Chapter Text
It was a sad day for Iron Weasel. Tripp graduated from high school and was quitting the band to go to college, which meant Derek, Burger & Ash had to move out of his house. The four of them were saying their goodbyes.
"Well, guys, this is it," Tripp said. "I thought we could make our comeback before I finished high school. Sorry that didn't happen."
"It's alright, kid," Derek said. "We had a good run."
"Thanks for letting me join Iron Weasel. It was fun hanging out with you."
"Same here, little man," Burger replied.
"You know I'm not a kid or a little man anymore, right?" Tripp asked.
Burger playfully ruffled Tripp's hair. "That's right. You're a big man now that you're goin' to college."
"Wish you didn't have to quit the band 'cause of it though," Ash said. "We'll miss you."
"Same here," Tripp replied. "I know you're upset that I'm quitting but I can't be in the band while I'm in college."
"Do you really have to go?"
"Yeah, I do."
Derek, Burger & Ash sighed heavily, realizing it was the end of their time with Tripp.
"Well, we're not very good at goodbyes so...how 'bout a group hug?" Derek offered.
Tripp and the band shared a long group hug. After that, he noticed they looked depressed.
"Are you guys gonna be okay?" Tripp asked, concerned.
"We'll be fine," Derek said in a low voice before walking out of the house.
"Thanks for everything, Tripp," Ash said in a low voice before following Derek.
"Let us know if you ever wanna rejoin the band," Burger said in a low voice before following Derek and Ash.
"I'll think about it. Good luck out there," Tripp said, stepping outside the house and staying on the porch. His former bandmates entered the van and he watched them drive off until they were out of his sight.
The band pulled over somewhere in Tripp's neighborhood after leaving his house and now, they were crying in the back of their van. Burger and Ash were full-on crying while Derek was doing it quieter. When they were done crying, Burger used his bandana to wipe the tears off his face and passed it around to Derek and Ash so they could do the same with theirs. Then, whoever had the bandana last handed it back to Burger and they all slouched in their seats.
"I can't believe it," Derek groaned. "Tripp really quit the band and he's not coming back this time."
"Guess it's back to the three of us now," Burger groaned.
"Guess we're back to living in the van too," Ash groaned.
The three men shared a moment of silence. They were upset about losing Tripp and moving back into their van until they realized some things. Tripp leaving Iron Weasel after high school was to be expected, he might've left because their comeback didn't work out and would've stayed if it had, him going to college was his way of saying he's moved on from them, they lived in the van before they even met him and they just had to get used to it again. They finally got over it and sat up in their seats.
"So be it then," Derek replied, breaking the silence. "If he's moved on, we have to move on too."
"Yeah," Burger agreed. "Having him in the band was fun while it lasted."
"So, what do we do now?" Ash asked.
"Well, now that we're not tied down to one place anymore, we can travel around the country and play gigs, maybe even find new a lead guitarist," Derek suggested.
"Maybe, we can do another radio contest like the one where we met Tripp," Burger suggested.
"Maybe, we can find someone just like Tripp," Ash suggested.
"No!" Derek protested. "No more kids in the band, alright? Next time, let's find someone closer to our age."
A few days later, Derek, Burger & Ash were at the radio station with DJ Fat Man and they were hosting a Meet Iron Weasel contest. Meanwhile, Spencer was at his house, listening to the contest on a radio and using a phone to call the station.
"It's the DJ Fat Man Show," DJ Fat Man announced. "I'm DJ Fat Man and we're back with Iron Weasel."
Derek, Burger & Ash cheered in response.
"Lead singer Derek Jupiter!" DJ Fat Man exclaimed.
"What a thrill it is to have me on the show," Derek bragged.
"Bassist Burger Pitt!"
"Thank you, Fat Man," Burger said. "Being here is like—" He snorted and made some weird noises. "—you know?"
"Drummer Ash Tyler!"
"WHAT'S UP, NEW YORK?" Ash greeted.
"We're in Los Angeles," DJ Fat Man pointed out.
"I KNOW! THAT'S WHY I'M YELLING!"
Spencer was waiting for the radio station to call him back. He heard a phone ring but it wasn't the one he was using. He pulled another phone out of his pocket and saw that Socko was calling him.
"Hey, Socko," Spencer greeted after answering his second phone. "I'm on hold with the radio station to win a day with Iron Weasel."
"Iron Weasel? Isn't that the band with the lead guitarist who's a high school kid?" Socko asked.
"Yeah, but they said on their site that he graduated and had to quit the band so now, they're lookin' for someone to replace him. If I win the contest, I'm gonna jam with them and they'll hire me as their new lead guitarist," Spencer explained.
"Good luck!"
"Thanks!"
Spencer hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. Then, his first phone rang and he answered it.
"Hey. Am I on?" Spencer asked.
"Yes, caller," DJ Fat Man replied. "We're gonna test your knowledge of Iron Weasel. If you answer these questions right, you win a day with the band. Ready?"
"I'm ready, Fat Man!"
"Question #1," Derek began. "What was the name of our band before we were Iron Weasel?"
"Uh...Derek Jupiter and The Other Guys," Spencer replied.
"Correct."
"Yes!"
"The Other Guys selfishly made me change it," Derek commented.
"Question #2," Burger began. "What's my name?"
"It's Burger, right?" Spencer asked.
"That's my band name," Burger clarified. "What's my real name?"
"Uh...Rich!" Spencer said.
"Correct."
"Yes!"
"He's good. That was a trick," Burger said.
"Question #3," Ash began. "What's the name of that show in Canada where they make giant food and eat it on camera?"
"What does that have to do with Iron Weasel?" Derek asked.
"Uh...Epic Meal Time?" Spencer asked.
"Correct! You win!" Ash exclaimed.
"Yes!"
"Well, he guessed it," Derek said.
"Who's our lucky winner?" DJ Fat Man asked.
"Spencer Shay," Spencer replied.
"Spencer Shay, do you wanna hang out with Iron Weasel?"
"You bet I do, Fat Man!"
"How old are you?"
"31."
"Great! The band looks forward to meeting you. Thanks for playing!"