The Story of Us: A One Direction Story

Chapter 3: The Comeback

It was as if they had never been away.

The concert, the comeback the world had been waiting eight years for, was finally here. The fans and their five favorite people felt the significance of every second of this moment on stage. Wembley Stadium was filled to capacity. Everyone was sure that the screams of the fans could be heard throughout England.

A lot had changed since their split, both in the lives of the band members and in the lives of their fans. The Directioner fandom, already huge, had grown in size and diversity with the solo careers of Harry, Liam, Niall, Louis and Zayn. Many new fans who had welcomed the boys through their solo work were now also in the stadium, joining long-time supporters to celebrate this special night.

The last 14 years were also reflected in their setlist. The evening's setlist was a carefully selected mix of old classics and new solo hits, all presented in a fresh, modern style. The guys wanted to make sure that every moment of the concert was an unforgettable experience. It was to be a proper festival, as Liam had once described it.

The first song the boys sang was an absolute masterpiece. "Where We Are" a song that never made it into any of the five albums. Not even when they named a tour, a book and a movie after it. When the song miraculously made it into the public domain a few years ago, they knew it was an opener for a possible comeback.

Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn had come up with something very special for the setlist and the concert. That's why it ended up being one of the longest concerts they've ever played. The usual 90 minutes were replaced by 120 minutes. The five celebrated a big party with their fans. The most successful song from each of their five albums was selected and sung. It was a journey through time over the last few years.

When the first notes of "Drag Me Down" rang out, the stadium exploded in a storm of cheers. The reinterpreted version of the song brought an energy with it and the fans were completely blown away by how well Zayn's voice fit into the song.

In between the classics, the boys also presented their solo work. Harry sang his most successful song and the fans cheered enthusiastically. Niall brought a mellow touch to the show with his guitar, while Louis got the crowd going with his rockier tracks. Liam wowed with his danceable beats, and Zayn touched the hearts of everyone in attendance with his powerful voice.

The dynamic between the boys was like old times. They joked around on stage, exchanging glances and moments that only they could understand. Liam and Louis were lost in their water fight as usual. Harry and Niall danced like crazy on stage, with gestures and jokes that only they could understand and Zayn, as promised, tried to turn everyone around him into a pink unicorn with Khai's glitter machine.

As the concert approached its high, the boys united for an emotional version of "History". The fans held up lights and the atmosphere was magical. Everyone in the stadium felt the deep connection and gratitude between the band and their fans.

Louis took a short break to thank the fans. "Wow, it's really incredible. You guys are just the most amazing fans in the world. I'm not going to lie, we were actually all a bit nervous before today. But, and I think I speak for everyone, the moment we stepped on stage, any nervousness was forgotten. Am I right guys?" Harry, Liam, Niall and Zayn agree with Louis. They were all sitting on the small platform that stood in the middle of the stage. The stadium was silent for the first time since the concert began. You could have heard a pin drop. "We can't thank you enough! What you've created over the last 14 years is truly unique!" Louis looked over at Liam, who now took over. "It really is!" agreed Liam. "You're the reason we're all standing here today. Since the day One Direction was formed, July 23rd..." Liam was interrupted by the fans, who erupted in cheers. "You have made sure that we as One Direction can celebrate incredible success. And we've had incredible great and successful 14 years with you." Liam, who was now a little glassy-eyed, looked at Zayn. He patted him gently on the shoulder. "We've been through a lot of ups and downs and no matter what happened, you never let any of us down." The fans cheer again. Zayn continues to speak softly. "I can't thank you enough for that!" Zayn, who now leaves the floor to Niall, unobtrusively wipes away a small tear. "A lot of artists and bands have a great fanbase. But no matter how great others are, no fandom is as unique and special as you guys. Our Directioners. None of us expected this. When we said in 2015 that we were taking a break, we all realized that it could mean a possible end. An end to One Direction and also an end to our career. Very few people manage to stay at the same level after so much success with a band. But you were simply incredible. Despite our broken promise, you never left our side. You all stayed, supported us individually and grew with us. We will never be able to thank you enough for that." Niall looks at Harry, who addresses the fans. "I think it's really hard to describe how much this day means to us and also your loyalty that you've had over the last few years. We are incredibly grateful for every single one of you out there. It doesn't matter if you've been supporting us for 14 years or five minutes. We're all one big family!" The fans cheer loudly again. "Thank you for all the great experiences and adventures you've allowed us to have. Whether with the band or as a solo artist. It's an honor to be a part of it all."