SIX - One Direction

47

The day of the Four album release party finally arrived, and the atmosphere was buzzing with that unique excitement only a London crowd could bring. Fans had been queuing outside for hours, bundled up in coats against the chilly November night, clutching homemade banners and waving eagerly at the occasional photographer who'd come to capture the event. The boys could hear the hum of chatter and occasional burst of song from outside as they gathered backstage, and it gave them an extra jolt of energy.

"You ready to party, lads?" Louis shouted, practically bouncing on his toes. He had that signature mischievous grin plastered across his face, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Absolutely!" Niall said, fist in the air, matching Louis's enthusiasm as he grabbed him in a half-hug, half-wrestle. "This is gonna be massive."

Alex stood beside Harry, her face lit up with excitement as she looked over the crowd filtering into the venue. Her eyes were sparkling, and Harry couldn't help but watch her, heart hammering in his chest. He'd been waiting for this night, not just for the album release but for a chance to finally let loose with her, to celebrate everything they'd worked on together.

"This is mad, innit?" she said, turning to him. "All these people... just here for us."

Harry nodded, smiling softly. "Couldn't have done it without you."

She glanced at him, her expression warm, a hint of something unspoken in her eyes. "Well, we all did the hard work here," she replied modestly, but there was a pride in her voice that made his chest tighten.

Before he could say anything else, someone called out, and it was time for them to enter the main floor. As they stepped out into the venue, the cheers rose in waves, washing over them like a tidal wave of sound and energy. Fans shouted, cameras flashed, and for a moment, all Harry could feel was the electric charge in the air, an overwhelming sense of achievement and connection.

They made their way through the crowd, greeting fans and mingling with the familiar faces that had come to celebrate: friends, family, and even a few well-known faces from the industry. The boys were in high spirits, and they took photos, signed albums, and laughed as they shared stories from the recording process.

At one point, Louis took it upon himself to keep the energy up, darting from fan to fan with his usual cheeky banter. "Right, who here thinks Four's our best one yet?" he called out, grinning as the crowd erupted with cheers. He turned back to the boys, winking. "See? Told you lot we were onto something."

Harry laughed, shaking his head, but as he turned, he noticed Alex off to one side of the room, chatting with a tall, dark-haired bloke who was laughing a bit too enthusiastically at something she'd said. He recognised him—a well-known actor whose name he couldn't remember, but he definitely remembered the stories about his "reputation."

"Who's that bloke?" Harry muttered, trying to keep his tone casual as he nudged Niall, who'd sidled up beside him, pint in hand.

Niall followed his gaze and let out a low chuckle. "Oh, him? Just one of her mates, I reckon. Saw him at one of the listening parties. But mate, don't be daft," he added, giving Harry a nudge. "You know she's here for you."

Harry tried to shrug it off, telling himself he was just being silly. But as he watched the actor lean in, saying something that made Alex laugh, he felt his stomach tighten with jealousy. He knew she was into him, that much was obvious—but seeing her so comfortable with someone else, someone with that level of charm and good looks, stirred up insecurities he didn't want to acknowledge. It wasn't the first time he felt this way, he had made this silly small things a big deal before but now, it was different, they were actually something more than friends.

After a few minutes, Alex noticed him looking and gave him a small, reassuring smile. But instead of feeling better, Harry felt his own irritation flare up; he hated feeling insecure, especially about someone he trusted so much. He forced himself to turn back to Niall and join in on the conversation, but he couldn't shake the feeling.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alex broke away from the conversation with the actor and made her way over to Harry. Her face was glowing, eyes bright with the thrill of the night, and for a moment, Harry's jealousy melted away, replaced by the simple happiness of being near her.

"Hey! There you are!" she said, reaching for his hand and squeezing it briefly before letting go. "I've been looking for you. This place is massive, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is," he replied, trying to keep his tone light. "Looked like you were having a good time over there."

Alex's smile faltered slightly as she caught the coolness in his voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Harry immediately regretted his tone, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. "Nothing. Just... looked like you and your mate were getting on well."

She stared at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're joking, right? That was a friend, Harry. I was just being friendly."

"Didn't look like 'just friendly' from over here," he muttered, crossing his arms.

Alex let out an exasperated sigh, glancing around to make sure they weren't drawing attention before leaning in closer. "Are you really going to do this now? On the night of your album launch?"

He hesitated, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "I just... don't like seeing you with other guys, alright?"

She softened, reaching out to place a hand on his arm. "Harry, I'm here for you. Not anyone else. You've got nothing to worry about, I can have mates!"

He looked down at her, the sincerity in her eyes easing some of the tension in his chest. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry, I just... I don't want to mess this up."

"You won't," she said quietly, giving him a small smile. "Now, can we please just enjoy tonight? This is your moment, Harry. We've earned this."

He nodded, his irritation fading as he allowed himself to relax. "You're right. Sorry, I'm being a prat."

"Yeah, you are," she teased, her grin returning. "But you're my prat."

They spent the rest of the night mingling, dancing, and celebrating with friends, and gradually, Harry let go of his lingering jealousy, focusing instead on the joy of the night. The lads made their way to the stage for a brief speech, thanking everyone for their support, and Harry felt a swell of pride as he watched Alex give a little speech..

As the party wound down, the boys found themselves back at their private table, laughing as they recounted old stories, reminiscing about their journey to this point. Alex sat beside Harry, her hand resting casually on his knee, and he felt a quiet contentment settle over him. This was where he was meant to be, and he knew she was by his side.

Later, as they finally slipped out into the cool night air, away from the crowd, Harry and Alex shared a quiet moment together. The city lights glittered around them, and Harry felt an overwhelming gratitude for everything they'd built.

"Tonight was perfect," Alex said, leaning into his side as they walked down the street.

"Yeah," Harry replied, squeezing her hand. "And it's only the beginning."