SIX - One Direction

24

As they dove deeper into the recording process, tensions began to simmer beneath the surface. Everyone was absolutely knackered, and little frustrations started to bubble up like a fizzy drink left open for too long.

One afternoon, they were in the studio, working on a particularly challenging song. Alex was trying to express her ideas, but the boys were distracted, their banter flying back and forth like a game of footy in the park.

"Can you lot focus for a second?" Alex snapped, feeling a surge of frustration rising in her chest. "We need to be serious about this!"

"I am serious! We're just having a laugh," Niall replied, rolling his eyes with that signature cheeky grin.

"It's not just about having a laugh! We need to put our hearts into this!" Alex shot back, her voice rising. She could feel her cheeks flush, and she hated that she was getting wound up.

Louis stepped in, trying to mediate. "Come on, let's not turn on each other, yeah? We're all stressed; we just need to chill a bit."

But the tension hung in the air like a storm cloud, and soon everyone was at each other's throats over small things—who was taking too long, who wasn't pulling their weight, and why Alex felt the need to be so serious all the time.

"Maybe we need a break," Zayn finally suggested, his voice calm and steady, like he was trying to bring everyone back down to earth.

As they all took a step back, Harry looked around, realizing how quickly they had let the pressure get to them. "This isn't us. We're a team, remember? We can't lose sight of what brought us together in the first place."

Alex sighed, her anger dissipating as she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry if I came off too harsh. I just want us to succeed."

"Me too," Liam said, breaking the tension with a sincere nod. "We all want this, but we also need to remember to have a good time."

After a moment of silence, they all nodded, the tension easing as laughter began to replace irritation. Harry leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his curls, the weight of the atmosphere lifting slightly. "How about we take a break, grab some food, and just chill for a bit? We can come back to this with fresh minds."

"Sounds good to me," Niall said, his face lighting up at the thought of food. "I could definitely go for a burger right about now."

"Alright, let's do it," Alex agreed, her shoulders relaxing as she felt the group start to reunite. "And I'm getting a milkshake too."

They piled into their cars and headed to a nearby diner they all loved, a proper gem of a place. The spot was a small, cozy joint, filled with bright booths and the delicious smell of fried food wafting through the air. They found a large booth in the corner and slid in, laughter bubbling up as they each ordered their favourite dishes.

"I'm telling you, the milkshakes here are legendary," Niall declared, excitedly waving his menu in the air. "We have to get at least one."

"Make that five," Louis grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "We can't let our reputations as a boy band diminish by skimping on dessert! What do you reckon, lads?"

As they waited for their food, the conversation flowed naturally, each of them sharing stories and taking the mick out of one another. Alex felt her heart warm as she watched the boys interact. Moments like these reminded her of why they were in this together. They had their ups and downs, but their bond was unbreakable.

"So, what's the plan for the video shoot next week?" Liam asked, steering the conversation back to work.

"I heard we're going to have a beach theme" Zayn replied, leaning back with a smug grin. "I hope we don't have to wear those tacky swimsuits. You lot are alright with those, but I'm not keen on showing off the moobs!"

"Speak for yourself! I'm ready to rock those trunks!" Harry joked, wiggling his eyebrows and flexing his arms, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Just as their food arrived, Louis raised his glass. "To us—six muppets chasing a dream together!"

"Cheers!" they all shouted in unison, clinking their glasses together with a resounding thud. The food spread across the table was a feast, burgers piled high, chips sizzling and golden, and those famous milkshakes towering like a monument to indulgence.

As they dug into their meals, the earlier argument felt like a distant memory. They shared fries, swapped bites, and continued to take the mick out of one another. "You've got to try my burger, it's a proper beast," Niall insisted, passing his plate to Alex. "Just don't get any mayo on my chips!"

"Please, Niall, I wouldn't dream of it," Alex shot back, laughing as she took a bite. In the midst of it all, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She was grateful for this family they had formed, for the moments of laughter and the shared passion for music that brought them all together.

"So, back to business, what's the plan for the album launch?" Liam asked, steering the conversation back to work.

"Well, I reckon we should do something a bit special, right? Maybe a live performance?" Zayn suggested, his eyes lighting up with the idea.

"Brilliant! And we could do it at the beach!" Niall added, clearly still buzzing from the idea of the beach shoot. "Have a bit of a party vibe going!"

"Alright, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We need to nail this next track first," Alex said, raising her glass again. "But a beach party does sound good."

As they continued to munch and chat, Alex felt the warmth of camaraderie wrap around her. In that little diner, surrounded by her boys, she knew they'd overcome the challenges ahead together. Whatever came next, they'd face it side by side, and that made all the difference.

"Right, back to the studio after this," Harry said, a cheeky grin on his face. "But first, let's finish these shakes!"

"Now you're talking!" Niall exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious as they all dove back into their food, laughter echoing around their booth, the earlier argument all but forgotten.