Here's chapter 2! Thank so much for the reviews guys, it really made all bubbly and happy when y'all told me that I really wrote the guys in character, so THANKIES! Also: thanks for the favorites and for the story alerts, they also mean A LOT!
I'd also like you to know that I can only update just ONCE a week, because of school ., so please bear with me, for I can only update either on Fridays or Saturdays.
Anyways, please review so I can know if you like it :)!
A few days later, at school during the lunch break, Izzy, Tripp's best friend, comes up to his table and settles her tray on it.
"Hey Tripp!" she greeted with a high-pitched while sitting down next to her friend.
"Hi Izzy! What's up?" he responded before taking a bite from the cheese sandwich he had in his plate.
"Well, nothing new recently" she began, moving her plastic fork in circles on the small loaf of meat she had in front of her "I just wanted to tell you that…I really like Iron Weasel's blog" Izzy said with suggestively, with a big grin on her face.
"Aha…" replied Tripp after chewing down his food, realizing where the Izzy wanted to lead the discussion "I'm glad to know this"
"Yeah and I also read some of your newest posts…" She continued with a wide, innocent smile.
"Aha…Cool"
"And I liked them very much! And there's one particular one that caught my eye…"
"Izzy please!" Tripp cut her off "I know what you're trying to do! I understand that we're good friends and you want to join Iron Weasel so you can persuade a singing career, but you have the respect written there!"
"What do you mean through that?" protested Izzy, smashing her cutlery on the plate "I respect all the requirements there!"
"No…you don't!"
"Yes, I do! I have past experience: We once had a band together when we were little…"Booger Smack", remember? And besides this, I once filled in for Derek when he lost his voice…Remember?" Izzy said, her voice just below a shout, accentuating each 'remember' by widening her eyes in annoyance.
"Izzy" Tripp stared deep into his friend's eyes "We're looking for someone who did this professionally and who sang on stage in front of hundreds of people many, many times…" Izzy rolled her eyes before returning her attention at the fork next to her plate "Listen, I know that you're talented and wanna step on stage very badly, but not now Izzy...and not with us" he added the rest more softly in order to calm his friend, who seemed pretty upset that she was rejected so mercilessly.
"Okay, okay I got it!" she said raising up her right hand in order to stop Tripp from what seemed the beginning of a boring consolation speech "I don't have enough experience on stage…but what other conditions do I not respect?"
"Well…" Tripp began once again "You're too young"
"WHAT?" Izzy let out amazed "I'm almost sixteen…I'm no toddler!"
"The minimum age is eighteen Izzy" the boy said putting his left hand on his friend's shoulder "We want a woman, not a teen!"
"Well, then…I guess I have to give up…" she said continuing to play with her food.
"Oh, c'mon Izzy! If you miss this occasion it doesn't mean that it's the end of the world for your dream of becoming a rocker. Just wait and you'll see: the sun will rise for you as well!" he said smiling widely in order to make her feel better.
"Thanks Tripp!" Izzy replied returning his smile, but once she figured out that the moment got too emotional she said mockingly "And don't worry, I'm not upset…When I'll have my own rock band, I'm gonna totally crush you guys and the little missy you'll choose as a new singer…so HA!"
"Oh, you really think so?" Tripp replied playfully, nodding his head.
"Aha! Just you wait and see…" she said grinning happily "You'll all get burnt, sonny!" Izzy added with her usual, signature voice tone.
The rest of the meal continued with the two talking like two usual teenagers, till the ring of the bell sent them mercilessly to their classes.
Several days passed and there was just one more week till the audition day. So Tripp decided to turn on his laptop and check the mail box for any submissions, while the others were watching TV lazily, as usual. He entered the site, put in the password and after a little while of waiting his jaw simply dropped on the floor and he couldn't speak for a few moments.
"Weasels…" Tripp finally managed to say, not taking his eyes away from the computer screen.
"What?" they all asked in unison.
"Come and check this out!"
They all gathered next to Tripp and remained astonished as well.
"Whooa…" Burger simply let out, nodding his head.
"Now I certainly didn't see this one coming…" added Derek.
"Yeah, somebody changed your desktop image bro!" Ash said widening his eyes.
The thing that the Weasels were amazed of was that there were so many contestants signed up for the place in the band that they started to fear they couldn't audition all of them in jut one day. It was really unexpected, especially for Derek and even a bit for the most believing one, Tripp.
"How are we ever gonna audition all of them in just one day?" Burger asked Tripp clueless.
"I have no idea…" he responded sitting back in the couch.
Derek started chuckling slowly and the sound of Tripp's answer "You know…" he began entering the kitchen and moving the Venetian blind windows away so the others could see him when talking "I must say that I was anticipating this. I mean we're talking about women, right? They would do ANYTHING for fame and for getting their name out there" he said these words while opening the fridge and taking a can of soda, resting it on the counter "And I also anticipate that not even half, I think more but right now I'm sticking to half, can't even sing!" he stopped for a second to take a sip from the can "You should give up your little search now before your house is invaded by all those pink-skirted attention-seekers, kid!"
"Oh will you be a little more optimistic Derek?" asked Tripp a bit annoyed "I know that you think that you're spotlight in Iron Weasel might be in jeopardy, but can you at least stop adding those mean comments every time we talk about bringing a new singer?"
All the answer that the cocky lead singer could give was the cocking of an eyebrow and the sudden shut of the Venetian blinders.
"Don't worry guys!" replied Tripp addressing Ash and Burger "We'll have enough time to audition all the girls!"
"Aha…" Derek agreed sarcastically and obnoxiously while entering the living room again "Women…please!" They're good for just one thing…" he added sitting on one of the chairs, before taking another sip from his drink.
"Cooking?" asked Burger happily.
"Cooking…" whispered Derek chuckling in sarcasm, but when noticing the others staring at him in confusion, he automatically changed the tone of his voice into a more serious one, and after clearing his throat, he added "Of course, cooking!"
"There are four of us; we'll have time to audition all of them" said Tripp trying to stick on the topic.
"Okay, I agree with you" said Derek putting his feet on the table as usual "But there's one more week ahead and I bet there will be more submissions by then"
"Wait a second…" Ash said "Uh-ohh…" he added looking at Burger.
"What? What 'Uh-Ohh'?" asked Tripp panicked.
"Me and Burger won't be here for the audition dude!" Ash replied nodding his head.
"WHAT?"
"I got to take granny from the airport in the evening right before the audition day, take her to some relatives, then to meet her boyfriend, then to the spa and then back to the airport…which means I'll be back…" he stopped and put his right hand in front of him to count something on his fingers "On the morning right after audition day!"
"You can't be serious…" said Tripp giving him a frightening glare.
"In fact I am…I mean, who's gonna look after my grandma if not me?"
"Okay, fine, I got it! But why does Burger have to go with you?"
"Oh c'mon little man…" started Burger "I mean, who's gonna look after Ash to not hurt himself on the way if not me?"
Tripp looked at Ash from head to toe and then turned to Burger saying: "Good point!" He then breathed in sharply and then added: "Great! What are we gonna do now…"
Tripp looked around the room and noticed Derek with a victorious smirk on his face, which proved that he was thinking that he had won and there was no way for a SheWeasel to join the band. But that was exactly what motivated Tripp more and pushed him into sticking with his decision.
"Well I guess there will be just you and me Derek with all those hundreds of girls next week" said Tripp smiling in order to crush a bit of Derek's arrogance "How do you feel about it?"
"It's okay by me kid…Still I think this search is utter nonsense, but if you want to continue with it, I'm with you till the end!"
The morning of the audition finally came. Burger and Ash were already gone, so there were only Derek and Tripp against the entire army of women.
"Kid, wake up!" Derek said while trying to get Tripp out of bed and to get ready for attending the audition.
"What? At this hour…The sun isn't even up!"
"I know but...Will you take a look outside the window?" Derek suggested, heading towards the window of Tripp's bed and moving away the window curtains.
"What it the world…" Tripp said while looking out the window and noticing many, many girls outside waiting nervously at the door of his house. Tripp then took a look at his watch and asked shocked: "It's not even 4 in the morning yet!"
"Well kid, that's what happens when you say 'morning hours' and not a particular hour when it's about an audition…" explained Derek "You should've said 'late morning hours', they would've arrived here at more decent hours…such as 6 or 7!"
"You were right next to me when I wrote that post…" growled Tripp "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Wait a second!" said Derek watching Tripp carefully as he was getting angrier and angrier "Just a tiny bit…" he also added, and when Tripp's facial expression touched the climax of angriness, he added laughing: "I wanted to see this face!"
And so the auditions started. Derek and Tripp would stay one the couch in the living room, while each girl would enter the house one by one and sing a piece of from a song they chose. After listening to around two dozens of girls, Tripp had to agree with what Derek said the previous week, the only of them who could sing was a girl with the vocal range of a soprano, but they both agreed that there was no way she could join the band, for her performance had nothing to do with rock music. After listening to the two dozens of girls, Tripp looked at his watch, which showed 7 AM sharp, and then at the list on his computer and simply said to himself that that was to be one long day!
After a few more girls tried out and failed, Tripp checked who would be the next one to enter and he noticed something strange.
"Hey, wait a second…'Idabelle Fuentines'? I wonder…"
That was all that Tripp could say before a young girl, who seemed to have a really hard time walking on insanely high heels and wearing a tight black corset that made you think it was a miracle that she could still breathe, and with long blonde hair, entered the house. She descended on the stairs and sat on one of the chairs. While Derek looked like he really liked what he was seeing, Tripp's mouth was left open in shock.
"And who are you?" Tripp finally managed to say.
"My name is…" the girl started with a high-pitched voice which was familiar with the two, but then she coughed a bit and continued in a more casual and girly tone "I mean…My name is Idabelle Fuentines"
"IZZY?" asked Tripp more like yelling "What are you doing…I thought I talked with you at school about this weeks ago!"
"Whoa, chill out kid!" said Derek trying to calm Tripp down "Why are you saying this…I personally like her!" he continued looking at the blonde girl who just entered, flashing his white smile at her "Are you from around? Have we ever met?"
"Derek...wake up!" said Tripp while smacking the lead singer over the head with his hand in order to stop him from flirting with the girl "It's just Izzy with a blonde wig!"
"Oh, how dare you young man!" the girl stated getting up on her shaking feet due to the heels she was wearing "I have no idea what are you talking about and I demand you show me some respect!"
"Exactly kid, show the miss some respect!" he said towards Tripp before turning to the girl again, adding with a more alluring tone: "You may begin darling!"
Then the blonde girl started to sing a piece from the song "Rock Hard or Go Home" with an impressively powerful voice. She managed to sing a few lines amazingly till a strange noise was heard which made her stop totally embarrassed.
"What was that?" asked Derek cocking one of his eyebrows.
"My corset…" the girl began with a high-pitched voice but once again corrected herself and continued: "My corset clacked"
"Oh, what a disaster, my Goodness!" said Tripp sarcastically while heading towards the young miss "Poor thing, your corset clacked, what are you gonna do…" he then got close enough and pulled away the blonde wig the girl had on her head, revealing that she was truly Izzy.
"HA!" Tripp yelled out after ruining Izzy's disguise.
"Man! I was so close!" Izzy also yelled out.
"I can't believe this Izzy! How could you try to sneak in like this, it's ridiculous" he said towards his best friend, who had already crossed her arms in front of her chest, all miffed.
Then Tripp looked back on the couch at Derek, who did nothing but to stare at Izzy in amazement.
"Derek, don't just stay there…SAY SOMETHING!" said Tripp.
"I don't know what shocks me most lad" he began in a dramatic way "That I was fooled by her disguise or that I felt attracted to her for a few moments…"
"Now seriously guys" began Izzy in a serious tone "There's no other girl outside who wants this part than I do! Please let me join…" she said falling on her knees "You have no idea how it is to stay wrapped up in a tight corset and on five-inched heels while your head is itching because of a low quality wig since 2 in the morning!"
"Oh, get up!" said Tripp helping Izzy up from her knees "I already told you why you can't join the band at school weeks ago…"
"I know, I know…but c'mon you know I'm better than any other of these copycat Barbie dolls outside your door, you heard me perform!"
"Izzy, please, you're not making this any easier!" Tripp explained.
"Oh…wait a second, I can see what's going on here!" Izzy began in a more affected tone while taking of her heels and pointing the top of the right shoe right in front of Tripp's nose "You don't want a girl who can sing, you just want one who's only looks so you she can draw attention to your washed-up rock band image!"
"How dare you madam!" Derek asked with in his signature British accent, getting up from the couch angrily.
Izzy didn't answer anything. She simply crossed her arms in front of her chest again, this time holding her high-heeled shoes in each hand. After a short moment of silence between the three, Derek took a quick look at Tripp and then back at Izzy, saying slowly:
"If you can't remember the way out, I can help you!" he said with obvious venom in his tone. He must have gotten really offended of what she previously said about the band.
"You wouldn't dare!" said Izzy glaring up to him, before Derek lifted her up in his arms to get her out of the house.
"And I guess you know the usual lines: Don't call us, we'll call you!" he said while heading to the door.
"Believe me: You won't find anyone else for the band you're making a mistake!" she said while moving her legs in quick motions, so that Jupiter might drop her of his arms.
"Derek!" Tripp said also heading towards the door.
"What?"
"Put her down, now!"
"'Kay!" and with that, he let her go and she landed with a loud thud on the floor.
"Izzy!" Tripp said while helping her up once again and while Derek was getting back on the couch "I know how much this would mean to you…but please understand that it's not possible"
"You know Tripp, maybe I just don't want to understand and you'll see…" she stopped to inhale a big amount of air so she could sing the following things: "That there will be no other girl like me!"
When hearing her bursting into song again, Tripp just rolled his eyes and opened the door, trying to force Izzy out.
"You'll see that I'm the SheWeasel y'all looking for!" she continued while Tripp was tugging her out.
It took a moment or two, but after a powerful pull from Tripp, Izzy was finally out and Tripp slammed the door quickly. Then the next thing, Izzy appeared at the window of the living room, continuing to sing:
"You'll see that at the end of the day I was the SheWeasel y'all were looking for!"
But Derek cut her off immediately, closing the curtains and adding to himself:
"Some people…"
Hours and hours passed and so the dusk arrived. All girls got the chance to sing in front of the two, but none of them had what they were looking for. When the last girl left, who was, sadly, crying, Derek shut the door behind her and returned to Tripp with a victorious smile.
"I wonder why I'm not surprised at all, kid" he said stopping right behind the couch where Tripp was sitting disappointed "I told y'all this is gonna be a disaster, I told y'all this I a mistake, but did you ever listened to me? No!" he then turned towards the guestroom to get to sleep, continuing with his arrogant tone "You know, now I'm really sorry that I didn't made a bet with you guys…I'm off to catch some sleep kid, see you in the morning!" Derek then turned around the corner to his bedroom.
Tripp got up from the couch and decided that maybe Derek was right all the time and turned to get to his room as well.
"Oh, and kid…" Derek added turning back from around the corner "Remember: In rock business, never work with animals or women…got it?"
"I got it Derek!" replied Tripp smiling at hi friend "Good night!"
"Nighty night!" Derek also answered back with a smile and a quick wink before finally turning to sleep.
Once Derek was gone, Tripp's smile disappeared. He really wanted to get a female member in Iron Weasel, not only for singing, but also in helping him dealing with the guys. Of course, he would enjoy the times they would all fool around the house, but there were times in which he really wanted all of them to be serious in order to do some work, but it was rather impossible and in those times, he would feel exactly like a nanny for three over-grown children. So actually the main reason why Tripp wanted a grown woman in the band was the he thought that one would help him when putting the band to work when it was about rehearsals, and could also know how to get along with them and with their usual jokes and pranks they would pull off, when they would be in a fun mood. Tripp wanted a woman who could be a singer, a raw 'caretaker' and who could also have a clownish personality from time to time…but after the audition, he decided that this could be rather impossible.
He headed to his room, when the most unexpected thing happened…the sound of the doorbell could be heard followed by a short knock on the door.
So what do you think? Please let me know ;)