SIX - One Direction

31

The big day had finally arrived, and the excitement was next level. The arena was heaving with fans, all screaming their heads off, eager to see One Direction back in action. Alex could feel her heart thumping like mad as she stepped out onto the stage, the roar of the crowd hitting her like a wave. It was one of those moments you never forget.

The lights dimmed, and that massive cheer rattled the walls. She glanced over at Harry, who was grinning like a kid on Christmas. "Ready for this, then?" he shouted over the noise, his eyes full of mischief.

"More than ever!" she called back, barely able to keep the grin off her face. It was game on.

As soon as the music started, it was like flipping a switch. The crowd's energy was off the charts, and it fueled every single move and note. Alex felt completely alive, all her nerves disappearing in the rush. The boys were right there beside her, each of them totally in sync, like they were all sharing the same electric current. This wasn't just a band on stage; it was family.

During a breather between songs, Niall swaggered up to the mic, giving the crowd one of his classic cheeky grins. "Alright, this next one's all about love, yeah? And we all know someone here's got a certain someone on his mind—don't we, Harry?" he teased, shooting a wink.

Harry groaned, rolling his eyes, but he couldn't hide that little smile sneaking through. "Oh, brilliant. We're really doing this now, yeah?" He shot a playful glare at Niall, looking like he was trying not to laugh.

The crowd went wild, eating up every bit of their banter. Niall leaned into it, pointing at Harry. "Come on, who d'you reckon it is, folks? Our Harry's been acting a bit different lately, hasn't he?"

Alex could feel her face getting warm, caught in the crossfire of Niall's teasing. But she met Harry's gaze, and for a second, it felt like the whole arena just faded away. She gave him a little smile, the kind that said she was right there with him, whatever happened.

Harry threw up his hands in surrender, grinning at the crowd. "Alright, alright, let's just crack on, shall we?" He threw another playful glare at Niall, then faced the crowd, all charm and ease. "This one's for all of you who've been with us from the start—this is 'Little Things!'"

As the soft chords began, Alex felt a wave of emotions roll over her. This song always got to her—it was a reminder of everything they'd been through, all the moments that had brought them here. She glanced over at Harry during her part, and the way he was looking out at the crowd, totally in his element, made her heart skip a beat.

Halfway through the song, Alex found herself lost in the magic of it all. She belted out her lines, and in that moment, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be. Sharing that stage, with her boys by her side, feeling the love from every single fan—it was unreal.

After the show, they were all buzzing as they headed backstage, still riding high on the adrenaline. The lads were hyped, laughing, and dishing out high-fives like there was no tomorrow.

"That was mad!" Liam yelled, grinning from ear to ear. "You guys smashed it out there!"

Niall, clearly still on a high, shook his head in disbelief. "Did you hear how loud they were? Thought my ears were gonna fall off!"

Harry sidled up to Alex, his usual cheeky grin replaced by something softer. "You were brilliant out there, you know. Absolutely smashed it."

Alex's heart did a little flip. "Aw, cheers, Harry. It felt amazing. Couldn't have done it without you lot."

They all kept gabbing on about the show, but soon the talk turned to the after-party. Naturally, it was Louis who brought it up, grinning like he was already halfway there.

"Right then, who's up for a bit of a knees-up?" Louis asked, eyes twinkling. "It's our first show, and we've gotta celebrate!"

Zayn folded his arms, looking skeptical. "Seriously, mate? You reckon we're all fit for that right now?"

"Course we are!" Niall piped up, clapping Harry on the back. "C'mon, Harry, don't go all soft on us now. We'll keep it chill, nothing mad."

Harry glanced over at Alex, a bit of hesitation in his eyes. "It's just... you know how those things get, right?" he said, his voice quieter. "I don't want us getting carried away."

Louis scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Mate, it's a bit of fun! We'll all look after each other, and I'm sure Alex can handle herself, right, love?"

Alex let out a laugh, feeling both amused and touched by how protective they were. "Relax, lads, I'm not made of glass. But cheers for looking out for me."

Harry still looked a bit wary, his gaze shifting back to Alex. "I know you can handle yourself. It's just... I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, you know? You mean a lot to me."

Her heart melted at his words, and she felt a warm flush creep over her. "Thanks, Harry. I appreciate it. But I'll be alright. Promise."

As the lads finally settled on a plan, the energy in the room was a mix of excitement and that familiar cheeky chaos that always seemed to follow them. But even as they all joked and planned, Alex couldn't help noticing the little glances Harry kept giving her. It was subtle, but every time he looked her way, there was something soft, something more than just friendship.

The night was just getting started, but for Alex, it already felt like there was a new chapter waiting to unfold between her and Harry. Whatever happened, she couldn't shake the feeling that things between them were about to change in the best possible way.