Break Every Rule by J. Minter Read Free Book Online Page A

BEEP
.
    â€œYo, Davey. Arno. It’s, like, twelve-fifteen. Why are you at Marquee? We left there, like, an hour ago. We’re at Milk and Honey now. Just get here, okay? Mimi and Lizzie are here, and they say Sadie’s about to show up, so not only should you be here, you should really
want
to be here. Out.”
    â€œ
You’ve reached the Frady residence. Please leave your information after the beep, and we will return your call as promptly as possible.” BEEP.
    â€œPhilippa, please please call me back? It’s Mickey, obviously. Do you despise me? What is
up
?”
    â€œ
Hi, this is Jonathan. Don’t forget to leave your number if I don’t have it
.”
    â€œJonathan, it’s David and it’s, like, noon on Saturday. I am at basketball practice and I feel like I’m going to barf. Could you please remind me not to stay out till four when I have practice the next day? Thanks. Oh, and I’m feeling a little vulnerable right now, and maybe that’s what’s doing the talking, but it’s weird that we haven’t been hanging lately. Um, bye.”
    â€œ
Hi! It’s Flan. I miss you already, so leave me a message.”
BEEP
.
    â€œFlan, it’s Jonathan. Sorry, I know I’m supposed to pick you up after riding class, but I’m running a little late because I was picking up stuff for Monday night. Wait for me, okay?”
    Guitar solo in the background. Girl’s voice says: “This is Mickey’s phone. Go ahead and leave him a message, but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t call you back.” BEEP
.
    â€œHey, Mickey, it’s Jonathan. It’s Saturday, man. What’s going on tonight? I’m trying to see if I can get something going. Let me know what you’ve got. Oh, and remind everyone about Monday, okay? Bye.”
    â€œ
Hi, this is Patch’s new phone. You know the drill.” BEEP
.
    â€œPatch, it’s Jonathan, it’s, like, eight-thirty on Saturday night. I’m at your house, but you’re not here. Are you around? Maybe we could get a beer. Later.”
    â€œ
You’ve reached the Frady residence. Please leave your information after the beep, and we will return your call as promptly as possible.” BEEP
.
    â€œPhiiiiiillllllllllllliiiiiiiipppppppppppaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!”
    â€œ
Wildenburger. Talk to me.” BEEP
.
    â€œArno, it’s David. Sunday night and I just left Don Hill’s. Sorry I didn’t say bye, but I couldn’t find you and I’ve got school tomorrow. But call me then, okay? Oh, and did Jonathan invite you to some party tomorrow night?”

my mood gets seriously killed
    I’m assuming you all know what Monday morning feels like, so I won’t bore you with the bummer details. But I was feeling strangely good when I woke up on this particular Monday. I don’t know if it was the residual glow of the MoMA party (which, the more I thought about it, had been a really classy kind of night), or maybe it was the mellow weekend that Flan and I had shared, with lots of movie watching and walks in the village and window shopping, rather than my usual excess of drinking and lack of sleep. Although, I have to admit, the anticipation of the new issue of
New York
was probably key to my unusually sunny mood.
    I put on a pair of gray Calvin Klein slacks and a yellow Kenneth Cole polo shirt, grabbed my school stuff, and headed out. My mom has been doing private Bikram yoga sessions from eight-thirty to ten, five days a week, so I never really seeher in the mornings anymore. She swears it’s improving her mood, though.
    I waved to the doorman and the guy selling fruit on the corner, and Mrs. Bancroft, who was coming in from walking her Pekingese. We’ve had the apartment for a long, long time.
    When I got to the Universal News stand on 14th street near Fifth, I was trying to be very casual. I mean, that’s the way a Hottest Private School