I looked down at my phone, staring at the blinking cursor line. My thumbs hovered over the letters, neither willing to be the first one to touch the screen. It was plain weird talking about another guy with Will. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” I asked to change the subject.

“Of course I am,” he said amusingly.

"Then we should probably be getting back."

"That bad, huh?"

"I don't know what you mean." My glance was quick, but it was enough to see that he could see right through me. I must have the worst poker face.

"Contrary to popular belief, I am actually one hell of an averter myself," he said smugly. "But shh, don't tell anyone."

"I'm not going to get away with this am I?" He shook his head, obviously pleased with himself. "It's just no matter how hard I try to remember what happened during my meeting with him, I can't seem to recall anything past when he looked at me. Just a feeling of, well for lack of better words, bliss. It's really weird."

He didn't say anything, just stared at me -no through me- carefully as if something I had said triggered a thought. Then his eyes flickered and he was no longer seeing through me, but at me. I took notice to their sudden shift as they became more indignant. I was suddenly second guessing my decision on telling him anything. In a split second he was to his feet, now looking back out to the ocean horizon that was now half menacing and half pleasing. 

The breeze that accompanied it had chilled the sana like air; a sign it wouldn't be long now before the whole sky would be veiled in a monstrous system packed with lightning, thunder and rain. At this height one could easily see what was to come.

"Maybe taking you to see him was a bad idea." The way he said those words made my insides crawl.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He looked down at his watch and back up again. “I think you’re right. It’s time I get back to work.”

“What?” I signed, but he ignored it. Instead, he turned away and headed for the door without another word. What just happened?

I followed him, rooting through my brain trying to figure out what could have made him suddenly feel like he needed to go back to work after just saying he didn’t care. If this was his way of masterfully averting the situation, it was very poor. Not to mention keeping up with him as he practically slid down the stairs was impossible. Every step I conquered, he gained three steps ahead. He was already out the door by the time I made it to the bottom.

“Will wait.” I turned my phone up as loud as it could go as I galloped after him.

Every time I caught up with him and tried to match his pace, I would somehow fall behind. We slinkied our way across the field until we reached his motorcycle, and instead of getting onto it, he froze in place. It felt like time had somehow slowed as I waited for what he planned on doing next. He looked like he wanted to say something, but his head shook slightly and he handed me my helmet before throwing his leg over the bike. The engine roared to life almost immediately, startling me in the process.

He proceeded to put his helmet on and waited for me to get on without a word. I stared at him unable to move, completely confused as to what just happened. It was only when thunder clapped through the air did I finally move. Before I even had a chance to get comfortable, he took off. An anxious feeling was now hanging over my shoulder. I must have pissed him off somehow.

We arrived back home just as the light drizzle began to pick up. He never moved when he parked, which could only mean he was definitely upset with me. For the life of me, I have no idea what I did. I slowly removed myself and handed him the helmet. With barely even a glance at him, I turned toward the house.

Just as I took a step, his hand caught my wrist. "Wait," his muffled through the helmet. He let go as I turned back around. This was it, I was going to get the 'I no longer want to be your friend,' speech. I mean, at least he was ballsy enough to do it face to face instead of leaving me completely in the dark like my other so-called "friends."

"I'm sorry," he said once he removed his helmet. My gaze fell to the ground in front of me. Here it comes. "I'm so sorry that I brought you to him." I looked up at him, now really confused. "I'm really upset at myself for doing it," he continued. "I knew it was a bad idea to begin with, but..."

"What are you talking about?" I signed. My thoughts were full of nothing but question marks now. From feeling like I had said something to now his arbitrary guilt trip, I had become undoubtedly lost.

"I think I saw what," he said slowly after staring at my hands blankly for a moment. I nodded and repeated it again slower this time. He looked hesitant to say anything at all, but after a moment of it he finally answered. "You know, one of the things I really like about you is that you have an open mind. So keep that in mind, okay?"

I nodded slowly, not quite understanding why he wanted me to make sure to keep it in mind. But he seemed to have gained his confidence back, as he sat up straight and looked me dead in the eye. A disoriented feeling zapped through me as soon as he did, causing me to inhale deeply to regain the little bit of myself that tried flittering away.

"Your friend is one of them," he said bluntly. I tilted my head toward him as I turned it slightly, trying to think if I heard him correctly. "God, I didn't think they outed themselves so carelessly like that." I could just barely catch the next part as he muttered to himself. "But this makes things a lot easier."

"Wait, what? One of who? What are you talking about? And makes what easier?" The questions just came pouring out of my thumbs. I needed explanations from him, maybe even a couple web maps.

He grabbed me by the shoulders and his eyes narrowing as they bore into mine, luring me deeper into them. I became surprised at how similar it was to what I experienced with Atlas, but I still felt in control of myself.

"For now," he said. "Just don't go looking for him."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to end up like my mother...or your mother. Please, Molly, think about it. This is what they did, what they do. Promise me." He was pleading to me like a child. It was a little unnerving seeing someone so confident, so strong become so fragile.

I gave him another, quicker nod this time. It would be easy anyway. It wasn't like he wanted to see me again. Will's hands fell from me and he replaced the helmet on his head. His face showed signs of wanting to be relieved, but couldn't be. Like there was something more that seemed to be bothering him about this than he explained.

"I'll text you later," he said and revved his engine.

I watched him ride off until he disappeared. He was asking me to keep an open mind. He wanted me to be open to the possibility that Atlas was not human, which as crazy as it sounded almost made complete sense. I closed my eyes and silently laughed at myself. Looking up, I let the rain fall onto my face, hoping it would wash away my momentary lapse of judgement.

Ugh, I thought as I straightened myself out. I must be going crazy for allowing myself to keep an open mind about something like this. But I would feel like such a terrible friend if I didn't.

I clenched the rained soaked folder in my hand. Time to face Dad.