That night, I knew I needed to stop playing Operation R.A.F.E. No more breaking the rules on purpose, no more zoom for sale, and no more fighting with Carl. If I couldn't be good, I could at least try to be normal.

Leo: You're going to regret this. Jules doesn't want you to be normal. She wants you to be yourself. Doesn't she tell you that all the time?
Rafe: Yeah, but myself made her cry tonight. I just need to lay low for three days. Probably more.
Leo: Yeah. And then what? You win the lottery? Your mom turns into a famous artist? Georgia gets a personality transplant? Carl gets amnesia, and never comes home? Screw it, dude. You're living in a fantasy world.
Rafe: Look who's talking.
Leo: And that's another thing. What am I supposed to do while you're off being Mr. Normal?
Rafe: I don't know. What do imaginary ponies do in their spare time?
Leo: *Yawning*
Rafe: It's not like I'm going anywhere. You can still talk to me, we just won't be playing the game.
Leo: We're only getting started here. You can't quit now.
Rafe: I'm not quitting. I'm just taking a break.
Leo: For how long?
Rafe: I don't know. We just have to wait, and see. Ok? Leo?

He just ignored me. Leo the silent, was giving me the silent treatment.

Song: link

Next day, I paid extra attention to what the good ponies were doing in class, and I tried to do the same stuff.

Ms. Donatello: Who would like to hand out the assignment sheets?
Rafe: *raises hoof*
Allison: *Raising hoof*
Ms. Donatello: I'll let Rafe do it today.
Allison: What? That's not fair!!
Ms. Donatello: Allison, you've done it a lot. In fact, you've done it too many times. It's time to give Rafe a chance.
Rafe: *Goes to desk*
Ms. Donatello: Are you trying to butter me up before your next detention? Because it's working. Thank you Rafe.
Rafe: You're welcome. *takes assignment sheets*
Jeanne: *Smiles*
Rafe: *Gives assignment sheet to Jeanne*

I wasn't expecting a smile from Jeanne. After the whole underwear episode in Halloween, I was trying to avoid her. Maybe she smiled at me, because I was being normal for a change.

After handing out the sheets, we all worked on them. It was just about Abstract Nouns. We had to be in groups, and Jeanne wasn't in my group. I still did my best, and with the ponies I was working with, we did very good.

Ms. Donatello: *arrives* Very creative. Very organic.
Rafe: Are you saying it's disgusting yogurt?
Ms. Donatello: *Laughs* No. I think you're all doing very good. Keep it up.

That wasn't the only thing I was keeping up. If being normal was all I had to do to keep my mom happy, I figured it would be worth it.

Ok, stop the song.

At the end of the day, I had half of my stuff in my saddlebags, and the rest I was carrying in my hoof. Then, this happened.

Miller: *sticks out leg*
Rafe: *notices leg*
Miller: *pushes Rafe*
Rafe: *Trips* Ah! *drops books*
Miller: Careful. You might trip, and fall.
Rafe: Yeah. You're a genius Starswirl the bearded.
Miller: Right. You ready for the meeting?
Rafe: What meeting?
Miller: My fist, your face. Once, and for all scumbag.
Rafe: Miller, for the last time. I am not trying to prove anything. Leave me alone.
Miller: *sees book* What's this? *takes book*
Rafe: (That's my Operation R.A.F.E book!) It's nothing. Give it back.
Miller: *reading* Operation R.A.F.E? What are you? Six years old?
Rafe: I told you, it's nothing!
Miller: If it's nothing, then why do you look like you're going to wet your pants? Hmm... *reading stuff*
Rafe: (I cannot believe this is happening.)
Miller: *rips off cover* Here you go. That's free, the rest is a dollar.
Rafe: Fine. *gives Miller a dollar*
Miller: *rips out another page* What? You thought it was a dollar for the whole thing? What do you think I am, some kind of an idiot?
Rafe: Come on Miller.
Miller: *in squeaky voice* Come on Miller.
Rafe: I don't have the money for that.
Miller: *puts book in saddlebag* You can take your time. A dollar a page, Khatchadorian. Unless the price goes up, which it might.

2 B continued