Beyond

Rules

My dress was too tight and uncomfortable, but I stood there politely beside my mother listening to the political debate take place, trying to look as if I'm actually listening. I spot Hanna across the room, politely nodding at people as they pass. I know her better to know that the smile on her face was actually one of hidden pissed-off-ness. I excuse myself from the conversation and make my way to her, glad to have someone to actually talk to that I liked. "Aren't you glad we got to make it today?" I ask her with underlying sarcasm.

"You mean am I glad that I was forced to come to this bloody party by my parents?" She whispered to me.

"What? Don't you absolutely love all of you're parents work friends?" I asked no longer being able to contain my sarcasm. "Don't you just loveee that our parents work together and drag us to their government parties where we get to meet all of their co-workers that all seem to have a stick up their asses?" I ask just loud enough for her to hear, "because I absolutely love it."

"I'm sure you do," she jokes quietly, "I'm sure that you also 'absolutely loveee' that formal dress you're in too."

"Oh why yes, it 'evenly displays that I posses both formality, and fashion'.... or so says my mother." I mock sarcastically. "You would think with the amount of money she spent on it she could buy me something actually nice."

"Yea well that's you're mother." Hanna notes.

We make our way to the snack table and I can't help feel that despite our nagging it's still great to see my best friend. Out of everyone she's the only person who can make this terrible party a bit less terrible.

"I'm just ready for the fireworks at our usual spot." I say picking through the elegant snacks for one that actually tastes good. Even though the snacks were all made by master chefs, they look amazing, but don't all taste that way too.

"Well we only have about," she glances down at her diamond embedded watch, "Two more hours of this BS, then our chore, then we have to change into those nasty eco friendly t-shirts, then we can go to our spot and enjoy our night."

"Yea but it's not too bad once we're done here, like our chores are actually helping the community and the well being of nature. Unlike being here," I motion around to the rich, entitled government leaders around me. "I'm just wasting my time."

"Got that right." Hannah mumbles. "Oh look who actually decided to show up." Hanna said with mock amusement. I followed her eyes to the opposite end of the room to Hartford and his son Thames who rarely makes an appearance to most non mandatory government celebrations. I watch as Thames greets the council with a broad smile and a handshake. I didn't know Thames hardly at all, besides that he is in my grade, doesn't talk much, and is secretly adored by just about all the girls in the school. I could tell that even though he doesn't go to most of the family parties here, he has mastered the art of appearing to be the perfectly well rounded son of a council member.

"Shocking," I say, "Hartford usually only goes when he has work to do."

"Don't blame him though." Hanna points out. "Oh hey what chore do you have this week?"

"Decomposing." I say. Each week everyone is assigned a chore to help the community and hopefully the earth. The chores vary from burying foods for decomposition to tending to the plants in the garden to cleaning up the city.

"Oh lame, I have garden duty." Hannah groans. "But at least after that we can do whatever we want." She says rebelliously.

"And how long until then again?" I ask.