Salem is beginning to think that this isn't a good idea.

Don't get him wrong, he's still going through with it. The concept of Atlas getting up to serious crime does not sit well with him, and he hates himself for it but he's worried. It's bothering him, and he needs to know... badly. However, he's beginning to get the sense that he shouldn't.

This is because he's spent so long away from the guy, he forgot the effect any sort of contact between the two has on him. See, Atlas has a schedule, one that Salem knows by heart. Not his class schedule—although, Salem does know that decently well too, just by observing—no, his free time schedule. What he does before school, after school, during lunch, when he skips...

Salem knows.

The following Monday, finding a time to talk to Atlas isn't a problem. Atlas works out in the school gym after class dismisses, every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Everyone steers clear of the area when he's in there, so when Salem enters the main gym and it's empty, he knows he's right.

Alright, no problem there. Salem is golden. At least, he thinks he is, but as he gets closer to the weight room, he starts to second guess himself. Was this really a good idea? Is it necessary? The fact that he's about to talk to Atlas is starting to really set in, and he can't help his hesitation.

Salem can hear Atlas' music playing from behind the heavy, partially windowed door. As he gets closer, the songs are unmistakeable. It's his workout playlist, Salem notes. No surprise there, except he's playing a song that Salem introduced him to. Granted, Salem introduced him to most of the music he listens to, but still. Salem's heart rate begins to pick up.

Salem finally reaches the door, and he peeks through the window. Upon seeing his shirtless ex in the middle of lifting a massive weight, he begins to feel a special kind of dread for this conversation.

Maybe Salem should try again another time. He has a bad feeling about this. Trying to carry a conversation with Atlas? When he's shirtless? And sweaty?

Yeah, there's no fucking way. Salem should quit while he's ahead.

Then again, he really wants to know...

"Come on, you can do this," Salem mumbles to himself, pulling away from the window. He runs a hand through his hair, closing his eyes. "It's just Atlas."

It's just Atlas...

Salem takes a deep breath, and pushes the door open.

Atlas looks up at his entrance, already appearing irritated at his workout being interrupted. Salem is making a conscious effort to make strict eye contact, though his eyes do glance down for a second. Once Atlas recognizes him, his expression immediately goes completely blank. That's one change that Salem absolutely despises. He used to be able to read this guy so well, but now? Now Atlas makes a conscious effort to prohibit that. The second is...

"I'm busy, Heart."

Salem's last name. Atlas almost exclusively calls him by it, and Salem has no clue why. When Atlas doesn't think about it, he still calls him Salem, but it's rare.

Anyway, it never fails to put Salem in a bad mood.

"Sucks." Salem replies, "I need to ask you something."

Atlas just raises an eyebrow, and Salem takes that as his cue to go on. He decides to just get straight to the point.

"So, on Friday, I was in a bank..." Salem starts, and he's already feeling nervous. This is a bad sign, to say the least. "And uh, it got robbed, and one of the robbers reminded me a lot of you, and um, and he had the same tattoo maybe, I think. Um."

"Ask the question." Atlas says, monotone, and Salem is drawing such a fucking blank.

"Well, it's just been bothering me since you never told me what you were arrested for but I just assumed it was for like, uh, small stuff? But robbing a bank is crazy, but both of them had you're tattoo. I'm pretty sure. Can I see your hand?"

Salem doesn't even know what the hell he just said, or where he's going with this. Atlas tilts his head, but even he can't hid the tiniest hint of amusement in his eyes. Yeah, he's never failed to find humor in what a mess Salem is. All the time.

"So you want to know if I robbed a bank." He states simply, and Salem's cheeks flush a bit because why didn't he just say that? It's so much simpler. Salem really needs to start thinking things through. At least, more thoroughly. Then again, it's hard to think anything through when he can't think to begin with. Atlas has that affect.

"I mean, yeah." Salem replies, breaking eye contact and staring at the floor. This already isn't going how he thought it would.

"I didn't. Get out."

Salem can't even keep himself from rolling his eyes. When he finally looks at Atlas again, the guy has his eyes narrowed right back.

"Well do you have an idea who did, then? They had your exact tattoo." Salem pushes. Atlas had previously been sitting on the weight bench, but at Salem's words, he stands up. Salem can't help the way his eyes fractionally widen, since he's now gone from looking down to looking up at Atlas. This does not aid in Salem's nerves at all.

"No." Atlas replies. Salem is getting sick of these short, blunt answers. He can't help but to glare at the guy, growing more and more irritated.

Not to mention the fact that Atlas is lying to him. Salem can tell because he isn't making eye contact. Sure, he appears to be, but that's one thing that Atlas has never been able to hide from him. His tells.

He usually either looks at the bridge of Salem's nose or his forehead or something like that. He tries to appear like he's making eye contact but he's not. That's how he's acting right now. Salem can't tell which part of this conversation he lied about, though, unfortunately.

"There's no way." Salem finally says, "no way you don't know who they are."

"Even if I did," Atlas starts, crossing his arms. Salem just raises an eyebrow because this guy is so suspicious all the time, and it's getting old. "Why would I tell you?"

That's actually a good point. Atlas is a lot of things, but a snitch is not one. Salem is getting reminded of Atlas' secretive nature, and he can't help the flashbacks that it causes.

The guy was constantly lying or withholding random things from Salem, back when they were together. Well, he did it to everyone, actually. Getting a straight answer out of Atlas was a constant challenge, and Salem had forgotten that for a second. He has no idea what he expected to begin with, honestly.

It seems as though the people in the bank were at the very least accomplices of his, though. Salem thinks he can work with that.

"Because they robbed a bank?" Salem replies, like it's obvious. "They still haven't been caught."

"They won't be caught."

Oh yeah, Atlas 100% knows more than he's letting on. Salem is growing impatient.

"Stop being so fucking suspicious."

"Everything I do is suspicious to you."

Salem narrows his eyes, not appreciating the truth of that statement. In his defense, though, Atlas generally just gets up to no good. Constantly. Salem doesn't think he's reaching when he assumes the worst.

"I just want to know that you weren't the robber. It would ease my mind." Salem finally admits. "Please don't lie."

Atlas doesn't look happy, for whatever reason. Possibly because Salem told him not to lie, and he's never been fond of being ordered around. Salem doesn't really give a shit, though, he just wants to be able to sleep at night again. This assurance would help.

"You shouldn't care," Atlas replies, dodging the question again. Salem's eyebrows furrow slightly, because he's starting to go back to thinking Atlas is guilty. Atlas' next words distract him from that, though. "You need to move on."

Salem recognizes immediately that Atlas is referencing their relationship, and all his determination—and slight confusion—drains away. "I have. Remember Mercedes?"

"Your ex?" Atlas asks, raising an eyebrow. "She dumped you. Because you're not over me."

Salem tenses at those words, and it's crazy how fast that changes his entire mood. Yeah, he did not miss how blunt this guy is. Actually, wait...

"What—How do you even know that?" Salem asks. He has no idea how Atlas could have even found that out, unless someone told him. Atlas doesn't really talk to many people, though.

All Atlas responds with is one word. Or, well, name. Still, it's all Salem needs. "Cam."

Cameron Samuels has a social media page, where he's constantly posting videos of stuff around the school. Well, and also the stunts he pulls. He's always doing a bunch of crazy shit with Milo, and half the time talks Salem into helping. He has all the gossip, all the time. He's also one of Salem's closest friends, unfortunately.

It's hitting Salem now. Mercedes mentioned Atlas, and specifically how often Salem talks about him, as well as Salem not being over him. Loudly and frequently. Still, Salem thinks there's a way he could get out of this.

"Okay." Salem replies, "she also thinks I cheated on her with my English teacher."

Everyone already knows that Mercedes is basically insane. She's cheer captain and popular and pretty, though, so she still has friends and gets in relationships. Although it's shallow, that's most of the reason Salem asked her out. He thought there was no way he couldn't fall in love with Mercedes if she had all that going for her. He was wrong.

Anyway, doubting her judgement would be expected. Nobody believes half the things she says.

"If she's so wrong, why are you here?"

"Because I'm worried!" Salem snaps, and now he's growing frustrated. His hands are beginning to shake, and he takes a step forward. Away from the door, towards Atlas, and nowhere near ending the conversation like he should. Like he should've a while ago. Sadly, contact with Atlas is an addiction of his.

"Why?"

"Are you kidding?" Salem asks. What kind of question is that? "Because if you're doing shit like that—it's dangerous. If you're doing, if you're committing serious crimes..."

"What?" Atlas asks, eyebrows raised but otherwise revealing no emotion. "What are you going to do? My life isn't your business anymore."

Salem can't help his wince at the words. He doesn't like being reminded of their breakup, or even their relationship. He doesn't like thinking about how Atlas' life used to be his business. He doesn't like the overwhelming, insulting amount of truth in Atlas' words.

"I know that." Salem replies, breaking eye contact when his voice goes quieter. "But if you are doing this, it's everyone's business."

"If I'm doing what, exactly?"

"Well, robbing banks for one. I don't want to put anything past you, though. You kept a lot of secrets back when... when we..."

"Seriously, Salem. It's annoying at this point." Atlas says, voice fractionally deeper. Salem's hands are starting to shake, hating how much Atlas' words, his opinions, even his tone of voice, can affect him. "We broke up a year ago. Get over it."

Salem narrows his eyes, but he can't keep the hurt from his face. He takes a deep breath, before looking at the ground. He can't stand to look at Atlas' face anymore, heart beating a bit faster. He runs a hand through his hair as a way to comfort himself. He should leave.

"Just because we broke up," Salem starts, ignoring the tremble to his voice. "Doesn't mean I don't still care about you."

Then, as an afterthought, "it doesn't mean we can't be friends."

Salem doesn't know where that came from, if he's being honest. He and Atlas? Friends? Of course, Salem would not be opposed to having him in his life again. Quite the opposite, actually. However, he could never just be friends with Atlas Marino. He can hardly talk to the guy like a regular person without getting starstruck.

Don't get Salem wrong, though. He's actually moved on. Seriously. He's completely over Atlas, he just... doesn't want to risk it.

"We can't be friends." Atlas responds, and his voice is different. Salem can't tell how, though. "And you know it. I don't care about you. You shouldn't care about me. Mind your business."

"No." Salem finally looks up at him, eyes narrowed. He's ignoring the fact that his eyes are a bit watery right now, and continues, "stop telling me how to feel. I will never mind my business, not when it comes to you."

"You should." Atlas replies, looking at Salem with eyes devoid of any emotion. Salem really, really needs to fucking leave. "This is getting pathetic."

Salem clenches his jaw at those words, stiffening as he's hit with an emotion he's all to familiar with, especially around this guy. Hurt. He has no idea how to respond to that, so he just turns around. He's taking deep breaths, trying to keep himself calm. Come on Salem, don't let him get to you. You should be used to it by now.

Atlas hasn't been nice to him since they were together. Granted, he still treats Salem better than anyone else. Believe it or not, he can be way meaner.

"You..." Salem's voice cracks, and he closes his eyes. He starts walking towards the door, but before he leaves, he continues. "You're such an asshole."

Salem exits the room after that, closing the door a bit harder than warranted. Afterwards, he leans against the wall beside it. He closes his eyes, placing a hand over his mouth and trying to regulate his breathing. He can feel himself tearing up, but he refuses to give in. He should be used to the way Atlas treats him now. Hell, Salem should act the same way!

He should feel the same way.

Salem moves his hand from his mouth, before fully covering his face with both. He slides down the wall, wishing he could forget that conversation. Wishing he could forget Atlas altogether.

Salem should feel the same way! He should hate Atlas. He should treat him like shit. He should ignore his entire existence. He... he should...

Salem should, but he doesn't.