30. Hurricane (part I)

**Avery**

The next day, I went over to Conroy’s house. With us being friends for years and all that, I already knew the code to his gate.

Conroy’s family home stood at a large two stories with a wide structure. The entire building was painted in warm tones. I walked up the steps and knocked on the front door. He hasn't contacted me all day. Of course, I understood that he might want some time alone with his sister, but He’s not the type to keep good things that happened to him inside without telling his friends.

The door swung open and there was Conroy standing there in an orange sweater. I waved nervously. “Hey, bro! Why didn’t you reply to me-”

Before I knew it, Conroy pulled me into a hug. I hugged him, patting his back. Conroy pulled away and looked at me with a huge smile. “You saw the news, right? She’s back! I can’t believe it, Avery! It’s like a blessing.”

“Never took you as the type to believe in blessings,” I said.

Conroy laughed as he led me inside.

From there on he led me to the sitting room. I walked with my hands in my pockets and took in my surroundings. I didn’t see anything else there but him.

Conroy sat across from me on his own couch while I sat down as well. I cleared my throat and started talking.

“So, Jasmine is back? I only heard a bit when I saw the news last night. To say it's a shock was an understatement. Where was she all this time?”

Conroy leaned back, hanging his arms over the back of the couch. “Turned out she lost her memories after the accident and wandered into the forest until she arrived at a small community in the country. She got care there and even got a job. When she got her memories back she remembered my number and called me. Boy, I’m relieved that I never changed my number over the years.”

He sighed.

“You must be pretty glad,” I said.

“More than glad! You have no idea. This is better than anything I could have ever hoped for.”

His phone pinged. Conroy slipped his phone out of his pocket to check it. Whatever he saw made him frown before he put his phone away. I was about to ask him what it was when I picked up on incoming footsteps.

“Oh,” a young woman entered the room carrying a plate in her hands. “I didn’t know you had company. Conroy, why didn’t you tell me?”

I turned my head to observe her. She was really pretty, I dare say she would have even been my type.

Her hair was as black as the darkness, hovering above her shoulders. She wore a simple orange dress that was the same color of his sweater. One of her legs limped while she walked. Regardless, she managed to come over to where we were just fine and take a seat beside her brother.

“Here they are.” She placed the plate in front of him. “Macarons are made just the way you remember. Give them a try and tell me what you think.”

Conroy smiled as he picked up one of the macarons and took a bite. Soon, he was moaning in delight.

“Mm! It’s entirely the same as before.”

She giggled behind her hand then looked at me. “Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Jasmine, Conroy’s older sister. I think we met once or twice in the past. You’re Avery, correct?”

I shook her outstretched hand. “That’s me! I’m happy that you’re back. I know how much Conroy missed you.”

“He did, didn’t he?”

Jasmine spotted some crumbs at the corner of his lips. She picked up a napkin and lovingly wiped it off. Conroy blushed and pushed her hand away.

“I’m not a kid anymore, Jasmine,” he said.

“No, you’re an adult and I’m happy with how much you’ve grown,” Jasmine replied.

I watched as she wrapped her arms around his left elbow, her eyes entirely focused on him. She looked at him like he was a god or some kind of ethereal being. It rubbed me the wrong way. The way Jasmine fed and tended to him made them seem more like a cousin than siblings.

“If you don’t mind me asking, when did you get your memories back?” I asked.

Jasmine cupped her own cheek. Her gaze wandered to the ceiling. “I can’t tell you the exact day. It started like a leak, one memory at a time that didn’t make sense. But then everything came back like a flood. I knew that the rest of my family was dead but I looked up my brother and saw that he was still alive. So I finished up some business and got in contact with him. And I’m so happy I got them back or else I would have spent another year being separated from him.” She gave Conroy that strange look again.

His phone pinged again. After looking at it, he sighed.

“Is something up?” I asked.

Coroy shrugged. He typed something up as he responded to me. “Nothing really. It’s just that I haven't heard from Ella for almost a week now. I’m getting really worried. I think she must be mad at me for what happened at the restaurant. I keep checking up on her but I’m not getting any replies.”

I shook my head. “That can’t be why. Maybe she’s busy. You can go to her house later and see for yourself if you can’t reach her.”

I wouldn’t say it out loud but I was surprised Cinderella didn’t burst through those doors and introduce herself as his girlfriend yet.

For some reason, Jasmine got up and left us in the sitting room. There was no hint of a smile on her face. Conroy noticed this too. He and I made eye contact.

“Uh, I’ll be right back.” He pushed the plate over to me. “Have some. It should only take a minute.” He got up and followed her.

I shrugged. “Don’t mind if I do.”

As I bit into the pink macaron, curiosity got the better of me. It’s either I stay here and mind my own business like a good guest, or I go and see what’s going on for myself.