Max was shocked, not because it was small, but… because it was so clean. He glanced around like he'd never seen an apartment in his life. Sure, there were a few boxes along the walls and all sorts of packing supplies along the counters, but the appliances looked almost new.
The door opened into the kitchen, only a narrow countertop separating it from the surprisingly spacious living room. Following the wall on the left were two doors, presumably to the bed and bathroom. There were large windows in the living room letting in light. Though even without the natural light, the apartment's lights were almost glaring as Max continued to glance around like a yokel.
Dillion grinned as he slipped his shoes off. "It's a tight fit sometimes, but it's a great place. Come look around." Dillion walked in and started putting the food in the full-sized fridge.
"Oh yeah, so I'm leaving the bed, fridge, microwave, air conditioner, laptop and the washer. No dyer, sorry mate. I hang my clothes to dry. I'm also leaving most of the dishes, and I just bought the dishwasher last year, its small but should be enough."
Max stared in astonishment, it was a tiny little dishwasher, only slightly bigger than the microwave, fitting on the counter beside the sink. "You're… just leaving them?" Max saw that almost every wall had some kind of counter or shelving. Some walls in the living room even had floating shelves… it was amazing…
Dillion shrugged, "The fridge, washer, and microwave were here when I moved in, donated from previous tenants. Over the last two years I've replaced the desktop that was in the room, window unit is new, just last summer. Bed was gifted a few months back, too small for my new place, so hopefully it's a good fit. I'll show you the shower in a sec."
Max stared… this stuff had to be worth… ten grand… the laptop alone had to be a thousand dollars!! It wasn't a big space, maybe three hundred square feet… it was like a whole different dimension from outside the door.
Dillion opened the bathroom, there wasn't room enough for both to fit, "Bath was put in about ten years back, warranty is for a lifetime, plumbing included, so if you have problems there's a binder with all the info. Same for everything, close by restaurants, recommended apps, warranties, handymen."
Max dazedly followed Dillion to the small table, it was all a blur…
"Look, I see you're still looking at places. I actually start moving stuff to my new place tomorrow, what's your day look like?" Dillion asked after showing the apartment around along with the binder.
"Uhh, well, just more apartments…" Max admitted holding the pen… it was too damn good to be true. Max was both anxious to let such an amazing place slip by… but equally anxious it was some kind of scam… No security deposit needed? He didn't exactly have much to steal… Max hesitated, why wasn't a realtor having him sign this? What about the apartment owner? This was too… easy… Dillon had barely glanced over his drivers license…
"Hey mate, times are ruff. I could use some help packing out a bit more and moving. I have a friend with a truck. I'm paying them gas, seventy five dollars, and all three meals. If you've got time, I'll pay you the same. Then you can move in tomorrow night." Dillion offered nodding to the many full shelves.
Ruff? Max tried not to focus on the odd pronunciation, maybe he wasn't local, he did use words like mate. "Umm, I'm… I've still got a few other, other places to look at…" IF something is too good to be true, it is.
Dillion gave him a half smile, "Tell ya what Max. I'm still on the lease until the end of the month. You help me move tomorrow, and for the next two weeks you can try the place out. No strings attached. If we agree the place is right for you, we sign on the first." Dillion offered, then gave a wink, "I'll still pay and feed ya too."
Max hesitated, gritted his teeth, then nodded. "Uh, what, what time tomorrow?" It was roughly a four hour walk back to the motel.
Dillion gripped his shoulder, "I'll pick you up around ten? I'll also take you back to your place, I suck with directions, this way I know where to swing by after my gym session."
Max wasn't sure how… but he was suddenly back in Dillions car, with a meal from Dillion's fridge, two bottles of water… and a new hoodie… okay he knew how the hoodie happened.
His jacket had been around his waist, got caught on the door chain… and ripped the sleeve clean off. So, Dillion had grabbed one from a box then ushered him into the car, all the while apologizing... Max really tried to say it was okay, it wasn't like Dillion had been the one to catch his sleeve. The jacket was old, Max had been the one not paying attention. Now, Dillion was driving him to his motel. It all just seemed so surreal.
Max hesitated, but still went to two other viewings. As he and the realtor had been walking up someone had thrown a glass bottle at the realtor's car. "Uhh, maybe… just the next one." Max whispered looking at the cracked window as a giant guy came out raging like a bull. Max could hear two women screaming or maybe crying as other items were thrown out the door after the giant.
"Yeah, we can come back to this one later." She agreed backing out quickly.
"Uhh, your windshield…" Max tried to remind as they merged back in with traffic.
"Oh, it's the company car, I'll swap it out after." She cheerily explained.
Max didn't miss that her fingers were digging into the steering wheel. When they finally arrived at the duplex Max cringed internally. Not only was it tiny, there where half a dozen holes in the wall so he could see into the other tenant's area. A man was wandering back and forth cursing about his job as, a wife? Girlfriend lay on the couch so high he was pretty sure she may have an overdose if she took another hit…
Max glanced at the cracked tiles on the floor, walls, grease stains on the ceilings, smell of pot from next door, the bathroom shower was a walk in but the glass door wouldn't open… Not to mention the mysterious mold in nearly all corners of every room. This apartment was already twice the price of Dillion's offer, it didn't include utilities or internet, or even garbage.
Max sighed after he returned to his motel room. Pulling the glass container of green beans, mashed potatoes, grilled chicken, and a lemon squeeze… If something is too good to be true… it is. That mantra had kept him out of trouble almost his whole life. His parents were realists. If Max could have afforded college he might have gone… his parents made too much to qualify for assistance, but three boys were expensive.
Only his elder brother had gotten a degree, their younger brother Steven was going into the military. Max microwaved his meal as he debated responding to a new text from his older brother Robby.
Hey dude, message me back ya scrub! Steve's shipping off soon and we wanna meet up for dinner.
Bruh, always here when ya need an ear. Hope you're okay.
Max closed the text, pulled up his playlist, and listened to music as he started looking at local jobs. They had to be either on a bus route, or within walking distance. Max fought back a yawn, applied for two waiter positions, then decided to shower before bed.