? Please explain that to me again. After defeating the Volturi, Bella is happy, Edward is happy, and everyone makes a fuss over the quickly growing baby/toddler/kindergarten size Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy). And poor Jacob, what of him,do you ask? Due to the imprinting, he will not be able to love anyone else and must spend his life as Renesmee’s guard dog.
Conclusion
Like I said in the beginning, I’m “Team Edward” but I’ve always felt protective of the more human than not Jacob Black, a boy who loved deeply, even when it was futile. Jacob learned the hard way that werewolves sometimes come in second place to a vampire when it comes to love. But I’m secretly hoping that Stephenie Meyer will write one more book and in this one, allow Jacob to find his true mate.
Yea. Good story.