SIX - One Direction

33

After weeks of back-to-back gigs, endless rehearsals, and more late-night takeaways than anyone could count, the *Midnight Memories* tour finally wrapped up. They'd poured every bit of energy they had into those last few shows, and now, as they took their final bow, Alex felt equal parts knackered and buzzing. She'd never been prouder of what they'd pulled off, but the idea of some downtime—and a bit of a breather with her family—sounded like heaven.

When they got back to London, everyone split off to get some much-needed rest. Christmas was around the corner, and each of them had plans to head home for the holiday. For Alex, this meant getting back to Bradford, where Christmas was always a cozy, down-to-earth affair, complete with her mum's epic roast and her dad's yearly tradition of dusting off the tacky Christmas jumpers. She'd missed it like mad.

On Christmas Eve, Alex finally made it home, lugging her bags through the front door only to be swept up in a bear hug from her mum.

"Alex! It's about time you showed up!" her mum exclaimed, holding her tight.

"Alright, alright, I'm here!" Alex laughed, feeling the familiar warmth of her mum's embrace. The smell of roast potatoes and gravy drifted from the kitchen, and she felt herself relax for the first time in weeks. "Missed you, Mum."

Dinner that night was like stepping back in time. Her mum had gone all out with the food—crispy roasties, stuffing, pigs in blankets, the works. The whole house smelled incredible, and Alex could feel herself sinking into the comfort of it all. Between bites, she told them stories from the tour—about wild crowds, pranks pulled backstage, and the unbelievable places they'd been.

"I still can't wrap my head around it," her dad said, shaking his head with a mixture of pride and disbelief. "You, standing up there in front of thousands... Makes the school nativity feel like a lifetime ago."

Alex grinned, eyes twinkling. "Couldn't have done any of it without you both," she said, and she meant it. "You've always been there for me, and I know I don't say it enough."

Her mum squeezed her hand, her eyes a bit misty. "That's what family's for, love."

Just then, her younger brother, ever the cheeky one, piped up. "Right, so... any tour crushes then?" he smirked, wiggling his eyebrows like he'd caught her out. "Any mysterious popstar fellas we should know about?"

Alex rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Behave yourself," she said, giving him a playful shove. "Just the usual madness with the boys. And speaking of, what about you, Casanova? Got a special someone stashed away?"

Her brother scoffed, putting on a mock serious face. "Not yet, but, y'know... plenty of fish in the sea," he said, puffing out his chest a bit before breaking into a grin.

After dinner, they all moved to the living room, where her mum had set up a proper cozy corner for their gift exchange. The fireplace crackled, filling the room with a warm glow, and the Christmas tree twinkled with mismatched baubles collected over the years. Alex nestled into the worn-in sofa, pulling a blanket over her legs as they took turns unwrapping presents, laughing over the little thoughtful gifts they'd picked out for each other.

By the time they'd opened the last present, Alex was feeling all sorts of grateful. She'd been on this whirlwind adventure, but here, in this tiny room with her family and the soft hum of Christmas tunes playing in the background, she felt grounded. This was home.

Later, as they settled down to watch *Home Alone* for the umpteenth time, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and saw a message from Harry.

Harry: Oi, how's Christmas back in good ol' Bradford? You behaving yourself?

A smile crept onto her face as she tapped out a reply.

Alex: Absolutely! Haven't nicked any of the chocolate biscuits or owt. Mum's got me well-trained!

Harry's reply came almost immediately.

Harry: Reckon I'll believe that when I see it! Miss you, though. Thinkin' we should do something proper fun when you're back. Make up for lost time?

She felt her heart skip a bit, a grin spreading as she leaned back against the sofa, still basking in the coziness of her family around her.

Alex: Sounds like a plan. Miss you too, H. Can't wait to see ya!

She slipped her phone back in her pocket, her cheeks still warm. There was something so natural and easy about Harry, even in a text. Like he just got her.

As she settled back to watch the movie, surrounded by the sounds of her family and the familiar comfort of home, she knew that while this little holiday break was exactly what she needed, a part of her was looking forward to getting back and seeing where things would go next.