Turtle talking to Rabbits

The emotional high after scoring a job, eating cupcakes, and finally having a direction had taken a swift nose dive. "For fucks sake Robby, I'm not twelve. How is Stevie? Does he know when he ships off to boot camp yet?"

For a moment I regretted snapping back, Robby always had their best interest in mind. I was just so tired of Robby and their mom always bombarding me, over, and over, and over, and over again for hours.

At least I could snap at Robby, if I snapped at our mother… that just created a whole new set of problems.

"… I'm just worried Maxxie, you've been off grid for two weeks already. Are you coming back tomorrow for dinner?" Robby asked placatingly.

I leaned back in the chair. "No, I don't have a ride, and I need to get my apartment set up. I'll invite you all for an apartment warming soon. What about Stevie?" I really didn't want to talk to Robby, have the information miscommunicated to everyone else, then have to explain repeatedly. "I'll call tomorrow, while you're with Ma and Stevie, then I'll give you all the tea okay?"

"Okay Max, yeah, Stevie is shipping out on the 11th, off to Paris Island. The recruiter is super excited

about his asfab scores, and his P T times. We plan to have a dinner on the seventh since he leaves at like, three in the morning." Robby added as both sides backed down.

I was grateful for the lifeline, "Nice, I'll have to see what my schedule is like but should be able to make it." We only chatted for another twenty minutes, mostly about Stevie leaving, and mom's latest potted plant project. After repeated promises to call tomorrow, Robby finally let me escape the call.

As I walked out, Dillon was still on the patio, phone checking out computer parts. I knocked lightly on the glass to signal I was done, then went back to folding. Dillon kept up his usual chatter, lightening the soured mood, well, my soured mood.

Dillon let me take the remaining three cupcakes, this time we went to another thrift shop that only had clothes. Dillon helped me pick out four nice shirts I could use for work, along with two pairs of comfortable slacks.

I spent the night doing laundry, listening to podcasts that made me grateful to be alive. I decided to sleep early… I just wasn't motivated to do much else…

I had another weird dream, the rabbit had been obsessively counting doors. That was weird, yeah, but each door had just been floating in a forest as some of the other dolls would make quick appearances. I must have been subconsciously thinking about that bell sound, or the dolls.

I spent the day cleaning around the apartment, nothing major, just clothes, dishes, dusting some of the harder to reach places. This small, cozy apartment was starting to feel like home… home. Such an abstract concept, I'd rarely referred to my previous apartments as home. Of course, my need for an apartment back then had been… hard for other reasons. Now that I wasn't constantly telling myself that every little mole hill was actually an insurmountable mountain, I was able to relax. I even enjoyed my sad attempt at microwaved coffee because I once again had forgotten to snag a coffee maker.

I laid out on my living room floor, coffee ground settling in my cup as I the enjoyed sunlight warming the room. I was more at peace now then I'd been in… maybe the last five years.

My peaceful indulgence was jarringly interrupted as Robby's ringtone blared like a siren. I closed my eyes as I accepted the call. I had learned that the hard way, don't live close enough for unexpected visits, or give Robby my address until I was ready for him to be all in my business.

"Hey Scrub! We're all here!" Robby called out in an overly excited manner.

"Hey Honey! Is now a good time?" Our mother called cheerfully.

"Hey Loser, finally not hiding under a rock?" Stevie teased languidly.

I could hear cutlery, as well as imagine Stevie sipping on his signature kraken and coke. "Hey all, hey Mom. Hope dinner went well." I wasn't surprised dad wasn't on the call. Probably at another bar, anyway, one less thing to be worried about.

"Oh Honey it was great, our famous lemon chicken. So! You have a new apartment! Tell us all about it!" His mother asked.

"Scrub! Turn on your camera! Give us the grand tour!" Robby cut in.

I kept my sigh internal as I sat up. I'd hoped Robby would take the hint since I only accepted the voice call, but… well Robby was as stubborn as the day was long. "Give me a sec, I'm still moving in so its pretty empty. Going to take a while since I don't have a new car yet." I added as I turned his camera on, pointing it around the room for them to see the small space.

"Oh! It's so neat! I love that window! Oh turn back, are those floating shelves?" Ma crooned as I continued to slowly turn.

"Dang, it's a nice place! How much is the rent? Bruh… do you have dolls?" Stevie asked not bothering to hide the laughter in his voice.

I rolled his eyes as I turned the image so they could see him, "They came with the apartment, I was told they were the only things I couldn't remove without the landlords permission."

"They're cursed," Stevie announced holding up his glass. "At least they don't look like Chucky, how big is the place?"

"A little over three hundred square feet," I continued to show the apartment off, showing them his hanging laundry, the dryer, the new computer. The conversation lasted well over two hours. Thankfully, none of them pushed for more details or asked about Arianna. They chatted a little about Stevie shipping off soon, how I was starting orientation Monday.

Honestly, it wasn't a bad chat with them. They all took turns talking, updating each other, well mostly updating me since he'd basically gone off grid the last few weeks.

I refused to give the address out, at least for now. At the almost three hour mark, they all agreed to have another conversation next week.

The next week really was a blur, everything was happening so fast. Orientation was a bit dull, lasting three days. Then I had Thursday off, finally snagging a coffee pot. Dillon had kept in touch with text mostly, as he was also starting his new job, getting used to having his own team.

Jake and Jack had swung by with a really nice mahogany entertainment center that had been donated to the thrift shop. They'd also checked the apartment out, making sure all the windows were still locked. Jake kept walking back to the shelf with the dolls, half glaring, half puzzled staring.

Friday I went back to the main hospital, signed my contract, was issued a binder, badge, fitted for a headset, given an evaluation test of my typing accuracy, speed, short hand, and familiarity with their programs. I had never used "Athena" before, but they weren't disappointed. Several of the new hires had never used it before.

Lastly, Director Erika had come by to give me my schedule. I would be working Sunday through Thursday until I was "floor" ready. If I wasn't able to be released after six weeks, they would let me go. I was both nervous and pumped. I would rock this.

I was a little sad I bought such nice clothes… apparently, as long as I wasn't on front rotation, I could show up in causal, comfortable clothes. Each section would rotate bimonthly, so if patients came to the call center or walk in portion, only one section might be pulled to the front to assist. I wouldn't be on front rotation for at least three months, still, I decided to dress semi professionally during my training. My slacks were comfortable… it would be a waste if I only wore them for my interview.

My dreams continued to feature the dolls, but were all harmless, at least I wasn't being chased by a hungry dog, or running from a stampede of horses. Though I did learn in one of my dreams, the red mouse wasn't a mouse. He was a Tasmanian Devil. When I woke up, I looked over the mouse doll, comparing it to the wiki page… huh. It did kinda look like a Tasmanian devil… maybe I've been thinking about it subconsciously.

My mother had been a little more persistent about coming to see the apartment, but she didn't drive. Since I didn't have a car, I couldn't pick her up, not to mention Stevie was packing his belongings for long term storage so she was helping him out most days.

Robby waited for the other two to leave the call before asking how things were going. Max sighed, after nearly half an hour giving up.

"I'll shoot you the address next week, I'll have Saturday off so I'll be able to see Stevie off, then you can come see the place in person, okay?" This would give Max another week of peace. He just needed some space.

"Okay! Okay! Yeash, Max, you're just so secretive. You hardly spoke about work, we're just worried." Robby continued to say.

I lay on my bed exhausted. If they said one more time they were worried, I would go insane. It came out almost every other sentence. "I'm fine Robby, seriously. I just need some space. I'm not social like you guys are. Is it too much to ask you guys to leave me alone to lick my wounds?" I was really trying not to get frustrated. It was just a vicious cycle.

I wanted time to process my feelings about Arianna, to find a new place, to start a new chapter. Yet mom and Robby were constantly analyzing everything on the spot. Neither of them could sleep on their emotions. Heck, half the time, they would try and tell me how I was feeling.

Honestly, I felt like a turtle trying to communicate with rabbits. They didn't understand my need to swim, and I didn't understand their need to sit on their haunches. I did understand them partially, like running from predators, dig burrows, eat carrots, all makes sense. I just wanted to swim alone, enjoy the open waters in solitude, but they would surround me, smother me with cuddles while dragging me into their burrows.

"Max, you just went off grid, didn't say anything to anyone. We didn't even know you'd moved, I didn't even know your car was totaled. You just took off. What if something happened to you? You weren't answering your phone, didn't log in to your socials, of course we're trying to respect your boundaries, but we need to know you're safe bruh." Robby said with a long sigh. "You always have a bed here with us, any of us. Dude, it's like… like you don't trust us."

I didn't voice my frustration, I knew I could have stayed with them. But then the questions would never end. The walking on egg shells, the subtle prompts about how I was doing, how I felt, what about my jobs, my friends, how I was going to handle Arianna.

"Robby I do trust you, I just need space. I need to know after a long day, when I come home, I can just shower and relax. Not play host for hours. I'm sorry I didn't say anything before I went off grid, I just needed time to process that my car was wrecked, and that my fiancé was sucking her ex off when it happened okay? Not exactly a relaxing conversation." I explained with forced patience.

"Max, then you don't trust us. Any of us would have taken you in, and let you be. Not worried sick you might be dead in some ditch." Robby shot back.

I wanted to suffocate myself with a pillow, "Hey, I've got some chores to do, I'll text you later. Love you Robby."

"Max, you're just running away again, this is exactly why we get worried. You don't talk to us. I'm your big brother,"

"Love you Robby, text you when I have time, it's already after two, if I want clean clothes I have to do them now. I also have other people coming over today, later." I didn't wait for Robby to say anything as I hung up. I rolled over, screamed into my pillow. After a deep breath, I screamed again.

Feelings vented, I rolled over, pillow clutched to my chest to stare at the ceiling. Dillon was coming over soon to sign over the apartment. I glanced at my bank account… less than four hundred dollars. I'd get a partial paycheck next week, then would be able to tell how much I made after taxes. I also had to sign up for health insurance… ugh. Good thing my old job provided health insurance until the end of the month. This way I wouldn't lapse.

I was still waiting on news about my car, I'd have to call, again. I sighed, things were falling into place, a job, place to liv, the bus route. There were things I still had to man up and get done though. Just… not today. Besides, Dillon should be here any moment.