I really am a glutton for punishment ain't I? Wasn't looking for a fight or anything, kinda just walked in on something I wasn't supposed to see, got a bit of cold feet, and took a punch to the noggin…

THUD!!!

Good thing I landed in a pile of garbage to soften my fall! Not to mention get me out of the daze of being punched with its hideous smell. Shooting myself back up on my feet as my assaulter took a second to revel at my misfortune.

"Least you can shit ya pants without me knowing now!" he mocked putting up his dukes.

The bugger was an arrogant one… good. Making sure to look like the punch did more than it actually did, I greeted his stance with a stance of my own. Was slouching a bit but it worked at gloating his confidence as I made sure to block a good amount of his blows. A hook blocked by my elbow was more than enough to shut down one of his hands as I stepped forward to swing straight at his mug.

As if on cue the lad put up his arms to block the hit only for the recoil to never come. The look he had was kinda funny really, one of those missing a step downstairs faces ya know? Made sure to remember it as I pulled back and struck him in the gut. I think I actually lifted him up a bit! Course it could just be the adrenaline giving me a bit of a boost too, but lemme have my moment okay?

The bugger's on all fours now and it lo- oh no he vomited…

"Shucks, did ya have to vomit right on my shoes?" I asked taking a step back from the splash zone,

"Hnng- Fuck you."

…I was justified in shoving the fudge face in the garbage. After maybe or maybe not getting in an extra punch or two… course nobody's gonna find out.

Sadly, my little side quest was well over a few minutes. Not to mention I smell like a dumpster now… Oh well. Eggs ain't gonna buy themselves now ain't they? Jogging into the mini-mart I made sure to beeline it for the eggs only for a text telling me to grab a few more things. Thankfully nothing the cash ma gave me couldn't cover. The clerk definitely didn't like the sight of me though, especially the smell, let her keep the change as a "please don't think I'm homeless" sign before booking it back home.

Found that our little friend from before was still fumbling in the garbage… "Oi, you okay?" I quietly questioned, nudging him a bit as he seemed to come to. "Hng… what?"

"I'm asking if ya okay? Looks like ya slipped and fell in some trash," a bit of a lie but a white one at least, "I… I guess I did." garbage thug replied after a minute, took a second for him to get back on his feet but I couldn't tell if he was lying or not. "Well, either way, you should probably head home. Get in a shower too yeah?" I added in an ironic tone, watching the guy scurry on off as I made my own way home.

S M A C K

"Why the hell did you take the alleyway?!" Mama rang as she put on her shoe again, between you and me, that flip-flop probably hits harder than the punch I took earlier. Mama angrily taking the eggs as she waited for my answer.

"It was closer…?" I meekly replied bracing for a potential slap only for ma to just sigh and shoo me off.

"Just give everyone their things… and head straight to the shower."

Couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, thank you garbage! With the relief of not getting a second smacking, I made my way to the living room and tossed my pa his bag of almonds and lil bro his chocolate milk, me making sure to rush for my room to-

"Beck, why do you smell like garbage?" pa asks, interrupting my escape as I slowly turned to show the stinging red flip-flop mark on my face. "Got into a scuffle on the way to the mart." Pa took a sec to process the comment, "It was self-defense." he'd shoo me off after the added comment as I scurried into the shower.

Took my time in the shower, not to really wash off the stench of the garbage but mainly just contemplate a few things.

Fried Rice. Fried Rice was dinner. Mean it ain't anything really I'd hate but it kinda seemed a bit bland compared to the curry she made yesterday. "Thanks for the grub," Finishing my plate and another I put up my dishes before heading back into my room.

. . .

Beginning to think that punch did a whole lot more than it should've really… then again it did launch me into a pile of garbage so maybe it didn't. Either way, my head is killing me and I'm tired. Heading to the living room I drained a glass of water before going back to my room.

. . .

Only for my room not to be there. Looking back, the living room wasn't there either… instead, I was in a forest of sorts, a rather thick one too with trees for miles n miles on end. Something calling out to me as I did my best to try and listen to what and or who was calling.

"Becket?" A familiar tone called out, breaking the silence as I blinked back into reality, "Wh- Shinji?" I replied with a confused tone before noticing the water on the floor. "...You okay Beck?" Shinji questioned as he looked at me with a reasonably concerned expression. "Ye-Yeah must've zoned out for a sec was all."

Took a minute to wipe up my puddle before I properly got to actually drinking my second glass of water. Shinji was heading to bed before deciding to do the same, minus the spilling the water part of course.

No idea what that forest was, especially if that was something caused by that little zone out of mine. Taking a sec to get in some before bed stretches, I'd get to sleeping quick. For once I had quite a bit of an understandable dream. Was back in that forest from before, not as thick but still the condensed wall of trees and bushes that prevented any sense of sight of the world outside. Either way might as well enjoy the scenery right?

The only real gripe was how quiet the place was, no birds chirping or critters crittering or anything. Just the sounds of me stomping away in an aimless direction. "Nothing?! Not a thing?" I'd jokingly asked my surroundings as I twirled about in my aimlessness. The one time I can get a grasp of my dreams and all I have is a bunch of trees… Then again it's probably my brain's limit, at least I got enough brainpower to process that I'm dreaming. As I walked around I found myself getting rather anxious, was this really all? Buncha trees and grass? I even tried to imagine some chirping or music but was greeted with nothing but silence… "This even a dream?" I mean of course it was! But I should at least have enough control to make something happen, right? I have enough brainpower to process the thing so why can't I make anything happen? Heck, I'm not even on any of that their dream pills or drugs so this isn't a trip… I think. So why is it just trees?

Defeated, I found myself just lying on the floor staring up at the treetops. Not even a dash of sunlight… least I'll eventually get up after a while. Maybe I'll need to pee or something, it's a Sunday so my alarm will eventually go off and get me up by the latest. Shucks, I really hope I don't piss myself…

. . .

Hmm? Somethings poking at me… did I really fall asleep in my own darn dream? Is that even possible? Jolting up from my nap I found I was still in the forest. To my side is an old granny with a staff, "Are you okay?" she questioned as I turned to greet the new face, "Wha? Mean I'm still kickin so yeah…" guess my brain decided to add in something other than trees for once.

"Shucks, what happened?"

"I'd like to ask you that actually, nobody's been around these parts for years. Well, aside from me." Granny countered as I got myself on to my feet, now that she did ask, what would I reply with? I know I'm still dreaming and all but I can't just flat out break her reality now can I?

"I uh… got lost."