SIX - One Direction

61

The roar of the London crowd was still ringing in Alex's ears as they walked offstage, sweaty and elated. The night had been electric, the kind of show that reminded her why they all did this in the first place. The screams, the lights, the sheer energy of thousands of fans—it was intoxicating. She exchanged a glance with Harry as they headed backstage, his cheeks flushed, his curls wild from the performance. He shot her a grin, the kind that made her stomach flip, and she quickly looked away, focusing on Liam, who was already talking about where they should go to celebrate.

"Right, I reckon we've earned a night out," Liam declared, grabbing a towel and slinging it over his shoulder. "Pub or club?"

"Club," Niall said immediately, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Gotta keep the buzz going. C'mon, we smashed it tonight."

Louis rolled his eyes but was already pulling on a jacket. "Fine, but none of that posh West End rubbish. Somewhere with proper music, not just bloody drum and bass."

Harry smirked. "Not your scene, Tommo? I thought you loved a bit of techno."

Louis made a face. "Piss off. I'm not spending the night surrounded by people wearing sunglasses indoors."

Alex laughed, grabbing her own jacket. "Alright, somewhere with a decent playlist and no sunglasses. Got it."

They piled into cars, still hyped from the show, and headed into central London. The city was alive as ever, the streets glowing with lights and people spilling out of bars. They ended up at a club tucked down a side street, the kind of place with a slightly sticky floor but a brilliant DJ, the music loud enough to drown out the world.

Inside, they moved as a pack at first, finding a table and ordering drinks. The boys were animated, recounting the highlights of the night and laughing at inside jokes, while Alex sipped her drink and took it all in. There was something magical about being here, in their hometown, celebrating with the people who had become her family.

The drinks flowed freely, and soon they were all on the dance floor. Alex danced with Niall for a bit, spinning and laughing as he dramatically tried to pull off some truly terrible moves. Then Louis grabbed her hand, pulling her into a chaotic, silly dance-off that left them both breathless with laughter. Liam joined in, ever the dad of the group, showing off his oddly precise rhythm, much to everyone's amusement.

But it was Harry she kept finding herself next to, their shoulders brushing as they danced. There was an energy between them.

At one point, Harry leaned in close, his voice low in her ear. "You're glowing tonight, y'know. You were brilliant out there."

Alex felt her cheeks heat up, the combination of his words and the way he was looking at her—intense, like she was the only one in the room—sending her heart racing. "Thanks, Haz," she said, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt. "You weren't too shabby yourself."

He grinned, that cheeky, lopsided smile that had melted hearts all over the world. "Not too shabby? That's the best you've got? I think I deserve a bit more credit than that."

She laughed, nudging him playfully. "Alright, fine. You were amazing. Happy now?"

"Getting there," he said, his eyes sparkling as he stepped closer.

They danced together for what felt like hours, the space between them shrinking with every beat of the music. The others slowly began to fade, one by one heading back to the house, until it was just the two of them left. The club was still alive around them, but Alex barely noticed. All she could focus on was Harry—his voice, his laughter, the way his hand lingered on her arm as they talked.

When they finally stepped outside, the cool night air hit her like a wake-up call. The streets were quieter now, the chaos of the evening giving way to a peaceful hum. Harry stood beside her, his hands in his pockets, looking more relaxed than she'd seen him in weeks.

"Fancy a walk?" he asked, nodding down the street.

Alex hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, alright."

They walked side by side, the silence between them comfortable. The city felt different at night, softer somehow, and Alex found herself relaxing as they wandered through the empty streets.

"You ever think about what's next?" Harry asked suddenly, his voice breaking the quiet.

She glanced at him, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"

"For us. For all of this." He gestured vaguely, taking in the city, the band, their lives. "It's been a mad few years, hasn't it? Feels like we've been running at a hundred miles an hour, and now... I dunno. Feels like we're at a crossroads."

Alex thought about it for a moment, her gaze fixed on the pavement. "Yeah, I get that. It's scary, isn't it? Thinking about what comes after. But... I think whatever it is, we'll be alright. We've been through so much already. We'll figure it out."

He smiled, a small, genuine smile that made her chest tighten. "You always know what to say."

"Only sometimes," she said, grinning. "Other times, I'm completely clueless."

They reached the house, the others long since passed out inside, and lingered on the front step. Alex turned to unlock the door, but before she could, Harry reached out, his hand brushing hers.

"I'm not ready for tonight to end," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alex's breath caught as she turned to face him. He was closer now, his green eyes searching hers, and before she could think too much about it, he leaned in. Their lips met, soft and tentative at first, then deeper, more urgent. It felt like everything they'd been holding back had finally spilled over, and she found herself pulling him closer, her hands tangling in his curls.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Harry rested his forehead against hers. "Well, that was overdue."

Alex laughed, a mix of nerves and exhilaration. "Just a bit."

They slipped inside quietly, their hands still intertwined, and disappeared into the dim glow of Harry's room. The world outside faded away, leaving just the two of them, lost in each other. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't certain, but for now, it was enough.