Why does Gene accuse Finny of trying to pull him down?

Gene accuses Finny of trying to pull him down because he believes that Finny is intentionally sabotaging his academic performance out of jealousy. Gene's insecurities and competitive nature lead him to interpret Finny's actions as malicious, rather than genuine friendship. This accusation reflects Gene's internal struggle with his own feelings of inadequacy and the complexities of friendship during adolescence.