SIX - One Direction

45

As dawn broke, the first light of morning started creeping through the thin curtains, casting a hazy, golden glow across the living room. Alex blinked her eyes open, squinting slightly against the soft light as she stirred. She felt an unexpected warmth beside her, something solid and comforting. Turning her head, she saw Harry lying next to her on the sofa, his arm draped around her shoulders, his chest rising and falling in a slow, peaceful rhythm.

A small, sleepy smile spread across her face as the memories from last night came rushing back. Every laugh, every stolen look, every kiss—it had all felt like stepping over a line they'd been toeing for ages. A thrill buzzed through her, but there was a flicker of nerves too. What did last night mean for them? Where did they even go from here?

Before she could get too lost in thought, Harry stirred beside her, muttering something unintelligible before he cracked one eye open and gave her a drowsy, lopsided grin. "Mornin', love," he murmured, voice rough from sleep. He ran a hand through his mess of curls, looking a bit surprised to find himself still there beside her.

"Mornin'," she replied, her voice equally soft as she brushed a bit of stray hair off his forehead. He looked adorably disheveled, his shirt rumpled and his cheeks faintly flushed from where they'd been pressed against the cushions.

Harry propped himself up on one elbow, watching her with a lazy smile. "Last night was... well, I reckon 'unforgettable' doesn't quite cover it, does it?" he said, his grin turning a little cheeky as he met her gaze.

Alex felt her cheeks heat up at the memory of their kisses, each one bringing with it an intensity that had surprised her as much as him. "Yeah, you could say that," she replied, a bit shyly. "But... I dunno, what happens now?"

For a moment, Harry's grin softened, and he looked at her with an uncharacteristic seriousness that made her stomach flip. "I think... I think we're in new territory here, Al. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. Really like it."

The weight of his words settled in the air between them, and Alex felt her heart pick up speed. "I like you too, Harry. Properly, I mean. But... you're right. We've never been here before. Friends, sure, but this? This is... it's big."

He gave a slow nod, clearly considering what she was saying. "Exactly, love. I don't wanna mess up what we've got already. We've got a good thing, haven't we? Wouldn't wanna throw that away over some daft impulse." He chuckled, running a hand over his face. "But at the same time, I don't think last night was just a one-off."

"No, it wasn't," she agreed, feeling a sense of relief at his words. "If anything, it just made me realise I want more... whatever that looks like." She bit her lip, glancing away for a moment, nerves creeping in. "But, you know, I don't want this to be some mad whirlwind that burns out in a month. I think... if we're gonna give this a go, I want to do it right."

Harry nodded, his gaze soft but earnest. "Absolutely. Slow and steady, yeah? I'm not in any rush... but I am all in if you are."

The weight of his words hung between them, settling like something solid and real. She met his eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'm in, Harry. Just... don't go making me regret it, alright?"

"Oh, please." He scoffed, his playful grin returning. "I'm a proper gentleman, me. You'll be getting the finest treatment. Tea in bed, movie nights on demand, no queuing in the cold for any shows—gotta keep you happy now, don't I?"

She laughed, giving him a light punch on the arm. "We'll see about that. But I'm holding you to it, Styles."

He chuckled, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Can't wait, love."

They sat there for a few minutes, just grinning at each other, letting the reality of the moment sink in. Harry's arm stayed around her shoulders, grounding her, while his other hand played absently with her fingers. It felt easy, like slipping into something that had been waiting for them all along.

After a bit, they drifted into chatting about the night before, reminiscing about their favourite moments, their shared glances and laughter. It was still early, and no one else was up yet, so the house was quiet, giving them a rare bubble of privacy. They talked about everything, from silly little memories to the stories they hadn't yet shared, each revelation building a new layer of closeness between them.

At one point, Alex brought up their careers, the whirlwind of fame and how it sometimes felt like they were riding a roller coaster with no off switch. "I mean, it's mental, isn't it?" she said, shaking her head. "One minute, we're normal people; next thing you know, you can't walk down the street without someone snapping a photo. Sometimes, I feel like I've barely had a moment to just... be."

Harry nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I get that. It's mad, honestly. But, somehow, being around you makes it feel a bit more normal, y'know? Like, it reminds me of why I wanted to do this in the first place."

Alex gave him a soft smile. "Yeah... same here. And I think that's part of why last night happened. You're just... well, you're Harry, my best mate, but also... more." She trailed off, feeling a bit vulnerable, but he just squeezed her hand, his gaze steady and warm.

"Well," he said, his voice a bit more serious, "as long as you're up for this, I reckon we'll make it work. We've got all the time in the world."

They spent the rest of the morning like that, the conversation weaving in and out of laughter, quiet moments, and the occasional stolen glance. At one point, Harry tried to make tea, only to nearly burn his hand on the kettle, sending them both into fits of laughter.

When the rest of the band finally started waking up, wandering into the kitchen bleary-eyed and clutching mugs, Alex and Harry shared a look, a secret smile passing between them that no one else noticed. As Louis walked in, yawning and scratching his head, he caught sight of them and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, just grinning knowingly.

They knew there'd be questions, and that the lads would probably take the mickey out of them a bit. But for now, they were content to just let things unfold in their own time, holding on to the quiet thrill of what they'd started together. It wasn't the easiest path, but it was theirs. And that, for now, was enough.