No Introduction Needed

Chapter Five

It took some time for Maddox to wrap his head around all that the kid just told him, most of what he understood was where his bedroom was, that he'd be fed, he'll only have to clean up after himself and he would only have to hand over five hundred at the end of every month it sounded good to him but he was a bit worried.

The kid had told him a top deal and now what in the world was he going to think when he told him he was an ex-con, he looked at the kid who was looking at him with anticipation and he considered telling him everything else before getting to that "I just got in the area and I saw your add so I decided to check it out, um I'm twenty three and got a job at the warehouse yesterday, I would be able to pay your rent with no problem, I just need till the end of the month-"

He was cut off when the kid spoke "I need to rent by the twenty fifth of each month is that doable for you?"

Maddox nodded and the kid made a note before telling him to continue "um I pretty quiet and I won't make any trouble for you, I'll probably be working most of the time and my job is based on shifts so sometimes I'll be out the house early other time's I'll be out late, but if you want I can tell you ahead of time."

"Don't worry you will get a set of keys and one more thing do you smoke?" Maddox nodded and the kid sighed "how much a day?" Maddox shook his head and told him he only smoked when he was stressed "alright that's cool just keep it outside, anything else you wanna tell me?"

Maddox took a gulp and scratched at his neck before looking up at the kid "I'm an... I'm an ex-con and I got out a day ago." the kid eyes suddenly grew dark and he shifted back into the seat jumping when the kid asked him what he was away for and how long "five years on false charges of aggravated assault." when he said the last part the kid cocked his head before asking if he had proof.

He stared at the kid blankly and then remembered the paper where he had seen a small article about him, he pulled the paper out of his bag and flipped through it before handing it over, the kid sat back and quickly read everything nodding to himself a few times before finally looking up "tough luck, sorry you had to deal with that, but I guess you're cool, just need you to sign a few things and we should be set."

Maddox released a breath he didn't even realize he was holding before relaxing back into the chair as the kid stood up and left the room, he took a few deep breaths until the kid came back and handed him a pen and a few papers telling him where to sign so he did and soon they were both sitting in the kitchen as the kid poured both of them a glass of water.

"Alright so today my school was closed so if you have time I can take you to a few nearby stores so you can get furniture because I doubt you know the area much less the name of the city you've deiced to call home." Maddox nodded and dipped into his bag to pull out the small zip lock bag that held his money.

He had two hundred dollars along with the eighty bucks that Mary-Ann had given to him the night before, he couldn't afford any furniture was what he thought, he could feel the kid's eyes on him "yikes, the most you could get is probably a mattress, when do you get paid?" Maddox looked up at the sky as he thought about it "probably next Saturday because I just started working."

The kid nodded and sat back on his stool "okay we could get you a mattress and then you'll obviously need to set aside money for your transportation, but from what you told me you could just walk half an hour from here to the warehouse if you're looking to save and later down at the end of the month you could buy some more furniture and other necessities. But from what I know you've got it better than some ex- cons I know, someone took pity on you."

Maddox flinched at that and Mathew shook his head telling him it was a good thing otherwise he would end up homeless and maybe back in prison or dead in a ditch. Maddox was a bit taken a back by how blunt the kid was but he understood him so he didn't really think bad of him for it.

"What time do you need to be in to work" Mathew asked him looking at the watch he had on.

Maddox scratched his head and had to think hard before remembering "I think two o'clock or a bit earlier, to see about getting some working shirts." 

Mathew nodded at him and then got up signalling for him to follow "alright so we got about an hour and an half before it's time for you to go into work so lets go." Maddox got up and make quick steps to catch up the kid who was quick despite the fact that he was shorter than him "gimme a sec to get the car, don't need to be seen dragging a mattress down the street, oh and-" he listened to the kid whistle and Galaxy came running out the door before the kid locked it with the keys, he watched as he hooked a leash on the dog and then handed the leash to a surprised Maddox "my baby is smart he already figured you're one of us so he won't bite... unless I tell him to."

He watched the kid disappear down the street and then drove around the corner with a blue pickup truck, he got out and helped to get Galaxy into the backseat telling him to sit in the passenger seat, soon they were off after he clicked his seat belt in place, he watched in amazement as the short kid maneuvered the big truck without an issue, before they pulled up out side a large store.

He followed him out the truck and waited for him to grab the dog before he tied him under the shade and went inside, he followed the kid as he went up to a woman and asked for the most cheapest but comfortable mattress, the woman nodded and led them to a queen size mattress, Mathew talked to her for a minute and she smiled at him before she turned to walk away, Mathew turned towards him "two sixty is what I got it to, I guess you might be walking to work for the next week until you get paid."

Maddox nodded and gave his thanks and soon they were fetching the mattress out the store and loading it up into the back of the truck, when they were done they Got Galaxy in and went on there way "you need anything else before I drop you off at your work and you can consider this a one time thing." Maddox looked down at his ratted jeans and Mathew followed his gaze before nodding "alright there's a nice cheap store around by the warehouse you could get a pair before going in.

They went back to the house and dropped the mattress in his room before Mathew drove them to the store and helped Maddox to get a good jeans for fifteen bucks, Maddox now only had five dollars to his name but he would have to deal with it in the mean time, when they were finished he was dropped off at his work and watched as Mathew drove away before he headed in the building.

He headed straight for Mary-Ann's office, the woman was sitting behind her desk working on some documents when he entered and she raised up smiling at him "Hello Maddox I trust you're doing okay." Maddox nodded and she smiled getting up from her chair to come around to him, she looked at his dark blue jeans that fitted him close "those look good on you and they'll go well with your tops, let's go get your size."

He followed her out of her office and down a long hallway going into a very large room that held racks upon racks of blue t shirts, she went around his back causing him to spin around and she put her hand up in defense "just checking your size, okay?" Maddox nodded and was a bit reluctant but turned his back to her, he shivered when he felt her finger brush his skin before she pulled back and started going through the racks.

She eventually came out with a shirt and asked him to try it, it fit him perfectly but there was a bit of a problem, the sleeves were short so his arms were revealed, he watched as she went to another rack and came back with a white cotton long sleeved top and told him to wear that under his work shirt, soon he was dressed and off to start his shift.