"You can leave, Ponyboy," said the doctor, unhooking my machine. I gasped, with tears in my eyes. 

"You mean I'm alright?" I asked. He nodded his head. 

"Yeah, you are. As long as you continue to eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise, you'll be alright. You also have to take anti - anxiety meds for a month," he stated. I nodded.

"Thank you, doctor," I replied. 

That was the first time I saw him smile while I was here. 

-

I walked out of the hospital room to see Darry and Sodapop. 

They were leaning over a desk, signing papers. Darry's eyebrows were furrowed, and Sodapop had his face buried in his hands. 

I walked up behind them, and tapped them on the shoulders.

"I'm out!" I exclaimed. 

Before I knew it, I felt two pairs of arms wrapped around me. 

"Ponyboy!" exclaimed Sodapop. I him squeeze me. 

"Y- you're alright!" stuttered Darry. "I thought we were gonna l- loose you!" 

They both started to cry. 

"I missed you guys," I whispered. Soda started to play with my hair.

"We missed you too, and so did the rest of the gang," stated Darry. We pulled back from each other.

"Speaking of the gang, where are they?" I asked. Soda and Darry glanced at each other. 

"Everyone is still at school," mumbled Soda. For some reason, it looked like he was hiding a smile.

-

I walked into the house, Soda's arm around me. Everything was dark.

"Guys, what's going on-" I asked. Suddenly, the lights turned on.

"Surprise!" everybody screamed. Standing in front of me was Dally, Two Bit, Steve, Johnny, and Marcia.

"Oh my God! This is great! I- I- I don't know what to say!" I exclaimed. Everybody smiled.

"Let's just say this; thank god Ponyboy - motherfucking - Curtis is home!" yelled Two Bit. Everybody whooped.

-

Darry put on some Elvis and was talking to Dally in the corner of the room. They looked like they were talking about something serious, but I didn't question it.

Johnny suddenly came up to me, and put his arms around me. I couldn't help but feel myself blush.

"What's going on, Johnnycakes?" I asked. I felt him laugh near my ear.

"Oh, nothing much. I just missed you and all," he stated. I bit my lip.

"Don't worry, I miss you too," I replied. He made a clicking noise with his tounge.

"By the way, remember when I said I was going to take you out after you left the hospital?" he questioned. I nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, I do," I said, a bit confused.

"Well, tomorrow night at 5:30, I'm going to pick you up and take you out," he stated. I took his arms off of my waist, and turned around.

"R- really? You still wanna do that?" I stuttered. He nodded.

"Of course, Pony. I want to take you out, he whispered in my ear.

I felt funny all over.

Is this what love feels like? I asked myself.

I glanced around the room, and saw Two Bit and Marcia laughing near the table with the food.

"I forgot to ask, but what in God's name is Marcia doing here?" I asked. Johnny burst out laughing.

"Oh, Two Bit asked her! Turns out she's quiet a nice girl. They've been hanging out a lot lately," he stated. I sarcastically rolled my eyes.

"Well, I guess that's good. I'm happy for him," I stated. Johnny nodded.

"Yeah, me too."