Broken or One of a Kind?

Part 6: Anarchy and Anthem - A Night with Yungblud

The Yungblud concert was the one I had been waiting for since the tickets were in my hand. It was my dream, something that felt so far out of reach, but now it was happening. I was buzzing with energy as we made our way into the venue, the sound of fans already chanting and the lights dimming overhead.

Johnnie was beside me, his arm loosely slung around my shoulders, as we pushed our way through the crowd toward the stage. The excitement in the air was electric, a buzzing hum of anticipation that pulsed through my veins. I hadn't felt this alive in so long.

Katie caught my eye, grinning. "You ready for this?"

"More than ready," I said, my heart racing. This wasn't just a concert-it was a moment that felt like everything I'd been waiting for.

The lights suddenly dropped, plunging the room into darkness. The crowd roared, and I found myself screaming along with them as the opening riff of *Parents* blasted through the speakers. My pulse quickened, the music thundering through my body. The stage lit up, and there he was-Yungblud, larger than life, his energy radiating like wildfire.

He was everything I'd hoped for and more. Wild, chaotic, unapologetically himself. He commanded the stage, his black eyeliner smeared as he bounced across the platform, shouting lyrics that spoke to every part of me that had ever felt misunderstood.

"♪ I was born in a messed up century! ♪"

The words hit different when I heard them live. I screamed along with him, my voice blending with the crowd's. There was something cathartic in the way he belted out the anthem for everyone who felt like they didn't fit. Like we were all connected, even if just for that moment.

I was lost in the music, dancing and singing, feeling the weight of everything-Chris, my mom, even the mess of my past-fall away. It was just me, the music, and the thousands of people around me who all understood that same sense of being out of place.

As the show went on, I couldn't take my eyes off Yungblud. His passion, his energy-it felt like he was speaking directly to me. Each song brought a new wave of emotion, and by the time the concert ended with *Hope for the Underrated Youth*, my voice was hoarse, my heart full.

Katie squeezed my hand as we headed toward the back exit. "How was it? Everything you hoped for?"

I grinned, my face flushed from the adrenaline. "Better."

Johnnie was behind us, texting someone. He looked up, noticing my expression and smirking. "You look like you're on cloud nine."

"I am," I said, still riding the high of the show. "That was insane."

But the night wasn't over. Katie nudged me as we made our way through the crowd near the backstage doors. "You ready for the surprise?"

I blinked, confused. "Surprise?"

Before I could ask what she meant, a security guard approached us, wearing a knowing smile. "You're with Johnnie Guilbert, right? You can come backstage."

My heart stopped. **Backstage?**

I turned to Johnnie, who just chuckled and shrugged. "What can I say? I've got connections."

I didn't even have time to process what was happening before we were being ushered through the side doors, past security, and down a narrow hallway. My hands were shaking, and my mind was spinning as we got closer to the green room.

And then, there he was.

Yungblud-*Dom*-was lounging on a worn-out couch, his signature grin wide and infectious as soon as he saw us. His messy black hair was sticking to his forehead, and the remnants of smeared eyeliner made him look even more iconic in person. The air in the room felt charged, and I had to remind myself to breathe.

"Oi, look who we got 'ere!" Dom jumped up, his energy still vibrating from the show. He walked over, arms wide, and I was sure my heart was going to stop as he wrapped me in a hug, like we were old friends. "Johnnie's been tellin' me about ya. Lilith, right?"

I couldn't speak for a second, my voice trapped somewhere in my throat. *Yungblud knew my name?*

Katie nudged me, trying not to laugh at my starstruck expression. "Yeah, she's a huge fan."

Dom pulled back from the hug, his grin never fading. "Nah, we're mates now, right? Don't be shy. What did ya think of the gig?"

I finally found my voice. "It was amazing," I blurted out, probably too quickly, but I didn't care. "You're amazing. Your music-it just... it means a lot to me."

Dom's expression softened, and for a moment, it felt like he truly understood. "That's what it's all about, innit? Findin' yer people, sharin' the madness. We're all a bit f****d up, but that's what makes us who we are."

He ruffled my hair playfully, and suddenly, I wasn't just a fan standing in front of my idol. I was a person, someone he was actually talking to, connecting with. It was surreal, but it was real.

We talked for what felt like hours, sharing stories, laughing at random jokes, and he even let me ask him some of the questions I'd been working on for my interview. But it wasn't just about the music. We talked about life, about feeling lost and finding your place in the world. He listened-really listened-and by the end of the night, it felt like I'd made a friend in one of my biggest inspirations.

"Oi, if ya ever need to talk, ya know where to find me," Dom said as we were getting ready to leave. He pulled out his phone and handed it to me. "Put yer number in."

I stared at his phone for a second, then at him, before finally typing in my number. I couldn't believe this was happening. Not only had I met Yungblud, but he was giving me his number? My hands shook as I handed the phone back.

"Don't be a stranger, yeah?" he said with a wink before pulling me into one last hug. "We're family now, Lilith."

As we left the venue, I was still buzzing, the whole night feeling like a whirlwind of music, connection, and new possibilities. I had gone to the concert as a fan, but I left feeling like I had found someone who really got me.

Katie smiled as we walked back to the hotel. "How are you feeling now?"

"Like I'm dreaming," I admitted, glancing down at my phone, where Dom's number sat in my contacts list. "This has been the best night of my life."