Chapter 1
Chapter 1: “I Can’t Keep This Secret Anymore!”
It was 3:00 AM on the dot when Cooper found himself standing in front of Arshak’s house, holding a 6-month-old protein bar—one that should have been crumbling into dust but instead looked brand new. His wild ideas had reached an all-time high. He had to tell Arshak. He had no choice.
He banged on the door with far more enthusiasm than any reasonable person should at this hour. He could hear Arshak grumbling from inside.
“Cooper, if you’re here to tell me your ridiculous conspiracy theory about why we’re stuck in the same day over and over, I swear I’m not going to—”
Cooper cut him off with a dramatic flourish. “Arshak, my friend, we’re stuck in a time loop. I have proof. Actual proof!”
Arshak opened the door with a look that could only be described as a mix of annoyance and confusion, his messy hair and sleepy eyes making him look like he’d been hit with the full brunt of a wrecking ball. “Dude, it’s 3:00 AM. I was sleeping. And you’re holding a protein bar? Are you… Are you about to eat that?”
“No! No!” Cooper exclaimed, flapping his arms as if he could physically shove the explanation into Arshak’s brain. “This isn’t just any protein bar. It’s a time anomaly!”
Arshak raised an eyebrow. “It’s expired.”
“Exactly!” Cooper said, as if this made perfect sense. “It expired six months ago. But look at it! It’s as fresh as the day it was made. This is proof, Arshak. We are stuck in a time loop, and this—this protein bar—is the only thing that’s not following the rules of time. It’s proof!”
Arshak stared at him for a moment, deadpan. “Cooper, I’m really trying not to be sarcastic right now, but… are you out of your mind? It’s just a protein bar. That’s all. Six months doesn’t magically get erased because of some time loop. Maybe it’s just some weird marketing trick.”
“No! No! You don’t get it, Arshak,” Cooper said, now pacing back and forth. “I’ve been calculating! We are stuck in May 4, 2005, for the last 20 years. The protein bar is proof that something is wrong. Time is broken, and I know how to fix it.”
Arshak was rubbing his temples, the weight of impending madness heavy on his shoulders. “Cooper, I’m going to bed. You’ve been losing it for a while now, and I just need—”
“No! Wait, listen! If we don’t act soon, we’re going to waste another year in this loop. You’re not going to get to relive your favorite Taco Bell order. We need to do something. We need to fly to Hawaii. It’s the only way to break it. Hawaii!”
“Hawaii?” Arshak blinked, utterly perplexed. “Are you out of your mind? I’m not getting on a plane. You’re literally asking me to get on a flying metal tube and trust that we won’t plummet to our deaths. You know what the chances of dying on a plane are? I Googled it. I’m not going to Hawaii, Cooper.”
“But Hawaii is the key!” Cooper’s voice was full of unshakable certainty. “Hawaii is where it all started, I just know it. We have to break free of this loop, and I’m telling you, the only way is to take a plane to Hawaii and—”
Arshak crossed his arms, clearly preparing for a battle. “I’m not flying anywhere, Cooper. Not even if you bribe me with a year’s supply of protein bars that don’t make sense!”
Cooper put his hands on his hips, staring up at Arshak as if he were the world’s greatest hero. “Okay, Arshak, you may not understand this now, but trust me: Hawaii is the key. We’re going to break the loop. I’m not leaving without you.”
Arshak let out a deep, exhausted sigh. “Alright, alright, fine. But I swear, if I get on that plane and we’re stuck in some future time loop where people wear glowing pants and talk in text speak, I’m never speaking to you again. And I’m bringing earplugs.”
Cooper beamed, his absurd confidence shining through. “That’s the spirit! We’re going to break the loop, buddy. Time won’t know what hit it. But first, I’m going to find my Hawaiian shirt.”
Arshak closed the door behind him with a tired groan. “And I’m going to need a nap... because this day has already gone off the rails. Again.”
End of Chapter 1
