SIX - One Direction

22

With the holidays wrapped up and January stretching out cold and grey, they threw themselves straight into recording *Midnight Memories*. The studio was buzzing with energy as they messed around with new sounds, daring themselves to push their creative limits. The lads wanted this album to be different—grittier, bolder. Something that would shake things up.

During one particularly lively session, they were laying down a track.  The beat was infectious, and before long, everyone was nodding along, caught up in the rhythm. Niall was tapping his foot like mad, and even Liam, usually the serious one, was bopping in his seat.

"Right," Alex said, leaning over the mixing desk with a spark in her eye. "How about we throw in a guitar solo here? Could give it that extra kick, don't you think?"

Niall's face lit up. "Yes, mate! Love that idea," he said, already reaching for his guitar, fingers itching to get started.

They ran through the track again, the energy in the room building. Just as Niall was about to launch into the solo, Zayn leapt up and began wildly pretending to shred an invisible guitar, head banging like he was on stage at Wembley. "Watch out, lads, rock legend incoming!" he shouted, strutting around as though he were some rock god. The others burst out laughing, practically falling off their chairs.

"Mate, if you're planning to do that in the video, you'll have to work on your moves!" Liam teased, trying to catch his breath.

"Who needs practice? I'm a natural!" Zayn shot back, striking an exaggerated pose, a huge grin on his face.

As the laughter died down, Harry caught sight of Alex at the back, bent over her lyrics notebook, completely lost in concentration. He admired how focused she could get, always pushing herself to make the songs just right. "Oi, Alex!" he called over, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Fancy taking the bridge on this one?"

She looked up, startled. "Me? Are you having a laugh?"

"Dead serious," Harry replied, nodding encouragingly. "You've got a cracking voice, and I reckon it'd sound ace on this track. Go on, give it a whirl."

She hesitated, biting her lip, but the boys were all nodding along, cheering her on. With a small, nervous smile, she made her way to the mic. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the backing track started. Her voice, soft at first, built up with confidence, filling the room. There was a rawness to it that added something new, something real. By the time she finished, the room was dead silent, everyone hanging on the last note.

Then, the silence broke into a wave of applause and whistles.

"See? What did I tell you!" Harry said, beaming at her. "Absolute magic!"

"You smashed it, Alex," Niall added, giving her a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Don't know why you were so nervous."

Alex blushed, grinning. "Thanks, lads. You lot are way too nice to me."

The vibe in the studio was electric, and it felt like each track they worked on was bringing them closer together. They'd mess around, share jokes, and then snap back into focus, united in their shared goal of making this album something unforgettable. Hours slipped by as they layered vocals, argued over riffs, and played around with lyrics.

At one point, Liam suggested they order in some chips, since none of them had eaten since morning. "Can't record on an empty stomach, can we?" he said, already scanning the takeaway menu.

When the food finally arrived, they all sat around in a messy circle, munching on chips and trading stories. Alex stole a fry from Zayn's plate, prompting him to give her a mock glare. "Oi, hands off! You lot are animals," he joked, trying to shield his food from the rest of them.

In the middle of all the laughter and banter, Harry turned to the group, looking serious for a moment. "You know, I think this album's going to surprise people. We've got something special here."

"Aye, it'll be a proper game-changer," Niall agreed, raising his can of cola in a toast. "To Midnight Memories—may it blow everyone's minds."

They all clinked their cans together, each of them caught up in the anticipation of what they were creating. As they laughed and swapped ideas late into the night, it became clear to Alex that they weren't just making music—they were making memories. The kind that would stick with them for a lifetime.