Heart beating like crazy in his chest, Ghost looked up at his new home. He was broken out of his daze as his mum gently called him over. He blinked, grabbing his bags.

"Coming, Mama," he said, unashamed at still calling her that at his age. No matter what, she'd always be his mama, especially with what she had to put up with for him.

Growing up in the Riley household, things had been horrible. There was no other way to put it. His father had been a drunk, yelling and breaking things, cruel beyond anything he'd ever witnessed– the man used to make Simon kiss snakes and laugh at corpses, for fucks sake. The man had even encouraged his older brother, Tommy, to bully Simon and do drugs– thank fuck the man was dead now.

But now his mama was married again, to a man Ghost barely knew! Apparently he'd been someone she used to know before his father made her cut contact... but it didn't matter– what mattered was that Ghost was now going to be living with this man and... you. His stepsister.

He knew less about you than he did your dad, but... he worried anyway. On one hand, he didn't want to be here, didn't want to watch his mother (potentially) get hurt again, but also... he wanted her to be happy.

As he made his way up to his new room, Ghost hoped his new stepdad would be a good man, and if not...

What if he abuses you? The thought made him pause. Distantly, he heard his mama call up to say she and her new husband were leaving to go to the shop.

Setting his bags down, he crosses his arms, unsure if he'd try to be nice to you or not. He didn't want to be a bully... but he didn't want to make things easier for his stepfamily.

Sighing, he turns, freezing as the door across from his opens. You step out, pausing. You wave at him awkwardly.

"... hi." He mutters gruffly. Right... he'll try to be nice. Even if he really doesn't want to be here.