Perhaps it was this discord that led me to finally, against my better judgement, watch the Twilight movie... Michelle had been pestering me to read the books, watch the movie etc for what felt like eons. I was not so excited. I found playful bumperstickers on Facebook to send her telling her Edward Cullen could not beat out Harry Potter in my favorite characters list. I antagonized her when she told me I should just read them already. I consistently dismissed the idea, stupid vampire love story, what's new about that, and why would I read this if 13 year old girls are obsessed with it? Little did I know about what hovered on the pages. I never anticipated the weekend/beginning of the week that I just had.
Finally, I caved... I was in Erie PA where it continued to snow and ice by the minute, leaving me unable to go to purchase the book. I'm still not sure what sparked my interest and finally made me click on the movie... And as my horrible internet connection slowly pulled up the movie in 30 second increments sometimes, I was completely sucked in. I was dazzled I suppose. I am pretty sure that the movie in real life was much better than the blurry scenes flittering across my screen, however, the damage was done. I could think of nothing but going to get the books. I needed to know what happened next. I could feel their pain, their love, it overwhelmed me.
So, I woke up, awaited the blizzard to slow down and made the perilous and grueling 5.5 hour drive home to Chillicothe. I knew we'd end up at Walmart eventually, and I just needed to get the book while I was there. I was resisting still, only allowing myself the first book. I didn't even begin it immediately. I went about my normal household activities, fixing a computer, playing with the dogs, discussing dinner options. I could hear it calling to me from upstairs, throughout all of it though. I succumbed to it. I opened the crisp page of the new book, "this book is huge" I thought. I began to read, and I couldn't put it down. I carried it with me like a 3 year old carries a security blanket. I took it to my father's work, I read in the car, I read through dinner, and even passed up going anywhere. True the weather wasn't good, but more true the book really was good... I finished it that night. I needed the other books.
I drove to Toledo, Ohio with one thing on my mind: New Moon. I needed to know! Upon arriving in neighboring Perrysburg, my old stomping grounds, I began the search for the sequels. The Walmart in Chillicothe had the rest of the books, so I naturally picked the Walmart here as a substitute. To my disdain they had none. Meijer did not either. Target was a saving grace, they had New Moon and Eclipse. I bought both without looking at the price. This was a drug for me... a new addiction. I moved into my new student housing at the hospital, and then decided to go find the fourth book. It was important to me that I had them all... I wouldn't have to stop to go get the next one or wait until I had a moment to go out and get it. I drove to the bookstore in the mall, it had closed 20 minutes before I got there. Feeling an odd sense of despair, who gets this emotional about books?, I drove down the street to the freeway entrance, and spotted a Barnes and Noble on my left... I cut across the snowy road, thankful there was no traffic. I had a good feeling. As I searched for the book, I was beginning to think my feelings were lying to me. I couldn't find it anywhere. Then, in the childrens section... the CHILDREN's section... whats wrong with me? I found it. I had them all now.
I read the three books in 2 nights. It was like a little part of me stayed in them, and I felt hollow when I was done. I can't really explain it. I felt like I needed more. They couldn't be over already. I spent an entire day wallowing in my sadness. I searched for things online to read in addition to the books. I discussed them with Michelle in detail. I raved about them to my mom, insisting she read them too. But it wasn't enough...
Finally it struck me... I needed to go see Forks for myself. I wanted to see it, even if the author hadn't seen it before she wrote. I wanted what? closure? Maybe... It was merely a thought in my head... I halfheartedly suggested it to Michelle. I didn't think she'd go for it at all... To my surprise she was all in. This was better than I hoped. Maybe I would be able to go. We discussed options, Portland or Seattle. We agreed finally that Seattle was closer. Fly out on Wed night or Thurs morning... She decided to take Wednesday off, and we picked a flight for Wednesday morning. Things were coming together. I reminded her I had a voucher through Delta for four hundred dollars. I found out it could be used on multiple tickets for multiple people. We found a flight Wednesday morning for 200 bucks a person. This seriously couldn't be happening. We were doing this...
We picked some dates in May, during my vast amount of unclaimed time. She cleared it with her husband, and I told my mom what I was planning. I didn't need her permission, I just thought I'd keep her in the loop, plus she had the voucher. So now the planning truly did begin...
My heart was elated. The dark empty hole I had felt in my body slowly disappeared. I had something to look forward to, and honestly I was looking more forward to this than I was about my pending graduation.
Michelle found out that they would begin filming in Vancouver in March. That wasn't very far from Seattle. We decided we would attempt to go see them in action. I got even more excited. This was just like it had been prearranged.
We decided to work out more details in the morning, but I would go to bed knowing that I would in the next five months have done so many firsts, first time to Washington, Vancouver, seeing the pacific ocean... perhaps seeing a character be brought to life for a "major motion picture." These things don't happen to me... but finally they were...
I was going to Forks, Washington, and I was thrilled.
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