Cronkri: I won't let you down

Chapter 33: Kankri

"EYYY KANNY YOU GOTTA READ THIS!" Cronus shouted through the house, despite the fact that I was literally the next room over.

I started to get up, but he ran into the living room and tackled me, both of us landing on the couch.

"What on earth is it?!" I asked, a smile creeping onto my face. I couldn't help it, he was just so damn cute when he got excited.

"Look! Look look look!!!" He shoved the letter in my face and I held it at a distance to read it for myself. It was from Indiana University, one of the top 10 colleges in our state and the place where both of us had agreed to apply to together.

I skimmed the letter and grinned up at him. "Did you get in, too?"

He nodded and held up a similar letter addressed to him.

I threw my arms around him and hugged him close. He hugged me tighter and kissed me hard.

"Kanny this is the best news we've gotten all summer! We can be dormmates and share a room and bed and stuff every day!!"

I nodded in agreement. The smile stayed on my face despite the thoughts running through my head. It was so nice to see Cronus this happy, even if it meant giving up any hope of getting into my dream college. Even if it meant giving up half of my scholarships by waiting a year to apply at all. It was all worth it for the grin on his face, and his warm, strong embrace; now I would get to feel that during the school year as well.

Cronus had been going on about what we should pack and what car we would take and how we would work out sleeping together somehow, but I only half-heard him. His parents walked in at some point to ask what all the noise was about, and Cronus leaped up and showed them the letter. All of them were yelling and hugging and congratulating each other.

"THAT'S MY BOY!" Orpheus proclaimed, slapping his son on the back.

"This calls for a celebration!" Majesty said with a grin. "Drinks all around, I'm buying!"

The three of them headed for the door, sliding on their shoes and outside, whooping and hollering all the way. Cronus hung behind the other two. "You comin', Kanny?"

I got off the couch and pulled on my shoes as well. "Isn't it kind of late for this?" I asked as I walked out the door. He closed it behind us and followed me to the car.

"Whaddaya talkin' about? It's only 10:30, the night is still young!"

"If you say so..."

I was going to have to get over the old rules of living with my dad if I was going to fit in with the Amporas. That included ignoring my usual 10:00 curfew.

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I had expected Majesty to drive us to a bar or something, but she took us to The Liquor Bucket instead.

"I can mix anything you can dish out," she stated as we strolled through the isles, "so don't be afraid to pick out whatever you want!"

Cronus picked a bottle off of a shelf a we passed it. "Woah-ho-ho, we haven't kept this around in ages! You ever tried it, Kanny?"

I shook my head. "Cronus, you're not old enough to drink that legally."

He shrugged. "Eh, not like I'm driving or nothing, no one cares." He held up another bottle. "What about this, ever tried this one?" I shook my head again.

"I'm not old enough for it either."

"You're 19 ain'tcha? We're college-age kids now, alcohol is just a given."