49

30 0 0
                                    

The Four tour had turned into a bloody whirlwind—every night a new city, a new stadium, new faces shouting their name. It was relentless, an endless loop of rehearsals, performances, and signings, and the buzz in the air was palpable. Fans lined up for hours, camped out overnight just to get a glimpse of them. The stadiums were packed to the brim, and the sound of thousands of people screaming in unison was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. Alex could feel the excitement in every fibre of her being, the energy of the crowd pushing her forward with every note she sang. It was like stepping into another world entirely, one that was both thrilling and completely overwhelming.

But amidst all the madness, something had shifted. There was a weight to the air, something heavy that Alex couldn't quite put her finger on. Every night felt like a celebration, and she was certainly buzzing with adrenaline, but there was also an ache that lingered when she wasn't caught up in the performance. It wasn't just exhaustion; it was something more, something subtle.

She'd noticed it more recently, during the quiet moments when they were offstage or hanging out in the dressing room. Zayn, her mate who always had a joke or a laugh ready, had started to retreat into himself. It wasn't immediately obvious, but it was there. Little things—how he seemed to pull away first from the group when they'd all head to the bus, or the way he'd stare off into the distance, his mind clearly somewhere else. Even on stage, the usual fire in his performance seemed dimmer. It was like something was eating at him, and Alex couldn't shake the feeling that whatever it was, he wasn't sharing it.

It was after one particularly high-energy show that they were all in the green room backstage, flopping into chairs and collapsing on couches. The buzz of the performance still lingered in the air, but now the exhaustion was settling in. The boys were all wiped, but their spirits were high, and Louis was in full form, cracking jokes about the show.

"Liam, you nearly gave me a concussion with that spin earlier," Louis teased, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Liam shot him an exaggerated glare. "You weren't even looking, mate! How could I avoid you if you're just there, waving your arms about like a madman?"

The whole room cracked up at the mental image, with Niall chiming in with his own version of the story. For a moment, it felt like old times—easy, carefree, everyone laughing and teasing. But when the laughter died down, Alex's eyes automatically found Zayn sitting on the edge of the couch, far away from the group. His head was down, his fingers absently picking at the loose thread on his shirt, and for a second, it felt like he wasn't even there.

She stood up, crossing the room quietly, and nudged him with her foot. "Oi, Zayn, what's going on in that head of yours, then?"

Zayn looked up, blinking as if he'd been pulled out of a trance. There was a flash of something in his eyes—surprise, maybe guilt—but it was gone in an instant. He gave her a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Ah, nothing, just thinking about the next show, you know how it is."

Alex raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. "Thinking about the next show, yeah? A bit deep for a soundcheck, mate."

He let out a soft chuckle, running a hand through his hair, though it was more to hide his discomfort than anything else. "Yeah, guess I'm just knackered. Long day, right?"

The others were starting to notice now, too. Harry, who had been sprawled out on the floor, sat up, his brow furrowed. "Zayn, mate, you've been 'knackered' for ages now. You good?"

Zayn shrugged, his expression still distant. "Yeah, yeah. Just... you know. It's a lot sometimes."

There was a silence that followed, the words hanging in the air, thick with unspoken concern. Louis, always the one to break the awkwardness, slapped Zayn on the back. "Look, when it gets too much, you've got us, yeah? We're all in this together, don't forget that."

Zayn nodded, offering them all a tight, half-hearted smile. "Yeah. Thanks, lads."

But as he looked away, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than just being 'knackered.' It was too much of a change too quickly. Zayn had always been the one with a quick quip, the first to throw himself into a joke, to lighten the mood. Now, he was distant, and that worried her.

Later that evening, after a long bus ride to the next city, Alex found herself walking next to Zayn. The cool London air bit at her cheeks as they strolled down the street, the bright lights of the city casting long shadows across the pavement. Zayn was a few paces ahead of her, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"Oi, Zayn," Alex called softly, slowing her step to match his. "You know you can talk to me, right? If something's bothering you."

He stopped for a second, his shoulders tensing as if the offer was one he wasn't sure he could take. When he finally looked up, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—a mixture of gratitude and reluctance. "I know, Alex. I do. But some things... well, some things are hard to put into words, yeah?"

She nodded, understanding completely. "Whenever you're ready, mate, I'm here. No rush."

They walked in silence for a moment, the only sound the hum of the city around them. Alex glanced sideways at him, her stomach tightening with worry. There was definitely something more going on, and whatever it was, it was eating at him. But for now, she could only offer him her quiet presence, hoping he would come to her when he was ready.

As they reached the tour bus, the weight of the night pressed in, and Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing just beneath the surface. Zayn might have brushed off the concern, but Alex knew him too well to ignore the signs. Whatever was going on with him, she was determined to be there when he was ready to open up. Until then, she'd just have to wait—and keep an eye out for those small moments that spoke louder than words.

SIX - One DirectionWhere stories live. Discover now