Even after being spotted together at the MTV Video Music Awards and a few dates after that, "X-Factor" judge Demi Lovato and One Direction singer Niall Horan continue to deny dating rumors.
According to sources the two are reported to be keeping connections "loose" and "casual."
The two, however, are said to be quite open about their feelings for each other. At least Lovato is.
"He has a lot of great qualities. He is an amazing listener and makes me laugh a lot, two of the main qualities I look for," Lovato said. "He knows I have a little crush on him, and we enjoy having dinner when we get the chance. We speak and message all the time. I don't want a relationship over Skype; we are both in a place where we feel zero pressure to rush. We share the philosophy that the right one is worth waiting for."
"He's a really awesome, sweet guy. But he's not my boyfriend," said Lovato in her interview with Teen Vogue. "I'm in a place right now where I really need to focus on myself. Obviously, I'm still going to like people - or love them - but I need to not be in a relationship for a while because I need to be okay with being alone, first."
Lovato said she is "really happy right now." She tells the magazine, "I never thought it was possible to be happy because of how depressed I was my entire life. But I feel so incredible. It's like I'm living in a dream." To maintain her recovery she makes sure to "sleep, eat right, exercise, and meditate." "I know that I can't miss my therapy appointments or things will get a little rocky, so I always put my recovery first," she said.
However an insider has a different story to tell.
"Demi's told the guys backstage she and Niall are loosely dating, it's casual but they are definitely dating, albeit long-distance," explained the insider.