SIX - One Direction

51

As the days pass, the bond between the band and their fans only grows stronger. Each night, the boys are greeted by roaring crowds, and Alex finds herself more alive on stage than ever before. The energy they bring is electric, almost palpable, and every performance feels like something suspended in time, as if the world outside didn't exist. The connection between them and the fans is undeniable, and every cheer, every song, only serves to remind Alex why she's here, doing what she loves. But even amidst the excitement, a shadow lingers—one she can't shake off. It's Zayn, the weight of his unspoken troubles hanging between them all.

On the night of a massive show, the atmosphere backstage is buzzing with anticipation. The air is thick with excitement, the boys cracking jokes, warming up, and hyping each other up. Alex can feel the buzz coursing through her veins, but just as they're about to head to the stage, Zayn pulls her aside, his face unusually pale and serious.

"Oi, Zayn, what's up?" she asks, frowning at the sight of him looking so tense.

He glances around, making sure no one is nearby, before lowering his voice. "I need to talk to you."

The sharpness in his tone sends a chill down her spine. "What's wrong?" she asks, her heart beginning to race, a knot forming in her stomach.

Zayn hesitates for a long moment, his eyes downcast, fingers nervously twisting the fabric of his shirt. When he finally meets her gaze, his eyes are dark and heavy, filled with something Alex can't quite place.

"I think I'm making a decision soon," he begins, voice low, barely above a whisper. "About... leaving."

The words hit her like a punch in the gut, and the world around her seems to freeze. For a second, she doesn't know how to react. She blinks, hoping she's heard him wrong. She's not ready for this, not ready to hear that Zayn is thinking of walking away.

"Zayn..." she breathes, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay calm. "Are you sure about this? We need you here. This... this isn't the same without you, mate." Her words sound desperate, but she can't help it. She's terrified.

He gives her a slow nod, his expression filled with sorrow. "I know. But I'm not... happy, Alex. I can't keep pretending anymore." His voice is barely audible, but the weight of his confession hangs heavily in the air, suffocating.

Her chest tightens, her thoughts spinning. She's known Zayn long enough to recognise the signs, but hearing it out loud makes it all too real. She wants to scream, to beg him to stay, but all she can do is hold herself together.

"Please don't tell the others yet," he adds quietly, his voice almost breaking. "I'll tell them when I'm ready."

She swallows hard, nodding. "I won't say anything. But Zayn, I just... I don't know what we'll do without you."

He manages a small, bittersweet smile, one that barely reaches his eyes. "You'll be fine, Alex. You always are."

The words feel like a final goodbye, and Alex feels something inside her break. She wants to say more, to convince him to stay, to remind him of all they've worked for, all they've built together. But she knows it's not that simple. It's not up to her to make him stay. She can't make him happy if he's not.

As they step onto the stage, Alex's heart is heavy, and the usual rush of excitement that fills her before every performance is replaced by a deep, unsettling sadness. The cheers of the crowd, the bright lights, the thumping bass—all of it feels distant, muffled. She forces herself to focus, to put everything she has into the performance, but every glance at Zayn only reminds her of their conversation. His face, his eyes—they're different. He's different.

During Right Now, their final song, Alex and Zayn meet in the middle of the stage for their duet. The crowd roars, but Alex can't quite feel the magic like she used to. Instead, there's a quiet sorrow in the way their voices blend together. It's beautiful, yes, but it's also a goodbye—one that neither of them has said out loud. The harmonies feel weighted with something unspoken, and as the song ends, she feels her heart ache. They turn away from each other, walking off stage with heavy steps, as if the air has suddenly become too thick to breathe.

Backstage, the others are caught up in the usual post-show hype, laughing, joking, recounting moments from the show. But Alex and Zayn stand off to the side, distant, their minds far from the celebration happening around them.

Louis, ever the observant one, notices the shift in their mood. He looks at them both, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Oi, what's with you two? You look like someone just told you we're out of snacks."

Alex forces a laugh, trying to brush it off, but it comes out weak. "Just knackered, I guess," she says, glancing at Zayn, who nods but doesn't say anything.

The boys don't push it, but the tension in the room is palpable. Alex can feel it, the weight of the unspoken conversation hanging over them like a cloud. She wishes she could tell them what's going on, but she promised Zayn she wouldn't. She promised she'd keep it between them. So, she smiles, pushing through the lump in her throat, pretending everything is fine, even though her heart is breaking a little more each time she looks at him.

Later that night, as they all settle into their bunks, Alex finds herself alone in the quiet of the tour bus. She replays the night in her mind—the conversation with Zayn, his words, his sadness. She knows his departure is looming, that it's inevitable, but the thought of losing him feels like a part of her heart being torn away. She's been with him through so much, shared so many moments, and now she's being forced to face the reality that it might all come to an end.

She doesn't know how to let him go. How to let go of the person she's known for so long. How to say goodbye when he hasn't even said it yet.

Alex turns over in her bunk, staring at the ceiling, the quiet hum of the bus doing little to drown out the thoughts swirling in her head. She tries to push them away, to tell herself that everything will be fine, that they'll figure it out. But deep down, she knows this is something they can't fix. Zayn is slipping away, and all she can do is watch him go.