Charming as a Verb

by Ben Philippe

“It’s exhausting being so many things all at once sometimes.”

Greg nods so furiously his neck might break, which I wouldn’t altogether mind right now, to be honest.

lmaoooo😭

I let myself sit in the dark for a moment and think that, if nothing else, at least this clusterfuck of a senior year has had one good surprise—even if she’s been upstairs all this time.

I’ve had a few make-out sessions here and there (a guy-in-high-school amount, not a hussy amount), and it is, hands down, the best kiss of my life.

She is intensely amazing, after all.

oh fuck no

please don’t pmo.

They’re all still so young, but at the same time, they’re there, y’know? They’re fully made. It’s a hell of a thing to see. We just have to watch and steer when we can.”

You did well up there, by the way.” “They were better.” “They were better.” She smiles. God, I missed her.

She doesn’t think so, but no one’s easier to talk to than Corinne.

OMG MY HEART!!

She throws her head back and laughs, and it’s the best sound in the world.

In the end, that “We went to high school together” line we give over red Solo cups in basement parties or champagne flutes at Princeton events always feels both like the most complete version of the story and a lie that doesn’t cover the gist of it. That’s how lives meld together, I suppose: they melt and meld and then they are one.