SIX - One Direction

38

A few days after the This is Us premiere, there was a buzz in the air that had nothing to do with the film. It was Alex's 19th birthday, and the boys had decided they were going to throw her a celebration she'd never forget. The plan? Invite family, friends, and a few familiar faces from the industry. The house had been transformed into a winter wonderland, with twinkling fairy lights strung across every corner and festive decorations that could've given a Christmas market a run for its money. Alex was buzzing with excitement, but there was a tinge of nerves, too. She knew the party was going to be a big deal—everyone who was anyone would be there.

On the night of the party, the house was alive with chatter, laughter, and the kind of buzz that only a birthday bash could bring. Guests drifted in, some familiar, some not, and Alex was on cloud nine as she greeted everyone with enthusiasm. Her heart was racing, but it wasn't from nerves—it was the happiness of seeing so many people who cared about her all in one place.

"Happy Birthday, love!" her mum said, pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you, you know that?"

"Thanks, Mum! It means the world to have you here," Alex said, her heart swelling with warmth.

The party had all the right ingredients—music, dancing, food, and plenty of drinks. But there was one thing Alex hadn't been expecting: a surprise performance from a well-known artist. It was the kind of thing you only dream of at someone else's birthday, but now it was happening at hers. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

The evening was one for the books. She was surrounded by laughter, music, and the kind of joy that comes when you're with people who really matter. But, as the night wore on, Harry's attention started to shift, and it was hard for him to keep his eyes off one particular guest.

Alex was deep in conversation with a group of friends, and there was a guy—a bloody good-looking actor, from what Harry could tell—leaning in just a little too close for comfort. They were laughing, chatting, clearly enjoying each other's company, and Harry couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in his stomach.

"Who the bloody hell is that bloke?" Harry muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he watched the actor flash a grin in Alex's direction.

Louis, who was always the first to spot when Harry was getting a bit worked up, raised an eyebrow. "Relax, mate," he said, clapping Harry on the shoulder. "She's just having a laugh. Let her be."

"Yeah, I get that," Harry replied, but his voice had an edge to it. "But it looks like he's trying to flirt with her. And I don't like it."

Louis smirked. "You're acting like a right muppet. It's just a conversation, Harry. Chill out."

But Harry's irritation didn't ease. As the night went on, he watched Alex throw her head back in laughter at something the actor said. And that was it. Something in Harry snapped. He stood up abruptly, muttering something about needing a word with her, and made his way through the crowd, pushing past people who were too busy having fun to notice his discomfort.

"Oi, Alex!" he called out, his voice sharper than he intended.

Alex turned around, a surprised look crossing her face. "Harry! What's up?"

He was close now, too close, and she could hear the tension in his voice. "What's going on with you and him?" he asked, nodding toward the actor who was still in the group, laughing at something she'd just said.

Alex's face dropped as she looked at Harry, disbelief in her eyes. "Seriously? You're gonna do this now? It's just a conversation, Harry!"

Harry's frustration flared, and his tone went a bit more biting. "A conversation that looks like it's going somewhere else. He's all up in your space, mate."

"I can talk to whoever I want!" Alex shot back, her voice rising with the intensity of her frustration. "You're making a big deal out of nothing!"

"No, it's not nothing!" Harry almost spat, taking a step forward. "You know what he's like, right? He's got a reputation, Alex. Don't tell me you can't see that."

Alex's eyes widened, and she shook her head. "Are you serious? This is my birthday, Harry! You're making it all about you and your stupid jealousy!"

Harry's patience was wearing thin. He stepped closer, his voice rising with anger he hadn't intended to show. "I'm not jealous! I just don't want you to get mixed up with someone who's not good for you. Can't you see that?"

Alex's face flushed with frustration. "Why do you care so much, then? This isn't about you! It's my birthday, for God's sake. I'm allowed to have a good time, talk to who I want!"

"I do care, Alex!" Harry shouted back, his voice harsh. "And it feels like you don't care about how I feel when you're hanging around with someone like that! It's not right."

Alex's heart was racing now. She could feel the anger bubbling up in her chest as well. "You're the one making this a big issue, Harry! I can't believe you're doing this now!"

The argument was getting out of hand, and Harry's frustration finally boiled over. "Because you're not listening to me!" he yelled, voice cracking slightly from the intensity.

The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife, and people were starting to notice. Niall and Zayn, who had been nearby, quickly spotted the exchange and rushed over to Alex as she stepped away from the argument.

"Alex, hey, what happened?" Niall asked, looking concerned, his voice soft.

"Just a stupid argument," Alex muttered, wiping at her eyes, trying to hold it together. "I didn't mean to ruin my birthday."

Zayn put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You haven't ruined anything. Don't let him get to you. Harry's just... being Harry. He'll come around."

Meanwhile, across the room, Louis and Liam had approached Harry, who was leaning against the wall, clearly upset.

"What the hell was that about, mate?" Liam asked, crossing his arms, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern.

"I don't know," Harry grumbled, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "I just thought we were supposed to be having a good time, you know? But that bloke's getting way too comfortable with Alex. It's driving me mad."

Louis, always the voice of reason when it came to Harry's overreactions, sighed. "Mate, you need to have a word with her. You two care about each other too much for this kind of nonsense. This party's supposed to be about *her*, not this daft jealousy."

Harry ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself down. "I know, I know... But it just doesn't sit right with me."

"You'll sort it out," Louis said, clapping him on the back. "You always do."