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I woke up, as if sleep had practically no effect on me. The grease was still in my hair and the bed smelled like my cologne from last night. I had to go back into my room when the party became too rowdy and more people started becoming drunker and drunker. There was only one person that I wanted to be here.
Johnny Cade was still in the hospital, and his condition was pretty stagnant. Sometimes he was well, well enough to talk and get into his wheelchair and sit outside in the hospital garden, other times he could barely move, but the better part of that time was spent bound to the hospital room.
He wasn't able to make it out of the hospital that day, but we called for three hours yesterday while the party raged outside.
This morning I was worried to shower, or look at myself. The whole soulmate thing terrified me. I didn't want to never get a soulmate, or get a soulmate who didn't like me back. That could happen. I knew it could, I had read up on it.
Maybe I should just let it happen. Maybe I should just look.
Come on, Ponyboy, man up.
I ripped off the blanket, hoping it wasn't in a really noticeable place. Like my face, or something.
Huh. Alright. I... didn't know where it was. I tried to remember what I had seen of Soda's or Darry's. Soda didn't really like to look at his. I think he felt self-conscious that it wasn't Sandy. The name Phoebe was on his ankle. I don't think Sandy had ever seen it. I think he might've lied.
Darry's soulmate was Tabitha. That was the perfect soulmate situation. They had known each other since high school, and Tabby was sweet. She reminded me of Mom sometimes.
Wait. Gold. Gold writing on my calf.
John Cade.
Oh. Oh. Johnny, my soulmate. I grinned, despite myself. I had to talk to him, tell him. Everything. He had been hearing me talk and worry on-and-on about my soulmate last night. I wonder if he knew. And if he was waiting.
Don't get your hopes up, Pony.
I ran out of my room, dodging questions from Sodapop and Two-Bit. Tabitha and Darry were in the kitchen, cooking eggs and bacon.
"Good morning Ponyboy!" Tabitha was wearing a soft butter yellow blouse and shorts. My brother looked at her like she was his whole world.
"Hi." Sodapop and Two-Bit had been joined by Dallas and they were all yelling, wanting to see. Dallas had never gotten a soulmate as far as I knew. Two-Bit's was Marcia. He was ecstatic. Steve and Evie were going to join us later.
I ate quickly and spent some time picking out my clothes. I wanted to look nice. Eventually, I decided on my track varsity jacket, grayish blue jeans and red Converse. I felt happy. Johnny, Johnny, Johnny.
***
"Hi. Um, excuse me. Can I see John Cade, please?" The nurse wasn't Johnny's nurse but she oughta know where he was anyhow.
"Room 203? Yes. He's outside, I think. I just saw Nurse Marin in the garden."
"Alright. Thank you." If Johnny was outside, he was doing well. That was a good sign.
I saw him before he saw me. He was in the wheelchair, reading something. His hair was ungreased and he was wearing actual clothes, not just the hospital gown. A green shirt, layered on top of a white long sleeve, with jeans and busted sneakers. Green was a nice color on him.
"Hi, Johnnycakes." He looked around for me and smiled when he saw me. I loved his smile, I wished I got to see it more often.
"Hi, Ponyboy. It's real pretty out here, huh? How was it?" I knew what he was talking about. Maybe he would just kiss me. I didn't know what to say. "Pony, c'mere. I- I didn't wanna weird you out. I hope you don't... fuck it." Johnny cut off his words and rolled up his left sleeve.
Ponyboy Michael Curtis. With a long, switchblade shaped scar running through it.
I was his soulmate too. I felt giddy, like I was flyin' or something.
I kissed him and it wasn't the best kiss ever. It kinda just felt like mouth. But there was something right about it.
"Are you... my soulmate?" He looked at me with big blown out eyes and I giggled.
"Yeah." He smiled and it was the kind of smile that would last forever. I loved him, so much.