strings that snap | larry

five

An intercom comes on from somewhere above them. "All Victors, please report to the ground floor." It shuts offs.

The Victors are a ruckus as they make their way for the door.

****

When they step out of their cars, it's a nightmare. There are so many screams of Capitol men and women wanting at them.

It's different than any other party in the Capitol. There's a carpet to walk down and photographers snapping pictures to put in the papers tomorrow. Louis doesn't know what to do with his hands when it's his turn. It's usually wrapped around some kind of woman.

He imagines he looks very uncomfortable in his photos. 

He waits at the end for all the other Victors to walk down, and he can't help but feel a little jealous of everyone that has an escort. He's had one since the beginning of the whole mess and then the president just ripped his away from him.

Wiress and Beetee are standing next to him in silence. The pair always walked together but at arms length apart.

It takes a while but they are all back together. Louis wants to cover his ears because he knows what happens next. 

Screams amplify. The new Victor is walking down the carpet and the camera flash is blinding.

Louis moves towards Jeanine because he begins to fidget. When he taps her shoulder, she gives him a reassuring look. Haymitch comes up behind him.

"Time for the real show to begin, hotshot." He whispers

****

It seems as if there's a line to talk to Harry, but Louis doesn't mind. He's following Eleanor and Haymitch for the night to avoid getting into any kind of trouble.

He doesn't want to talk to Harry anyway. At least that's what he had been telling himself. He'd probably say something that he would regret.

Louis also avoid Snow at all cost in fear of dragging both of their reputations in the dust.

He figured that's why he didn't have Eleanor in tow tonight. 

As the night gets later, the older folks that were invited go home and the residence of the president clears out immensely. It was Louis' favorite part of the night, mostly because it was an actual party after that.

There's a tap on his shoulder and he turns around to see who it is.

"You're from District 5, right?" Of course it's him, Louis wants to swear under his breath but he knows when to be polite.

"'Course I am, superstar." The nickname rolls off his tongue without a thought, but it sounds toxic. Harry looks taken aback by his demeanor.

"I remember you being a lot nicer." The boy with curls says, furrowing his brows.

"I remember you being a lot more quiet." Louis was already done with the conversation, but he couldn't just walk away. Louis could never walk away. "And I have a name you know. Or did you forget it?"

"I...uh." Harry is looking down at his feet now, refusing to look Louis in the eye.  What a baby.

Out of the corner, he sees Jeanine hot on her heels. Literally. Louis hadn't seen her that red in a while, and the faster she went it looked like she was about to fall.

"It's easy to forget names, isn't it?" His tone lightens but the underlying venom does not take a step back. "Especially when you only meet them once."

He feels a hand on his shoulder and Jeanine had finally made their way over to him. He puts on his biggest grin and turns to her. "Hello Jeanine, how has your evening been?"

"Absolute hell in these heels." Jeanine had never been one for dressing up. "See you've found Harry." She rearranged her brunette locks as they fell from the top of her head. "Hope Louis here isn't causing you too much trouble, Harry."

He seems to pay attention in the moment because his head snaps up. "No, of course not." 

"I hope things have been good for you ever since you left our District." Jeanine is always caring, even after she listened to Louis complain about this boy for hours.

Harry gives a dopey smile and Louis hates it. "I've been better, but I've managed." 

Jeanine opens up her arms and wraps Harry in a warming hug. "Welcome to the family." Louis is jealous of how easily she can just accept this boy. 

"Welcome to the family Louis." Beetee is smiling at him. 

"Is it okay if I hug you?" Louis asks, small, just like he felt. Beetee gives him a nod and opens up his arms.

"Did someone say group hug?" Mags doesn't shout, but a laugh or smile usually accompanies what she says. She's very good at projecting her voice.

He can't count all the people and he doesn't know all the names but in this mass of people? In that moment? Louis felt like he belonged.

There's no group hug this time though. Just Louis crossing his arms and tapping his feet impatiently. He couldn't help his hatred for this boy really.

"How much time will you be spending in the Capitol, Harry?" Jeanine asks.

"I won't be staying for too long, I think." Harry says, shoving his hands in his suit pockets. "Hopefully just long enough to get acquainted with all of you."

"First step is getting to know our names," Louis mumbles under his breath. Jeanine digs her heel into his town and he bites his cheek.

"Jean Bean!" Haymitch is coming with Eleanor in tow. Only the younger elite of the Capitol and Victors are left at this point, so people are becoming easier to spot. "How're you doing?" The question is directed towards Harry. 

"Fine, Haymitch." Harry was quite handsome when he smiled. Everyone knew it was a lie when he said it though.

Jeanine jumps in, but Louis is still trying to keep his mouth shut. "We were just talking about staying in the Capitol." A mischievous lilt was in her voice. Louis doesn't her motion at him with her eyes.

"You know who stays in the Capitol a lot?" Haymitch is joining in on the fun. Louis knows they're just poking. The pair would never do anything to hurt him. "Our friend, Mr. Tomlinson."

Eleanor had drifted away and Louis really wishes he hadn't. At the least, he would have had a scapegoat. 

"I'll have to stop by sometime." Harry is grinning from ear to ear and Louis doesn't understand why. "If that's okay with you Louis." He adds extra emphasis to the man's name  like he's proud of himself.

"Anytime." He bites back, turning on his heel to look for better company.

He doesn't turn around when he hears Jeanine say, "I'll write down his address for you!" And Harry, Haymitch, and Jeanine are laughing together.

He doesn't feel replaced at all.

****

next chapter should be more harry like at least 90% more. thanks for reading :)

xx K