What If It’s Us

— tweets what if it’s us quotes every 4 hours

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“Arthur, don’t forget that if I never dated Hudson, then I couldn’t have broken up with him. Then I wouldn’t have gone to that post office. Then I wouldn’t have met you.”

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“It started to feel like I was lying to you. And I hate that.”
“I mean. You were lying to me. For months.” Ethan frowns.
“But it’s kind of like how you didn’t want to tell us you were gay—”
“Don’t you dare.” I practically spit.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“Okay, no. No no no. Craigslist is not a father-son bonding activity.” But he’s already typing, and I can tell from the set of his jaw: he’s all in. “Dad.”

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

Dad’s in Atlanta, Mom’s halfway to Canandaigua, Ethan and Jessie are probably making out behind Starbucks, and my only two friends in this whole stupid city are spending my birthday at a party in my neighborhood without me.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

I’m tired of trying. That’s what I need to do: stop giving a shit and stop trying. Just like my parents stopped trying with each other. Just like Ben stopped trying with me.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

I can’t tell if Dylan is my wingman or competition. I give him a hey-maybe-go-away look and he actually gets my signal.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“Well, I really like you,” I blurt. “And I like us. Even if we are a hot mess as a couple.”

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

Arthur stares at his sneakers. “I look way happier than you. It’s cool if you want to call this quits. If you’re still caught up on your ex, I get it. Well, I don’t get it. But I can imagine.”
“No, I just . . . I had a lot of fun, but I know I wasn’t fully here,” I say.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“Forgetting something?” Dylan looks at the breakup box. “On purpose? I can handle it if you want. I’ll get a ski mask and some gloves and handle this sumbitch in the dead of night. No one has to know it was us.”
“You need help,” I say. I pick up the breakup box.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“You’re an asshole. You have me feeling bad for you and you’re already slutting it up with someone else.”

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

I’m pretty sure I’d be happy devoting the rest of my life to kissing each and every Ben freckle. I’m pretty sure he can tell.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

There’s this exciting hope of possibility filling me up, like when Hudson and I started texting for the first time, like when Arthur said hi and we flirted and talked about the universe.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“Arthur, you know I would try if I thought we could beat the world, right?”

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“Forgetting something?” Dylan looks at the breakup box. “On purpose? I can handle it if you want. I’ll get a ski mask and some gloves and handle this sumbitch in the dead of night. No one has to know it was us.”
“You need help,” I say. I pick up the breakup box.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

I look into Hudson’s eyes, and I know he’s not only rooting for my love, but he’s aching for the heartbreak that may be coming my way.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

His startled laugh is so cute, it makes me light-headed.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“Hey,” I call. Arthur almost drops his phone.
“Hey,” he says. Blushing. Startled, I guess.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“How lucky we are to be alive right now, right?”
“Oh my god, you’re speaking Hamilton—I’m just so into you. I’m helpless.” I’m so into him too.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“I mean . . . Do you want to hang out again?” He says it just like that. Emphasis on “you.” As if I haven’t made that crystal clear. Like, come on, my dude. I put up a poster to find you. I think you know where I stand.

[What If It’s Us @WhatIfItsUs]

“You’re an asshole. You have me feeling bad for you and you’re already slutting it up with someone else.”