strings that snap | larry

four

"You just saw me a few days ago." Jeanie said, mild concern in her voice. 

"But I've missed everyone so much." He says, holding her at arm's length and smiling. "How's life back home?

"Not the same without you there."

"So you do know exactly what I want to hear." He laughs. "Why're you still standing at the door, come on in."

"Maybe it's because someone wouldn't let me through the door." She punches him playfully in the arm before coming in and shutting the door behind her.

Every Victor had been to Louis' suite a thousand times before.

"Want a drink, Jeanine?" He says, rummaging through the fridge like he was doing only an hour before. She spots that half empty bottle of alcohol on the table and looks at him with a tad bit of concern.

"No, I think I'll have water." 

"No fun," He pouts, grabbing a glass and filling it with tap water. "Haymitch should be here soon." They were an unstoppable trio really.

"I haven't seen him in so long." Jeanine says, taking a sip of her water. "It'll be great unless you two go and get drunk again."

"But what's the fun in being sober?" It was a loaded question and he knew the answer. He knew there wasn't any fun in feeling pain. "Who's escorting you tomorrow?"

"Some old politician, nothing new. You?" She gets up and tries to find something to snack on.

"Eleanor." Louis huffs like a child. 

"Thought you told me that she saved your ass the other night." Jeanine finds oddly flavored crackers in his cupboard and begins analyzing the ingredients. 

Louis takes another drink of his alcohol before crossing his arms. "That doesn't change the fact that I don't like her." He's being childish but sometimes he feels like he can't help it. Maybe if he had met the girl under different circumstances...scratch that. He was pretty sure if he ever met anyone from that Capitol it'd be hate at first sight. 

"Maybe you should lay down." Jeanine suggests, wanting nothing but for him to calm down a bit. He got riled up so easy.

"That's all I've done the past few days." 

"Okay, new plan." She tries to think. He knows there are only so many things to do. It strikes her then. "Let's have a chat."

"But-" He lets out a hopeless noise.

"Louis." Her voice is firm. "We need to talk." He knows there is no use in arguing with the lady though.

"Okay," He grabs his wine glass and they head to the couch.

Jeanine knows not to ask him if he was okay because the answer was always no. "You've got to be more careful." Is all she says.

The discussion spirals from there. "Be more careful. I know, I know. But you've messed up. Yes dear, I know how you hate hearing that." She goes on and on and for every defense Louis has, she has a rebuttal. 

For someone who asked for straight answers, Louis had trouble handling the truth.

****

Louis is asleep again. It feels like he has wasted away the past few days. What wakes him up this time isn't the television. It's a knock at the door. Before he can scramble to get it like he usually does, Jeanine pats his shoulder and stands up to get it herself.

He wanted to scream because that was his job and his house and who enters was his choice.

Louis doesn't care as much when it's Haymitch on the other side.

"Hotshot!" Haymitch throws his hand up in the air. "Get your ass off the couch. We've got trouble to make."

Jeanine gives him a stern look and he just glares back. They're all like a system of checks and balances. Jeanine makes sure Louis isn't being self-destructive and Haymitch isn't encouraging bad behavior. Haymitch makes sure Jeanine isn't being too uptight and that Louis gets out of bed.

Louis is just there. He thought he was like glue holding them together but sometimes he feels like the scissors cutting them apart.

"Can we stay in tonight, Abernathy? We've got plenty o' time to party tomorrow." Jeanine says, nodding her head towards Louis as if to say, look.

"You've got to eat something, Louis." 

It's just him and Jeanine in the train car, sitting across from each other. He hasn't eaten in a week. With the amount of parties he had went to in that time, it was quite the surprise. He found the colorful food appalling. 

"I don't want to."

Jeanine sighs, setting her face in her hands. She looks back up at the fifteen year old. "Louis, I need you to listen to me, okay?" She's saying it as if it's a secret.

"Okay," He's gnawing on his lip. 

"You're going to die if you don't eat." What she says doesn't phase him.

"What if I want to?" This makes Jeanine angry. Back in a time where she couldn't control her anger. Five years ago when mentoring stressed her out so much but then she got Louis, who would take over for her.

"Don't say that."

"But it's tru-" The train car's door is sliding open and the sound of heels are clicking on the floor.

"Okay, Louis." The bustling woman looked down at her agenda. "We've got all sorts of stuff to do today like-" Jeanine makes a noise as if to say, not right now. "Actually I'll get back to you. I've got to go talk to whoever is running this train." Their escort said.

Louis sits with his ankles crossed and his hands gripping the edge of the table.

"That's not really my kind of party, but anything for you Jean Bean." He gives his smile of pearly whites. "Hotshot?" He's poking at the man sitting at the couch.

Louis rolls onto his back to look directly at Haymitch, who is looming over him at the most awkward angle. "What?" It's obvious he looks rough because his friends is trying not to make a face.

"Can you at least move your feet so I can sit?" Louis obliges, curling into himself and sitting up a bit. Haymitch wastes no time and kicks his feet up on the table, stretching out like a cat. "Finally, the gang is back together." He sighs.

"Who's escorting you tomorrow?" Louis whispers. 

Haymitch hated talking about escorts and fancy parties where he had to wear suits and stay sober. He knows Louis can't help but ask. "Your lady." He says, because he doesn't beat around the bush.

"Then who am I going with?"

"I guess you're a lone wolf on the prowl tomorrow, Tommo." Haymitch leans up against his friend and tousles his hair.

Lone wolf. Lone wolf indeed.

****

setting up for the next chapter . it's a little shorter! sorry bout that :) couldn't just jump straight in to the party and we all know who the special guest is! i'm so excited~

xxK