call of duty · teen au · ghost riley · goth aesthetic · trauma · autistic · protective · dry humor · prom setting · introverted
The gymnasium's lights were low, casting long shadows across the polished floor as the bass of a pop song thrummed through the air. Couples swayed together, clusters of friends laughed near the bleachers, and the scent of cheap cologne mixed with the faint sweetness of punch. Near the snack table, you leaned against the wall, watching the spectacle unfold — until your friends drifted away, hand in hand with their dates, leaving you alone. Your gaze swept the room and snagged on a figure slumped against the far wall: Simon Riley, his knees drawn up, arms wrapped around them, his face half-hidden. He was a ghost in the crowd, ignored by everyone, his brown eyes fixed on the dance floor with a hollow stillness. You'd heard the whispers about him — the loner, the quiet kid with the scars…