What the Future has for Us -- Renee Rapp fiction

Chapter 72 - PARANOÏA

A.N

Hiii, I'm sorry I'm posting at such a random hour ... 

Also ! This is the return of DRAMA (I know some of you are happy about it)

Our babies were too happy. I had to do something and made things interesting.

Listen to Paranoia by The Marias after this chapter because

1- it's a great song and

2- well read the chapter to find out ...

Oh and also I've been making one playlist a month for almost 2 years now. Are any of you interested in me sharing those ?

Byyee, M

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... February 8th... Renee is in Seattle – Week three of the tour

Max's POV

It's been three weeks since Renee left for tour and the long distance dynamic is already starting to be bad.

The first week was fine—sweet texts that made me smile, late-night calls where we'd fall asleep together on the phone, video chats... But now, I find myself staring at my phone, hoping for a notification that never comes. We still text every day, and call whenever but I don't know. I feel like something is missing. No matter how often we talk, it's never enough. I'm not enough.

I tossed my phone onto the couch after yet another unanswered call to Renee. It's been tough lately to find a time when we're both available—she's always in a different city, a different time zone, and our schedules seem to clash more than they align.

She promised she'd call me after the show tonight, but it's been hours, and nothing. My texts are sitting there, unread ...

I know she's busy, but still... I can't shake the feeling that something's off. Or maybe it's just me....

I sigh, staring at the ceiling of the living room. Willow is sitting across from me on the couch, her eyes flicking between me and my abandoned phone. She's been watching me unravel for days, trying to be supportive without pushing too hard. Tonight, though, she's had enough.

"Come on, we're going out tonight," she says, trying to pull me from my thoughts.

I hesitate, glancing at my phone one more time. "I don't know, Wil. I'm not really in the mood."

She frowns, then softens. "Come on, Max. You're overthinking this. You know how tours are. She's probably just tired or caught up in some after-party stuff."

"Yeah, maybe,"

Willow gives me a sympathetic smile, squeezing my knee before letting go. "Look, sitting here and staring at your phone isn't going to make her call any faster. Let's get out of the house, have a few drinks, and distract ourselves for a while. If she calls, she calls. But you don't have to torture yourself like this in the meantime."

I nod slowly, forcing a small smile. "Okay, let's go out. But if she calls..."

Willow cuts me off with a playful eye roll. "If she calls, I'll make sure you have your phone. But for now, let's just focus on having a good time, alright?"

I agree and we spend the next half hour getting ready. I took a shower, got dressed in an actual outfit and not the sweatpants I was wearing before and we went out to a bar we like.

After a few drinks, we started talking with a group of people who turned out to be friends of Willow's friends. I didn't really catch who was connected to who, but they were nice enough, and for a while, I managed to lose myself in the easy conversation and laughter.