Cronkri: I won't let you down

Chapter 4

When I finally came to, a man in a police uniform was standing over me, holding an ice pack to my head. My legs felt like lead, and there was a sharp pain in my hip. My eyes opened slowly and I glanced down at myself, my eyes widening at the sight of my crimson blood trailing from my spot on the sidewalk to the center of the crosswalk. The sound of frantic voices filled my ears as a couple more people crowded around me, staring at me worriedly. Oh no, I thought, more people to worry.
I tried standing up to reassure the onlookers, but it only worsened my case as the pain in my hip grew suddenly sharper, causing me to let out a yelp.
"No no, it's alright, I'm fi- AHhhh... Maybe I should sit down..."
The police officer helped me onto a nearby bench and I moved the ice pack to my hip instead of my head.
"What time is it?" I asked, hoping I had only been out for a few minutes.
The officer checked his watch. "About 9:15, why do you ask?"
I tried standing up again, this time ignoring the burning pain in my side. "Shit, I'm already late..." I muttered, quickly limping into the conference building which was conveniently the one that I had passed out in front of. "Maybe I can still make it in time to speak..."
The officer tried slowing me down and even stopping me, but I pressed on through the glass doors, holding my leg so as not to get blood all over the well-kept building.
"Kid, you're gonna hurt yourself!"
"I don't care."
"What's the big deal anyway?"
"If I do well on this presentation, I might get a full scholarship to the college of my choice." That's why this conference was such a big deal. There was no way my family would be able to afford to send me to college without going bankrupt unless I got a scholarship.
A lady at the front desk of the building watched me hobble in and her eyes widened slightly in surprise and disgust. I didn't think I looked that bad, but I figured my face must be pretty jacked up after falling onto the street.
"Oh my... Fredrick, what in the world happened here?" she asked worriedly.
Fredrick, the pudgy police officer, responded. "This kid was tryin' to cross the goddamned street without looking where he was going!"
The lady shook her head. "What's your name, sir?"
I leaned against the desk for support, looking up at her as cheerfully as I could, which wasn't very.
"Kankri Vantas. I was supposed to speak at 9:00, but there was an accident on my way here and I got held up. Is there any way I can still perform?"
The lady, whose name was Deborah as stated by her name tag, went around the desk and hooked a hand under my arm to help me stand properly.
"Please don't touch me."
"Hush, I'm helping you to the bathroom. There is absolutely no way that they would let you perform looking like someone we just dragged off the street."
She helped me to the women's room and I blushed, embarrassed. "Must we use this one?"
She scooted me onto the counter and prompted me to sit there. I obeyed. "It's the closest one and we're already in here. Stop complaining and let me help you. It's a good thing you're in black and red..." She trailed off, getting some damp paper towels and dabbing carefully at my face, a very concerned look plastered across hers. I caught a glance of myself in one of the mirrors and was taken aback by my appearance. My lower lip was split open and bleeding, there was a long, gravel-filled scrape down my cheek, and a small trail of blood coming from my nose. By the time she was done with my face, there was just a little scrape and a small cut visible under my lip. Then she cleaned the dirt and gravel off of my clothes as best as she could, looking me up and down.
"Well that's somewhat decent... I had one of co-workers contact the leaders of the conference. They apparently had another person go in your place rather than later, freeing up the next time frame for you. Sounds like you got lucky this time."
I nodded and held out my hand for a handshake. She returned it with a hug.
"It was nice meeting you, Kankri. Now go knock 'em out with your amazing speaking skills."
I smiled at her. "Thank you, Deborah."
"Please, call me Deb."
"Thanks, Deb."
"Anytime."
She let go of me and I strode confidently into the main conference room and the center of the stage, then looked out over the audience and froze. I didn't have my cards. I had dropped them when the car hit me. I didn't know anyone in the audience. The people were staring at me and I could recognize a few of them as the head of some of the most prestigious schools in Midwestern America. Everyone was staring at me, a million eyes burning tiny holes into my skin. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. My mouth was completely dry. I tried to utter a few words.
"I..." my voice was dry and scratchy, so I cleared my throat, "I'm a little nervous. Getting hit by a car isn't the most therapeutic way to prepare for a speech." A couple lighthearted chuckles could be heard from the audience, but the bigwigs were unamused. A mere bit of humor was unable to buy an excuse for being tardy.
I couldn't remember anything of what I had written on the note cards and gone over a million times, both alone and with Cronus. If only he were here...
Then I saw him.
Cronus Ampora, the one and only, sitting in the third row of the audience. He smiled encouragingly up at me and everything else melted away. I was suddenly able to gather my thoughts and deliver the message the same way I had delivered it to him many times before, completely from memory.
"Thank you for your time."
I bowed, signaling the end of my speech as the crowd gave me a standing ovation, Cronus's cheers and applause standing out to me above all the rest. I couldn't help but smile as I walked off the stage and out of the room, into a side hallway with a few other people who hadn't been able to get seats. The roar of the audience was still fresh in my mind, and I could feel my flushed cheeks contrasting the rest of my pale skin.
"Hey chief. Ya did good."
A familiar voice came from nearby, causing my face to light up. I looked up at the person before me and he smiled down at me.
"I'm so glad you could make it," I said happily, hugging Cronus tightly. Then I stopped and pulled away from him, looking up into his navy blue eyes. "Wait a second. Didn't you have a game today?"
He nodded. "I told coach I was callin' in sick. He don't know I came to see you instead."
"I'm honored that my conference took priority over your game."
He smiled his perfect smile, his straight row of pearly white teeth showing through his lips.
"How did you get here, anyway?"
"I drove."
"All the way here?"
"Yep. Left the house around 4 to get here by 9. I was kinda disappointed when you was late though."
"Yes.. My apologies, I had a little run-in with a car on my way in."
His eyes widened. "Ya serious?! I thought you were kiddin'! Oh gosh Kankri are you okay?" He looked me over, most likely inspecting me for injuries.
"I'm fine, my hip just hurts a little bit."
"That also explains this..." He cupped my face gently in his hand and lightly traced a thumb over the scrape on my cheek, causing me to blush lightly.
"Y-yeah, I fell onto the pavement. It's fine."
Cronus stared at it lingeringly, then dropped his hand and looked down. "Right."
I tilted my head inquisitively. "Is something wrong, Cronus?"
"Nah, it's nothin'. I'll tell ya later. Let's get outta here."
Cronus smiled reassuringly at me and started walking out. I followed next to him quickly, overjoyed that I would be spending my time in this busy city with him.