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Happy Halloween!  I’m excited to be writing this as a healthy (though tired) individual.  Covid was no joke, but I’m happy to report that I’m feeling 99% better.  Thankfully, I don’t have any of the lingering systems everyone talks about in the news.  I just have some mild congestion that could just be allergy related.

Either way, yay!  But also, please be careful out there.  It’s flu season and Covid season now…

I’m happy to stay at home for the time being.  Apparently, venturing out of my safety zone is a horrible idea.  That means more writing and other personal endeavors - lately, those personal endeavors have been taking up more of my time.  I’m currently in a ‘self progress’ phase.  That’s not the right term…self advancement?   Self improvement!  That’s the word.

I’m in a self improvement kick, so I’ve been reading some books and taking some training courses to expand my knowledge.  I’m also transitioning into a new work role, which is taking quite a bit of mental energy, plus tackling some lingering house/life tasks I’ve put off for too long.  I actually have to go to physical therapy next week for a back issue…the joys of aging!  First time needing physical therapy, too, but I can hardly drive without some back pain.  Self-driving cars still seem a ways off, so I should probably get it fixed on my own!

In terms of writing, I’ve been slowly making my way through Queens of Remnant.  I’d forgotten what a beefy story that is…Google Docs won’t even let me store it all in one document, so I split it into four pieces (just like What Defines Us!).  I split it into smaller pieces so my computer doesn’t lag while I’m trying to edit.  It’s pretty frustrating when you click, then count to ten, then see your cursor move!

The story’s in good shape, overall!  I’m hoping to get through it twice before the time comes to start posting it.  I have some vacation time soon, so that should help me make a substantial dent in the work.  Although the holidays are coming up too…

We’ll make it through, like we always do!  In the meantime…let’s talk about one of my favorite chapters of Waiting (on You) - Ghira Belladonna’s birthday party!

I love this chapter because of Kali.  She’s such a joy to write, especially when she gets to tease and royally embarrass Blake.  I especially loved that the embarrassment ratcheted up throughout the chapter.  At first, she’s just insisting that Blake and Yang let her take a photo of them.  Then she comes right out and says that Yang should take Blake out on a date sometime.  Then, just when you think Kali couldn't possibly embarrass Blake even further, we learn that she’s been telling coworkers that Yang is her daughter-in-law.

Honestly, I had too much fun with her.  That’s also why this chapter ended up being extra long.  Well, that and there was a lot to cover!

One reason I really wanted to bring Kali into the story is to give Yang the mother figure she’s always yearned for.  Kali is like…Yang’s surrogate mom.  And I just loved showing how much Kali adores Yang, and how much Yang adores Kali, and how embarrassed Blake is with the entire thing (but she also loves seeing it).

This was my not-so-subtle way of showing that Blake is everything Yang’s looking for - she even comes with the parental figure Yang wishes that she’d had!

I think Kali knows exactly what’s going on between Blake and Yang, and she’s absolutely meddling.  I wonder if Blake has come right out and told her mom how much she likes Yang or if she insists that they’re just friends.  I like to believe that Blake hedges around the issue without lying and Kali knows not to come right out and ask what’s going on…yet.  You best believe that’s on the horizon though.  Kali only has so much patience before she wants that daughter-in-law label to be true.

Yang and Kali are a match made in heaven.  They go shopping together.  They gossip together.  They talk about Blake together.  And they stir up drama between the neighborhood association together.  Kali might win story MVP just for that, I swear.  And the way Yang plays into it without even being told what to do…marvelous.  They had those two association presidents up in arms in no time!

I’m sad we didn’t get to personally witness the inevitable meltdown, but rest assured that it was glorious and Kali was laughing the entire time.  Well, internally laughing.  Externally, she probably has as good of a poker face as I imagine Blake does.  I’m still pretty proud of the insults I came up with (that Blake tells us about in the next chapter.  ‘Dumb-hatted imposter’ makes me smile every time I read it.

If you’ve ever had an unpleasant experience with an HOA or other type of association before, I hope you enjoyed this little moment.  Some people take those roles a little too seriously…and I’m sure we all wish we could get a little payback as sneakily as Kali.  Sow the seeds of discontent…sit back and watch the fireworks.

Meanwhile, Yang remains oblivious.  She needs to wake up and realize that she’s basically one step away from her happily-ever-after.  She’s also one step away from marriage if she wants it.  All she needs to do is pick a wedding date!

Unfortunately…I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.  Besides Kali providing the humor and sparkle, Yang manages to get herself into a pickle that only gets worse in Chapter 8.  You could probably feel some of Blake’s frustration during certain moments in this chapter, and also how she sometimes protects herself by reminding Yang of her mountain of ‘not-girlfriends’ when Yang’s being too flattering.

I think it’s fair for Blake to love the attention some days but shy away from it on others.  This is definitely one of the days she’s not super receptive of their current situation.  Being around her parents probably doesn’t help, especially if Kali is subtly teasing her about it behind the scenes.  I can only imagine the types of comments Kali makes to Blake in private!

So Blake’s not in the best of moods, but she’s still as in love with Yang as ever.  You just know her imagination went off the deep end when Yang suggested that they sneak off together.  And when Sun shows up, she’s excited to introduce Yang to him.  Even in the next chapter, you can feel how excited she is - not about dating Sun or anything like that, but just to introduce her high school friend to her…her not-girlfriend!  She has that, “Look at this amazing girl who dotes all over me.  Isn’t she great?  Don’t you think she’s great too?”

Yang misinterprets this big time.

You knew that jealousy was going to pop up at one point, right?  I feel like that’s pretty much guaranteed in a friends-to-lovers story.  Someone has to threaten the status quo.  Someone who could potentially steal the love interest away!

Sun was the obvious choice for Blake, but imagine if I’d used Adam.  That would have had a very different tone.  Meeting Adam would probably trigger Yang’s protective side in a heartbeat.  She wouldn't get jealous, she would go into mother-bear mode and be determined to keep him as far away from Blake as possible.  Sun’s harmless and flirty!

If you noticed though, he doesn’t really listen to Blake.  He just talks and makes jokes and flirts with her.  He’s a good friend, but there are reasons why she’s not romantically interested in him.  Of course, Yang assumes they’re getting married and her way of life is over.  Because of course she would.

I made an effort to show in Chapter 8 how much she’s struggling with her internal conflict though.  She really wants to be a good friend, and she knows that a good friend shouldn’t be jealous or react the way she did.  She has yet to connect all the dots from jealousy to romantic interest, but she’s at least somewhat introspective.

They’re right there, and if she would only admit to Blake that she got jealous, the story would probably end here.  Right?  That’s why Blake’s pressing her so hard to just say what’s really bothering her.  Blake has to know or suspect that Yang got jealous of Sun (which she thinks is ridiculous because clearly she’s in love with Yang).  And if Yang would admit it, then they could have The Conversation.

“Ok, I might’ve gotten…a little jealous of Sun.”

“Why were you jealous?”

*This is where Yang clams up, as usual, so Blake has to take the lead.*

“Does it bother you to imagine me dating someone else?” she could ask.

“Uh, yeah, I guess so.  But don’t worry, I’m fine now.  You can date anyone you want!”

“But shouldn’t we talk about why you feel that way?”

Arg…even in my imaginary conversation, Yang keeps trying to slip her way out of this!  I guess that just means she’s not ready yet.  Which she’s not.  She’s almost there, but she’s fooled herself into delusion.  Blake even tells her, “Here’s how to tell if I like someone,” and she still doesn’t connect the dots.

Chapter 8 actually hurts though.  This is the first time Yang actually does something truly stupid.  Blake was so sweet too!  She comes over to take care of Yang, even bringing Yang’s favorite soup (plus birthday cake - a girl after my own heart), yet Yang went and set up a date already.  Not just any date either - a date with Mel!

If you’ve read The Lie, you probably remember Mel - the sorority girl/evil villain determined to date Model!Yang.  This is a different version of her, but also kind of the same?  You might also remember that Blake mentioned her in Chapter 3 in a “who’s next on your call list?” way and Yang said, “Mel?  God no.”  Haha well…apparently that didn’t work out well.

So, not only did she make plans when she told Blake that she was sick, but she made plans with someone who Blake obviously doesn’t like or approve of in some way.  I have to say though…Mel’s reaction to seeing Blake made me like her a little more.  Like…she knows that they’re in love with each other yet has no problem going out with Yang?  She’s just kind of like *shrug* about the whole thing.

Makes me wonder why they stopped seeing each other the first time - besides Yang’s lack of interest in going on more than a few dates with the same person, of course.  She says that Mel being ‘weird’ about Blake was one of the reasons why they stopped talking, so I bet Mel would make comments about it and it made Yang feel uncomfortable.  Or she’s just like, “Of course we’re not in love with each other.  What are you talking about?”

Yang messed up though.  Not only did she get caught in a lie to Blake, but then she went and invited over someone who Blake has a negative opinion of.  Or maybe Blake’s upset that Yang’s going out with Mel again, in a ‘didn’t she already get her shot?’ type of way.

Don’t worry, Blake.  Your time’s coming!  You might just have to wait through more of Yang’s idiot moments before it arrives.  But that’s part of her charm, right?  (I’m trying to reassure her, but Yang owes her big time once this is all over.)

We’re over 30% of the way through the story now, so lots more to come!  Plenty of opportunity for Yang to grovel, then maybe mess up again, and grovel again, and eventually come to her senses.  There’s some good stuff in store for us.  I can’t wait!


Until next time,

Miko

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