"Karsworp province is in the central region. Entirely landlocked. We can fly, but we'll be driving. Much easier," Pratt said, making a face at Dia.
Dia said nothing, like she hadn't heard Pratt. She wasn't looking at me either.
Pratt was ready to explain, but Jerry beat him.
"She's scared of flying."
Dia immediately shot back.
"I'm not scared. Merely uncomfortable. Everyone has their zones of comfort and areas of discomfort. It's not such a big deal."
I wanted to agree, but I wasn't given the chance.
"True," Jerry agreed. "Everyone does have zones of comfort and areas of discomfort. Your area of discomfort is flying."
"And beyond a certain level, discomfort is fear," Pratt picked up immediately after. "So, you are afraid of flying. Not terrified, but definitely afraid."
"Is there a difference?" Jerry asked.
"Of course, there is," Pratt answered. "Isn't it so, Dia?"
Dia remained expressionless. I couldn't look away from her. Jerry and Pratt weren't looking at all at her, even as Pratt asked the question.
"Why don't you just go on to explain?" Jerry asked.
Pratt made an exaggerated display of reluctance before explaining.
"Afraid is having fear, which shows as hesitation. Terrified is having such great fear that it freezes. So, Dia is afraid. She can talk about flying. If she was terrified, she wouldn't be able to even consider it as an idea."
"You just made that up."
"No I didn't. You can ask anyone. Any professional doctor. He or she would say the same thing. Maybe even praise me for how well I put it. So."
"So?"
"So, no, I didn't make it up. Stop being deliberately so slow."
"I'm not deliberate. And I'm not slow. Don't you forget, we're having this discussion for the sake of our little ignorant Dean."
The two turned to look at me, but saw Dia first. And froze.
They were terrified. I saw the difference.
"You're right Pratt," I said.
But he was in no place to accept the appreciation.
"Please, don't stop on my account," Dia said slowly.
Neither of the two continued. They couldn't even smile. Clearly, they wanted to escape. But they simply couldn't move.
"Are you really that terrifying?" I asked Dia.
Jerry and Pratt were sitting across the kitchen counter. Dia and I were in the living room. She pulled her beanbag closer, held my hand and rest her head on my shoulder.
"I am afraid of flying," she agreed. "There was this time. I was five. We were all flying to a holiday. Mom. Dad. Both the aunts and uncles. Cousins. All of the family, except for the white haired generation. We flew into a sudden storm. Terrible turbulence. Almost crashed. But we made it safe. And I was scarred. I've been afraid since."
Pratt couldn't remain quiet. He scoffed as he refuted.
"Come on. You're exaggerating. I was there, remember? Sure, we ran into storm clouds. Suffered turbulence. But it wasn't so bad that we'd crash. You're just weak hearted."
"Want to try saying that again?" Dia asked softly, with a smile.
Pratt froze as if electrocuted. Grinning to hide his embarrassment, he answered.
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
"You really did everything Pratt said you did, didn't you?" I asked Dia. "Setting fire to that senior's bed. Terrifying all of the students. What are these two afraid of? That you'll set their beds too on fire? But they never sleep in them anyway."
Jerry and Pratt laughed. I didn't understand what the joke was.
Dia sighed sadly.
"Oh, dear Dean," she said. "You have no idea. I'm not the scariest at all. You have no idea what Pratt is capable of. At least I show my anger. And I know some bounds. Not Pratt. He doesn't get angry, not like the rest of us. He just lets it all go. Until he's furious, and he's ready to blow. He still won't show it. And once he starts acting, he knows no bounds. I stopped with the bed. If it was Pratt, and he was furious, he'd probably burn the hair off and maybe a hand or two. The poor idiot would be traumatised for life. That's Pratt. Ask Jerry. Tell us Jerry. Who's the scariest? Pratt? Or me?"
Jerry cleared his throat, but said nothing. He reached for the bottle of water and began drinking from it, hiding behind it.
How was that an answer?
Even more confusing was the way the twins were looking at me. I couldn't understand why.
"Let's just talk about the drive, shall we?" Jerry suggested.
I nodded readily. The twins smiled.
"It's going to be a seven hour drive," Jerry went on. "I was thinking we'll drive ourselves. I can drive. Pratt and Dia can too. But Dia failed her driving test. So, it will be just Pratt and I. And I think we can manage. We'll be gone a couple of months, so pack properly. And we'll be having classes along the way. And since it's just us, we'll start whenever we wake in the morning. Sound like a plan?"
After a minute, the twins answered together.
"Sound like a plan."
I shrugged.
"Sound like a plan," I repeated.
"Do you want to hear how she failed her test?" Pratt asked.
Dia snorted. Rose to her feet. And began chasing Pratt.
Jerry was laughing.
I was intrigued. Was it such an interesting story?