Aichmophobia

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight, New Moon or Eclipse.

Please review if you think I should continue this story.

I walked up to Forks High school hesitantly. Dragging my feet against the wet pavement, listening to the light drizzle of the rain.

"Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap," I wasn't used to this sound, rain was uncommon in Phoenix. I'd only moved to Forks two days ago, but already I'd discovered that this was a sound I could not stand. What was up with Forks high school anyways. I was never the one to judge a book by its cover but Forks high school looked somewhat more like a Rehabilitation unit than a school itself. I walked aimlessly around the separate buildings until I found the office.

"O, Miss Swan. A little late I see, got lost did you?" The secretary asked me. Her voice was unexpectedly high.

"O, I'm late? But I though classes started at 8:30…" I mumbled shyly, slightly embarrassed I checked my watch. 8:15. The secretary watched me as I glanced at my watch.

"might want to change your watch there sweetie, it's nearly nine."

"I'm really sorry," I said, as I looked at the wall clock in disbelief.

"O you're excused dear, no one will give you a rough time on your first day." Now it appears that all your records are in order, but I do believe that Charlie mentioned that you would be bringing your medical record for me today." I simply nodded and handed her the brown envelope. I let my thoughts wonder as there was nothing terribly entertaining about watching her parooze the paperwork.

"I'm sorry dear, but I'm reading here you did not receive your meningitis vaccination your freshman year, is this statement correct?"

"It wasn't mandatory at my school." I shuddered as I remembered the nerve racking line up of students outside the gym doors. I hated needles, almost as much as I hated blood.

"Well I can imagine in a school that size but unfortunately here if a student has not had the proper vaccinations, they can be suspended which can lead to expulsion." My eyes went wide. Expulsion?!

"Well what are my options?" I asked quickly, making sure to put emphasis on the plural form.

"I'm afraid I cannot let you attend class without the vaccination, your best option would be to get it as soon as you can. Now the fastest way possible would most likely be the hospital, it's just off the highway.

"Al…alright" I stuttered as images of needles clouded my mind.

"Good day Bella, I hope to see you here tomorrow." I nodded and backed out of the room. I was suddenly thankful for the rain as it lightly tapped my head the coolness helping me steady myself. The hospital wasn't at all hard to find, it was nice, but nothing compared to the ones in Phoenix. It was more than I expected for a small community.

"I'm here for…". But the nurse cut me off.

"The secretary informed me of everything. As you can see we're not too busy today." The nurse gestured towards the lobby where only one other person sat. They were reading a Times magazine with much enthusiasm engraved in their face. "So the doctor will be able to see you in fifteen minutes."

Surprisingly enough, fifteen minutes went fast. Although the lobby was equipped with a wide variety of fashion and gossip magazines, I didn't pick one up. I'd always been more of a book girl, not a fashionista or a gossiper. Ask me what the latest fashion was and you were sure to get a curious stare and an insufficient answer. Sure I assumed I dressed nice enough, but nothing spectacular. I wasn't one to buy brand. I figured expensive clothes would be wasted on someone like me.

"Isabella?" A nurse came into the lobby. I stood up and followed her down the hall to a small white room. I sat on the chair provided. The nerves began to kick in. I could feel the moment getting closer as the second hand speeded around the clock. Then the door opened. An old man with glasses walked in and said hello, he looked pleasant enough.

"Ah now Miss Swan I understand you are here for your meningitis injection?" He stated, I nodded. Sensing my nerves, he quickly pressed on.

"Well yes nothing to worry about very quick procedure you'll be outta here in just a few" he ensured me as I detected a slight Texas accent.

"Now I hope you don't mind…" His voice became a bit more formal. "But I have recently acquired a student from the local high school, he's a new co-op student here. Top of his class and he has been routinely doing injections for the past couple weeks. However it is policy for us to ask a patients permission before allowing a student to perform the injection. Would you feel comfortable with this or would you rather I did it?" I thought about this for a moment and came to the conclusion that I'd rather not do it at all.

"No I don't mind, send her in." I did my best to smile, but I knew it came across as fake.

"He, Miss Swan." He corrected me, and at that precise moment the student in question opened the door and stopped dead in his tracks.

My stomach fluttered as I looked at him. I noticed the bronze hair first. It was unlike any colour I'd ever seen before. It was not red hair by any means but it was neither brown or auburn. It clashed terrifically against his perfect pale complexion. His eyes were topaz, much more beautiful than any gem I'd ever layed eyes on. And his lips, his gorgeous full lips. It was too much to take in at once and I quickly looked towards to doctor.

"Now Edward I'm trusting you, don't let me down. Any accidents I will have to report back to your teacher." He warned him.

"Of course Doctor Coles, I understand." He said formally. I was shocked by his tone, he seems on edge and a bit tense. Maybe even angry.

Dr Coles shut the door and Edward's body language immediately changed. He shifted as far away as he could his a disgusted look on his face, pursing his lips into a tight line. He appeared not to be breathing. I looked into my lap feeling self conscious. He hated me, disgusted by me but why. Edward carried the needle over towards me, standing a good arms length away from me. What is he disgusted to even touch me? I thought angrily to myself. I was really beginning to dislike Edward, if only he wasn't so handsome. I flinched as the tip of the needle touched my skin, and I fought to remain conscious. I felt the needle break the skin and the tinniest trickle of blood swim down my arm. The needles was out much sooner than it had gone in, and I opened my eyes to find myself alone in the room. Too confused and slightly faint to understand. I put my head in my lap. I allowed the blood to return to my head for a good five minutes until I decided it was safe to leave. Again I welcomed the rain on my face as I exited the building but then quickly ran to the cab of my car. I breathed in the smell of cigars and pine air freshener trying to clear my mind. That may have very well been the most beautiful boy I'd ever seen in my life. Although I hoped I would not be back. That was enough needles for another four years. I drove home without the radio on, my old truck clanking and groaning all the way home. The sounds soothed me in a way, much more than the pattering of the rain. I arrived home with much time to waste. School wouldn't be over for another five hours and Charlie wouldn't be home for another nine. Still feeling the nausea I decided I wasn't hungry and ran up the stairs to my room. I opened up my small cupboard of books that sat under my computer, untouched since I'd arrived. I picked up the torn copy of Wuthering Heights and began reading. I felt myself growing slightly depressed by the story. I had read the book a good thousand times but I read it differently now, feeling compassion for each character. My stomach moaned and I glanced at the clock and it read 2:00, school would be out soon enough.

Time passed slowly for the rest of the afternoon. I threw a load of laundry in, stripping mine and Charlie's beds and replacing them with new clean ones. This routine was nothing new to me, as I was doing it long before I moved to Forks. I was born mature, the exact opposite of my mother. Her preference was to put off housework, and I always ended up being the one to complete it. I couldn't blame her though, we were living on a low salary and she was out making money every chance she got. Which made me independent, as I was always alone. I thought about my second shot at my first day tomorrow and about how unlikely it was that I would make friends.

"Bella?" I heard a voice call from downstairs and I quickly ran into the kitchen to begin fixing dinner, forgetting about the leftovers in the fridge.

"What's wrong Bells?" Charlie asked as he twirled the spaghetti in his fork.

"What?" I asked, snapping out of my trane. "O nothing, I just had to get a needle today. It's mandatory if you want to attend school."

"Right, the school called and said you wouldn't be aloud in today, but I'm glad you took care of it." He smiled and continued eating, the rest of the night went silently without a word.

I woke up the next morning only to feel as if there was someone sitting on my head. I got out of bead and suffered a deadly head spin but managed to steady myself into the washroom. I took two advils before leaving, deciding to get an early start. I pulled out of the small driveway and on to the highway. Five minutes later I was sitting in the vacant parking lot with nearly twenty minutes to spare. I suddenly found myself regretting the early start. Eventually more and more cars starting filling the parking lot and I felt comfortable enough to go inside the office building.

"Ah, Miss Swan. My apologies about the other day but school rules you understand." I merely shook my head in agreement, I would rather not remember the other day. "Now just take this sheet of paper and have each teacher sign it, then just bring it back here at the end of the day. Oh and here's a map." She handed me a piece of paper and I quickly retreated out the door. The bell rang, signaling I had five minutes to find my first class which was English. I walked into the building to find only two rooms, a classroom and a bathroom. I walked into the classroom and removed my slightly damp coat. The room had not yet been filled so I didn't have to feel the intensity of every ones eyes on me as I walked down the aisles to find a seat in the back. When the classroom did fill, everyone knew me as the new kid and I was stared at constantly. The class itself passed easy enough though. My old school had an advance curriculum and it was no doubt this class was going to be one of my best, math I was not so sure about. Just as I was about to walk out of the building I was stopped by a firm hand on my shoulder.

"You're Isabella right?"

"Bella, yes." I corrected him.

"Right." He mumbled. "Well I'm Mike, I just wanted to welcome you to Forks High school."

"O. Well thanks Mike." I was taken aback by his kindness, but at the same time pleased.

"How you liking it so far?" He asked me, seeming sincerely interested.

"Well it's only first period, but I'll get back to you on my verdict later." I told him before I walked off to face the rain.

The rest of the day passed dully like English. I found that I'd nearly learned everything already in all of my classes. I met a girl Jessica and sat with her at lunch. She was nice enough, a bit catty for my liking but I was not about to get picky about making friends. Mike also sat with us at lunch and Jessica revealed that she was completely in love with him.

I walked to my truck in the busy parking lot, glad to see that my old truck didn't make as much as a statement as it would have at my old school. The only car that really seemed a but out of place was a shiny silver Volvo parked at the very end of the parking lot, furthest from the school and my truck, which was parked at the very front. I shrugged and entered the cab of my truck, quickly putting my key in the ignition and starting the gas. I looked out my wind shield to discover two bodies entering the Volvo. One was a boy from what I could see through my wet windshields and the other was a girl. Jeez she was tiny. I raced to the exit of the parking lot, almost curious to see who was in the car.

That's when I saw him. The familiar topaz eyes locked with mine and my breath caught in my throat. I couldn't breathe. I looked away focusing my attention on the car in front of me. I tried to shake him from my mind so I could concentrate, but it was almost like my mind was hazed. Like I was high on some sort of drug and I was just waiting for the feeling to pass. I pushed on the gas as the cars in front of me slowly moved out of the parking lots. Could this take any longer? I needed to get out of here. I looked back, he was staring. I really need to get out of this parking lot. Why do you only make one exit to a student parking lot anyways? Who's idea was that? And honestly what was up with separate buildings for a school? In the Olympic peninsula no less! In Forks! How old was this school anyways? The roof is falling apart. Finally the car in front of me moved and I was released on to the open road.

Free at last. The Volvo turned in the opposite direction and I continued my normal path down the highway.