Jake opened the door slowly, kicking his already untied boots off as he stepped into the kitchen. Jack did the same but went to open all the doors, glancing under the bed, even opening the shower door.
Jake eyed the bag of potatoes Max hadn't put back in the fridge. Max had just been in such a rush to leave… he hadn't cared. When Jack returned to the kitchen shaking his head, Jake put down his bat to lift the bag of potatoes.
Max wasn't sure what Jake did, but he put the bag on the counter, then walked to the living room. Glancing up at the floating shelves Dillon had left behind, he reached up. There was a plastic cover to keep dust off the top shelf.
Max was confused when Jake pulled down two… dolls? One looked like a mouse, the other a green rabbit? Jake reached back up until he'd found seven dolls. A grey mouse, green rabbit, brown dog, pink fox, red pig, black bear, white horse and a yellow bird.
Jake kept squishing the dolls, turning them over, looking for something. Jack started doing the same as they brought the dolls to the counter.
Dillon looked like he'd have an aneurysm as he glared at the dolls, then he sighed as he reached into his pocket to pull out… seven bells?
Max wasn't the only one staring as Dillon snatched one of the dolls to tie the bell around the bear's neck like a cat collar.
Jake glared at the doll, at Dillon, then back at the doll, "Yours?"
Dillon pinched the bridge of his nose as he took a deep breath. "Yes, no, ugh, it's complicated. They come with the apartment. Honestly, I'd forgotten about them, but I saw the bells and just, it hit me."
"What?" Jack demanded picking the bear up, the tingle of the bell ringing throughout the apartment.
"They… ugh, I'm not even sure how to explain. But just to be safe, I'm putting bells on them. If the door is opened suddenly, or something shakes the wall, all the bells should make a sound." Dillon groused as he collared each doll with a bell, then looked around, "Where do you want them Max? Back up on the shelf, or… floor, cabinet?"
Max stared at the dolls… uh… could they just… get rid of them? "Umm, uhh, the shelf, I guess…"
"Let's bring our spoils in," Dillon stated with a sigh after the dolls were put back on the top shelf, only the tips could be seen.
Max was confused, but followed them out, bringing the bags in. As the shelf and table were placed the living room… it finally started to look like someone lived here.
Dillon brought up his trifold cot last, Jake and Jack did one more sweep of the apartment, making sure everything was locked before they left.
"So, I'm thinking we watch something, the computer was factory reset when I left, you used it yet?" Dillon asked as he leaned against the wall, his cot a makeshift sitting mat. There were a few bowls of different nuts and dried fruit along with some bottles of water.
"Uh, not yet." Max admitted also taking a seat on the cot.
"All good, hmm, let's see… what are you in the mood for Max? Comedy? Romance? Thriller?" Dillon asked as he signed in as a guest on the computer.
Max hesitated… "Uh, there's uh, this documentary series… I was watching."
"Oh cool, what's the name?" Dillon asked glancing over his shoulder.
"Uhh, the… murder mystery… of… uh, Jack the ripper…" Max admitted, Robby was always staying him watching this stuff is what made him so paranoid…
"Nyce, haven't watched it myself, what episode are you on? Want to give me a recap?" Dillon asked searching for it online, very nyce, it was free with a platform he already subscribed to. Dillon logged in as he waited for Max to talk. When a few moments went by Dillon looked over his shoulder.
"You're uh, not going, you know, say… this is why I, over reacted?" Max asked fidgeting with the sheets they'd wrapped the cot in. "That this stuff, you know, made me paranoid?"
Dillon stopped as he turned to face Max head on. "Max, look at me mate." He said seriously.
Max bit his lip, he felt like a child about to get reprimanded… he should have kept his mouth shut. Jesus, couldn't he just say he wanted to watch a comedy and let Dillon pick something? Trying to look less nervous than he was, Max met Dillon's stern gaze. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen Dillon look so serious before.
"Max, I like scary movies, that doesn't mean every time something goes bump in the night, I think there's a monster under my bed. Don't let anyone tell you how youfeel." Dillon gripped Max's shoulders gently, but firmly kept eye contact. "You're in a new place, shit is moving. Food is missing. That's a real cause for concern."
Max bit hard on his lip as he felt teers welling up for the hundredth time. "I… I might have, remembered wrong." Dillon's grip tightened for just a moment.
"Max, even if you remembered wrong, you don't feel safe. Feeling safe is just as important as being safe. I can't say that no one was in your apartment. Your apartment should be where you feel the safest. It's your home mate, your sanctuary. If you don't feel safe in your home, that's a problem. Problems are meant to be fixed." Dillon added lightly shaking Max.
Max swallowed hard, his nose was starting to sting, "But, I, I was listening to a crime pod cast, when, in the, in the bath." He added, of course he'd scared himself. "And now, all three of you checked, nothing."
"Max, if my phone was in the sink, then moved, it wouldn't matter if I was listening to Barney, it'd freak me the fuck out. Don't sell yourself short mate, I'd have called the whole damn cavalry. Clothes moving? Peace out! I am not dumb enough to stick around if weird shit keeps happening. Max, I'm concerned, and I wasn't even the one who saw it. Jake and Jack came to check the place out ready to bash some heads in. Don't let anyone tell you it's no big deal." Dillon emphasized giving a quick glance to the shelf over their heads before looking back at Max.
"But…" Max didn't even finish.
"But nothing. Max, look at you mate. You're not an indecisive person. From what I've seen. Look at you! You left a four-year relationship. You were ready to marry someone, you trusted her. You called some random stranger from a number on a flyer, you met that stranger, and lets be real. No way did you not think this was sketchy, at least once. But you trusted something. Maybe my dashing good looks. Maybe my crooked grin. But you took a chance. Not every chance pans out mate. Life gets freaking ruff." Dillon said with a crooked grin.
"I'd consider that more desperation." Max said under his breath but couldn't stop the smile creeping onto his face. Dillon let him go and gave him a light punch.
"Don't sell yourself short mate, I mean serious, I haven't been able to hold onto a girl for more than a few weeks. You were committed to someone for four years. No matter what she was like, that says something about you." Dillon added with a second punch, just strong enough to rock Max's body.
Max snorted, "Yeah, stupid enough to be cheated on for over a year."
"You can't control what another person does mate, it sucks, it seriously sucks. But you held down two jobs, bought and paid off a car, bought a ring, you were planning a wedding. Max, you were rocking it. Now, look at you. Come on dude, you paid to break your lease, jumped on a bus, and met the magnificent me. That's gotta be a silver lining right?" Dillon teased with another light punch.
"Max, you found three random strangers who came to your apartment to check it out. If nothing else, you've got a free place to stay for another week. You still trusted me, you trusted to scary ass giants. At any time you could've noped out of the situation. You said you have two brothers, your parents. You had options. You have options. Sure, you're in a bit of a rut, but you might have a job as early as tomorrow. What made you pick up that flyer and call me?" Dillon asked after waving to the apartment.
Max hesitated, "Uh, well, the flyer… the cheap rent…"
Dillon grinned, "Dude, we've passed five hundred flyers claiming to offer free rent, great job opportunities, or hot chicks. I know that motel area, every light pole is covered in flyers. What made you pick mine?"
Max shrugged, "I dunno, my gut… I just… looked up and there it was."
Dillon grinned, "Yeah, your gut. You trusted your gut. You saw me in a diner, and what made you stay? Other than my stink stank gym bag?"
Max tried to not grin, "Well, free food. And, I dunno, my head kept screaming it was too good to be true. Or that you were going to sell my kidney."
Dillon burst out laughing, "For real? Dang! And you still followed me to the apartment?" He asking still laughing, then he opted for a more serious look, "What made you follow me up those steps Max?"
Max took his time before he answered, "My gut… something told me to trust you, even when my head was screaming to leave, and… well, I went with it."
Dillon grinned, "Trust your gut mate, before you trust a stranger, before you trust anyone. You have to be able to trust yourself."
Max let out a laugh, "Even if I'm crazy? Or paranoid?"
Dillon gave Max a solemn look, "Especially if you're crazy or paranoid. Whatever is making you feel that way, only you can make a change. If you really get to a point where you don't trust your own gut, or judgement, then finding someone who's judgement you can trust, that's a huge leap of faith mate. At least, it's not one I've been able to make yet."
Max's smile faltered, Dillon looked so earnest.
Dillon gave Max a smile while he shrugged, "I've got commitment issues like you wouldn't believe. At least, since I moved here, I've gotten better about work, school, and even to myself. Maybe you'll find someone you trust more than you trust yourself. We're not the same person, hell, just the idea of marriage gives me goosebumps."
Max grinned, "I want someone, I… hate being alone. Maybe that's why it took me so long to realize… maybe… I just ignored all the signs."
Dillon half nodded, half shrugged, "You trusted her. When you realized she wasn't the one, you left. Don't let someone bash on you, because she did something wrong. Don't sell yourself short, you are the one you can make happy at the end of the day. You want marriage. Ain't nothing wrong with that mate, I'm not sure I'll ever be ready for marriage. You know what you want, you're working toward it. Sure, everyone needs a little help from time to time, but Max. You are going to rock this."
Max gave a half-hearted smile.
"Max, you are going to rock this. If you don't trust yourself, then just this once, trust me. Now, catch me up on this Ripper documentary, then we'll watch the rest, or, if you're in a binge mood, we can start from episode one. What say you?" Dillon asked with a dramatic wink as he tilted the computer so it didn't catch any glares.