Counterbalance

Chapter 8

Going into the nineteenth and final race of the season, Harry's ahead of Louis in the standings by only two points. More often than not, the championship is already won before the last race, so the fact that Harry and Louis are still battling it out has raised their rivalry to a fever pitch. He's tried to leave Louis alone, but his eyes have been drawn to him every time they're in the same room. Liam's caught them staring at each other so often that more than once he's told Harry to "stop with the eye fucking already."

After the last qualifying session, a huge crowd of reporters are waiting for him, all wanting to know about his chances of dethroning Louis, and what his predictions are. Since he qualified fourth, his actual predictions for his own chances aren't great. But for the journalists, he keeps an even keel: he's going to race his hardest, Tommo's a force to be reckoned with and no one should count him out, everyone is out there to win, blah blah blah. It's all the same song and dance of non-answers that he gives every week.

In reality, he's actually jittery and far too much in his own head. He was tight all through practice and couldn't shake it before quali and he psyched himself up for such a terrible race that he hardly slept at all. He hopes that if he has a terrible race, that at least Louis will do well.

Sitting on his bike, waiting for the lights to go out, Harry feels like a rubber band ready to snap. So many positions through the midfield are open too, so this last race will be rough, more so than usual, with pressure from the back and his own desire to pass the two in front of him before trying to get ahead of Louis, who won pole position.

One at a time, the five lights turn red. Harry's got the clutch pulled and he's revving the engine, then all at once the lights go dark and Harry releases the clutch. His reflexes are on point at least, as he easily cruises past Mendes.
Louis and Samuels seem to have gotten a great start as well, so Harry focuses on what needs to be done to keep the rest of the racers at bay while figuring out the best way to pass Samuels.

When Samuels bobbles the fourth corner on lap twenty-three, Harry's able to finally get around him. Harry has five laps to catch up to and then pass Louis, who's maintained a sizable lead all weekend. Harry watches as Louis leans into the next curve and he looks so relaxed on the bike that Harry can't fathom why anyone would think that he's the natural when Louis looks like that.

Harry can't get roped into that line of thinking though, or else he's not going to do anything else besides stare at Louis' ass as he races through the final few laps.

He manages to get closer, at least, and by the last lap he's right on Louis' bumper.

But as much as he pushes, he can't close the gap, and as they race down the last straight away towards the checkered flag, he knows the race is over. He still gives a valiant effort, pushing as hard as he can in case he's miscalculated, but as they cross the finish line, Louis is ahead of him.

***

Harry's extraordinarily proud of Louis winning his fourth championship, even if that means Harry ends his season in second place, again.
He watches from across the garage as Louis is doused in champagne and congratulated by seemingly everyone even tangentially related to MPL.

Louis and Zayn are getting pulled into a huge group photo when Harry's dad strolls over and pats him on the back. "You did good," he says.

"Thanks, Dad." Harry bumps shoulders with him and in response his dad awkwardly punches him in the shoulder. Harry'll take it.
"You going to gracefully hand over your throne?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Give the boy a minute, I'll go congratulate him. You going to celebrate tonight? Second place's still better than almost everyone else."