At the morning assembly I wait as my fate is to be announced, or so Principal Shoppe told me. She wants to make an example of me in front of everyone. So I stand by her side on the stage and wait for the verdict. By the happy smirk on vice principal Howard’s lips I have a feeling I know where this is going.

“Attention, attention. Everyone I have an announcement to make, due to the recent pranks I---"

“Wait!” Jade shouts, cutting off Principal Shoppe.

I give her a confused look.

Then she sticks her fingers in her mouth and whistles really loud.

Then I hear a cowbell being played, then the whole Drumline comes marching in! Playing We’re Not Going to Take It by Twisted Sister. Jade grabs a mic and stands on the table.

“We're not gonna take it

No, we ain't gonna take it

Oh, we're not gonna take it anymore!”

Someone pulls out their guitar and plugs it into an amp and turns it up loud. He starts shredding along to the song. People start standing on tables and jumping around like crazy. Archer runs up on the stage and grabs the mic right out of Principal Shoppe’s hands, she is taken aback.

“We've got the right to choose it

There ain't no way we'll lose it

This is our life, this is our song” he sings.

“We'll fight the powers that be just

Don't pick our destiny 'cause

You don't know us, you don't belong” Jade hops from one table to the next.

Then the entire senior class runs up on stage and starts to sing along.

“Oh we're not gonna take it

No, we ain't gonna take it

Oh we're not gonna take it anymore”

A guy in the senior class known for playing rock n’ roll takes the mic from Archer. His hair is all crazy and his face is painted, he has on a rocker outfit. He gets right in vice principal Howard’s face.

“Oh you're so condescending

Your gall is never ending

We don't want nothin', not a thing from you”

“Your life is trite and jaded

Boring and confiscated

If that's your best, your best won't do” Jade runs on the table and jumps on the stage.

Why am I not surprised that she pulled something like this? I can’t help but giggle as she walks over to me and wraps her arm around my waist, looking Principal Shoppe in the face. Everyone crowds around the stage now and sings along.

“Oh Oh

We're right (yeah)

We're free (yeah)

We'll fight (yeah)

You'll see (yeah)” everyone cheers as many of the teachers march in and join in on the fun, singing along.

“Oh we're not gonna take it

No, we ain't gonna take it

Oh we're not gonna take it anymore

Oh we're not gonna take it

No, we ain't gonna take it

Oh we're not gonna take it anymore”

“No way!” Jade shouts.

The guitar guy bust out into solo, just like in the song. Vice principal Howard is trying to get off stage and get to him to unplug the amp.

“Oh Oh

We're right (yeah)

We're free (yeah)

We'll fight (yeah)

You'll see (yeah)”

Vice principal Howard gets picked up by the football team and carried out of the cafeteria. Everyone cheers and whistles. The guitar kid stops playing and only the cowbell and drums can be heard now.

“Oh we're not gonna take it

No, we ain't gonna take it

Oh we're not gonna take it anymore”

Then the guitar starts again.

“Oh we're not gonna take it

No, we ain't gonna take it

Oh we're not gonna take it anymore

Just you try and make us

We're not gonna take it

Come on!

No, we ain't gonna take it

You're all worthless and weak

We're not gonna take it anymore

We're not gonna take it

No, we ain't gonna take it

Oh you and your uniform

We're not gonna take it anymore”

Once the song ends everyone goes deathly silent. Jade steps forward.

“Whatever you do to her, you got to do to me too.” She says.

“And me!” Archer says.

“Me too!” Guitar guy jumps in.

“Yeah, me too!” people start shouting in every direction.

Principal Shoppe takes the mic from Jade. She looks to me, I can’t help but smile.

“Alright, alright. But come on guys lay off Howard will ya.” She says.

Everyone cheers just as the first bell rings for everyone to go to class.

“Now get to class.” She adds. Then she looks at me and winks. Everyone walks off.

“Jade!” I tackle her in a hug.

“What? I told you I wasn’t going to take it.” She laughs.

God, I could just kiss her right now. She really is the best. I can’t believe she planned this whole thing! She even got the seniors in on it.

“Thank you,” I say pulling back.

“Of course, now who’s the best, come on, say it.” She says.

“You are.” I roll my eyes.

“That’s right, and don’t ever forget it.” She pecks me on the cheek.

My face goes red, but she can’t see because she’s turned and is running off towards Archer now. He picks her up and twirls her, the two dissolve into giggles. The good feeling is gone. I sigh and grab my bag, walking to class.

“That was extra.” Darleen walks over to me.

“Did you know about this?” I ask.

“Maybe.” She smiles.

I roll my eyes.

“So, um after practice, I’ll pick you up?”

“Sure.” I smile at her.

“Great, see you at practice then.” She runs off to class.

Nothing eventful happens for the rest of the day, Jade was one of the first to audition so she takes me home after practice per usual.

“Good luck on your date.” She rolls her eyes before I can leave the car.

“Do you not like Darleen?” I ask.

She always acts like me seeing Darleen is a bad thing, and from my perspective, it is because I like Jade, but why does she think it’s bad? She has Archer.

“She’s just so uptight and pretentious. So not your type.”

“I have a type?”

“Duh, everyone has a type.”

“What’s my type?”

“You know.” She rolls her eyes.

“I do?”

She frowns at me. I am so confused right now. Since when do I have a type? Darleen is the first person to ever ask me on a date. How can I have a type if I’ve never dated? Sometimes Jade really makes no sense.

“I mean if you really like her just go for it. But I think you can do better.” She shrugs.

“Better? This is Darleen Grayson, what’s better than that? She’s pretty, rich, nice-ish, and a good friend.”

“If you say so.”

“What you’re deal with her?”

“I don’t have a deal.” She is getting defensive which means she definitely has a deal.

“Jade.”

“Skylar.” She mocks my tone.

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and get out of the car. She wants to be like that then fine! I don’t need her approval anyway.

“Don’t you whatever me.” she quickly gets out as well.

“Then just tell me what’s wrong.” I cross my arms.

“Nothing's wrong!”

“Then why are you getting so defensive!?”

“I’m not!”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Whatever, just go on a date with your perfect girlfriend. So you two can be all perfect together. I don’t care.”

Holy crap! She really is jealous of Darleen, but why? She has Archer, she basically friend zoned me off the planet. Why would Jade Tate be jealous of Darleen Grayson? Is it because she thinks that I think that Darleen is better than her? Is it one of those universal best friend things I was talking about before?

“Jade, what’s going on?”

She shrugs and avoids eye contact.

“If you don’t want me to get with Darleen just say so.”

She turns to me then. What is going through that head of hers? Why is she so torn up about this silly little date? It’s not like I actually like Darleen. Why hasn’t she said anything before? Sometimes Jade really confuses me.

“I can do that?”

“Well yeah, you’re my best friend. You have a say.” I say.

“Well, how come you never say anything when I go on dates with people?”

Wait what? Did she just call me out without calling me out? She basically just said I know you like me so how come you’ve never said anything? Just play it cool, no way she knows how I feel about her, right?

“Well, you just looked so happy, as long as your happy that’s all that counts right?”

“Are you happy?” she asks.

What kind of question is that? Since when did this become an interrogation? I mean in general, I guess I am happy, though I would be happier if I was with her and not about to go on a date with Darleen.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

She shrugs and looks away again.

This is going nowhere.

“I have to get ready, um see you later.” I start to back away.

“Fine, be that way.” She huffs before marching into her house and slamming the door.