Chapter Text
The next day, Simon decided to spend all day outside for once. He picked up an empty backpack he only used when he went skating, and put a sweatshirt in it, John’s clean shirt, and some cash for food in the side pocket.
He slipped on his mask, grabbed his skateboard that was propped up in his room, and set off to the skatepark. Today was warmer than yesterday, finally allowing him to wear a T-shirt for once.
Simon pushed his foot on the ground, propelling himself down the street to the skate park. His first instinct was to look for the familiar face in the bleachers, smiling under his mask when he saw him. Johnny was already waiting for Ghost at the gate, pushing himself up from the fence when he got closer. Ghost stopped just in front of Johnny, kicking his board up and grabbing the edge of it.
“Waiting for me?”
Johnny shrugged, “why not? Sorry I didn’t bring you flowers” Johnny opened the gate for Ghost. “Ladies first” he said, teasing Ghost.
Ghost rolled his eyes and shook his head and he walked in before Johnny. He walked over to Johnny’s usual spot on the bleachers and set his bag down, taking Johnny’s shirt out and holding it out to him.
“I promised to give it back.”
“This is true.” Johnny took it in his hands and opened his own bag to put it in.
Ghost left his bag on the bleachers with Jonny. He paused before taking off and turned back to Johnny.
“Do you want me to teach you how to skate?”
“Um… I think I’d faceplant on the pavement.” Johnny admitted honestly, scratching the back of his neck.
“I’ll make sure you don’t.” He offered.
Johnny hesitated for a moment before sighing and setting his bag down on the bleachers next to Ghost’s. He got up and walked toward Ghost, arms crossed.
“You better keep that promise, Ghost.”
Ghost’s smile was visible through the eye holes of his mask, pushing his eyes up a bit.
–
Ghost dropped his skateboard on the flat blacktop of the skatepark and helped Johnny stand on it. He had one foot already on but was scared to put his other foot on.
“Here, I’ll put my foot in front of the wheels so you don’t roll away.” Ghost put one of his feet in front of the board, and held out his hands for Johnny to hold on to as he got on the board.
Johnny said a quiet “oh my god…” before practically jumping to put his other foot on the board. The board wobbled side to side, but Ghost kept it still.
“Ok, good. Now we’ll just get used to the feeling of moving.” Slowly, he let his foot go and walked parallel to Johnny’s body, pulling him along with his hands. After a few minutes, he got Johnny to step one foot on and off like he was kicking off, before actually having him stand on his own and kick off. (Ghost, of course, was close by to catch him if he fell.) Johnny smiled like an idiot when he realized he actually did it on his own.
They practiced for a good 15 minutes before Johnny wanted to take a break because his legs were feeling wobbly.
–
They sat on the bleachers next to each other, Ghost watching Johnny working on some sketches of some of the other skateboarders.
“What, done drawing me?” Ghost faked being offended.
Johnny laughed, flipping through his sketchbook to show Ghost just how many times he’d drawn him. “Just taking a break is all.”
Ghost scoffed at the sheer amount of pages he took up in Johnny’s sketchbook.
“Hey I was gonna go get some lunch, you wanna come with?” Ghost offered
Johnny picked up his phone to look at the time. “Damn, already 1? I didn’t notice. Yeah I’ll come with. Where were you thinking?”
“There’s a McDonalds a few minutes down the road. You could skate there.”
-*--*-
Johnny stepped on Ghost’s board and tried to kick off the ground, but it wasn’t hard enough so Ghost just pushed him along. Ghost’s arm was across Johnny’s back, holding onto his waist. Johnny kept his left hand on Ghost’s shoulder as they went down the road. That way, Johnny would get caught is he fell and he could keep up with Ghost.
They made it to the McDonalds a few minutes later, and Johnny stepped off the board cautiously. His face turned a bit pink when he realized the position him and Ghost were in. His hand was resting on Ghost’s shoulder while Ghost held Johnny’s waist.
“We look like we’re slow dancing.” He pointed out, laughing.
Ghost quickly pulled his hand away and laughed when Johnny pointed it out.
Johnny was kind of missing the contact, but he didn’t say anything.
They both ordered their food, got their drinks, and headed outside to eat under the tree they saw earlier. Their bags and Ghost’s board, and Johnny, all sat on the ground while Ghost decided to climb a tree and sit in it while he ate his food.
“Don’t die, please.” Johnny called out to Ghost. He held Ghost bag of food in his hand while he climbed. He finally settled himself on a branch and reached out to Johnny to get his food. He just shook his head.
“You’re like a toddler, Ghost.”
Ghost just shrugged and unwrapped his food. He was glad he decided to sit in the tree because then he could pull up his walk without Johnny being able to see his face, and not worrying about bugs crawling around on him.
“Comfy up there?” Johnny called out
“I’m about to fall asleep up here.”
Johnny just sighed at Ghost being a nut job.
-*-(3rd person)-*-
Silently, they both ate their food and just took in the view for a few minutes before Johnny broke the silence.
“Hey, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, go for it.”
“Why do you wear the mask?” After a few seconds of silence from Ghost, Johnny clarified; “you don’t have to answer, I was just curious.”
“No it's fine, I was just… chewing.” (Ghost had finished his food a while ago)
Ghost thought for a moment.
“In general, I wear it because it’s comfortable. It’s safe, it gives me something to hide behind. It’s like a second persona to take the blows and scare people off.”
“And… not in general?”
“Well… I wear it around you because…” He wasn’t sure if he was yes to answer truthfully or not. Meanwhile, Johnny was dying to know why he didn’t take it off around him. Did he not trust him?
“I wear it around you because I’m afraid you won’t perceive me the way you normally do when it’s off.”
He thought for a moment. “Wait, do I know you without the mask?”
Ghost pulled his mask back down over the bottom of his face and hopped off the branch of the tree, landing near Johnny and sitting down next to him. “I wouldn’t say you know me per se, but you’re… aware of my existence.” The ari between them grew quiet for a few seconds, the wind blowing through the trees the only sound detected.
“I’d prefer you know me with the mask anyways. I’m… not the best at face to face stuff. It’s easier to hide behind a mask than face people.”
Johnny nodded in understanding, gaze fixed to the leaves blowing in the wind. “I get it. It’s hard to be yourself sometimes with people.” His voice carried some memories that didn’t sound pleasant.
“That sounds like it carries some experience.” Ghost pointed out, offering to lend an ear.
Johnny hummed in agreement with a small nod. His face dropped a bit, even though his face was usually a wide smile or a friendly grin. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself and kept looking over the trees moving in the breeze. He thought for a moment before pulling out his sketchbook from his bag propped against his leg.
He sketched a couple of the trees as Ghost watched on from the side, watching as the drawing came to life. It went from simple shapes and lines to more intense lines and defined shapes and shadows, forming impressions of trees that looked as if they were moving all on their own on the page. Johnny turned the sketchbook toward Ghost when he saw that he’d been watching him draw.
“Damn, save some talent for the rest of us, will you?” Ghost said, taking the sketchbook in his hands, admiring the work.
John’s face reflected Ghost’s, watching his eyes as he watched the other man’s eyes light up at the sight of his work.
“What?” Ghost said, snapping John out of his thoughts.
“Nothing, I just… never had someone look at my doodles like they belonged in a museum.” John chuckled, offering Ghost a smile, closing his eyes as he smiled to avoid seeing Ghost’s reaction.
Ghost’s eyes returned to the page. “Well it does, John. From what I’ve seen of your artwork, it should be hung on a wall for people to admire. I mean, I have the one you gave me on the wall in my room.
“Really? I’m flattered.” John smiled and scoffed a bit in disbelief. Ghost smiled back at him, smile visible by the way it pushed his eyes up. They looked at each other for a few seconds while they sat under the tree. John eventually ended up leaning his head on Ghost’s shoulder and sighed.
“What’s up?” Ghost says in a low voice, leaning back onto his hands to stabilize himself and Johnny.
“I just…” His voice trails off and he closes his eyes. Ghost takes the hint and doesn’t push any further. Instead, he slowly places his hand on John’s shoulder and pulls him in a bit closer. They sit like that for a while switching between talking about nothing in particular and silence. The sky starts to turn to a pink-ish orange as the sun begins to set behind the trees. Ghost shakes Johnny’s shoulder gently, waking up the half-asleep man. He sits up from Ghost’s shoulder and rubs his eyes of sleep.
“Sorry, didn’t realize I was dozing.”
“It’s fine, I… didn’t mind it.” The two start gathering their things before setting off to walk home.
-*-!st person, Soap-*-
Still a bit tired from earlier, Soap followed next to Ghost until they reached Soap’s from door. He paused for a moment in the front lawn. “Why haven’t we walked to your house before?”
Ghost looked a bit awkward and surprised, “My house isn’t…” he stopped himself and decided to lie “it’s just a bit strict. It’s hard to bring people over without my parents knowing them first is all.” Soap accepted this answer with a small nod and said goodnight to Ghost before walking into his house and closing the door behind him.
“Hey, ma!” He called out as he took his shoes off, not sure where his mom was in the house.
He heard a faint “Hey, honey!” come from the living room.
“Goin’ up stairs for the night, goodnight!”
He headed up to his room and tossed his bag on the floor just inside the door before flopping onto his bed. He opened his eyes and they landed on his laptop sitting open on his desk. ‘I wonder…’ he thought.