Rising Above: The Luh Tyler Chronicles

Lost in the Beat, Lost in thought (extened)

The beat was solid. Technically, it had all the right elements—tight snares, a heavy bassline, and a melody that should've hooked him. But it didn't. Tyler sat in front of his keyboard, eyes closed, trying to feel the music. Yet, every time he tried to vibe with it, his thoughts drifted back to Kayla.

It was getting worse. Every attempt at finishing the track was met with an image of her sitting across from him at the coffee shop, her dark curls falling over her face as she focused on her sketchbook. He could almost hear her voice, that playful tone in her words when she'd called him out for staring.

Tyler ran a hand through his hair, leaning back in frustration. "Get it together, man," he muttered to himself, but it was no use. He hadn't been able to focus for days now.

A loud buzz pulled him out of his thoughts. His phone lit up with a text from Reggie, his producer.

Yo, you coming through the studio later? Need to lay down that track.

Tyler stared at the screen. He knew he was supposed to be there, but the pressure of creating something when his mind was this cluttered felt impossible. His thumb hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he typed back: Yeah, I'll be there soon.

But he wasn't ready. He couldn't walk into that studio knowing that his mind was somewhere else. Worse, he couldn't show up and hand Reggie something half-baked, especially when this track was supposed to be a big one.

Tyler stood up, pacing again. Music used to flow out of him like second nature, but now it felt like pulling teeth. All because of a girl he'd barely known for a week. What was it about her that had him so twisted up?

He thought about texting her. Every time he opened his phone, her name sat there, staring at him like a challenge. He had a million excuses ready: ask about her art, see if she wanted to hang out again, maybe even ask her opinion on his track. But each time, he chickened out, afraid of what might happen if she knew how much space she was taking up in his head.

Tyler walked to the window, looking out at the street below. A few kids were playing basketball on the corner, their laughter rising above the distant hum of traffic. He used to be out there with them, balling until the streetlights came on. Now he felt like he was stuck in a loop, trapped between his music and this growing, undeniable pull toward Kayla.

His phone buzzed again—this time, his sister.

Mom says dinner at 7. Don't be late this time.

Family dinner. He'd almost forgotten. Normally, he'd be at the studio working, but lately, even his family noticed he wasn't himself. Last time, his mom had asked him if everything was okay, her worried eyes lingering on him longer than usual.

How could he explain it? That the music wasn't flowing because all he could think about was this girl who, in the span of a week, had him questioning everything?

Tyler grabbed his jacket, slipping it on before heading out the door. Maybe some fresh air would clear his head. As he walked through the streets, his mind raced, replaying every moment he'd spent with Kayla. He found himself wandering back toward the coffee shop where they'd met, the memory of her smile pulling him in like gravity.

He stopped a few feet from the door, hands stuffed into his pockets. What was he even doing here? It wasn't like he'd run into her again by chance. But still, his feet had brought him here, like they knew something his mind refused to admit. Kayla was becoming more than just a distraction. She was turning into an obsession.

And that scared him.