Rules: to break or not to break?

Rules. Are they meant to be followed or broken? In my real life, I think I'm fairly rule abiding. I try to follow the rules and lead a moral life. I don't cheat or steal. I don't make a U-turn where there is a sign posted saying I can't. I don't use illegal drugs. I don't punch people in the face for no reason (I believe that rule is called assault?) I find it easy to follow the rules. The rule is to have my paper turned in by 5pm? No problem. I'll have it there by 4:59. Easy. I don't even have to think about breaking the rules. Now, here's my problem. I've established my ability to know and follow the rules. Done. So, why can't I follow dating rules? It's like, I know the rule is I shouldn't text a guy, but then I do. Or I know the rule is I should play more hard to get when I like a guy, but I tell him how much I like him. Is it because the rules actually make no sense at all? Real life rules make sense. Don't steal because it's bad and will lead to chaos on society if everyone steals. Well, yeah. Obvious. Don't make a U-turn at that intersection cause it could lead to larger traffic problems. That's inconvenient, but sure, I get it. Don't tell a guy you like him and make him think he has to work for you, even though he doesn't and you like him. Yeah..I guess I'm missing how that makes any logical sense. It would seem if you like a guy and he likes you, that you it should just work. Right? I'm making a conscious effort to follow the rules with the Marine. I'm not texting him first. I'm not avoiding making plans in the hopes he asks me to hang out. But the rules just suck. If I want to hang out with him, why can't I just ask him "Hey, want to hang out tonight?" It seems so old-fashioned to sit by the phone with your fingers crossed. I mean, it's not like we don't progress technologically because that's what they did in the past. Well, it worked in the past that they used crank phones, so I'm going to go ahead and keep using my crank phone and not get an iphone. Doctors think that bleeding a person with leeches was good for curing diseases, so I'm going to avoid going to the doctor and get some new modern medicine and just slap on some leeches. Why is it ok then to say "Well, my grandmother said she would never ask a boy out, so I won't either?" But, as much as I want to argue with the logic, it seems to work. The less effort I make with the Marine, the more he wants to hang out. Maybe basing my theories on a guy with an obvious testosterone overload (as most Marines have to have..otherwise they wouldn't be Marines) isn't the best idea. It's a little too obvious. But, the thing that sucks about the rules is this. The Marine texted me yesterday at 6:59 to see if I wanted to hang out. Only, I didn't get it until this morning (well, it came through at like midnight, but I was fast asleep). All last night I was bummed he didn't call cause I wanted to hang out. I was so tempted to text him, but decided to play by the rules and not. Maybe if I had broken the rules, I could have hung out with him last night. In theory, my not responding maybe intrigued him a little. But, wouldn't hanging out be better than the intrigue? Plus, I erased all intrigue when I told him this morning "For future reference: if I don't respond to a text right away, I probably didn't get it, and you should feel free to call. I'm the queen of quick replies." I just want him to know it's ok to call me or to follow up if there are no responses from me. I guess I broke another rule by not feigning disinterest. But, I can't be expected to follow all the rules, right? But, now I'm back to staring at my phone, hoping it will ring. I'm also silently wishing that my grandma had been more of a liberal woman who taught me it's ok to break ALL of the rules and go after the man you want (a la Helen Gurley Brown- my sister's personal hero). Why did she have to be so darn traditional and teach me traditional values and morals? Dang!