“You’re just being incredibly paranoid that’s all!” a blonde girl reasoned. “I mean that’s the only reason why your fear about flying hasn’t subsided yet, because of your extreme paranoia!”

Nick looked down on the grassy area ahead of him: grasses that were somewhat being tilted by the cold chill of the late-September air; a sheer sign for grasses, plants and trees around that winter is on the horizon and death is upon them for the next few months to come. The cool, soft breeze that rushed by him sent a peaceful concept to it’s surrounding of the nature’s demise. “I don’t think it’s just about extreme paranoia, Reese! Come on, be realistic now!” he squinted while taking his sight off from the path he will soon step on and met eyes with the blonde girl that walked beside him.

“Excuse me Nickolas, are you doubting my reasoning?” Reese said in shock while playfully shoving Nick lightly aside to reveal the jest in her phrase

“Oh, no not at all! I don’t dare question Theresa Saunders’ psychoanalysis of my distinct paranoia!” he retorted while grinning for a second then quickly shifting into a more serious expression. “It just felt so…so real! I felt the shutter of the plane, the heat from the fire…I felt it all! I’ve had nightmares before but not as…as…as actual as that one!”

“Okay so the…I don’t know, the atmosphere of the plane played a key role in increasing your paranoia. It happens to everyone in one way or another, especially when they’re in a situation or a place that scares the shit out of them!!!”

“Stop making up crappy theory to justify your particular belief in this situation!” he huffed while squinting his forehead, not believing nor buying his friend’s rationale as he began to shift his head around, looking at different parts of the vast campus that was presented in front of him. “You know that girl?” he asked out of nowhere, completely switching the subject being discussed on hand.

“You’re avoiding confrontation again,” Reese rolled her eyes as she had already expected the evading of confrontation from her best friend since childhood. It was a part of who he was as a person; a part of what made him unique. It irked her a little but at the same time, due to the lingering expectations within her, it didn’t made much impact on her on respecting him as a person altogether.

“I’m not avoiding anything, I’m just curious about that girl over there,” he said while pointing at a brunette girl standing twenty feet away from them. “I always see her around but she’s always to herself!”

“She’s in a few of our classes, I think her name is Ro-Ena or something different like that,” Reese replied. “I heard from someone that she’s quiet because her ex-boyfriend is supposedly stalking her and it pretty much freaked her out that she doesn’t trust all that easily anymore.”

“I think that’s a pretty expected thing for anyone!” Nick said defensively while frowning his face but not taking his gape at the mysterious girl. “Have you ever talked to her before?”

“Once or twice, just to ask her about something in class or something in that sense. I really don’t remember,” Reese suddenly plastered a smile of suspicion on her face. “Why so curious? Does little Nicky have a little crush on the quiet girl?” she teased in a baby-like voice.

“There’s nothing wrong with curiosity, Reese! It never killed anyone!”

“It’s amazing how you can be so naďve sometimes, Nick!” Reese chuckled. “It never ceases to surprise me how you would believe what you want to believe just to escape reality!”

“What’s that suppose to mean?”

“Curiosity never killed anyone? If that was the case, my dear, sweet, naďve Nicky, no one would have ever come up with the phrase, ‘curiosity killed the cat,’ but in this case, curiosity killed you!” she laughed proudly at her astute observation.

“I liked you better when we were younger,” he pushed her aside lightly. “You used to be fun, now you’re just a crazed psychoanalyst-obsessed grump!”

Reese allowed her jaw to drop upon hearing her friend’s comment about her, “I can’t believe you just called me a grump! All right fine, you don’t have to listen to me, it’s your life! But when the day comes when your curiosity sneaks up behind you and bites you big time in the butt, don’t come crying to me because all you will be hearing from me will be, ‘I TOLD YOU SO!’ you just remember that!”

“You know what? I just might!” he winked as the two of them continued to walk on their desired path continuing on their friendly banter with each other, desperate of trying to outwit each other.