SIX - One Direction

39

The party carried on around them, but the distance between Harry and Alex felt like a thick fog, lingering in the air. Every time Alex tried to rejoin the festivities, every time she saw Harry, the anger and hurt she'd felt earlier seemed to bubble up again, making it hard to enjoy herself.

"Fancy getting some fresh air?" Niall asked, sensing the mood and trying to lift her spirits.

Alex nodded, grateful for the escape. They made their way out onto the balcony, the cold night air a sharp contrast to the heat of her emotions. The stars above twinkled in the clear sky, calm and distant, and for a moment, she found herself wishing she could feel as detached from everything as they seemed.

"You alright?" Niall asked, leaning against the railing beside her. His tone was soft, not wanting to pry too much, but clearly concerned. "You seemed a bit shaken back there."

"I'm just... pissed off, to be honest," Alex admitted, rubbing her hands together for warmth. "I didn't want it to turn into some big thing. I just wanted a good night, you know? It's my birthday, for God's sake."

Niall sighed, looking out over the garden as he thought about his next words. "Harry can be a bit much sometimes. He cares about you, that's for sure. But I think he's just... well, he's worried, really."

"Worried about what?" Alex shook her head, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. "Me having a laugh? I get that he cares, but honestly, I can't believe he'd make such a drama out of something so stupid. It feels... childish, Niall."

"I get it," he said, his voice thoughtful. "But jealousy can mess with your head, make you act all irrational. It's not logical, not really. I think he saw you laughing with that bloke and just panicked. Not saying it was fair to you, but it's a natural reaction, I suppose."

Alex took a deep breath, leaning her elbows on the railing as she stared out into the night. "I get it. I do. I just wish he'd trust me more. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, for him. I just want him to see that."

Before Niall could respond, Zayn appeared beside them, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Oi, you two alright out here? The party's still in full swing inside."

"Just having a bit of a chat," Niall said, offering a small smile. "Alex is feeling a bit off after the, er, scene with Harry."

"I saw the whole thing," Zayn said, his voice low and calm. "And I'm not going to lie, Harry's being a bit of a tit right now. He'll come around, though. He just needs to cool down. You know what he's like when his head's all over the place."

Alex nodded, grateful for the support. "I just don't want this to spiral into something bigger than it is, you know?"

Zayn gave her a sympathetic look. "I get it. You deserve to have a good time, especially on your birthday. If you want, I'll go have a word with him. Might help settle him down a bit."

"No, no, don't get caught up in our mess," Alex said quickly, shaking her head. "This is between Harry and me. I'll let him cool off, and when he's ready, we'll talk. But I don't want to drag anyone else into it."

The three of them stood in silence for a moment, the cool night air soothing the tension in Alex's chest. Niall broke the silence with a grin. "You know what? Let's just go back in, yeah? We'll find a way to have some fun. Dance a bit, maybe a few games. It's your birthday, for crying out loud!"

Alex managed a small smile, feeling the warmth of her friends' support. "I'd like that. Thanks, both of you."

As they made their way back inside, Alex pushed the earlier frustration aside and tried to focus on the celebration. Laughter filled the room, the sound of music and people enjoying themselves providing a nice distraction. She forced herself to smile, determined not to let the drama ruin her night. But in the back of her mind, Harry's angry words replayed.

Why couldn't he just trust her? It stung to think that he might see her as someone who would betray him, someone who could just walk away like that. She wasn't like that. But, as she glanced across the room and saw Harry, his back turned, she couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever really understand.