SIX - One Direction

64

Backstage after the Ellen taping, the room is eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional shuffle of someone shifting in their seat. They've sent out the hiatus announcement, and now they're waiting, phones in hand, as the world reacts. The energy that had carried them through the interview earlier has vanished, leaving an almost oppressive weight in its place.

Niall's the first to speak, his Irish lilt carrying a tinge of sadness. "I still can't believe we've actually gone and done it," he mutters, twirling a bottle of water in his hand. "Feels like... I dunno, like we've put a bloody full stop on everything."

"It's not a full stop," Liam says, though his voice lacks its usual conviction. He's perched on the edge of the sofa, elbows on his knees. "It's... it's a pause, innit? Like, we've said it's a break, yeah? Just some time to step back, figure out who we are without all the madness."

Alex, curled up in the corner of the sofa, her legs tucked beneath her, frowns down at her phone. "I know we keep calling it a break, but let's be honest... it doesn't feel like one, does it? Not really."

Louis exhales sharply, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. "Yeah, well, that's 'cos it's not a bloody summer holiday, is it? Feels more like we've lobbed ourselves off a cliff and we're just hoping there's water at the bottom."

That earns a faint laugh from Niall, though there's no real humor in it. "Always the optimist, eh, Lou?"

"Someone's gotta be," Louis quips, though the smirk tugging at his lips fades quickly. "But... I reckon we'll find our way back to this. One day. Won't we?"

The question hangs in the air, and for a moment, no one answers. The reality of what they're doing—what they've already done—settles over them like a heavy fog.

Harry, who's been uncharacteristically quiet all evening, finally speaks. He's perched on the armrest beside Alex, his long fingers absently fiddling with the sleeve of his shirt. "Look, no matter what happens, no matter how far apart we end up, we've gotta promise something." His voice is soft but steady, and it draws everyone's attention. "We've gotta promise that we'll always be there for each other. Yeah?"

His green eyes flick between them, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Alex wonders if he's trying to convince himself as much as he's asking the others.

"'Course we will," Niall says first, his tone resolute. "No way I'm letting you lot go. You're stuck with me, like it or not."

Liam nods, offering a faint smile. "Yeah. No matter where we end up, or how long this break is... this—us—it's forever."

Louis snorts, though there's no bite to it. "Oh, don't get soppy on me, Payne. We'll be fine. We've survived worse, haven't we? Just... don't forget to answer your phone when I call to annoy you."

That earns a genuine laugh from the group, breaking the tension slightly. Alex glances up at Harry, who's watching her now, his gaze steady and full of something unspoken. "We'll always have this," she says quietly, echoing his sentiment. "Everything we've been through, everything we've done together... nothing's going to change that."

Harry nods, his lips curving into a small, sad smile. "Yeah," he says softly. "We've just gotta remember that."

Later, after the announcement has gone live, they're all glued to their phones, scrolling through the flood of reactions pouring in from fans around the world. The messages are a mix of heartbreak and support, the overwhelming love a reminder of just how much they mean to people.

"They're gutted," Niall whispers, his face illuminated by the glow of his screen. "God, I hate this. Feels like we're lettin' 'em all down."

"They're stronger than we think," Liam says, though his voice wavers slightly. He sets his phone down, unable to look any longer. "They've stuck by us through everything. They'll understand... eventually."

Louis shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but it doesn't make it any easier, does it? They understand, but they're still bloody heartbroken. Same as us, really."

Alex sets her phone aside, pulling her knees up to her chest. "It's weird, isn't it?" she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "We've spent so long being... this. Being 'One Direction.' And now... I don't even know who I am without it."

"You're still you," Harry says softly, his gaze locked on hers. "You're Alex. You're brilliant. That doesn't change."

His words hit her like a wave, and she has to look away, blinking back the sudden sting in her eyes. The room falls quiet again, the weight of their decision settling over them like a heavy blanket.

Eventually, Liam clears his throat, his voice determined as he tries to inject some optimism into the conversation. "Look... we've done something amazing with this album. Made in the A.M. is special. And this isn't the end—it's just... a new chapter."

"A bloody terrifying chapter," Louis mutters, though there's a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Yeah, but we've always been good at terrifying," Niall says, his tone lightening as he leans back in his chair.

Alex looks around at them, her chest tight with emotion. This might not be the end, but it's definitely the end of an era. She knows they'll move forward, that they'll find their own paths, but sitting here with them, like this, feels like something she'll never quite get back.

"Here's to terrifying," she says quietly, lifting her water bottle in a mock toast.

The others follow suit, clinking their bottles together with soft laughter. And though the smiles are small and the air still feels heavy, it's enough to remind them that they're still together—at least for now.