Dear Jason

We Are the Rules

I was honestly surprised when no one called me down to the principal's office that day. Either no one knew about the situation in the cafe, or no one cared enough. Typical.
That night, I was laying on my bed, my eyes closed, with the radio on, when my sister and Heather Duke came into my room.
"May I help you?" I said without opening my eyes.
"Are you listening to him?" Duke asked, and I motioned a hand at my radio.
"Go ahead, turn it on," I replied. "I didn't know if he was broadcasting yet."
"It's supposed to be on every Tuesday and Thursday from eight to ten thirty," Heather explained to me.
I opened my eyes and turned to look at her. "Today's Wednesday," I said, and she nodded.
"Exactly," she replied, turning up the volume.
"That thing that happened in the cafeteria today, though," the male voice rang out, "I mean Jesus. Ya see the difference between males and females is that females will fight to the death. Males just want to look impressive and out-flex each other." He chuckled and continued. "Regardless, where's administration when you need 'em, yeah? I guess we have students running the school now. Never in my life have I seen a tiny ass junior take down four seniors with a whistle and a nice taste of the truth, eh, but I guess that's how we roll now. You see because adults push us under the carpet. They don't care about the fighting or any of that crap. They push it under the rug until it's convenient for them. Until they can get something out of it." He paused for a moment and Heather, Duke and I all looked at each other.
"Why even follow the rules, then?" he continued. "Why blindly follow these set expectations when no one is there to enforce them in the first place? Huh?! There are no rules! We are the rules!" He was yelling now, and laughing, which turned slowly into a satisfied sigh. "This is Red, 92.6 FM. It's a damn cold ass night here in Sterling, Ohio, but when isn't it?"
Music began to play and Heather groaned.
"Have you figured out who it is yet?" she asked me, and I shook my head.
"No," I admitted. "I don't really want to bust him, anyway."
"Excuse me?" Heather hissed, and Duke appeared pissy as well. "You don't want to figure out who it is and rat him out?"
"No," I replied honestly. "If I ever found out who it is I'd probably congratulate him. He's got a good mind; a good thinker, yanno? I like it."
Heather rolled her eyes and I stood up.
"C'mon," I urged, grabbing one of her hands and one of Heather Duke's, "forget about popularity. Dance with Frankie."
I pulled on both of their hands to get them to dance, and soon we were all dancing and laughing.

***J.D'S POV***

I got home around eleven o'clock, as usual. My parents didn't care that I was out so late. They didn't care much about anything.
The two of them were on the couch when I walked in, watching TV, which was unusual.
"J.D," my mom said, turning to face me as she heard the door open. "Your father and I want to talk to you."
"Okay?" I replied quietly, and I walked around in front of the couch.
"We're beginning to get concerned about you at this new school," my dad started. "It's been nearly a week and you haven't mentioned one new name, joined any clubs; I don't even think I've seen you do homework-"
"Dad," I interrupted. "I'm fine. I talk to one or two people at school and I do stuff after school. That's why I'm always leaving and then coming home so late."
"But, Jason," my mom started, "you weren't like this back in New York. You were so much more outgoing and-"
"Everyone knew me in New York, Mom," I shrugged. "We had all known each other since kindergarten. This is a new high school I've just been thrown into. I'll be fine."
I saw my dad roll his eyes, so I went up to my room. I laid on my bed, flat on my back, and covered my face with my hands. I was exhausted, for one, but still oddly happy. It was good to have a voice again, to be myself.
As I closed my eyes to relax, Frankie popped into my head. I wish I could be like her. I wish I could be with her.