A few days after Vitani's accident, things had started to settle down. Rebel was still shaken by the events, but he had managed to keep himself in check, thanks to the support from his dad, Johnny, and Walter Lure. He was back at home, trying to distract himself with music and schoolwork, but the itch for something more exciting gnawed at him.
It was then that the phone rang.
Rebel picked up, half-expecting it to be one of his friends. Instead, Stiv Bators' familiar voice crackled on the other end. “Hey, Rebel, it’s Stiv. How’s it going, kid?”
Rebel’s face lit up at the sound of Stiv’s voice. “Hey, Stiv! I’m alright, just trying to keep busy. What’s up?”
“Well,” Stiv began, a hint of mischief in his tone, “the Lords and I have the day off, and I figured it’d be cool to have you come hang with us. Maybe give you a break from everything that’s been going on.”
Rebel’s heart raced with excitement. He’d always looked up to Stiv and the Lords of the New Church. The idea of spending a day with them was exactly the kind of distraction he needed. “Hell yeah, I’m in! When and where?”
“Meet us at the studio in an hour,” Stiv replied. “We’re just gonna mess around, maybe grab some food after. It’ll be fun.”
Rebel agreed, and after hanging up, he quickly threw on his favorite leather jacket, the one that made him feel a bit more like the rockstars he idolized. He told Johnny where he was going, and his dad gave him a nod of approval. “Be safe, kiddo. And keep your head on straight.”
“I will, Dad,” Rebel assured him before heading out the door.
When Rebel arrived at the studio, he was greeted by Stiv, who clapped him on the back with a grin. “There’s our little troublemaker! Ready to raise some hell?”
“Always,” Rebel replied with a smirk.
Inside, the rest of the Lords of the New Church were lounging around, guitars in hand, beers already cracked open. Brian James, Dave Tregunna, and Nicky Turner welcomed Rebel with easy smiles and a few jokes, making him feel like he was part of the gang.
“Alright, let’s make some noise!” Stiv announced, grabbing his mic as the band got into a loose jam session. Rebel watched in awe as the Lords effortlessly fell into sync, their music filling the room with raw energy.
After a few songs, Stiv handed Rebel a guitar. “Why don’t you show us what you got, kid?”
Rebel, never one to shy away from a challenge, took the guitar and started playing one of the riffs he’d been working on at home. The band quickly caught on, turning his riff into a full-fledged jam. Rebel couldn’t help but grin as he played alongside them, feeling like he was on top of the world.
As the day went on, they took breaks between sessions, hanging out and talking about everything from music to life. The guys treated Rebel like one of their own, giving him advice and sharing stories from their wild days on the road.
Stiv, noticing Rebel’s quieter moments, took him aside. “You doing okay, Rebel? You know, after everything with your mom?”
Rebel hesitated, but then nodded. “Yeah… I mean, it’s been tough, but I’m managing. I just needed a break from it all, you know?”
Stiv nodded in understanding. “We all need that sometimes. Just remember, you’ve got people around you who care, who’ve been through the same shit. If you ever need to talk, don’t hesitate.”
Rebel appreciated Stiv’s words more than he could express. They spent the rest of the day bouncing around the city, grabbing food at a greasy diner, and ending up at a dive bar where the Lords were well-known and well-liked. Despite Rebel being underage, no one seemed to mind him hanging out with the band.
As the night drew to a close, Stiv walked Rebel back to his dad’s place. “You’re good company, Rebel. We should do this again.”
“Definitely,” Rebel agreed, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. “Thanks for today, Stiv. I needed it.”
Stiv gave him a knowing smile. “Anytime, kid. Remember, the world’s a crazy place, but we’re all in this together. Don’t let it drag you down.”
Rebel nodded, absorbing the advice. As he walked inside, he couldn’t help but feel like he had a little more clarity, a bit more strength to face whatever came next.
The Lords of the New Church had given him a day of fun and distraction, but more importantly, they’d reminded him of the family he had in this crazy rock ‘n’ roll life. And for Rebel, that made all the difference.
