I may have dramatized my speech above, I was just trying to summarize some Twilight fans' and haters' feelings on why they dislike Jacob and/or Bella.

If I were to choose a side, it would be Jacob's. I don't think Bella used him...but she has clearly mistreated him a couple times. While Edward was away, Bella and Jacob became best friends and inseparable. Over time, both...perhaps mainly Jacob...developed romantic feelings towards each other. Then, the minute Alice comes and tells Bella about Edward and the Volturi, Jacob is pushed to the side.

I'll explicate my points more if someone wants me to...

Bella's dependence on others is the problem, IMO. If she wasn't so dependent, she wouldn't have been so depressed in NM, and therefore probably wouldn't have been so close to Jacob. And Jacob can't help how he feels. I don't approve of his actions but he was in a desperate situation. His actions were all about keeping Bella alive, not being with her. She was about to turn herself into his enemy. To quote Stephenie: 'He has one goal and one hope. His goal is to save Bella's life. His hope is that he'll win her heart in the process. He fails at both. But that doesn't mean he regrets trying. If he could do it over again, he'd do the same thing. Jacob couldn't live with himself if he didn't give saving Bella his best effort—he knows it's going to hurt when he loses, but he knows it would hurt worse if he didn't try. Does he do everything right? Heck, no! But he's sixteen and he's making it up as he goes along. Those who are upset by some of his tactics should consider his youth and the fact that he is, after all, right. Bella is in love with him. (In the end, it's truly healthier for her to be aware of this as she goes forward with unalterable decisions.)'

:)

i like jacob and i completely agree with katie clain and i think that bella kind of lead him on

Bella. It was cruel to lead him on, then ditch him when Fairy Boy came back.