I was shocked, not because it was small, but… because it was so clean. I was probably gaping like someone who had never seen an apartment in my 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 I 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."
I 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?" I 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."
I 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…but it felt 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."
I 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…" I admitted holding the pen… it was too damn good to be true. Honestly, I was anxious to let such an amazing place slip by… but equally anxious it was some kind of scam… No security deposit needed? I didn't exactly have much to steal… Still I hesitated, why wasn't a realtor having me sign this? What about the apartment owner? This was too… easy… Dillon had barely glanced over my 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? I 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. We'll sign a temporary tenant lease, if we agree the place is right for you, we sign the official lease on the first." Dillion offered, then gave a wink, "I'll still pay and feed ya too."
I hesitated, gritting my teeth, then nodded. "Uh, what, what time tomorrow?" It was roughly a four hour walk back to the motel.
Dillion gripped my 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! Dinner! Dinner! I'm wasting away!" Gluttony whined pulling on my backpack. I grinned as Gluttony's whining brought me back to the present. That or my empty stomach.
I glanced in the kitchen, "What are we in the mood for?" I asked glancing at the six Sins wandering around the still empty apartment.
"Oh! Oh! We have the leftover rice! We could have fried rice! Lots of veggies! Maybe some potatoes! Oh! EGGS! We should add extra eggs!" Gluttony added laying himself over the box of sixty eggs. I'd already used half, but that still left me with thirty eggs to use.
I checked online recipes, then saw what I had laying around. Onion, spam, eggs, a bell pepper that had seen better days. I glanced at the time… still pretty early.
"Wouldn't hurt… to make… extra. Stick some… in the …freezer for a… quick meal." Sloth called, he was in the pocket of my backpack. If I ever get a water bottle he may have to find a new place to nap.
"Or an emergency meal for work if you don't have time to put something together in the morning, like today. That vending machine sandwich was way overpriced!" Green muttered. I silently agreed, $9 for a paper thin slice of ham, and a credit card sized slice of cheese. The bread had also been super dry…
"Yeah, I really do need to be better about that." I agreed as I started following the recipe. Because I hadn't bought any rolling countertops, and the counters were already so sparse, I was cutting vegetables on the cardboard box. Until it bent from the force.
With a sigh, I laid the chopping block on the floor. Broke days… whoo…
"We should visit Auntie at the thrift store again, see if a table is available." Greed said as he fixed his glasses.
I really looked at Greed, if he were human sized… he would look like a strict secretary, someone who should be following a CEO around in those dramas. His square glasses, ever present notebook, neat suit, slicked back black hair, black eyes, pale skin. He should not be… sitting on a cardboard box…
Wrath was laying on his back, tossing a medicine ball up and down. His red hair, basketball shorts, tank top, well toned muscles looked like he should be a school bully. If the bully also had a Napoleon complex, since he was shorter than all the other sins.
Even Envy was taller, not by much, considering they averaged six inches tall. Both Lust and Envy were beautiful, though vastly distinct kinds of beauty.
Lust looked… well like she should be clubbing the weekend away. Her tight black leather skirt, long black hair, red lips, blue eyes were all striking against her impossibly white skin. Not to mention her exaggeratedly perfect hourglass figure. If someone sold her chibi dolls… I would be tempted to buy one.
Envy had short brown hair, freckles, large green eyes, next girl kind of vibes. Though her figure wasn't any less perfect, she looked right at home in a pair of jeans, white shirt, and ponytail. I was having a hard time imagining her being… well the great Deadly Sin of Envy…
As I continued to chop away, finding bowls, cups, plats to hold the food, Pride was pensively checking over a few scripts I'd been given to practice. Pride looked like he should be the brooding CEO of some dramatic dog blooded drama. Not as muscular as Wrath, but much taller, well-proportioned muscles. His long legs made me wish I could grow a few more inches. I'd never been one to check guys out… but if I had to stand next to Pride out in public I would unlock a new achievement. First clumsy ninja to walk around unnoticed.
"Max, I think we should spend some time going over your scripts, repetition will help you be more confident on the phone." Pride announced drawing everyone's attention.
I stared down at the half chopped onion, blinking back teers. I swear, it really was from the onion. "Uhh, okay… now?" I asked hesitantly.
Pride's chuckle was so deeply masculine… it belonged on a movie… maybe if he earned enough merit points I could convince him to be a voice actor. He'd make bank…
"Just a thought moving forward Max. Tonight looks fully booked if Tony has anything to say." Pride added as Gluttony started hopping around indignantly.
"Food first! Who works on an empty stomach? Empty stomach means he can't concentrate! No concentration means it's a waste of time!" Gluttony proclaimed holding his hands out as if he could hide my giant form behind his tiny figure.
Pride pinched the bridge of his nose, "Of course Tony. As I said, a thought for the future."
I ducked my head to keep chopping, okay these teers were from suppressed laughter. Gluttony may be shorter than Pride, a little softer, ahem, fluffy? What were the levels of fat again? Anyway, Gluttony may not be intimidating, but his whining… yeah that was something to be feared. His soft brown hair, bright brown eyes were always quick to teers if food might not be the answer to whatever question was being asked.
I glanced at the sins, it was crazy that they needed to eat food… well… a month ago I would have thought seeing little people float around giving me advice was crazy. I guess I did belong in the looney bin.
Gluttony turned to face me now that Pride had waved the white flag. "Oh… if you put onions in the freezer, your eyes won't sting when you cut them."
I glanced at the cut onion, then at Gluttony… "Thanks… I'll remember that next time." I kind of wished Gluttony would give me these tips before I needed them.
Lust sat on my shoulder, chuckling, "It's more memorable afterwards, as frustrating as that is to hear love."
"That does… make sense." I agreed as I scooped the onion onto the plate. Now that everything was peeled, cleaned, and chopped, I checked the recipe again. Dillion had bought most of the food I currently had, I couldn't afford for any of it to go to waste.
I had to use the pot and pan, there just wasn't enough room in the pan. As I finished cooking Gluttony gave an awkward cough. I glanced at him kicking his feet as Lust and Envy laughed. "What? What did I miss?" I asked glancing between them.
Gluttony glanced at the… pots I'd just bought… ugh… I'm a moron. I literally just bought more pots and pans… I took a deep breath, "My fault… I forgot about them… I admitted with a sigh. Both girls burst into fits of laughter. I rolled my eyes as I let the fried rice cool.
Just then I got another text from Robby. Hey Scrub! Stevie shipping off soon! Friday dinner?
I hesitated, our last conversation… hadn't ended so pleasantly. Sounds good, I haven't gotten a new car yet, let you know deets by Wednesday.
Bruh! I'll pick you up! Shoot me your address.
I sighed looking at my cracked screen. If I gave Robby the address… everyone would have it before I could blink. Still… I was a two hour drive away… unexpected visits would have to be on the weekends… right? I also knew better than to hand a key out…
"You could always meet him somewhere, like a café." Lust reminded as she sat on my shoulder. She was leaning back, her legs, or more importantly her heels should be digging into chest… but I only felt the barest hint of something. Like… my shirt was a little heavier, if I wasn't looking, I wouldn't realize there was a small person there.
I'd sleep on the idea. "Yeah, that's an option." Since I worked Sunday through Thursday, I could leave early and meet him somewhere else. Anywhere else.