As The World Falls Down
An hour later Kitty wondered if it was safe to go talk to her parents again. She snuck to their room and was about to knock on the door when she heard them arguing. "I can't believe she hid all those things from us!" Mr. Pryde groaned.
Carefully so that they wouldn't see her, Kitty phased part of herself in just enough to overhear and see them. "Well for once I admit you're right. I never thought Kitty would ever date two boys at the same time," Mrs. Pryde sighed.
"Well we both know where she gets that from!" Mr. Pryde snapped.
"You weren't exactly a monk during your teen years if I recall!" Mrs. Pryde said. "Which is very ironic considering…"
"It was only two girls and I was drunk during both times!" Mr. Pryde said. "We've been over this! I wasn't the one dating the entire chess team behind my parents' backs!"
"They were very nice boys," Mrs. Pryde said. "I just thought my parent's ideas of dating were…restrictive that's all. At least Kitty's not sleeping with them."
"How do you know that?" Mr. Pryde snapped.
"Unlike you I bother to check things out," She said. "I spoke to Tabitha. She told me the whole story."
"Well still I don't like it!"
"What are you going to do Richard? Forbid her to see them? That would be pretty hypocritical considering our situation!" She snapped.
"So what? We just do nothing?" He asked.
"That's all we can do," Mrs. Pryde said. "Just trust her to make the right decision."
"You have got to be kidding me!" He snapped back.
"We have no choice," She said. "Besides once we tell her why we're getting a divorce she might really go over the edge! Do you want to make this situation worse than it already is?"
"What do you mean divorce?" Kitty made herself known and entered the room. "Mom, Dad what's going on?"
"How long have you been hiding there?" Mr. Pryde was startled.
"Long enough," Kitty said. "Why are you getting a divorce? Is it because of something I did? Why?"
The Prydes exchanged a painful look. "Kitty honey sit down," Her mother indicated. They sat on the couch with Kitty facing them from an opposite chair. "We were hoping to tell you this after the party. We should have told you this a lot sooner but with everything that's been happening we just couldn't."
"Honey the thing you have to remember is that none of this is your fault," Mr. Pryde told her. "In fact the only reason we stayed together as long as we have was because of you. We just wanted things to be normal for you as much as possible. Your mother and I still care for each other and we both love you very much."
"But not enough to stay together?" Kitty asked.
"Kitty…" Mr. Pryde looked at Mrs. Pryde. "We've…grown apart in some aspects."
"But can't you guys get counseling or something?" Kitty asked. "I'm sure whatever it is you can work it out."
"I'm afraid its not that simple," Mrs. Pryde took a breath. "Kitty…We've each fallen in love with someone else."
The news hit her harder than any punch Kitty had ever felt. "What?"
"We still are friends and we always will be," Mr. Pryde took his soon to be ex-wife's hand. "But romantically…Well things haven't been right. And then I met someone."
"When?" Kitty asked.
"About three years ago, before your powers appeared," Mr. Pryde told her.
"THREE YEARS?" Kitty shouted. "YOU'VE BEEN SEEING THIS WOMAN FOR THREE YEARS AND YOU'VE ACTED LIKE NOTHING'S HAPPENED? HOW COULD YOU? WHO IS SHE?"
"Kitty…do you remember Mrs. Ramsey from down the block?" Mr. Pryde asked. "You remember your friend Doug's mother from when you went to middle school together?"
"Her?" Kitty's eyes widened.
"No…" He took a breath. "Actually it's her brother. Kitty…I'm gay."
And that's when Kitty passed out.
