✓ 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙣' 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 ━━ Harry Styles

o8. interviews are scary

chapter eight
"interviews are scary"

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Manchester, England ━━ 2014

ADRENALINE COURSED through her veins as Aisling jogged off stage, nearly colliding with an ecstatic Niall.

"Ash! That was incredible!" he exclaimed, pulling her into a bear hug. "Did you hear them singing along to your new song?"

Aisling laughed, still breathless from her performance. "I could hardly hear myself think out there. It was amazing!"

Aisling found herself swept up in a whirlwind of congratulations and high-fives. She caught sight of Harry, who gave her a thumbs up before being ushered away for One Direction's pre-show routine.

"You've really found your groove," Louis said, passing by with a grin. "Might have to step up our game to follow that."

Aisling blushed at the compliment, still not quite used to praise from people she'd admired for so long. As she made her way to her dressing room, she overheard snippets of conversation from the crew.

"Did you see how the crowd reacted to her?"
"She's really coming into her own."
"Bet she'll have her own headline tour soon."

The words filled her with a mix of pride and anxiety. It was all happening so fast.

Later that night, as the adrenaline began to wear off, Aisling sat in the quiet of her hotel room, scrolling through social media. Her notifications were flooded with praise and excitement from fans, but one message caught her eye – a local Manchester paper wanted to interview her tomorrow.

A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. She opened it to find Tulip, camera in hand and a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Get dressed, superstar," Tulip said with a grin. "We're going on an adventure."

Before Aisling could protest, she found herself being dragged through the hotel's back exit and into the Manchester night. Tulip led her through winding streets, occasionally stopping to snap photos of the city's vibrant nightlife.

"Where are we going?" Aisling asked, both excited and nervous about their impromptu excursion.

Tulip's smile widened. "Harry mentioned you two were working on a song about home. Thought you might need some inspiration."

They ended up in a small, dimly lit pub. As they settled into a corner booth, Aisling was struck by how normal it felt – just two friends out for a drink, no screaming fans or flashing cameras.

"So," Tulip said, setting her camera aside, "how are you really doing? And don't give me the press-ready answer."

Aisling sighed, running a finger along the condensation on her glass. "Honestly? It's overwhelming. Amazing, but overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like I'm living someone else's life."

Tulip nodded understandingly. "That's normal, you know. It's a big adjustment. But Ash, from what I've seen through my lens, you're handling it beautifully."

Their conversation flowed easily, touching on everything from homesickness to the challenges of creating art under pressure. As they talked, Aisling felt some of the tension she'd been carrying start to ease.

"You know," Tulip said, her expression turning serious, "I've photographed a lot of rising stars. But there's something special about you, Ash. You've got this... authenticity. Don't lose that, no matter how big you get."

Aisling felt a lump form in her throat at Tulip's words. "I'll try not to," she promised.

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The next morning, Aisling found herself sitting across from a journalist, Harry by her side for moral support. The interview started off smoothly, with questions about her music and her experience on tour.

But then came the curve ball.

"There's been a lot of speculation about your relationship with Harry Styles," the journalist said, leaning in. "Care to comment on the rumors?"

Aisling felt her cheeks heat up. She glanced at Harry, who looked equally uncomfortable.

"Harry and I are good friends," Aisling said carefully, remembering her media training. "We've been collaborating on some music together, which has been a fantastic experience."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Aisling's an incredibly talented songwriter. Working with her has been a highlight of this tour for me."

The journalist seemed disappointed by their tame responses, but moved on to other topics. As they left the interview, Aisling couldn't shake a feeling of unease.

"You okay?" Harry asked as they walked back to the hotel.

Aisling shrugged. "Yeah, just... I didn't expect that kind of question. Is it always like this?"

Harry's expression turned sympathetic. "Unfortunately, yeah, a lot of the time. But hey, you handled it like a pro."

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The next day, as they prepared to leave Manchester, Aisling found Harry waiting for her by the bus. But it felt almost different seeing him this time. She became hyper-aware of every interaction with Harry, wondering how it might be perceived.

"Hey," he said, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "I was thinking... that song we've been working on? Maybe we could perform it together at one of the London shows. If you're up for it, that is."

The idea sent a thrill of excitement through Aisling. "Really? You think we're ready?"

"I know we are," Harry said confidently. "What do you say?"

As they boarded the bus, plans for their duet already forming, Aisling felt a renewed sense of excitement. She caught Niall's eye across the aisle, and he gave her a knowing wink.

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