SIX - One Direction

42

After weeks spent knuckling down with writing and recording, the day had finally arrived to shoot the music videos for Four. The first video was for the lead single, and the whole band rocked up to the set buzzing with excitement. The studio was decked out like a proper dreamscape—bright backdrops, quirky props, and enough color to make your head spin. It was the kind of place you'd expect to see in a retro film, vibrant and chaotic in the best way.

"Alright, lads, this is going to be epic!" Louis announced, throwing his arms wide as if he owned the place. "Welcome to the set of our next number-one smash hit!" He gave an exaggerated wink, and the lot of them chuckled, but deep down, they all knew they were just as pumped.

Once they'd settled in, the director gathered them around for a quick briefing. "Right, the concept here is dead simple," he explained, grinning. "We want to capture the energy you lot bring—make it feel like a proper party. Loads of fun, a bit of madness, just like you lot are known for."

Harry nudged Alex with a cheeky grin. "Looks like we're in for a proper wild one, then," he muttered.

"Bring it on," she replied with a smirk, adjusting her jacket as she shot him a daring look. If Harry thought he'd be the cheekiest one on set today, he had another thing coming.

As the cameras started rolling, the band launched into the performance, letting loose and dancing about like they were back at one of their flat parties. The set was alive with energy, and they fed off each other's enthusiasm. There were jumps, spins, and the kind of playful roughhousing you'd expect from a group of mates who'd been through thick and thin together. Harry and Alex couldn't help throwing each other sidelong glances and teasing grins; they had that easy chemistry that everyone could see, like they were daring each other to go just a bit further.

During a break in filming, the director strolled over, looking amused. "Alright, how about we capture some of the stories behind this energy? What's some of the madness you've all got up to over the years?"

Without missing a beat, Zayn piped up, his eyes sparkling with the memory. "Alright, so... our first tour, yeah? We got properly lost in Tokyo one night. Thought we'd end up missing the show, but instead, we wandered into this little karaoke bar..."

He was already laughing as he recounted it. "We thought we'd get kicked out, right? But next thing you know, we're belting out 'Teenage Dirtbag' to a packed house. The locals must've thought we were right nutters, but they absolutely loved it."

"Oh, mate, that was a blinder of a night!" Niall said, practically doubled over. "We sounded dreadful, but everyone was cheering us on. Didn't even know half the words!"

Harry, as usual, couldn't resist a dig. "Oi, Niall, you never know the words!"

The laughter continued, and Harry turned to Alex with a grin, clearly up to no good. "Speaking of karaoke," he began, arching an eyebrow, "how about the time you dared me to sing 'Let It Go' from Frozen?"

Alex's face lit up, her cheeks going slightly pink as she remembered. "Oh, that was gold! You went all in, like proper dramatic and everything. I thought we were going to get kicked out for sure."

"Everyone in the pub was howling*" Louis added, shaking his head at the memory. "Might be the first time I saw Harry really commit to something that daft."

Alex shot Harry a look. "You were actually decent! Until you tried to hit that high note at the end."

"That was artistic license, thank you very much," Harry deadpanned, earning him another round of laughs.

One by one, the stories flowed, each one bringing a fresh wave of laughter as they recounted nights they could hardly remember and pranks they'd never forget. There were tales of botched harmonies, accidental wardrobe malfunctions, and more than one impromptu pub performance. The studio felt alive with the memories, and the bond between them deepened with every laugh and shared glance.

When the cameras rolled again, the atmosphere on set was electric. They weren't just performing—they were living each moment, revelling in the memories they'd shared and the madness they'd lived through. They knew they were capturing something special, and each of them felt it: this wasn't just a music video. It was a celebration of everything they'd been through together and everything still to come.