Max was only a little surprised when Jake and Jack had also shown up with Dillon. They'd brought a curtain for his living room window as a housewarming gift. Dillon had brought enough food to feed ten Max's. Or one Max, one Dillon, a single Jake, and possibly Jack.
Just to be safe, Max brought out some chips to snack on.
"So, I know this is a bit out of the norm, but the landlord is visiting Japan at the moment. He like to travel the world, only pops in once or twice a year. So, here's the lease, since you're going to just take it over no need for a credit check." Dillon explained pulling out over twenty pages of the leasing contract. "You can reed it through, I'll also send a digital copy, Jake, down boy!" Dillon teased as Jake was once again staring at the top shelf with the dolls.
Jack was also glancing up, "You sure we can't toss em?"
Dillon rolled his eyes, "They're just bean bag dolls, just think of them as guardians of the apartment okay?" Jake and Jack snorted, but left them alone.
Max glanced over the contract, everything seemed in order. There were a few odd clauses, like no removing the dolls, no harming the dolls, no additional tenants, guests could only stay one week a month. No unapproved pets, plants, or alterations to the apartment made sense. Max made sure the rent was only two hundred dollars, no safety deposit, no utilities, all items left behind by the previous owner(s) were considered donations.
Max nodded, "Uh, it looks, good to me. Uh, where do I send the money? A check? Or direct deposit?" Dillon flipped to the third to last page.
"So, before the fifth of each month, unless there are extenuating circumstances, you can direct deposit, or send a check. There are also reminders in the binder I showed you last time in case you need to send cash. If everything looks good, go ahead and sign. I'll scan and send it to the landlord." Dillon added pulling out his tablet. Technology was so nice, he could just send pictures instead of finding a fax machine.
Max glanced over the contract one last time before signing his name throughout the packet, initials, and dating almost every page. As soon as he finished the last signature he heard several bells ringing. He glanced up, everyone was glancing at the top shelf.
Jake tensed, he'd reached for the shelf… but hadn't touched it. Narrowing his eyes he pulled one of the bean bag dolls down. Squishing the yellow bird repeatedly, only the eyes were hard.
Jack was doing the same to the dog. "I don't like them." He announced when after a few more minnets nothing happened.
Dillon sighed, glancing at the dolls nostalgically, "As long as Max doesn't mind them, if they become an issue, reach out to the landlord. Honestly, I didn't like them when I first moved in… but they've grown on me."
Max stared at Dillon a bit confused… hadn't… Dillon forgotten about them until Jack found them when he'd been freaking out?
Dillon clapped his hands to draw everyone attention, "Okay, so I'll be off grid for like two or three weeks with a work project! Deadlines are ruff! So I won't be hitting the gym much, but I'll have my phone on me. Text if ya need me, I'll respond or call as soon as I have a moment. Soon good mate?"
"Uh, yeah, sounds great." If Dillon wasn't going to suddenly strapped for time, they would have waited until the first to sign the contract, it was only a few days early so Max wasn't upset. Securing the apartment was also a relief, though he was worried his first paycheck wouldn't hit until after he needed to pay rent… he would be cutting it really close.
"If I didn't have to be at work before midnight, I'd totally say we should celebrate, so we'll have to postpone for after my first project as team leader! You guys still good to show Max around the gym if I'm still slaving away?" Dillon asked taking pictures of the contract to send to the landlord.
"Yeah, just text us Max." Jack agreed putting the dolls back on the top shelf.
"We'll drop by if you don't." Jake added glancing up at the shelf again.
"Uh, sure, maybe next week? I just, uh don't know how tired I'll be with work." Max agreed nodding. He was really glad they didn't see him as a nuisance, not to mention… Jake and Jack seemed really worried about him. Dillon too, of course, but… maybe Max would reach out after he paid rent to see if he could get rid of the dolls.
"Cool, wish I could stay longer, honestly mate, but I gotta catch some z's before I head into work tonight. Big update needs to be lyve before the big boss rolls in at eight. IF anything comes up, don't hesitate to contact us, or the police." Dillon added as he started attaching the pictures to an email.
Max gave a hesitant nod, "I will," Max wanted to offer something. Anything as thanks, offer to buy a meal, pay for their gas… but… he wasn't even sure if he'd have enough to pay rent after his monthly subscription payments on the third…
Dillon glanced up, then gripped Max's shoulder. "We got this mate, you can always buy our protein shakes after you pass your work… dang whats the word…"
Max grinned, "Probation?"
"That! Yes! Work probation! Protein shakes on you yeah? Until then we'll just let the interest build." Dillon added with a wink. "You're gonna rock this. Then we'll get to brag we knew you had it in you. Ready boys?" Dillon asked turning to Jake and Jack.
"Yeah." They chorused as they gathered up the mess from their lunches.
Max stood up to walk them out when for the first time, he was Dillon looking red eyed.
Dillon wiped his face as he glanced over the apartment. He cleared his throat, but his voice still cracked, "So, awkward request. Ahem, Max, would you mind if I just… If I just had a moment alone. Just," Dillon took a deep breath, "One last goodbye as the tenant of apartment 210?"
Max's eyes went wide. Dillon looked… like he was going to cry. "Oh! Uh sure, I'll, uh take the garbage out." Max agreed grabbing the mostly full bag. He still needed a garbage can. Add it to the forever growing list. He slid his shoes on, then followed Jake and Jack out. As he closed the door, he saw the first teer slide down Dillon's cheek.
Jack glanced down at Max, "Took some time, but… he's come a long way."
Max glanced up as they walked slowly. Biting his lip, he decided to ask, "So uh, he wasn't always so…" Max wasn't even sure what word to use… competent? Confident? It was hard to imagine he'd grown up in an abusive household…
Jake shook his head, "He used to barely say a word, he's grown. Though, not sure why he didn't find a new apartment years ago. Anyway, it's good."
Jack stared at Max for a moment, then gave a reassuring grin. "He probably sees himself in you. Maybe sees you as the younger brother he never had. Keep in touch shorty."
Max just… couldn't imagine it. If Dillon was all alone… extending the same chance that someone gave him… maybe Dillon saw the three of them as some kind of misfit family. Max grinned at the idea. He loved his brothers, his parents. He just wished… they understood he wasn't as extroverted as they were… having friends like Jake, Jack, Dillon… they weren't too outgoing… they were… so easy to interact with now.
Max smiled at how he'd reacted to Jake and Jack, if they had been the ones to meet him in that diner… he may have run for the hills… but now they seemed so approachable. Silently helping, just being around… "Yeah, he's an awesome guy."
As Max approached his door, he hesitated, then decided to lean against the railing. This apartment had clearly been a big part of Dillon's journey, leaving had to be hard. Honestly, if he could buckle down for a few years, get his life together… would he ever find such a sweet deal?
After a few minnets, the door opened. Max looked back to see Dillon wiping his eyes.
Dillon grinned, "Thanks mate. Just, hard to know that after midnight… this won't be home anymore. But this is going to be a great place for you." Dillon pulled Max in for a hug before Max even registered what was happening.
"You're going to rock this Max. Weird shit is going to happen, it's going to be ruff. Hell, some of it will be fucking terrifying. But… give it some time. Give us some time. Trust this place. And no matter what…" Dillon's voice cracked as he squeezed Max tighter for a moment, then pushed him away to look him in the eyes. "No matter what, trust your gut."
Max's eyes followed as another teer slid down Dillon's face. He turned his attention to Dillon's earnest gaze, "I, uh, will." After a flush he repeated himself more firmly. "I will, I am going to rock this."
Dillon pulled him in for another quick hug before letting to wiped his face with his sleeve. "Life moves on, here's my copy of the key. You can change the locks if you want, just make sure to send a copy to the landlord. Ha ha, dang, look at me. You got this."
"Yeah, I got this." Max assured grinning as his own nose soured. Dillon nodded quickly before he started to walk away. As he did… Max noticed a pink string on Dillon's otherwise white shirt… he also realized one cheek was pinker than the other. When he'd been facing Dillon he'd thought it was flush from crying… but now… in the sunlight it looked more like… smeared lipstick.
Max told himself not to pry into Dillon's love life, at least not yet. Maybe next time. As he lay on his bed… this was now his place. His apartment, his… home. With a wide grin Max set to making a list of things he still needed, watched another true crime show until a little before ten.
With a plan to spend time tomorrow looking over Dillon's notes, Max had a hard time falling asleep. There was still so much to do, but… he had a plan.
Max wasn't sure what woke him up, but he stayed completely still. Every hair on his body rising like he was being watched by a predator. Then he heard it. That sound that had penetrated his dream. The continuous ringing of bells. Not just bells… whispered voices.
"He's sleeping like a dead pig. Like what the fuck." An irritated male voice growled near Max's ear. Then there was a sharp tug on his blanket, but Max didn't react.
"Is he pretending to sleep? Not sure that's a good thing." A disapproving male voice stated.
"What did you expect after stealing his food? Poor thing must be terrified. Wakey wakey Maxxie, we're not going to hurt you." A female voice promised as something brushed along Max's cheek.
"Sleep… is good. Can't… this wait?" A lethargic male voice complained as a weight settled on Max's chest.
"This cannot wait, the long we delay, the worst its going to be. Come on Max. Get up." A sharp female voice ordered as more tugs ripped his blanket free.
"Well, it's certainly not going to earn us any favors by waking him out of a sound sleep. Not to mention, how's he supposed to function in the morning." Another male voice snapped.
"We should have made coffee. This is going to be a long talk… sighs. Coffee…" A softer voice complained.
"Maxxie, love, we're not going to hurt you. Would you feel better if we all moved away from the bed?" The first female voice asked as it was already moving away. "Come along, no doubt we've scared him half to death."
"Ugh, this is not going well. Great first impressions guys."
Max wanted to pretend this was all a dream… but after a thump on the bed had him flinching… well they'd clearly already known he'd been awake. Max slowly opened one eye… didn't see anything. Slowly he sat up half expecting to see half a dozen crazed murdered just waiting to jump him.
"Hello Max! You can call me Mai."
Max stared… maybe… he was still dreaming. There was no way… there was just no way the pink fox doll was talking to him. As she spoke the bell around her neck jingled merrily as if this were some delightful dream.
"Sup Max, they call me Ire." The red Tasmanian devil doll stated waving its paw.
"I'm Reed." The green frog stated as it… closed a tiny composition notebook.
"I just go by Pride. The sleeping one we call Acedia, or Ace for short." The white horse announced pointing a hoof at the black bear.
"Oh! I'm Tony!" The brown dog greeted chasing its tail.
"Lileth or just Lilly is fine for me." The yellow bird greeted raising a wing.
Max stared at the small, hand sized dolls on the floor. Yep. He was still dreaming. That, or he'd lost his mind.