Falling Between the Notes (Nicholas Galitzine)

Chapter 8: Growing Closer & Quiet Tensions

Jade's pov.

The morning after the VMAs was filled with the usual post-event rush—checking social media, responding to congratulatory messages, and replaying the best moments of the night in my head. But one thing stuck with me, lingering like a shadow: Nick's distance. He'd been there, by my side the whole night, but there was a subtle shift in him. We hadn't really talked about it yet, but I knew we needed to.

As I sat at the kitchen counter, sipping my morning coffee, my phone buzzed on the marble surface. It was Leslie, my manager, calling earlier than usual.

"Hey, Jade, I've got some exciting news," Leslie's voice practically crackled with energy as soon as I answered.

"What's up?" I asked, smiling at the thought of what she might have in store.

"Harry's team reached out this morning," she said, and I could already tell she was grinning on the other end of the line. "And guess what? He doesn't just want to do a song with you—he's talking about a full album. A real collaboration. He said you blew him away at the VMAs, and now he's ready to shake up the industry with you."

I nearly dropped my coffee. "Wait, a full album? Harry Styles wants to make a full album with me?"

"That's right," Leslie replied, her voice brimming with excitement. "This is huge, Jade. This could redefine your career."

I sat back, trying to process the idea. I had expected maybe a track or two, but a full album? With Harry? That was a dream I didn't even realize I had.

"That's incredible," I said, the thrill rising in my chest. But just as quickly, I felt a pang of nervousness. Nick's face from last night flashed in my mind, the way he'd looked when Harry had come over to talk to me after my performance. He hadn't said anything outright, but I could tell something had bothered him.

"You don't sound as excited as I thought you would," Leslie noted, breaking through my thoughts.

"No, I am," I replied quickly. "It's just... a lot to take in. I wasn't expecting this."

"Well, take it in," she said, "because we're meeting with his team next week to start discussing details. I'll send over some times for you to check."

After I hung up, I sat in silence for a moment, staring at my phone. This was huge. But I also knew I needed to talk to Nick before things moved forward. The last thing I wanted was to blindside him, especially after last night. I opened our text thread, my fingers hovering over the screen before I typed out the message.

Me:

Hey, just wanted to let you know that Harry's team reached out. Looks like we're not just doing a song—we're making a full album together. Thought you should know.

I stared at the message for a few moments, then hit send. My stomach twisted with nerves as I waited for his response. It came quicker than I expected.

Nick:

A full album? That's... big.

I could feel the hesitation in his words, but there was no real anger. Just a sense of uncertainty that hung between us, unspoken.

Nick:

I'm happy for you. That's a huge opportunity.

I frowned slightly. He was being supportive, but it didn't feel as genuine as usual. I sighed, pushing the phone away. There was no way around the fact that this was going to add strain to our relationship, but I hoped we could work through it.

When the time came to meet with Harry, the excitement returned, bubbling up as I walked into the studio. Harry was already there, seated casually in a chair with his guitar resting against his knee, looking every bit the rockstar. His smile was easy, and when he saw me, he stood up, offering a quick hug.