One Direction Series (Extra Material)

Ups And Downs - Alex

After a long time, Alex and Niall are back and you'll see a side that I don't always show.

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Ups and Downs - Alex

"Babe, c'mon. Leave that thing," I requested for what it seemed the millionth time already. I was looking at him but, apparently, I was invisible because Niall didn't move, his eyes were locked on the screen of his laptop.

I loved electronics, probably too much, I was a geek, but when they stole the attention of my boyfriend after he just came back from a short tour around Europe and I hadn't seen him in two weeks, I could hate them. But it wasn't the laptop what was taking Niall's attention away from me that night, it was those damn charts on iTunes.

"Just one sec, Alex," he said and I rolled my eyes. He had said that already many times, but he was still with his eyes on the screen.

I'd missed him so much and I couldn't wait for him to come back, and when he did, knowing who was first was all he cared about.

If this were the first time he had done that to me, it wouldn't be that bad and I would let him be, but it wasn't. He had been doing the same all this time, since they released the new album and he hadn't stopped. Always checking where the new single was number one.

I wasn't the needy nor clingy type, and I wouldn't normally mind if he was competitive, but my patience was limited and he reached that limit long time ago.

"Niall, stop!" I exclaimed, hoping he would look at me that time.

He didn't.

"Look! We're number one in Poland too! God, they are so incredible," he said, oblivious to what I was asking him.

"Niall!" I cried out and he finally looked at me. "Stop this. Seriously. Stop measuring your success as a band with how much you sell or how many number ones you get. I know, I get that it's important, but it's not the most important thing, for crying out loud!" He looked at me surprised and I couldn't blame him, I was yelling. "You know your fans support you and even if they can't buy the damn single now, they will buy it later. Maybe they don't have the money to buy it now and they'll download it illegally, but it's only temporary. Don't get mad! Because those girls are really there for your music and once they get the money, they will buy it because that's the kind of fans they are. Being the number one on iTunes doesn't mean you're the best out there."

"You don't understand-"

"Of course I don't, Niall. I don't fucking understand how you can be so obsessed that you don't even have paid me a little bit of attention since you came back and I haven't seen you in weeks. How? Have you even called your mum since you got here?" I asked and he didn't have to answer, I saw shame in his eyes. "I thought so. All what you care now is being number one and I'm tired of you always checking iTunes charts. All the fucking time, Niall! You can be childish, I don't mind a tad bit, in fact I like it, but when you act this immature... I can't stand it."

"Alex, c'mon, is not that bad," he insisted standing up and trying to get to me, but I stepped back.

"It is, Niall. That you are all the time saying 'buy our single, buy our album, buy our merchandise' is not good. I thought you were here for the music, 'cos you wanted to share your talent but every time you tell your fans to spend money buying more and more of your stuff, I feel like making money is the only thing you care about now and that music is fading at the background now. This" -I point at him with my hands- "is not the guy I fell in love with. I want the same Niall that loves music as much as he loves food, I don't want this Niall that gets mad because their songs got leaked or because a fan downloaded the song illegally. When you get over this unhealthy obsession, call me. Right now, I don't have the time to be here trying to get to you when you only care about iTunes charts. With this you're only pushing away those who truly care about you and I can't handle that. Good night, Niall," I finished turning around to leave his flat.