Disclaimer: Not mines, anything mention here by name isn't mines. Except the OCs.

Thump Thump Thump

I hear a loud banging as I stir awake. I roll from my side to my back, yawn, and start scratching myself. I open my eyes to take a look around my room, before rolling back to my side and try to catch some more sleep.

Then I immediately bolted up out of bed.

Looking around my room I couldn't believe it, was I really home? I check every corner: my bed, my dresser, my TV, my desk, my desktop computer, my book shelf, my DVD collection, my X-Box, it was all here! Was that entire experience really have been a dream?

Thump Thump Thump

"Bryce? Bryce, get up and eat your breakfast before you end up late for first period!" I hear my mom call out. Could it really been her?

Getting up, I leave my room, head to the bathroom to wash up, before heading to the dining room and sure enough, she was there, sipping coffee and watching the morning news.

"Mom? Mom!" I exclaim as I ran up to her and grabbed her into a large bear hug.

"Whoa Bryce, what's gotten into you?" Mom asked me in surprise.

"I'm just so happy to see you, I though… nevermind." I told her. I didn't feel the need to go into detail right now, I was just happy to be home again.

Thump Thump Thump

Opening up the fridge, I get the milk out as well as the bagels and cream cheese spread. I put the bagels into the toaster as I grab a bowl from the cabinet, a spoon from the drawer, and a box of cereal from the food pantry.

"So, how was the party last night?" Mom asked me absent-mindedly.

"It was fun, I had a really great time." I told her as I pour the Applejack's into the bowl, "Mom, you won't believe the craziest dream I had last night."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," I told her after I finish pouring the milk and grab the bagels from the toaster, "I dream that I somehow has gone back in time to the fifties, and I had gotten beaten up by some mean guys, and was staying the night in some hotel. Like I said, crazy huh?"

"Oh that does sound crazy," She agreed with me, "Wanna know something crazier?"

"What?" I asked as I finish spreading the cream cheese and took a bite out of my bagel.

"That wasn't a dream" I almost chocked on my bagel.

"W-What?"

Thump Thump Thump

"That wasn't a dream, you really are stuck in the Fifties, this on the other hand, is all a dream." Mom explain to me.

What the hell was she talking about, and what was with that loud thumping I've heard since I've waken up?

"Hey! Hey!"

Jolting awake, I shout a 'What!'

"Breakfast is ready!" I heard the man from behind the door shout before hearing the sound of retreating footsteps. I rub the sleep from my eyes and look around the room for a minute: a bed, a dresser, a bath and shower, and an old lamp. That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks: this really is the hotel room I checked into last night. Oh fuck me, then it wasn't a dream, I really am in 1958! Groaning loudly, I get up, use the bathroom, wash my face and hands, and end to the dining room for breakfast.

It was a decent spread: some pancakes, some scramble eggs, some bacon, grits, and a pot of coffee. Grabbing a plate, I fix myself up before sitting down and digging into my food. I couldn't help not thinking back the dream, it felt so life-like, then I remember how I got here, that weird light that hit me. If it wasn't a dream, then how did I not remember what happen between leaving Derrick's place and suddenly ending up back in my room? I guess it's true what they said in that movie Inception, you don't always remember the in-between while in a dream, you're just there.

While I was eating, I couldn't stop thinking about how I got here, I was heading to Jimmy John's from Derrick's, that light hit me, and suddenly BOOM I'm here. That light, what was that light? Did aliens decide to send me back in time for some experiment or was it their idea of a joke? Maybe if I head back to where I first got here, I can find a clue as to how to get back room. Maybe this town has its own version of a Doc Brown I could talk to.

After finishing breakfast, I put the plate away with the others and head out the door into Castle Rock. Only 8 in the morning and already people were outside, some heading to work while I see kids my age and younger heading probably to school. Oh right school! I don't have my backpack with me or my supplies, then I remember I don't go to school here (yet?).

It took me maybe about 30 minutes before I made it to the outskirts of Castle Rock (The best thing about small towns? Everything within walking distance. The worst thing about small towns? Everything within walking distance), and then I started to look around. Not that I was sure what I was looking for, but hopefully something that can give me a clue as to how I got here. After wandering around aimlessly, I realized I wasn't gonna find anything and just decided to head back.

With only $22 dollars to my name right now, I realize that I had to think of a plan of action. Dad was always telling me that I needed to have a well, thought out plan whenever I'm going somewhere. Since I didn't plan to suddenly travel 8 decades into the past and there's a good chance I'm gonna be stuck here for quite a while, I realize that I needed to do something to survive. Sure everything here is super cheap, but even I know that my birthday money will dry up eventually and I only have the hotel room for 3 days and it's already day number 2. Will I have to get a job here? What places will hire a 16 year old? I never really work a job in my life: mow the lawn, babysit the neighbors' kids, help out in some church programs, but never a real get-paid-every-2-weeks job. Most of my friends had jobs: Derrick works at the movie theater, Steve got a job at the country club, Kenny washes dishes at this senior citizen meal place, Jake works at his uncle's ranch during the summer in Michigan, so I feel I know the ins and outs of how a job works. Also where am I gonna live? Like I said, I only have the hotel room for 3 days and it's the second day already! I don't know about you but I don't plan on sleeping outside somewhere in the park.

Maybe I could try heading to Chicago? Naw, even if I did somehow find a way over there, it be 1950s Chicago, plus my grandparents on my mom's side of the family as well as my mom didn't move to Chicago until the late 80s.

As I continue my trip into town, I remembered I was gonna buy some new clothes, so I looked around and came across a store. Once away, I couldn't believe how cheap everything was: 99 cents for a polo shirt, $2.98 for chino pants, $4.88 for a leather jacket. So I got two pairs of shirts, two pairs of pants, and the jacket and altogether it came to $14.84. As I exited the store, it hit me that, if I did my math right, I just paid $121.76 for a few pieces of clothes by my time's standards. Now that I had some clothes at least, I should probably start looking for a job now that I only have $7.36 left at this point.

"Shit," I said to myself, "How am I gonna get hired here? Do I need to have a résumé? Who do I use as a reference? And did they even take résumés back then?" But before I could continue talking to myself and have people think I've gone crazy, I bump into someone. "Augh, sorry man, I didn't se—hey, it's you! Gordie was it?" Turns out it really was little Gordie from yesterday, I guess school was letting out by now. The younger boy picked himself up and just stared at me for a few seconds before remembering it was me. I guess I didn't leave much of a impression here.

"Oh, hello." Gordie said, surprise to see me so soon.

"Hey," I said back, "Hey, if you see your dad or Denny, tell them thanks for pointing me to a hotel."

"Sure no problem." Was all he said. I see he wasn't the most talkative type. Feeling I had nothing better to do, I figure I walk with him, help kill some times. "So, where are you off to?" I asked him.

"Huh?" He asked back, guess he didn't expect me to stick around, "Oh I was gonna meet up with some friends of mines."

"Oh where?"

"I can't really tell you, it's a secret between all of us." 'Us' as in those friends of his.

"Oh." Was all I could say. God this kid seem to be shy, I wasn't gonna hurt him if that's what he's thinking. He kept walking in silence and turning to look at me, pausing to suck his cheek before speaking.

"Denny told me you ran away from home." What? Then I remembered that was my cover story I told him, well, actually I didn't tell him anything, I just let him think that.

"Uh, yeah I did. Yeah, I did run away from home." I said like it was something to be proud of.

"But why?" He inquired. Shit, this kid seems pretty smart.

'Uh…" I tried to think of something, "I guess I just needed a change of scenery is all."

"Ok," he said, seemingly believing me, "But why here? Castle Rock isn't exactly New York or California or Texas."

Kid, I knew just as much about why I ended up here as you did.

"Uh… just I like the small town life. I always thought it was cool. Quaint little houses, everybody knowing everybody," I thought off the top of my head. "Hey, I know this is gonna sound weird, but do you know any places in town that are hiring?"

Gordie was clearly surprise by this question but before he could answer, a new voice had cut into our conversation.

"Hey Gordo!" We both looked and saw another kid running towards us. He looked the same age at Gordie, but slightly older in appearance. He had short blond hair and the most piercing blue eyes I've ever seen, as well as a light tan to him.

"Hey Chris!" Gordie called back to him before the boy (Chris) ran up to us and slung a arm around Gordie. "Hey man."

"Hey Gordie, I… uh" Chris paused as he looked over me, probably just noticing I was here, "Can I talk you… alone?" Chris said the last part while looking over at me. I got the message, I wasn't welcome here.

"Well Gordie, I see you're obviously busy, so I'll see you around. Tell your brother I said 'Hi'." I told him as I left him to be with his friend. I had only take a few steps before I heard him call out to me.

"Hey, wait, Bryce was it?" Gordie asked as he ran up to me. I nodded. "The market down the street is looking for a cashier. It's not much, but it's something."

I flashed the biggest smile on my face.

"Aw, thanks kid, I appreciate it, don't think I don't." I told him as I gave him pat on the back and watch as him and his friend left, no doubt talking privately about who I was and how did I know Gordie.

"And this is where you will be station." The manager, who's name was Jerry, told me as he showed me around the store. "So how good are you in math?" He asked me. Shit, I suck at math!"

"Uh, pretty good, not amazing but good." I told him. He squinted one eye at me but seem to accept the answer.

"Ok, so as I was saying, this is where you will be station" He told me as he showed me the mechanical cash register (a mechanical cash register!), "You will look at every price and punch it into the machine. For produce, you will have to weight it, type in the weight, and then type in the price. Since you're new, it will take you some time to get use to it, but once you got it, you will be good to go. Any questions?"

"No Sir." I told him.

"Ok, so you will be paid every two weeks. Most prefer checks but we can give it you the money in an envelope. Also don't call me 'Sir', it's just Jerry." He explained.

"Ok Si—I mean Jerry." I corrected myself.

"Good, I expect you here tomorrow at 8 AM." Jerry told me.

"I will be there."

Ok, at least I have a job down, now to find a new place to live.

A/N: Christ, it's been really long time, hasn't it? XD