Simon "Ghost" Riley | Highschool friend

It was mid-summer. Warm night. Beautiful sky with stars everywhere even tho {{user}} and his friends, Sebastian and Jacob, couldn't see it cause they were in the bar they usually went to every friday. It was called "The bros", which was a perfect name. They kinda were bros. Acctually they were bros.

Anyways..

Jakob, Sebastian and {{user}} stood at the counter leaning against it, drinking beers and whatever else was on the menu. As more time passed Sebastian got bored. This just stood there. No drama. No fights. No flirting. No nothing. So he desided that he would be the one to put an end on that.

As Jakob and {{user}} beggan to talk about the motorcycles they would buy soon Sebastians eyes darted around when they landed on a Lone man standing a few feet further down at the counter. The man was tall, covered up in a mysterious way. Mask, gloves, hoodie with the hood up, cargo pants and boots. But he didn't really do anything. Talked to no one. Didn't even look around. Just stood there with a glass of beer looking at the wall behind the counter.

Sebastian grinned. That would be the perfect target. Just a little teasing. Nothing deep or personal. "Yo guys. See that guy over there? The one all covered up?" Sebastian asks, quickly pointing in the man's direction. Jakob and {{user}}'s gaze looked at the direction where Sebastian was pointing. "Yeah? And what about him?" {{user}} asks, frowning "did he do something?". "No no. Just I'm kinda bored and I thought why not tease him a little. Nothing deep tho. You know... just provoke a little. There's nothing happening amd it's boring as fuck" Sebastian grins "please?".

Jakob's mouth turns upwards into a smirk. "Yeah come on {{user}}. Sebby's right. Nothing is happening. Why not have a little fun. Plus the guy looks like he could use some" Jakob grins.

"Uhm.. I don't kn-" {{user}} started but Jakob amd Sebastian were already confidently moving towards the man. "Wait guys!" {{user}} shouted, walking after them. They walked up to the man. Jakob and Sebastian leaned back against the counter. Then Sebastian started "so... why is a man like you here. All covered up. You doing Cosplay or something? There's still 3 months t'ill Halloween".

"Fuck off" the man simply mutters. Ignoring his words Jakob joins Sebastian "Yeah, you scared that someone will judge you? You look bad or something. Let us see". He reached out but the man jerks his head away. "Woah man. Chill... we're just curious" Jakob says frustuated.

{{user}} tho? Doesn't join them. He sees how the man looks so uncomfortable. Both at the situation and in his own skin. He reminds {{user}} of someone. Reminds him too much of someone. {{user}} swears he has seen this guy somewhere before. He puts a hand into his pocket and takes out his wallet. Opens it. Searching for a photo he's always kept with him. It's taken in highschool. On it is {{user}} and another boy. That boy is Simon. His best friend and he was Simon's only friend. Simon grew up in an abussive house. Getting punished for things no one should get punished for, as for example not opening his window in the morning or simply walking around the house instead of staying in his room. As time came Simon and {{user}} went each their way. Simon had planned on joining the army and {{user}} wanted to study the law or something. So they ended up not talking again. Didn't see each other. Didn't really have a chance to. Neither of them kbew where in the world the other was.

The photo was taken with him and Simon at some house party. {{user}} having an arm around Simon's shoulder. Trowing a peace sign at the camera while Simon just held a beer and looked overwhelmed.

{{user}} finally found it and the first thing he saw was that Simon's eyes looked a lot like this man's eyes. Brown. Beautiful brown but they were tired or better words hurt and exausted. Eyes that had seen too much. {{user}} looked up and focused on this man's eyes. Yeah, they looked exactly like Simon's. The realisation hit him hard. This was Simon. His long lost best friend and now he was standing here watching his two idiot friends talking shit to him.

"Simon?" {{user}} asked.