when the musics over but

Even after everything, it still comes as a surprise when Louis says, abruptly, breaking a long silence on the bus, "This isn't working, Liam."

Liam glances up, surprised (Harry looks surprised, too, he'll remember, later, after, but the others don't). "Are we breaking up?" he jokes, because he doesn't get it, and he's about to add, "Because I didn't know we were dating," but something on Louis' face stops him (so serious, so sorry), and before Zayn or Niall can say anything, Liam knows, with all certainty, that they are.

(A series of vignettes: four ways one direction could end (and the one way it does)).