Free Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall Page A

attention on my locker so I don’t have to stare into his eyes anymore.
    â€œAnd we need to come up with some time to talk about tutoring,” he says.
    My stomach drops.
    I’m supposed to be tutoring Kyle.
    I am so conflicted.
    Because on the one hand, it’s not very professional of me to back out when I told him that I would help. I have my reputation as a peer tutor to uphold. On the other hand, there’s a good chance that the girlfriend of the guy I’m supposed to be tutoring will kill me if I spend quality time with him.
    I need to man up and talk to Ruby.
    â€œSo?” Kyle prods.
    â€œDo you have something due soon?”
    â€œI have that paper I told you about.”
    â€œAll right, we’ll figure it out,” I promise.
    But first I have to talk to your girlfriend.
    I’m about to walk away, to eat my lunch alone in the student activity office and come up with a plan of action for talking to Ruby, but Kyle grabs my arm.
    â€œAnd if you could maybe not tell anyone you’re tutoring me?” he says, his voice crackling with nerves.
    â€œNobody knows you’re having trouble?” I ask.
    â€œNobody but you, me, and Ms. Gupta.”
    â€œOh.”
    Well, this just got a lot harder to deal with.
    Ruby
    I sneak up on Gideon because I know otherwise he might run away. But I need to talk to him. It’s killing me not to talk to him about what I know.
    I’m not gonna lie: the fact that he hasn’t talked to me isn’t helping his case. It makes me want to play with him, like a dog with a chew toy. It’s not fair, but guess what? Life isn’t fair. That’s become very obvious to me lately.
    Kyle told me that Gideon was heading in the direction of the student activity office last he saw him, so I make my way over there after I finish eating lunch.
    When I get to the door of the office, I find Gideon sitting at the table in the center of the room, hunched over a sandwich and furiously writing in a composition notebook, like his whole life is a test.
    â€œKnock, knock,” I say, instead of actually knocking.
    He gasps a little when he sees me, but he keeps his composure and sits up straight, folding his hands in his lap.
    â€œHello, Ruby.”
    â€œHey.” I take a seat across from him. “I thought you might come find me today, or you know, at least text me back.”
    â€œUm. Well.” He licks his lips and takes a deep breath. “I wasn’t really sure what you expected me to say.”
    â€œYou’re smart. I thought you’d figure something out.”
    He cracks his knuckles. “Fine. What do you want from me?”
    â€œWhat makes you think I want something from you?”
    â€œI don’t know. Your semi-threatening text, your ominous appearance in what I like to think of as my safe space. I don’t know what to make of the situation. You basically know all my secrets. I’d like to know what you’re planning on doing with your knowledge.” He swallows and stares at the table, like he’s awaiting sentencing.
    â€œIt’s just kind of funny, because recently I’ve noticed the way you look at Kyle.”
    â€œAnd how is that?”
    â€œLike you want him. Like you want to steal him from me.”
    â€œThe point of those lists wasn’t that I wanted to ‘steal’ him from you,” he says, making air quotes around the word.
    â€œThen what was the point?”
    â€œThey were for me. I wanted to organize my thoughts and eventually find a way to get over him, since he’s with you and he likes you. I don’t want to come between you guys.”
    I’m not sure how to respond. It feels like he’s telling the truth, but that would mean he has absolutely no idea of how much power he truly holds over Kyle. Is he really that oblivious?
    â€œAre you actually threatened by me?” he asks.
    â€œNo, Gideon, I’m not threatened by you,” I say,