Here's chapter 3 guys! Sorry if I make you wait but I want you to know that I really love each and everyone of you who read and review my story, you guys are awesome and truly make my day :)

I'd also like to announce something: In case you haven't heard, I'm In The Band is to be cancelled after the second season, but there is still hope. A petition was started on twitter and whoever is a fan of the show should sign it as quickly as possbile, you can find the link to the petition on my profile page. We can't let this be the end of Iron Weasel, "We won't give up on our dream; Weasel nation TIME TO SCREAM!"

Enjoy chapter 3 :)

Tripp was a bit surprised of the knocks he had just heard on his door. He took a quick look at his watch and figured out that it was pretty late, so he couldn't realize who would come at his door at such an hour.

He opened the door to discover a slender female figure. She was taller than him, which made Tripp almost automatically look at her feet to see if she was wearing heels, but she wasn't. She was wearing knee high, black, flat heeled boots and a white, thin winter coat. Her long scarlet-red hair was in perfect contrast with her bright blue eyes. The luggage which was lying around her made Tripp think at first that she was probably looking for a house for rent.

"Hi!" the young woman broke the silence with a warm smile.

"Hello!" Tripp also greeted "Can I help you?"

"Umm, yeah I think…Is this the house in which an audition for joining a band is held…or at least 'was' held?" she asked hopeful.

"Well, yeah…" answered Tripp scratching his head "Oh, come in!" he then added quickly realizing that he was keeping the girl outside in the cold while they were talking.

She didn't say anything back. She simply nodded her head and grabbed her luggage before stepping inside the house.

"Yeah, we had an audition today for a female to join the band" continued Tripp while closing the door "but it was in the morning and you're kind of late…"

"You mean the job is taken?" she said disappointed looking down at the teen "Darn it…" she added then looking down at the floor and slapping her forehead.

"Oh no! No…" Tripp calmed her down, the remark making her look back at him and stare him directly in the eyes. When noticing the young lady's gaze meeting his, Tripp stopped from talking for a split second, his mouth not allowing him to let out another sound. She didn't have a piercing or alluring glance that would leave him speechless, but he just felt like staring for a couple of moments at the girl's fine features which were enlightened by the lights in the house.

"The slot is still open, so if you still wanna try out…" he also added.

"Oh my Goodness, of course!" she replied, the smile returning to her face.

"But why did you come at this hour? It's pretty late…" Tripp continued, leading the young woman in the living room.

"Yes, I know…but my plane got a long delay and I also had a hard time finding the house…" she explained.

"Plane? What state are you from?"

"No, I'm not American" she said "I come from Europe. I am Romanian"

"Oh…" Tripp simply let out, trying to remember where that country would be positioned on the map, even if he was shamelessly failing "I guess that explains all the luggage" he laughed "By the way, I'm Tripp Campbell!" he then added, putting his hand in front of the girl in order for them to shake hands.

"Tatiana Popa" she said her name smiling, shaking Tripp's hand and then pulling him closer to kiss him on both cheeks.

Tatiana's unexpected gesture made Tripp blush fast, the red shade spreading quickly across his face. When Tatiana noticed this, she pulled away and explained herself.

"Oh, sorry about that! In my country, whenever we meet new people, friends or relatives we kiss each other on the cheeks. It's a standard greeting where I come from and it's something very usual…sorry if I embarrassed you…"

"Oh no, no problem Tatiana" Tripp said rubbing his right cheek with his hand softly, the red shade still being a bit obvious "There's really no problem…" he nodded his head happily "Anyways…you go have a sit on the couch and prepare yourself for singing till I return. I'll be back in just one second!"

Tripp then went up to the guestroom, where the three rockers would sleep, in order to bring Derek to assist as well. He barged in the room quickly, but unfortunately, the lead singer was already asleep, so he figured out that he alone would have to audition Tatiana. When he returned, Tatiana had already taken down her coat and put it next to her on the couch. She was dressed in a black low-cut shirt and a really short black skirt. Tripp stopped a bit in his tracks when noticing her, his jaw down on the floor, and even if he was in an angle from which Tatiana couldn't notice him staring, for she was too busy to check her nails, after a few moments he shook his head and got next to her.

"So, you ready?" he asked, sitting down next to her.

"Yep!" she answered, resting her right hand that she was looking at on her thighs next to the other. She then took a deep breath of air and began:

"You're not alone, together we stand

I'll be by your side, you know, I'll take your hand"

While Tatiana was singing the first stanza, Tripp was listening very carefully. He was quite impressed. Her voice wasn't bad at all, it sounded pretty good.

"When it gets cold and it feels like the end

There's no place to go, you know I won't give in

No, I won't give in…"

She then took a deeper breath of air and started, with more power in her voice:

"Keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Just stay strong

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through"

Because Tatiana touched some really high notes when singing, Tripp became a bit inpatient that she might wake up Derek from his sleep, and knowing that he would get really grumpy when woken up, Tripp motioned to Tatiana to quiet down a little and to sing a bit softer. Tatiana returned him a puzzled gaze, cocking her eyebrows in surprise, but finished the song a bit quieter.

"There's nothing you could say, nothing you could do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through"

And with that, Tatiana's singing ended, making her wait patiently for Tripp's opinion. The teen liked a lot what he had just heard; it sounded pretty good and very much what they were looking for. But still, he had a few things he had to check.

"That was really good Tatiana!" said Tripp nodding his head in agreement "And how old did you say you are?"

"I'm 23" she answered quickly.

"Good…Is this the first time when you audition for joining a band or have you ever sang in a band before?"

"Oh, you wanna know if I have past experience?" Tripp nodded his head "Well, kind of…As I child I would be a huge Metallica and Aerosmith fan…I'm into the rocker style since as long as I could remember. At fifteen, when I started high school, I met three guys who were friends since like kindergarten and were also in the rocker style. They formed a band called 'Sagittarius' when they were like twelve and they dreamed that one day they would be as well-known as many rock stars whom they had as role-models. They had an amazing guitarist, a very good drummer, an unbelievable bassist, but they missed a singer and none of them could really sing. So when I met them in our freshman year, I joined them as a lead singer. We sang for the first time at a school festivity at the end of the autumn and, if you asked me, I think the songs we sang pretty sucked…but surprisingly we received a standing ovation from the audience. And so, we performed at every school festivity and became kind of popular in our high school and even in a few others around the city. It was amazing really…we even recorded a kind of an album when we were juniors…One of the drummer's friends had a father who owned a recording studio and we recorded a few of our favorite songs. We didn't get any profit out of it, we just gave copies to friends and relatives, we didn't think of it as a business, it was more like fun…And there's one particular thing I can remember: It was our final week in high-school, a few more days and we would graduate, and we were invited to perform at our city's yearly festival in front of people of all ages and from the entire city. We were so happy when we found out and we accepted right away, but right before the concert I lost my voice so they had to cancel our performance…" Tatiana then stopped a bit to cross her arms in front of her chest, in grief for that memory. But after a short while, she continued like none of that had happed "Of course, we were a bit angry on each other for not managing to perform but it all passed quickly, like in one or two days…We figured out that there's no reason to cry for spilled milk and that chances come and go and it's not the end of the world…And to be honest, at the end of the day we didn't really cared we were cut off, we sang only for the love of rock anyways…Yeah…" she then breathed out softly with a smile across her face and sat back more in the couch "I lived some good times with 'Sagittarius' and not only with them…I can say I had a really lovely life till now and I'm thanking God for not having such things as tragic memories"

"And what happened with the band? You guys had a fight in the end?" asked Tripp curiously, getting really interested in Tatiana's story.

"Nah…" she responded smiling "But after we finished high-school, each of us took separate paths…" Tatiana then chuckled a bit before continuing "The lead guitarist is now a dentist, the drummer became a barman, the bassist a teacher and I...well…I kept the dream of becoming a singer throughout college and after I finished, I found a job as a small singer at a cozy café close to my apartment block. The payment wasn't well but at least I was doing what I liked most. Sadly, they closed the café like three months ago and I had to move in at my mum's place –she's never at home, she's a successful business woman and she has lots of stuff she has to deal with-, searching daily on my laptop for a job that could fit me. And so I found your blog accidentally and I decided that I might have a chance. I packed up and booked tickets for America and I decided that even if I don't get the job, I can enjoy a little holiday in the USA"

"Aha…well, what can I say? It was a pretty interesting and impressive story Tatiana" said Tripp "Right now, you have a really big, big chance to join the band…only that I must discuss with the other members of the band tomorrow and have a final decision, we are like a family and we can't just allow anyone to join us"

"I understand" replied Tatiana "and I'm really thrilled to know that you consider yourselves a family" she added smiling.

"You said you were a big Metallica fan when you were young?" Tatiana nodded "Were you an Iron Weasel fan as well?" Tripp asked hopeful.

"Umm…well, I heard of the band before…" she replied a bit hesitantly "I mean…I know that they were also very big along with my favorite rock bands, but I never listened to a song of theirs or know who the members are"

"Well then…is there anything you know about Iron Weasel?"

"Umm…I know that they're a rock band…that they used to be famous and…that's kind of all" she answered embarrassed.

Tripp remained a bit shocked that Tatiana didn't know anything about the band. They used to be huge and perform everywhere around the globe…how could she have missed them? He thought that it was pretty peculiar for her wanting to join Iron Weasel while she had no idea who they even were! But he had to admit: It was better than having some crazed fan-girl to sing with them.

"Okay then…" Tripp replied quietly "At least you're not a crazed groupie…" Tatiana chuckled softly at the hearing of Tripp's remark "So, I'm gonna talk with the guys tomorrow and we'll give you the answer then!"

"Fine then! But I also have to ask you something: I know you told that you're exactly like a family, but I hope that you also put love and passion for the rock music in what you do…I don't want to be part of a band which performs only for the money!"

"Oh no!" said Tripp quickly "We may be fooling around from time to time, but when we're on stage we do it all for the love of rock!"

"Good then!" smiled Tatiana, before rising to her feet "I guess I should be going now. I'll return tomorrow to get you're decision and, by the way, do you know any good motels around here? I don't have where to sleep tonight"

"The closest motel is like twenty miles away from here and I don't think you'll be able to find any free rooms at this hour" the teenager answered.

"Oh, great…What am I gonna do now…" said Tatiana nearly screaming of rage.

"Well…You can sleep here tonight" suggested Tripp.

"Really?" she looked at him with widened eyes.

"Well yeah, you don't have where to go so I guess that if you are to join the band, we should begin gaining each other's trust"

"Thank you!" she said smiling happily "How much will I owe you?"

"What?" asked Tripp puzzled.

"Well if I'm gonna sleep here tonight I should pay you a rent or something…"

"Don't be ridiculous Tatiana!" laughed Tripp "You're a guest coming from a foreign country and I should prove you how homey we Americans are, so no worries. Also, there's a house for rent right in front of mine. Come and have a look!"

And with that, Tripp leaded Tatiana in front of the door and he opened it to allow her to se the house he was talking about. Even thought it was dark, the "FOR RENT" sign was easily noticeable because of the streetlamps.

"That's a really nice place Chip!" said Tatiana at the sight of the house.

"It's Tripp!" the boy corrected her, a bit of annoyance being noticeable in his voice.

"Oh yeah, Tripp, I forgot…But don't you think it's a bit too big?"

"Yeah it is" Tripp agreed with Tatiana "But you won't feel lonely, if you join the band, you're gonna hang around with us around the house the whole time!"

Tatiana didn't reply anything to what Tripp said. She kept a smile on her face and nodded her head. Tripp then closed the door and turned to Tatiana saying:

"I'm gonna give a call to the owners tomorrow and you can talk to them if you are to stay…But now, go on and change and I'll show you where you're gonna sleep tonight" he ended with a big smile on his face, even thought he actually had no idea where to put the girl to sleep.

"Great!" she said smiling and heading to where she left her luggage, but then, suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and turned to Tripp "But aren't you gonna ask you're parents if they accept me to sleep in your house?"

"Nah! I live only with mum and with the weasels…if she agreed with the guys sleeping here permanently, I'm sure she'll accept you for just one night!"

"Only with your mum?" asked Tatiana "Your parents divorced?" she asked confused.

"Well actually…I never met my dad so…" answered Tripp with sadness in his voice and eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry…" said Tatiana when realizing she had touched a tender spot and heading towards Tripp to hug him.

"I'm fine, I got used to this!" he answered, Tatiana's hug making him blush once again "Umm…Tatiana? I think it would be better if you…"

"Oh sorry…" she said chuckling and backing away when realizing what he had meant and noticing the red tone of his cheeks "You don't need to be upset…My parents divorced when I was thirteen and to be honest with you, I didn't give a damn thing! I didn't care at all! I kind of understood the situation thought…they are both successful business men and are always on the delegations so it was really a wonder how their marriage lasted so long" Tatiana laughed "I had plenty of good friends and I kind of considered them my family so I didn't consider their divorce a 'house wrecker'. Besides that, it's pretty cool to have parents who are both divorced and into business: Dad sends money on my card monthly since they broke up and mum promised me before I left that she would also send me money till I make it in the USA…so, yeah! It's pretty cool!"

"Hmm, you really have had an interesting life Tatiana, I hope you'll tell me more if you make it in the band" Tripp answered quickly "Now go grab your pajamas and I'll show you the room!"
As Tatiana headed to open her luggage in order to look for her nightie, Tripp started thinking desperately on where he could put her to sleep. He thought that it wouldn't be to cozy on the sofa, so he realized that there is no other alternative than letting Tatiana sleep in one of the bunk beds left empty, because of the absence of Burger and Ash, in the guestroom, even thought Derek was sleeping there as well.

"Okay now let me show you the room" Tripp said when Tatiana was done searching for her nightie.

He led her in front of the door of the guestroom where the rockers would sleep and decided that he shouldn't let Tatiana know that there was another person sleeping in the same room where she would sleep. He opened the door and said:

"This is the room!"

"Will you turn the lights on? I can barely see a thing" said Tatiana trying to look around the dark room.

"NO! Because…the light bulb burned out" Tripp thought quickly and came up with a perfect lie.

"Well then…how will I be able to see where I'm sleeping?"

"It's easy really. Look! If you look carefully you can notice three bunk beds. You go sleep in the second one!"

"Second one?" Tatiana asked as she was trying to look through the dark for the bunk beds Tripp was talking about. When noticing them, she asked again: "Why should I climb in the second one when I could just sleep in the first one?"

"NO! Because…the first one has a whole in it!" Tripp lied once again in order to cover the fact that Derek was sleeping in the first bed.

"Okay…" she then stepped inside the room, her shoes making an awful noise on the wooden floor, noise which made Tripp panic that Derek might be woken up.

"Easy there, don't be so noisy!" Tripp said in panicked, but when Tatiana turned to look at him with a puzzled gaze, he tried to act like nothing was wrong at all and continued "Mum has an uneasy sleep and she's awakened by almost any noise which is too loud"

Tatiana then stepped outside the room and headed to Tripp to thank him again for letting her sleep there that night and then asked where the bathroom was in order for her to change. After giving her the instructions and wishing her a good night's sleep, Tripp watched Tatiana as she entered the bathroom and then breathed out in relief that she didn't notice Derek and, also, that he didn't wake up at the hearing of their voices.

Tripp headed to his bedroom happily, thinking that if Tatiana joins the band, there might be a new beginning for Iron Weasel. She seemed a hard-working person and all the experience form her past made her be exactly what he was looking for in a SheWeasel. But still, he had to convince the other guys to allow her to join the band, or more accurate, he had to convince the fussy lead singer!