I'm pretty 'proud' of my recent chapters title. So I'll def. share. It's romance. I've been enjoying writing this one.
I'm gonna write a lot. No one has to read this, lol. I'm just excited to summarise what I've been working on I guess. I really like this so far.
Summary, Alexi have been stuck in a timeloop for almost three years now. Not knowing if he'll ever get out, he tries to fill his days with anything to move along. Mostly reading, playing music, and whatever else he can think of. Unfortunately for the set of characters, the day of the loop they are stuck in happens to be in the middle of a tropical storm. So everyday, it rains, for the last three years of their memories.
Ch. 1 | Ongoing Storm (Cause, yeah)
It sets up the story, and introduces the 'main' conflict. Alexi having far moved from his relationship but unable to end the relationship with his partner. Though initially, he had tried to wait it out until the loop stops. Time keep on passing for him, and she had stayed the same. So he had inevitably grown past her.
Though the loop isn't all terrible. Alexi was mostly a pop artist on YouTell, his foster mother is a soloist and it's a musical family. But he never really got past the basic of violin of just making good sound. Within the loop, he had a lot of time, and not much to do with it. So he 'practised' a lot and often visit his old home to get feedback and advise from his mom. He does that mostly for conversations though, not to get better, that's just extra.
Most of the times, Ava is already asleep, but some reason, she comes downstair to talk to her boyfriend. Which Alexi doesn't really want to talk. Ava sensing something is wrong confronts him, and they break up, again. He explains the loop to her like before. And she declares tomorrow, they'll go get him a CAT scan and everything he needs to make sure everything is alright. Alexi shares he already had all that done before in one of the day of the loop. But she remains persistent.
The day end with her asking him not to give up on them even if everything he's saying is true. He didn't hear what else she has to say, he doesn't really care, it's been too much time since. He knows the relationship is long over. It's just unfortunate that if tomorrow ever does come, that's when Ava is finally able to try to move on, though he already has.
Ch. 2 | Clear Blue Sky (GET IT, CAUSE, IT"S ALWAYS RAINING. WOW I"M CLEVER, JOKE JOKE)
This chapter shows the basic routine Alexi goes through everyday to try to stay sane until he's out of the loop. The feeling of having some control over his life by what he chooses to wear and the fashion sense he picked up. As the title suggests, he wants to see something other than rain today. So he takes a 7 hours drive to the next state over along the coastline to see it. Not bothering to return home for the day as he'll just wake up on the floor of his new home as soon as the time hits.
Anytime a character is introduced in a book, I think it's 'too obvious', and I tried to make it as... not obvious as I can. By introducing another loop character playing a public piano, which Alexi had seen many times before, and the "Melodies fly over his head." I tried to dilute the introduction by getting readers to focus on the aspect of how he perceives everyone else. He doesn't bother to interact with anyone 'cause it had become depressing.
The chapter goes on showing the clear mundane boredom of not having anything 'worthwhile' to do within the loop. A week later, he does stop and listen to the girl playing the public piano, as he had before. This time she's playing Liszt's Love Dream No. 3, which is a bit of a flashy piece on some of the passage. He silently applaud for her afterwards, trying to remember if she had always been that good. He starts to walk away.
But she stops him, and strikes the first conversation. Asking what he thinks of her rendition. He says he doesn't know much about piano, but he recognise the piece cause a friend of his really likes it, that and it's pretty popular as one of Liszt nocturne set,.The girl mentions she had heard him play before and would like to hear him play again, suggesting he should since there's nothing going on right now anyway.
Following her up, he plays a Consolation piece, also Liszt. It's an 'easier' piece, but music isn't about playing fast or flashy. It's about connecting to the music itself and understanding what is being played. These are both romantic pieces, he thinks about his past relationship for the emotions he wants to convey. She applaud for him afterward and asks if he knew the piece. He mentions the name and no. Which she laughs and say, it's no.3 as well.
He had a fun time and mentions he should get going, it was nice to meet her. He walks off again. But she stops him, being persistent, suggesting that she has nothing else to do for the day and wonders if they could spend some time together. He initially thought against it, but she convinces him. After having a fun day, she asks to exchange numbers, which everything will reset tomorrow anyway, so he doesn't care. She asks if she can call him later, or if he would. He says it's alright if she wants to call later.
She does, and they talk about the day and various other nonsense to pass the time. Not knowing how many hours have passed, but she does, noticing the day is close to an end. She asks him to call her tomorrow, to not forget about her. Which he says sure, whatever. The day resets.
The loop begins again, he follows his routine again. Going to his favourite place this time to spend his day, the overexpose skylight library. The piano girl walks up to him and sees him ever so focused on book. She gets his attention and says something like. Didn't think you'd forget me so fast. He asks if he knew her, to which she laughs and talks about the day they had just spent together. Realising he's not totally alone in the loop, he's overwhelmed.
The chapter end with some line like. Her entrance is no less than a lightning bolt out of a clear blue sky.
Ch. 3 | Lightning Bolt (READERS GET IT. haha)
This chapter. I think. is. 'most interesting' and a bit meh. It explains the time before the previous chapter. Introduces two new characters that is the piano girl's friends, and readers get to find out that piano girl isn't. errrrrr.
It starts off with piano girl hanging out with her friends, being excited about how Alexi had listened to her play today, and even waved at her. But he didn't talk to her. Piano girl thinks she's making progress. But her friends is tired of hearing her talk about Alexi, and just wants her to get it over with and talk to him. Piano girl wants him to strike the first conversation though. Her friends think that's a terrible idea and it wont' happen because piano girl have a clear advantage. She knows about the loop.
They remind her yet again, that from Alexi's perspective, he's all alone in the loop so he won't talk to anyone really. If they're going to talk, piano girl will have to be the one to strike the conversation. But piano girl dismisses the idea. Thinking he'll eventually talk to her. She even got way better at piano in the process of trying to get his attention. One of her friend says she should just have some confidence, to which she replies it has nothing to do with confidence. Her other friend adds that it has to do with fantasy. Which piano girl confirms and laughs.
Her two friends grow impatient, and gives her a deadline, otherwise they'll tell Alexi themselves that he's not alone in the loop. Since it's not good for him to think so being stranded from the rest of the group. Piano girl gives in and says she'll talk to him soon, given the 3 days deadline. she has two more tries.
One of her friend mentions it's a bit creepy to go there everyday just to try to get his attention. To which she laughs and say her friend doesn't understand anything. Her friend shares that she definitely don't understand how piano girl can love someone so much and put all that effort in when she barely knows him. Piano girl clarifies that she doesn't love him, she loves the fantasy of being in love with him. and that once they talk, that possible fantasy will be all over, and it'll start to be reality. (OOF, I really like this moment, they do get bored in the loop haha)