Time-Bomb

I got a call from Jack the day after I left.

“Hello?” I asked.

“August, thank God." Jack sighed.

“What happened?” I asked.

“After you left him, Alex got drunk and last night he decided to go after you, but he hit a tree.” Jack explained.

“Is he okay?” I asked.

“He’s alive, but he’s a little banged up and he has some amnesia.” Jack said.

“How bad is it?” I asked worriedly.

“He remembers his name, birthdate, what today is, where he is and those type of things and he remembers all of us, especially you. He doesn’t remember much from the past, not his brother, what happened in high school, none of that. He doesn’t remember our songs, so we have to back out of the rest of tour and we’re coming home. He doesn’t remember Josie and he thinks you’re his girlfriend.” Jack told me.

“What do I do?” I asked.

“Well, like I said, we’re coming home. You’ll have to live with us and Josie will have to stay with someone else for the time being since we can’t risk him figuring out she’s his. You’ll just have to pretend you love Alex and keep things quiet about Josie. We’ll have to try to make him remember our songs.” Jack told me.

“So we’re just going to hide all these things from him?” I asked.

“It’s really the only way. There’s nothing we can do to knock some sense into him, so for now we just have to keep him happy.” Jack replied.

“But I’m not what he wants.” I persisted.

“Then why is he constantly asking for you?” Jack asked.

“That’s not him talking, his brain is all messed up.” I reasoned.

“Whatever. Just pick us up at BWI at five tonight.” He said and hung up before I could answer.

--

I waited for them at the terminal. They finally walked out and Alex dropped his backpack and ran to me, picking me up and spinning me around. He put me down, but still hugged me close. I buried my head in his chest.

“Tour is way too long. Come with me next time?” he asked.

“Sure.” I lied, regretting it at first, but then his arm snaked around my waist as we walked to baggage claim and it was forgotten. We got their suitcases and we walked out. I shivered at the surprisingly chilly evening air.

“You cold, baby?” Alex asked.

I nodded and he took off his black American Apparel sweatshirt that had the band logo down it and put it on me. It came down to my knees due to how tall he was, but smelled like Axe, so I was happy.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and we went to the car. I had to drive, Alex took shotgun, and Jack, Rian, and Zack squeezed into the backseat.

“I wish I could drive.” Alex sighed.

“I know. But you can’t risk getting hurt again.” I reminded him.

“I know, I know.” He sighed.

I took his hand in mine and he smiled at me. Jack had given me directions to Alex’s ahead of time, so it wouldn’t look weird that I didn’t know where he lived. I finally pulled up to the big white house and they all piled out.

“I’m going to bed.” Alex said and walked to what I guessed was his room.

“This is never going to work!” I sighed to Ja once Alex was out of earshot.

“It’ll work, just be convincing.” Jack replied.

“Well that’s helpful.” I huffed.

“What could go wrong?” Jack asked.

“What if he wants sex?” I asked.

“Do you want to have sex with him?” Jack asked.

“A little, but I know where it’s gotten us in the past.” I replied.

“Think about it. People with amnesia really shouldn’t have sex anyway.” Jack added, stifling a laugh.

“Very funny.” I huffed.

“Seriously though, think about it. He might understand if you don’t want to.” Jack said.

“Thanks.” I smiled weakly.

“No problem.” he said. I walked into Alex’s bedroom. He was sitting on the bed, his laptop on his lap.

“I thought you were sleeping.” I said.

“I couldn’t. My head hurts.” He mumbled. I sat down in bed next to him. He was on MySpace.

“Shit. I’ve got like eighty messages and three-hundred comments, all of them marriage proposals or asking why tour was cancelled.” He groaned.

“It’s okay. Just ignore it for now.” I said soothingly. I hugged him.

“Thanks.” He smiled.

“D-Did Jack tell you I can’t remember our songs?” Alex asked nervously.

“Yeah.” I replied.

“And?” he asked tensely.

“I’m okay with it. It’ll come back, I’m sure.” I told him.

“I sure hope so. Or else we’re all in deep shit.” Alex sighed.

“Don’t worry about it.” I said soothingly, still holding him.

Notes

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xoxo

Hayley