Page 28 of Rules for Rule Breaking
Bobby wondered what had happened to that girl. The girl who used to text him while they were sitting next to each other, who would buy him a brand-new Japanese pen every year for his birthday, who would laugh at his jokes even though he knew he wasn’t funny. What changed? It couldn’t have been him. He was a static creature. But now that he thought about it, maybe that was exactly it. Consistency was for porridge. No one wanted to date porridge. The calls stopped, and then the texts slowed, and after a while, days would go by where they wouldn’t speak, and he either didn’t notice or didn’t care. She’d been leaving him in slow motion for months, and he hadn’t even realized. Bobby’s eyes started to sting, and heresisted the urge to find a bathroom to hide in and watch season four ofRiverdaleon his phone.
Dante went to ask permission to enter a residence hall, and Winter hung back.
“This campus is cool, but you don’t look interested at all. Want to head out?” she asked.
“And leave Dante hanging?” He was irritated looking at the girl who’d dethroned him from the top spot in their class. Where was all this concern for his interest when she was eating steak with the governor without him?
“We can make something up. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be here either.”
“I know this isn’t as thrilling as stealing flowers, but this is important,” he heard himself say.
Winter stepped back. “Okay, I’m sorry. Chill.”
“You never take anything seriously,” he snapped. He didn’t know where this was coming from, but he couldn’t seem to close his mouth.
“Well, you take everything too seriously, Mr. Syrup-and-Butter Pockets. You’re going to pop a blood vessel one day. Is this how you treated Jacqueline? Because the breakup is starting to make a whole lot more sense now.”
Bobby blinked hard a few times. “What would you know about my relationship or any relationship for that matter? You’ve never dated anyone. You barely even have any friends.”
“At least I’m not desperate for everyone to love me.”
Bobby clenched a fist. “I honestly don’t know why I agreed to let you come.”
“I don’t know why I actually came. I knew it would be like this.”
Dante was coming back, so Bobby relented. Winter quieted andfollowed behind the two of them with her arms folded as they continued their tour. Bobby hadn’t meant to snap, but Winter took life too lightly for someone who’d beaten him out of number one. She gave off number-four vibes at best with her endless jokes and affinity for trash entertainment. Winter was just there. She was always there, like a thorn in his side, a constant reminder that he was lesser in every way that meant something to him.
They entered the dorms, and Bobby was nonplussed by the modular twin beds and smell of stale beer.
“What kind of grades do you need to get in here?” Bobby asked.
“You’re second in our class,” Winter said as more of an admonishment than a fact. “You’ll get in.”
Jacqueline’s GPA was a 3.9.
“I know. I’m only asking,” Bobby shot back.
Dante cleared his throat. “Well, generally, you have to be a pretty good student, but if you’re second in your class, I wouldn’t worry.” He turned to Winter. “Let me guess, you’re number one?”
“Guilty.”
Bobby nearly injured himself rolling his eyes so hard.
They continued their tour in silence, letting Dante do all the talking. Although he had lost interest in the tour, Bobby did have to admit that Dante was very thorough and knowledgeable. He wondered if Dante and Jacqueline would have classes together. He was probably her type. Bobby wasn’t sure what her type was anymore. Dante certainly seemed to be Winter’s type, though. She smiled, and her sarcasm seemed to take a vacation every time he spoke.
Winter was refusing to look at Bobby as they reached the last wing of their tour. He’d upset her, and he knew he’d be hearing about it later when they were alone, even though there was no way Dantedidn’t already sense the tension. He was talking faster and stopping for fewer questions than before. He all but ran as he led them to the last stop, which was a statue of George Washington standing tall on his pedestal with a cane and cloak in hand.
“That concludes our tour,” Dante said, clapping his hands. “Do either of you have any questions for me?”
Bobby wanted to ask if GW had a morality clause and, if so, would breaking up with someone over text be a violation. But he kept his mouth shut. Winter didn’t have any questions either, but she kept talking to Dante anyway. Bobby ran his hand through his hair. Small talk again. He couldn’t escape it.
Dante and Winter had said “all right” and “anyway” about ten times each already. It was time to wrap it up.
“We’ve got to go,” Bobby interrupted.
Winter shot him a death glare.
“I’m sorry to keep you,” Dante said. “I can walk you to the student center. There’s a presentation with some snacks and refreshments. The admissions advisors will answer any questions I missed.”
