𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍, ʰᵃʳʳʸ ˢᵗʸˡᵉˢ

• 𝟑𝟏 - 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡?

──────── ⋆⭒˚｡⋆

today was one of those days where the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. we had a show in america, one of the last stops on the take me home tour, and the energy backstage was a mix of excitement and something darker that lingered in the corners.

usually, the five of us would be buzzing, bouncing off each other's energy, but today was different. harry and i hadn't spoken a single word to each other. not even a casual "hi" or a nod of acknowledgment. it was like this unspoken agreement to avoid each other as much as possible, and it was driving me mad.

we were all in the dressing room getting ready, the usual pre-show routine. niall was strumming on his guitar, humming a tune as he always did. zayn was messing with his hair, trying to get it just right, while louis was his usual hyper self, bouncing around the room and cracking jokes. liam was, well, liam—calm and focused, checking over the setlist like he did before every show.

harry was quiet, sitting in the corner, scrolling through his phone, avoiding eye contact with everyone, especially me. the silence between us was deafening.

when it was time to head out and meet the fans, we put on our game faces. the minute we stepped out, the screams from the fans hit us like a wave, and for a moment, everything else faded away. we signed autographs, took pictures, and tried to engage with them as much as possible.

harry and i stayed on opposite ends, keeping our distance. it was strange, going from being so close, sharing everything, to this cold distance. the fans didn't seem to notice, though, and that was a small relief. they were just happy to see us, and we were determined not to let them down.

they had eagle eyes though, i knew they'd sense it soon.

as we got ready to go on stage, the adrenaline started to kick in. no matter what was going on between us, the stage was where we came alive. we could push everything aside for those few hours and just lose ourselves in the music and the energy of the crowd. the lights dimmed, the intro music started, and we all took our places. the roar from the crowd was deafening as the curtain dropped, revealing us to the sea of faces below. it was showtime.

the first few songs went off without a hitch. we moved around the stage, hitting our marks, interacting with the fans, and doing what we did best. but as always, it didn't take long for the pranks to start.

louis was the first to strike, of course. during "kiss you," he managed to swap liam's mic with a toy one once again, and when liam went to sing, nothing but a squeaky sound came out. the crowd erupted in laughter, and liam, ever the good sport, played along, giving louis a mock glare before grabbing the right mic. zayn and i couldn't help but join in, laughing as louis did a little victory dance.

later in the set, we decided to mess with liam again. during the slower songs, the three of us—louis, zayn, and i—sneaked up behind him and started pulling faces, trying to make him crack a smile while he was singing his part. liam, the professional that he was, managed to keep his composure for the most part, but we knew we were getting to him when he finally broke into a grin in the middle of "little things."

the fans loved it, and the moment was caught on the big screens, showing everyone just how much we enjoyed messing with each other.

in between songs, we took time to read out some of the signs the fans had brought. there were the usual "marry me" signs, which we always had a laugh about, and the ones declaring undying love for each of us.

louis, being louis, pointed out a sign that read, "liam, can you be my hero?" and then proceeded to drape himself over liam's shoulders, striking a dramatic pose. "your hero is here, ladies and gentlemen!" he announced in a mock heroic voice, making the crowd scream even louder. liam just shook his head, laughing as he gently pushed louis off.