The Magic of Christmas

Chapter Seven - Averi

When Gabe saunters into the math classroom later that day, I want to be mad.

I want to be furious that he made me wake up at the crack of dawn to tutor him, after staying up half of the night studying for a psychology test, just to not show up.

But I can't be mad because when I see him, I realize that something must be wrong.

Not only does he look utterly hopeless, but he walks right past his usual seat beside of Natalie and to the chair beside of me.

Being the only junior in the class, nobody had ever sat beside of me in this class. Nobody had even glanced in my direction besides Gabe.

"Hey," he says, weakly, when he sits down, "I'm sorry I missed our session this morning. I slept in."

"I figured you did," my brows bunch together as I look at him, "Are you okay?"

"Fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I'm fine, Averi, please," he sighs, closing his eyes as he takes a deep breath, "I'm fine."

I decide to drop it.

When Mr. Duckworth asks for the homework from last night, though, and Gabe sighs and sinks further in his seat, I know I have to help.

I have an easy A in this class, but if Gabe misses anymore assignments, he's going to fail out.

Hastily, I pass my typed paper over to him, mumbling to write his name at the top of it.

"What?" He whispers back, green eyes wide, "No."

"Do it," I whisper frantically back as Mr. Duckworth makes his way around the room, stacking papers into his arms, "Please let me help you."

"I don't need help."

Huffing an exasperated sigh, I snatch the paper from the space in front of him, scribble his name on the corner, and slide it back over to his half of the table just as the teacher reaches us.

"Mr. Marshall," he glances down at the paper, "These look-"

"Yeah," Gabe lets out an ill-humored laugh, "That's because-"

"I've been tutoring him," I blurt, "Isn't he getting better, Mr. Duckworth?"

I put on my best 'I'm a good student' smile and the teacher looks pleased, giving us both a small smile before turning to me.

"And where's your homework, dear?"

"I, um," frantically, I scan my brain for an excuse to use. I've never needed one before.

"I needed to study for my psychology exam last night, so I had to neglect my other classes."

Mr. Duckworth gives an understanding nod, mumbling something about how I could skip the next twenty assignments and still pass the class before turning to the table beside of us.

"Why would you do that?" Gabe asks under his breath the moment the teacher is out of earshot.

"Because you're my friend," I offer him a small smile, "And that's what friends do for each other."

He tries to smile, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes, so it looks as forced as I'm sure it was.

At work, he isn't much better.

Though he puts on a grand show of being jolly ol' Santa for the children, the moment that they're gone, he's back to being depressed Gabe.

Having enough of it, I perch on the arm of his throne and ask him what's wrong.