SIX - One Direction

41

The studio was buzzing, a proper hive of energy, as they piled in to start work on their next album, Four. After the mad success of the last few records, there was no denying the pressure in the room—you could practically feel it in the air. Still, they'd just get stuck in, wouldn't they? The place had that lived-in feel, scattered with empty mugs of tea and bits of half-eaten biscuits. It might've looked like a tip, but it was their tip.

"Right, lads, listen up!" Liam called out, giving a loud clap of his hands. "This time, we're really going to push the boat out, yeah? Let's do something properly massive, something that shows people where we're at, what we're made of."

Harry lounged back in his chair, arms folded behind his head with that lazy, cheeky smirk. He glanced across the room to Alex, who was scribbling away in a well-worn notebook. She held her own—and Harry couldn't help but admire her focus. She was all in, just like the rest of them. In a way, she was the glue that kept them grounded.

"Shall we crack on, then?" Louis suggested, rubbing his hands together with a grin that practically screamed 'up to no good.'

"Yeah, let's get down to it," Zayn murmured, his tone serious as he leaned in. "What if we talk about relationships? The messy bits, the ups and downs... everyone loves a bit of heartbreak, don't they?"

Niall gave an enthusiastic nod. "Oh, absolutely, mate. Been through enough of it recently, haven't we? Perfect material for an album, if you ask me."

Harry raised an eyebrow, his signature smirk broadening. "Or, hear me out—what if we just go a bit rogue? All the mad nights out, the dodgy clubs, getting chucked out at three in the morning. Like that time in Paris—don't tell me you've forgotten."

The lot of them broke into laughter, remembering one of their infamous nights in the City of Lights. They'd barely made it out of that club in one piece, and to this day, none of them were sure how they'd managed it. Those wild times became inspiration fodder, and the brainstorming session was off. They fired ideas back and forth, with little sketches and half-formed lines quickly filling up the whiteboard, each one sparking something new.

Alex finally looked up from her notebook, her eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. "Right, don't forget to add a bit of drama in there, lads. Can't have an album without a touch of chaos, yeah?" She shot a cheeky look at Harry, who returned it with a wink.

The ideas flowed as they bounced off each other, the vibe in the room swinging from fits of laughter to serious head-down writing. Eventually, they split off into smaller groups, with Harry and Alex ending up in a quieter corner. Each armed with a notebook and a cup of tea that had gone a bit cold, they settled in to work together.

"Fancy having a go with me on this one?" Harry asked, trying to sound casual but with that trademark cheekiness slipping through.

Alex grinned, rolling her eyes. "Oh, alright then, let's see if you're up to scratch."

They both knuckled down, lyrics flying back and forth as Harry strummed away on his guitar, testing out bits of melody. Every so often, they'd both go to write down the same line, hands colliding over the page, and they'd break into a snicker. Whatever tension or nerves had followed them into the studio that morning were long gone, replaced by the easy, natural chemistry they'd always had.

"Alright, I reckon this chorus could use a bit of a belt," Alex said, nodding towards the scrawled-out lyrics in her notebook. She gave Harry a challenging look, her eyebrow arched. "Think you're up for it, Styles?"

Harry scoffed, giving her a playful nudge. "You're having a laugh, right? Only if you're singing along, Miss Big Ideas."

They launched into the chorus, their voices filling the room as they belted out the rough, half-written tune. It was a bit scrappy, a bit raw, but it was all theirs—and it was already something special. There was a thrill to it, the pure joy of creating, that reminded them both why they loved this crazy life.

As the final note hung in the air, they turned to each other, breathless, grinning like mad.

"Tell you what," Alex said, leaning back with a satisfied sigh, "if this doesn't get us banned from a few more places, then I don't know what will."

Harry chuckled, giving her a playful nudge. "Long as you're right there with me, love."

They locked eyes for a second, both realising that what they'd just written wasn't just any old tune. It was theirs,rough edges and all—and it was going to be something brilliant.