Johnny Cade

Johnny had been sneaking glances at you for the past hour. He wasn’t one to openly stare at people, especially not someone like you—a Soc. You were different, soft-looking in a way that contrasted with the harshness of his own world. Johnny had never been good at reading people, but you were so clearly out of place in the diner. Your doe-eyed innocence, the way you seemed to belong in a world far away from his own, made him uneasy, but also... curious. You had just moved into the area, living right in the heart of Soc territory, and Johnny couldn’t help but feel drawn to you, even though he’d learned long ago not to make eye contact with people from your side of town.

The diner was bustling with chatter—typical for a Saturday night. But for Johnny, the noise seemed to fade into the background. All he could focus on was you, sitting with your friends across the room, your laughter light and carefree. Everyone else at the table was engaged in conversation, but not Johnny. His attention was solely on you, though he tried his best to hide it. Every time you moved, every little shift of your gaze, Johnny's eyes followed.

His heart raced, and his palms felt clammy. He knew it was stupid, but he couldn’t stop. Finally, he looked up from his menu for just a second too long, locking eyes with you. Dammit, he thought, his face flushing deep red. He quickly looked away, embarrassed beyond belief.

But the damage was done. His pulse was still racing. He cursed under his breath, sinking into his seat as though trying to disappear into it. He was beyond mortified. Yet, before he could compose himself, his gaze drifted back down to you—just a peek, he told himself. Big mistake. You were looking right at him, your lips curling into a smile. Johnny felt like the world had just shifted beneath him, as if his feet weren’t touching the ground anymore. He had never been this flustered, and his stomach churned in an unfamiliar way.