The Taste of Touching Glass

~Mike's POV~

I dropped Tony off at his house and ran my hands through my hair. This was crazy. He was losing memories much faster now. How long now until he forgot me? Or until he forgot himself? My eyes started watering and I slammed down on the accelerator, pulling away from the curb with a screech. I blasted the music, Gym Class Heroes filling the car.

I arrived at my house and made myself tacos, not caring that I had had them for lunch a few hours ago. As I munched on my food, I decided to do something to settle my mind. I walked to my room, grabbed my Harry Potter DVD's and stuck them in the player. I curled up under the covers with a quarter of a bottle of whiskey with me and a few more tacos and settled down to watch my favourite movies of all time.

~ ~ ~

I woke up and looked around. My mouth tasted like whiskey and there was an empty bottle on the bed next to me. I sat up straighter and brushed taco pieces off of my blankets. I stretched and looked at the time.

6:47 AM

Why am I up so early? I get out of bed and stumble into the shower, letting the hot jets hit my back. Getting out of the shower I decide to shave the stubble which I've allowed to grow over the past few days. Satisfied with my appearance - straightened hair, a Key Street shirt, skinny jeans, Vans - I make myself a coffee and head over to Tony's house. As I drive, one hand on the wheel, the other clutching my drink, I start worrying about what will happen when I knock on the door. What if he's forgotten me? Lost in my thoughts, I'm almost in a car accident of my own, scraping the back of the car in front of me. The driver flips me off, but I don't really give a shit. I just continue driving, heading towards my boyfriend's flat. The car's too quiet so I switch on my music. It's on shuffle and the first song that pops up starts with piano. Soon, the voice comes tinkling through the speakers.

'Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now
Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same
When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down
Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name

It all just sounds like oooooh…
Mmm, too young, too dumb to realize
That I should have bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should have gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
Cause all you wanted to do was dance.' [This song is When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars]

I switch the song, tears pricking at my eyes. I hope that never happens to Tony and I! I love him too much to let him go. Next up is James Dean and Audrey Hepburn. I relax into my seat and take more notice of my surroundings.

I reach Tony's small flat and hop out of the car. I calm the nerves that have suddenly sprung up in my stomach, and take a shaky step towards his front door.

Maybe it was a bad idea to leave him alone last night.

I knock on the door and hear him getting closer. The familiar body of my boyfriend reveals itself as he opens the door. He's also in a Key Street shirt with skinny jeans. He's got on no shoes and his hair's stuffed under a cap. It seems as if he hasn't quite forgotten himself.

'Hi Tony.' I say, smiling.

'Who are you?' He says, frowning at me.

'I'm Mike... your boyfriend.' I say, not letting him see how much his words hurt me.

'I don't have a boyfriend. I have a girlfriend and her name is Stephanie.' Tony insists, shaking his head. 'I don't know who you are, but I'd like you to leave my house. Now.' Tony says, staring up at me.

'Look, I'm sorry, but I can't leave Tony. You have to come with me.' I pick him up and throw him over my shoulder, his loud protests waking up the neighbourhood. I shove him into the backseat of the car and lock it. I run back into his house, grab his house keys and shoes, lock up and get back into the car.

'What the fucking hell?!' He yells at me while I toss him his shoes.

'Let me out of here you creep!' He starts at the backseat door. Good thing I put the kiddie lock on. I start towards the hospital while Tony continues bashing on the windows.

'Put your seatbelt on Tone. Please.' I say pleadingly.

'No! Let me out!'

'TONY PUT YOUR FUCKING SEATBELT ON!' I yell at him, swerving to avoid a car crash. I step on the gas a little bit. I'm not sure how long it'll take to get to the hospital, but the faster we arrive the better. Tony sits down and puts his seatbelt on, muttering and grumbling at me. He stares out the window and continues his foul language.

'Tony. I truly am sorry.' I say in a small voice.

'Yeah right, you bastard!' He spits. 'I should report you to the police.'

I break down, and silent tears leak out of my tear ducts. The rest of the ride is in silence, with occasional murmurs from the backseat. I pull into the hospital, and get out of the car. I open the door for Tony.

'Come on, Tony.' I say quietly. He stares at me and crosses his arms.

'Why should I?' He hisses.

I sigh and reach in and grab him out. I carry him bridal style into the hospital, while he squirms and protests loudly, grabbing the attention of everyone in earshot. I whisper at him to quiet down, but it only encourages him to speak louder.

I dump him in one of the plastic chairs in the waiting room, while I turn to the receptionist.

'I need to see-' I start before she cuts me off.

'Nurse Stacey. She told me that a patient might come in just like this.' She sends me a small smile, mouthing "sorry" at me.

I nod and sit next to Tony, who has stopped voicing obscenities. I grab his wrist and he struggles to escape my grasp.

'I don't need you running off right now.' I growl, hiding my face as more tears leak out.

'Why the fuck are you crying? Seriously?! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO KIDNAPPED ME!' He yells.

I don't answer him and let the tears fall more freely. He quite clearly does not give a shit about my feelings.

'Mike!' Stacey appears from two swinging doors and comes to me. 'Hello Tony. I'm Stacey.' She starts acting like a complete stranger to him, and I have no idea why.

'Why am I here?' He asks stubbornly.

'Tony, sweetie, you need to just trust me. Okay, honey?' She asks, treating him like a child. He picks up on this and complains at her.

I roll my eyes and drag him after me, asking Stacey what room.

'Same as last time.' She replies, acting more casual.

~ ~ ~

Tony's been confined to the bed with two nurses watching over him for now. He's been heavily drugged in an attempt to knock him out. He needs rest and he's not going to get it while he's that wound up.

'Mike, how bad is his memory loss?' Stacey asks me in private.

'He - he's forgotten me!' I sob into her shoulder. 'He thinks that he has a girlfriend named Stephanie. They broke up y - years ago!' She puts her arms around me and rubs my back soothingly.

Ella has decided to make an appearance and very obnoxiously says,

'Why do you get to hold him? I thought we had discussed this. I got Mr Sexy Tattoos and you got Mr...' She trails off as she sees the look that I'm giving her.

'Whatever. God.' She turns and walks into another patient's room, though not before checking out my behind.

'Ignore Ella.' Stacey says. I do and tell Stacey the rest of Tony's memory loss. I repeat everything from yesterday, how he didn't remember the rose, or how he was a vegetarian. I sit down on a chair and Stacey does the same, her embrace feeling more comforting now that we were more even in height.

'What do I do?' I ask her, my voice thick.

'Never give up on him. He still loves you, he's just overwhelmed at the moment.'

'So I'll live out my life loving someone who will never come to love me back?'

She sighs heavily. 'That's how it's looking. You didn't make the best second first impression.' She gives a weak smile, and I return it.

'Ain't that the fucking truth.' Stacey giggles at my words.

~ ~ ~

I fell asleep on the chairs outside Tony's room. Stacey had advised me that being in his room may be more traumatic for him. I was told to call for the nurses if he woke up, though they estimated him to be out of it for eight to ten hours.

It was only seven hours later, but a shout came from his room. I immediately jumped up to see what it was. As soon as I poked my head through the door, Tony only started shouting at me more.

Notes