A week after Noah's funeral, the team gathered in the boardroom for the final listening of the EP. Landon, One Direction, and Tatiana were all present, eager to get feedback on their hard work. As the music played, the room fell silent, with everyone fully immersed in the sound.
When the EP finished, the room erupted into praise. Liam spoke up first, his enthusiasm evident. "Wow, I gotta admit...this sounds cool."
Niall nodded in agreement, his thoughts similar. "Honestly, Landon, you did it again. I'd kill to have your skills at music."
Louise, often the quiet member of the team, chimed in with a witty remark. "I'd kill to just have half of his talent."
The room erupted in laughter, and Landon's smile grew, though his expression remained somewhat reserved. "Thanks," he said, his tone polite but not overly effusive.
As the EP played for the third time, Rachel spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. "Guys, we got a problem here."
Emma, anticipating the issue, jumped in before Rachel could elaborate. "Let me guess, you can't decide on which song should be the lead single...right?"
The team laughed, and the tension was momentarily broken. But Rachel's expression remained serious, hinting that there might be more to the issue than just choosing a single.
As the team continued to discuss the EP, one of the marketing people, a young woman with a keen eye for trends, spoke up. "You know, since Landon is the sole producer and writer of the whole EP, maybe he should just choose the single," she said, her voice straightforward and practical.
The room fell silent, with everyone looking at Landon. Liam nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's a good point. Whats your thoughts, guys?"
Niall chimed in, "Well, he does have a great track record. I feel like his instincts are usually spot on."
Landon's expression turned thoughtful, and he leaned back in his chair. "I think I do have a good idea of which song would work best as the single," he said, his voice measured.
Rachel nodded, her expression still serious. "Okay, let's hear your thoughts, Landon. Which song do you think should be sure."
Landon nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "I think 'Cross me' (Ed Sheeran feat. PNB and Chance the rapper) should be the single. It's catchy, and it showcases the EP's overall vibe."
The team nodded, seeming to consider his suggestion. But Emma spoke up again, her voice curious. "What makes you think that one would be the best choice, Landon?"
Landon's smile grew, and he leaned forward, his enthusiasm evident. "I think it's the way the song flows, the way the melody catches your ear. And the lyrics are relatable, you know? "
The team nodded, seeming to buy into Landon's vision. But Rachel's expression remained serious, hinting that there might be more to consider before making a final decision. Landon's eyes shifted to Tatiana, and he offered her a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry that the first single on the EP isn't one that you're featured on," he said, his voice sincere. "But I promise that the second single will be the one we did together."
Tatiana's expression softened, and she smiled back at him. "It's okay, Landon. I trust your judgment. If you think 'Cross me' is the right choice for the single, then I'm behind you."
Landon's smile grew, and he nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, Tatiana. I really appreciate your support. And I'm excited to get the second single out there. I think our collaboration is going to be a hit."
The team nodded, seeming to be on board with Landon's plan. Rachel's expression still remained serious, but she nodded along with the others. "Okay, let's move forward with 'Cross me' as the single. We'll start working on the marketing strategy and get it out to the public."
As the team began to discuss the logistics of the single's release, Landon's mind was already thinking about the next steps. Later that day, Landon posted a short clip on social media of him, One Direction, and Tatiana goofing around in the studio. The snippet of their upcoming single, "Cross Me," played in the background as they laughed and joked with each other.
The video caption read, "Studio vibes with my favorite people". The clip showed Zayn,Liam, Niall, Harry, and Louis playfully messing around, while Tatiana and Landon exchanged looks that would later lit up speculations about their relationship. The lighthearted atmosphere and behind-the-scenes glimpse into their creative process were sure to delight their fans. As the video spread, fans began to speculate about the single's release and what the full song would sound like. "Cross Me" was shaping up to be a fan favorite, and this sneak peek only added to the excitement.
The video quickly racked up comments from fans all over the world. Many of them were thrilled by the seamless voice transitions between the band members, with some commenting,
"Love how the vocals switch between each member! So smooth!"
Others were curious about the group, asking, "Is this Landon's new band?" or "Who are these guys? They're amazing!"
A fan from the UK, @Jaylin4Life,
commented, "Is that Zayn and Harry?! I'm a huge fan of their covers, but I haven't seen any new covers on YouTube lately. I was scared they didn't do music anymore
, but I didn't expect they'd collaborate with Landon!!"
Another fan, @YoursForever, asked, "Are these guys a new boyband? They sound so good together!".
@LandonFanGirl chimed in, "I've been listening to Landon's music since Shape of you, and i gotta say that this is the most epic collaboration ever!"
The comments section was filled with excitement and speculation about the band and their music. Fans were eagerly awaiting more information about the single and the group, and Landon's post had certainly generated a lot of buzz.
Two days later, Landon took to Twitter to address the speculation about the band. "I've seen the comments asking who the Band is, well they are @One_Direction, and they are gonna become the biggest band out there. You were warned," he tweeted, dropping a bombshell that sent shockwaves through the online community.
The tweet quickly went viral, with fans and non-fans alike responding to the news. One Landon's fans went wild, sharing the tweet and hyping up the collaboration. Meanwhile, others were skeptical, wondering what Landon meant by "You were warned."
@One_Direction's Twitter account also responded, sharing a screenshot of Landon's tweet with the caption "A bold message from one of the greatest out there, hops we don't disappoint...". The tweet sparked a frenzy of activity, with fans eagerly awaiting more information about the single and the group's future plans.
Landon's tweet had undoubtedly generated even more buzz around the upcoming single, and fans were now more excited than ever to hear "Cross Me" and see what the future held for One Direction and Landon's collaboration.
Five days later, at 6 in the morning, Landon posted the official notice that "Cross Me Feat. One Direction" was finally out. The fans went absolutely wild, eagerly downloading and streaming the song. Social media platforms were flooded with reactions, with fans praising the catchy melody, harmonies, and the seamless blend of Landon's style with One Direction's signature sound.
The song's lyrics, which spoke to themes of love, loyalty, and protection, resonated deeply with listeners. Fans took to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to share their excitement, with many declaring it their new favorite song.
One Direction's members also shared their excitement, posting behind-the-scenes moments from the recording studio and thanking Landon for the opportunity to collaborate.
As fans listened to "Cross Me Feat. One Direction", many were surprised to hear Landon's rap verses. Some fans were thrilled to see Landon showcase his versatility, while others were shocked, not expecting him to rap.
Comments like "Landon can rap?!" and "I didn't know Landon could spit bars like that!" flooded social media platforms. Many fans praised Landon's rap skills, saying he brought a new level of intensity to the song.
One fan tweeted, "Landon's rap verse on 'Cross Me' is fire! Didn't know he had bars like that!" Another fan commented, "I love how Landon switched it up and showed off his rap skills. So versatile!"
The surprise and delight from fans added to the song's buzz, with many eagerly sharing clips of Landon's rap verses online. The collaboration between Landon and One Direction continued to generate excitement, and "Cross Me" was solidifying its place as a standout track in both Landon and One Direction's discographies.