Page 3 of Pride High 2: Orange

“What about now?” he croaked. “Is it better since they split up?”

“Yes. Maybe not during the first year, when everyone was still getting used to the new dynamic. But now everything is nice and calm. Like when we were kids.”

“How does that happen though?” Cameron asked. “How did your parents go from shouting at each other to being friends?”

Mindy nibbled her bottom lip. “I mean, the divorce helped.”

“Yeah, but most people just split up when that happens. I don’t want to lose my family. I need—” His voice squeaked and strangled to a halt. Was he crying?

“Are you okay?” Mindy asked.

“I don’t know,” Cameron replied.

That put her on high alert. She had learned, very recently, that you couldn’t always tell how upset someone truly was. “Are you having suicidal thoughts?"

"No,” Cameron answered instantly. “Nothing like that. You’re asking because of Ricky, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she said. “I keep thinking of how terrible it would have been if… I don’t even want to say it!”

“Me neither.” Cameron sighed. “I keep worrying that he’ll try again. He seems fine now, but that’s no different than before, you know?”

“I was clueless,” Mindy said. “He always seemed so happy. A little lost at times, but I never thought he’d try to kill himself.”

“Exactly. How we will know when he’s really okay? And why the heck am I complaining about my parents when some people have real problems?”

“Yours are important too,” Mindy assured him. “I’ve been there. That’s why I got into theater. Back in junior high. Being around my parents was terrible then. I remember camping in the backyard with my sister one weekend, just to get away from their bickering.”

Cameron sighed again. “I wish it wasn’t a holiday. I’d love to get out of here. Actually… Screw it! Iamgoing to leave!”

Mindy had wandered back toward the kitchen. She watched Brett say something, heard the table erupt with laughter, and felt the sting of envy. “Can you come pick me up?”

“Seriously? Will your family be okay with that?”

Mindy wanted to say that she didn’t care. But she wasn’t that rebellious. “Just a sec,” she said, setting down the phone.

She walked into the dining room and cleared her throat. A few times. Her sister was the first to notice. “Who was on the phone?” she asked.

“Cameron,” Mindy replied.

“The boy you went on a date with?” their father asked.

Mindy nodded.

“You have a boyfriend?!” one of her cousins asked, sounding way too surprised.

Mindy decided to run with it. “He’s really upset. His parents might be getting a divorce soon. He could use someone to talk to.”

“Invite him over,” her mother offered. Kathy gestured to the table. “There’s plenty of food.”

“I don’t think he feels like being around a lot of people,” Mindy said, squirming now that so many eyes were on her. Including Brett’s. “He wants to go for a drive.”

“I’d at least like to meet him,” Kathy replied. “And afterwards… Steve?"

Mindy turned pleading eyes on her father.

“If he’s upset, he shouldn’t be driving,” Steve said before buckling under her stare. “But if you parked somewhere, that would be fine.” His eyes widened in panic. “Not like that!”

“I doubt anyone does that anymore,” Kathy replied with good humor. “Find a nice public place and talk there. Okay?”