I was a sweating mess when I finally saw the diner. I'd had to jog some of the way because my time of arrival kept getting further and further away. Eight fifty-eight, I'd made it. Barely. Barely alive. Taking a moment to catch my breath, I pushed my sweaty brown hair out of my eyes. No doubt the slight curls were plastered to my head. I checked myself in the reflection of the window… at least I didn't look like a completely drowned rat… just a soggy one. The bags under hazel green eyes would still make pandas jealous. Not to mention, even I thought I looked ready to collapse.
Before anyone came up behind me, I walked in, looking around for this… Dillion.
I saw someone raise their hand, hesitating as I glanced around, no one else had just come in so… "Uh, Dillion?" I asked slowly walking over. The blond guy was in basketball shorts and a tracksuit jacket. Their was gym bag in the booth as well.
"Hey mate, glad you made it. Come sit down, you also hit the gym in the morning?" Dillion greeted, offering his hand as he stood up. He was several inches taller than my 5'7, so maybe 5'10 or 5'11.
I shook the proffered hand, thankfully Dillion didn't grip too hard. I tried to keep eye contact, but Dillon's blue eyes were startlingly direct. "Uh, no, it was close by," I nearly choked my throat was so parched, "ahem, uh, so I walked, I uh, left a bit late, so um, jogged a bit." I mumbled glancing around the table.
"Lucky! Well, like I said on the phone I'm Dillion, I've been at the apartment for a little over three years. So what brings you to this part of the city?" Dillion asked has he passed over a menu and an ice-cold glass of water.
I accepted both gratefully, taking a sip to soothe my parched throat. "Uh, breakup, so, uh, new start."
"Dang, that's ruff mate. You holding up okay?" Dillion asked with such… such genuine sympathy.
I felt the teers threaten to fall, I wiped at my face, pretending it was more sweat as I forced a laugh, "Yeah, she was cheating on me anyway. I'm better off." It was the first time I hadn't stuttered. I can not turn into a bawling mess in front of some random stranger.
Thankfully, Dillion just passed me a napkin. "I'm good, serieousy," great, now I can't even speak, "seriously! Seriously, I'm just looking for a new start." I corrected a little too loudly if the turning heads were any indication.
I buried my head in the menu, "Uh, any, anything you'd recommend?"
"Yeah, their omelets are amazing, I sometimes bring them home. Big too, honestly one is enough for two meals. Though if you take one home, use the stove to warm it up, microwave sometimes makes em explode." Dillion half laughed as he grinned. "Juice is also all fresh squeeze so sometime there's pulp, just an fyi."
I nodded, once again grateful for Dillion's non judgmental tone. "Uhh, then, bacon, ham and mozzarella cheese, that one looks good." I agreed with a small smile.
"Nice choice, the gals around here are awesome, I usually get broccoli and grapefruit on the side rather than the toast, they don't charge extra. I'm planning to bring two home, I'm living out of boxes, so quick and easy meals are great."
I nodded as Dillion talked, true to his word, the omelet filled the plate! Since Dillon was treating I decided to also ordered broccoli and grapefruit. The waitress was nice enough to bring a small packet of sugar, maybe only mine had been sour.
Soon they were chatting like old friends. I was shocked when I looked down to realize… I'd finished the entire omelet, I glanced at the time, they'd already been here for over an hour!
"Now that we've eaten, let's head to the apartment. I parked out front." Dillion explained as winked at the waitress. She smacked him on the shoulder after handing him the two omelets to go.
"Oh, uh yeah!" I agreed glancing at the bill, dang, only forty dollars, plus he left a twenty dollar tip. Maybe I should come here for meals too. If one omelet was good for two meals, and they were only seven dollars… everything had been so good.
"You don't mind if we hit the market before we go right? Super cheap vegies before noon on Wednesdays, sometimes they're a little old, but still cheaper than anywhere else for a hot second." Dillon nodded to his sedan.
I hesitated, but slid into the passenger seat. "Yeah, no worries." The store was just named… the Market. It was a little run down, security at the doors, but the prices were cheaper than Id seen anywhere in a long time. Though the selection was a bit limited, mostly just fresh foods, only one isle of frozen food.
I followed as Dillion filled up a basket, chatting all the while.
"Yeah, this place is a godsend, lots of discounts, a local runs the place to make sure everyone can try to eat a little better. Though, that means sometimes there are fights before restock, so just keep an eye out yeah?"
I nodded like a chick pecking at grain, I'd already saved the location. A twelve minute walk from the diner. A two pound pack of bacon? For nine dollars?! Dang, I'll definitely be back!
"Smiles look good on ya mate, it's the little things yeah?" Dillion asked as he started driving to the apartment.
I hadn't even realized I was smiling until Dillion said something. "Yeah, the little things." When Dillion laughed, I tried to not be self-conscious, then realized Dillion seemed to have some kind of inside joke.
As we pulled into a parking lot, I saw the apartment complex… Yep. I'm going to die. There were several large, buff guys just hanging around. Some had some serious ink. I shrank into my seat as Dillion turned the car off. Damn, of course it was too good to be true.
Dillion just grinned at me before hopping out. "Come on Max, can't see the apartment from here."
I hunched, but slowly slid from the safety of the car. Damn, if I die… no one knows where I am. Dillion was such a great scammer… I followed him up the creaking stairs, past the broken lights, past the buff guys smoking, even past a women in little more than a bathing suit… Dillion was for sure going to sell his kidney. I should bolt now… if I go fast no one should be able to grab me… Yet… I kept following… why was I still following?!
Dillion juggled the grocery bag in his arm to fish out his keys, then opened the door for Me. "Shoes off at the door yeah?"
I numbly nodded as I squeezed past Dillion. Oh, please oh please, oh please, no plastic room!
As Dillion shut the door behind them he locked the door, then bolted it shut.