Amnesia (Jalex)

Like a Piece of Me is Missing

Title from Lullabies by All Time Low

(Alex's POV)

It's been about two days since I woke up, and I'm home again. I take about thirty minutes to get my parents to stop smothering me, then I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I turn my head and see a framed photo of Jack and me at some park.

Why is he so important to me?

I sit up and grab the picture frame. I have my arm over Jack's shoulders. And we're both smiling.

Maybe best friends? But I would remember that, right?

I sigh and put the picture down.

I was in the hospital for two days before I woke up. And then stayed another two days. I was in that goddamn hospital for four days.

"Alex?" My mom knocks on the door. "Jack's here," she says and opens the door to reveal Jack. He waves awkwardly at me. Mom leaves Jack and me alone.

"Come in?" I stand up.

"It's okay, sit down," he says, sounding worried about me.

"Damn, it's not like I have a broken leg. I'm fine," I roll my eyes.

He laughs. "You still act the same," he says under his breath. "How are you?"

"I've been better. It just sucks that I can't remember anything after the first day of freshman year. I remember walking into the high school. I remember walking to all my classes. I remember coming home. And then it just- it ends."

His smile falters for a split second. "So you have no clue who I am?" He asks softly.

"I know your name is Jack. And I have this picture of us together," I grab the picture and hold it up from him to see. He shakily reaches out to grab it.

"That was right before Sophomore year started. We were at Cherry Springs Park," he smiles sadly.

"Oh, so we're friends?" I ask. Maybe I'll finally get some answers.

He smiles, but it just- it feels fake. "Yeah. Friends," he answers hesitantly.

"Oh wait! Where's Lisa?" I ask him. "Oh wait, do you know Lisa? We-"

"Met over the summer before Freshman year," he finishes. "Yeah, she's fine. But you two haven't talked much since Freshman year," he adds the last part- almost bitterly.

"Well seeing that I don't remember Freshman year, I might as well go find her?" I look at him.

He shrugs and leans against the wall. "You two had a pretty bad falling out though," he says.

"What? Why?"

"She-" he stops himself. "Just petty arguments gone wrong."

"Well, I'm sure we were meant to become friends again? I mean, I remember being pretty good friends."

"Sure." Jack shrugs and crosses his arms.

"Are we really friends?" I ask softer.

"Really good friends," he says softly, almost like it hurts to say. "Maybe more."

"So like... Best friends?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yeah, something like that," he nods and steps forward. "When you hit your head- I thought- I was so scared Lex," he admits, and it sounds like he's been suppressing that for a while. I shrug off the nickname. 

"I'm sorry," I answer, not completely sure how I'm supposed to answer. "If you want to talk about it-"

"Yeah, I know," he gives me a slight smile and holds his hand out. I take it and we shake hands. Something odd happens. It's almost like I've held his hand a million times before. The feeling is memorable- but why?