lovely | billie eilish

1 | Tickets

As I settled into my seat in the crowded lecture hall, my mind buzzed with a mix of excitement and distraction. Today's psychology class was supposed to cover cognitive development theories, but my thoughts were elsewhere. Billie Eilish's upcoming concert was all I could think about, her ethereal voice and magnetic stage presence promising an escape from the routine of college life.

I absentmindedly twirled a strand of my split-dyed hair—black on one side, purple on the other—while trying to focus on Professor Ramirez's lecture. Cognitive dissonance, stages of moral development... None of it seemed as pressing as securing those tickets. I daydreamed about the thrill of being among the crowd, singing along to every lyric.

The moment the lecture ended, I practically sprinted out of the classroom, ignoring the curious glances from my classmates. My best friend, Hailey, waited outside, her eyes bright with anticipation.

"Violet, did you hear?" Hailey exclaimed before I could even say hello. "Billie Eilish is performing in town next month! We have to get tickets!"

I grinned, my heart racing with excitement. "I know, I know! I've been checking TicketMaster religiously to see when they're coming out. But you know how fast her concerts sell out."

Hailey nodded fervently. "We have to be ready the moment they go on sale. No hesitation this time!"

We walked briskly back to our dorm, our conversation a flurry of plans and strategies. Hailey flopped down on her bed as soon as we entered, pulling out her laptop with determination. I joined her, pulling up TicketMaster on my phone.

"Okay, let's do this," Hailey said, her fingers poised over the keyboard.

As we waited for the countdown to reach zero, my mind drifted to the first time I had heard Billie Eilish's voice. It was during a late-night study session in the dorm lounge. Her music had filled the air, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. Since then, her songs had been a constant companion through the ups and downs of college life.

"Tickets are live!" Hailey announced suddenly, snapping me out of my reverie.

I clicked frantically, my heart sinking as I saw the message: "Sold Out."

"No way," I groaned, slumping back in defeat.

Hailey frowned, her disappointment mirroring mine. "That was so fast. How could they sell out in seconds?"

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. "We'll figure something out. Maybe there are resale tickets?"

Hailey brightened. "Yeah, let's check other sites. We can't miss this concert."

With renewed determination, we spent the next hour scouring every ticketing website we could find, hoping for a stroke of luck. As the evening wore on and the sun dipped below the horizon, hailey finally found a pair of tickets available—albeit at a steep price.

"We have to do it," Hailey urged, her eyes pleading with me.

I hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Okay, let's do it. It's worth it."

With a sense of exhilaration and relief, we purchased the tickets, our excitement palpable. Billie Eilish, with her mesmerizing blue hair and soulful lyrics, was going to be ours to experience live. And somehow, in that moment, everything felt right in the chaotic whirlwind of college life.