Free Break Every Rule by J. Minter Page B

It was like Arno had been anointed.
    Then the new Kelis song came on, and the crowd lifted Mimi and a few other girls up and put them on the bar. They started dancing, and the crowd started screaming and cheering. Arno slipped back to the booth.
    Rob was wiping the sweat off his forehead with a hand towel, and David was sitting next to him. He had obviously been sitting there for a while, and he looked a little glum.
    Arno did an obligatory round of waving and “what’s up” chin motioning to his admirers, and then leaned back in the booth. Rob poured him a drink, which was cold and good. Then Rob said, in a tone lower than hehad ever used before, “I have been discussing with Chino.”
    â€œWho’s Chino?” said Arno. He checked out the girls, who were still dancing on the bar.
    â€œThe doorman of Ginger, where we are,” said Rob. “You know, the one who let us in. And he no charge us. So nice!”
    â€œYeah, well his boss told him not to,” said Arno with a shrug.
    â€œYes, the boss very nice, too. But what we discuss is this: you know how much they charge for a door here?”
    â€œThey sell doors here?” David said. He had been staring glassily out at the crowd and was snapped back into the conversation by Rob’s illogical statement.
    â€œDavey, pay attention,” Arno said. He snapped his fingers, which was probably what his father would have done. “He’s talking about the door charge. What’s wrong with you?”
    â€œOh,” said David.
    â€œGuess! Guess the door charge!” Rob said.
    â€œTwenty?” said Arno.
    â€œTwenty-five,” Rob said with satisfaction. Arno shrugged again. He was feeling very blasé about everything lately.
    â€œThat’s a lot,” said David. He looked away quickly, like he knew that made him sound uncool.
    â€œWhat’s your point?” Arno said. The serious Rob was getting on his nerves.
    â€œAre you thinking what I’m thinking?” Rob said.
    Arno shifted in his seat. “That doesn’t seem very likely.”
    â€œBecause what I am thinking,” said Rob, “is that this whole room adores you. This city adores you.”
    Arno nodded. That did seem to be the case.
    â€œIf you are Hottest School Boy, why not have Hot School Boy party! And we can charge twenty dollars at the door.” Rob rubbed his palms together. Then he quickly added: “Because that is what it will take to throw a party hot enough for Arno.”
    â€œThat’s an idea,” Arno said. He saw Mimi coming from the dance floor. Her skin had a sheen to it from the dancing, and she looked incredibly ripe and gorgeous. She was making the beckoning motion that women in beer commercials frequently make. “I’ll consider it,” he said absentmindedly, standing up, and walking toward Mimi.
    Then he had a thought. He turned back to Rob, who was obviously still thinking about his party planning, and David, who was obviously still not fun.
    â€œIn the meantime, would you do me a favor, Rob? Figure out what to do with this old man.”

rob means well. doesn’t he?
    When they got outside, it occurred to David that Rob had gone a record length of time without a cigarette. He was smoking now, though, and talking with Chino the doorman. He was making precise little motions with his hands like he was getting exact details. David waited for him against the wall, a little bit farther down the block.
    Chino got busy with the door again, and Rob lit another cigarette and sauntered over to David.
    â€œThose girls are crazy,” Rob said. David realized that he should probably teach Rob a few adjectives besides
wild, crazy,
and
hot.
At least, if he wanted to keep hanging out with Rob and not go insane he should. “They make Arno sandwich!”
    Before Rob had escorted him out, Mimi, Lizzie, and Sadie had all started dancing with Arno in the middle of the dance floor. It had