I pull my algebra textbook and flip to the chapter we covered today about radical functions. “I should warn you that I’m pretty hopeless.”
She waves that aside. “I doubt it. Let’s see what you’re struggling with.”
For the next forty minutes, Ana patiently breaks down Mrs. Donaldson’s most recent lesson. By the end, I’ve even managed to solve a few homework problems on my own.
“See? I knew you could do it.” She smiles at me. Her eyes are the same shade of soft brown as Alex’s, and it catches me off guard for a moment. “Sometimes it helps when someone else explains it in another way.”
Relief breaks through my chest, even though I know I have a long way to go. “Thank you, seriously.”
She dog-ears one of my textbook pages and taps her pencil eraser on the remaining practice problems. “Come see me a few more times before your big test and do these over the weekend so you don’t forget. If you get confused, just text me.” She writes down her number on my spiral.
I glance up at her. “I really appreciate it.”
Ana shrugs like it isn’t a big deal. “I had Mrs. Donaldson last year. I know how she can be.”
“Yeah, but you’re way smarter than me.”
She laughs modestly. “No.”
“Seriously. Alex told me how you guys are up super early to help with the restaurant, and you’re in a ton of clubs and volunteer with tutoring—”
Ana flushes. “Alex told you that? About Rosita’s?”
I try to backtrack. “Well, I mean, yeah he mentioned it once.” Now I’m the one blushing. I don’t want to offend or embarrass Ana. She’s so sweet. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“No, don’t be sorry.” Ana studies me for a few seconds. “You know, I’m not surprised. He’s always been really open with you.”
If Alex’s former crush was obvious to me, then I’m sure Ana and Marlina were also aware. Alex didn’t seem ashamed when he told me about helping his mom out at Rosita’s. Then again, it’d always been easy to talk to each other. But that had slowed when—
Right. When Lacey asked him to Sadie Hawkins and in a weird fit of unannounced jealousy, I quit speaking to him as much.
“I have to get going.” Ana closes her spiral, giving me another warm smile. “But like I said, text me over the weekend if you have any more questions.”
“I will,” I say.
With a small wave, Ana grabs her backpack and walks out of the library. I pack up my things and head toward my locker to get the books I need for my homework tonight. As I’m walking past the auditorium, there’s a loudbangas the doors slam open. A bunch of kids emerge from the theater, including Alex.
My breath sticks in the shallows of my throat.
“Kira, hey!”
He begins to walk over to me. Somehow I find my voice.
“Hey.” My tone feels a few octaves too high. “I just finished tutoring with your sister.”
If Alex notices, he doesn’t say anything. “How’d it go?”
“Really good.”
He grins. “Good.”
A beat of silence falls between us, and I find myself wracking my brain so this moment doesn’t have to be over.
“We’re running through the first act,” Alex says. “For the fall play. All-hands-on-deck mode. I have to move a few props during scene breaks.”
“Oh! Okay. Yeah.” This is where I should turn to go, but I don’t. Instead I stand there like a massive dork.
He gestures toward the auditorium. “Do you, um… want to come watch?”
