HOW TO WIN A LADY’S HEART (based on the characters from Voltron) short story

     It was almost Valentine’s Day, and Lance McClain was determined to give his crush, Allura, the best one yet. He had already planned to give her the finest roses he could find and her favorite Extra Dark chocolate. But there was only one, small, tiny little hang up. Matt Holt, who also had a crush on Allura. Of course, he had no chance against the all-amazing Lance but Lance still wanted to go all out. So Valentine’s Day morning, he hurried over to Allura’s dormitory and sang “Happy Valentine’s Day! My incredible lady!” the moment her door opened.

      Allura rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Habby Valentine Day to you too...” her words slurred as she yawned. “Would you like to come in?”

     Lance poked his head in the doorway but hearing Allura’s roommate, Pidge, hacking from the other room he politely declined.

     “Oh. I didn’t mean to intrude...”

     Lance turned around to see who was talking and to his disappointment, it was Matt. 

     “I came to see if Pidge was feeling better...” Pidge was Matt’s younger sister, but Lance could tell Matt had really come to see Allura, since Pidge wasn’t really a flower person. 

     “But these are for you,” Matt shyly handed Allura three yellow daisies, confirming Lance’s thoughts.

     “They’re lovely, Matt.” Allura reached out for the flowers but before she could even touch them, Lance shoved his bouquet in her face.

     “Roses,” he proclaimed. “Your favorite.” The last word he spat at Matt, while looking smug at him.

     “Oh.” Allura pushed though the petals. “Thank you, Lance. A little thorny though.”

     “How about some chocolate?” he planted a large heart-shaped box in her arms. “Extra dark, also your favorite.” He shot his triumphant look at Matt again.

     Matt hung back. There was no competing with Lance.

     But Allura seemed to notice and asked: “Anything else, Matt?”

     “Just this card I wrote...” he fumbled a crumpled piece of paper between his hands. “And a few heart chocolates...”

     “Could I see?” Allura delicately took the crumpled heart paper and two foil-wrapped candies from Matt. She smiled as she ate the candy and looked warm as she read the card. Then she turned her attention to Lance.

      “Lance,” she began. “I really like the flowers and the chocolate-“

      “Let me stop you right there,” Lance interrupted. “I get it. You like his leftover candy, pitiful bouquet, and poorly made card better. I can understand if you pity him.”

     “No!” Allura retorted. “I agree the gesture wasn’t as thought out or extravagant as yours but it was very sweet and I really enjoyed it. It showed that even if you don’t have much to give your all. And that was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me...” her last words were aimed at Matt and they hit the bullseye.

     Lance slumped. “Okay...” He was about to leave before Matt called him back.

     “Lance, wait!” Matt walked over to him. “If Allura allows it, would you like to join us?”

     “For what?” Lance inquired. “And why?”

     Allura strode over, her mustache pajamas dragging under her feet, looking confused. “Yes, Matt, for what?”

     “Well, there was this play me, Hunk, and Pidge were going to see, but Shay asked Hunk over and Pidge is sick. So I have three tickets for the show, if you want to come.”

     Lance looked shocked. “Why didn’t you ask me and Keith then? Us guys have to stick together right?” he nudged Matt in the side.

     “True, but I doubt Keith would like it, it’s not really his thing.”

     “What’s it called?” Allura pressed.

     “You’re going to get a kick out of this,” Matt laughed. “But it’s called How To Win A Lady’s Heart.”

Shake Your Groove Thing Part Seven

     Carla took a deep breath. This was it. The thing the she had practiced for, for a whole week (Carla was amazed she had even managed to learn a whole routine).
     Dawn was skipping around and squealing. "O. M. G. So excited!" her voice went up so high, Louie's glasses almost cracked.
     Marty stepped out of the dressing room. "Why can't I just wear my-" he quickly changed sentences when he spotted Dawn zooming around in circles, making herself dizzy. "Wow, this is a nice vest! Good work, Dawn."
     "Thankyouthankyouthankyoooooo!" Dawn crashed into the wall.
     Julia was looking at the clock. "'K, five minutes to showtime. Everyone ready?"
     "Sweetheart, I was born ready!" Louie flashed his teeth at Julia (which were so white, the teens were temporarily blinded) and shot finger pistols at her.
     "Great," Julia assumed drill sergeant mode. "Marty, stop fixing your vest. Dawn, sit down! Carla, do you have the music?"
     "Yep!" Carla held up the cassette player.
     "And Louie, for pete's sake, close your mouth! It's like looking at sun on snow!" Julia covered her face with her clipboard. "Please!"
     Louie grunted but did what he was told. "My hair doesn't look too flat right?"
     "Louie," Carla responded. "Your hair has so much volume, it's louder than that shirt you're wearing."
     "Thanks, C!" Louie started to smile but stopped when he saw Julia's steely gaze.
     "Next!" A voice yelled from the other room.
    "That's us!" Julia grabbed Dawn before she broke through the wall.
    "Let's do this thing!" Louie led his ragtag group into the stage and danced like no one was watching.

     "Epic!" Carla punched her fists in the air.
     "That was totally the best thing ever!" Dawn cheered.
     Marty blushed as Dawn kissed him with overexcitement. "W-w-woah..."
     "Great work, team!" Julia bounced her cheerleading routine. "Carla, Carla, rocking out! Marty, Marty, let's hear you shout! Dawn, Dawn, like a blade of lightnin'! Louie, Louie, your hair is frightenin'! Yeah!"
     The teens high-fived. Best. Day. Ever.
     Louie beamed with admiration. "I gotta thank you kids. What you did to save my studio was incredible. And I really mean that. Now who wants to go boast at Disco Pop?!"
     Silence.
     "Just me? Well then let's... Go get victory drinks at Janet's!"
     Cheers.
     "Come my faithful foursome! Let us feast!" Louie marched into the rotating doors (he hadn't noticed the person coming through the other side).
     Carla grinned as Julia punched her in the shoulder. This was the best thing ever. And she couldn't wait to see what the future held for Good Vibes Dance Studio.

Shake Your Groove Thing Part Six

     After a weeks worth of Louie's bizarre dance routines, the teens were ready to audition for the Palace Theater. Carla was stretching when Marty slipped into the studio, his face creased with anxiety.
     "Are you ok?"
     "Yaaaahhh!" Marty could've been a rocket ship at the height he jumped. "Carla, don't do that!"
    "Well," Carla had finished and stood up normally. "What's with all the sneakin' around?"
     "Uh, nothing- is Dawn around?" Marty gave a swift scan of the room from where he stood.
     "Chill, she's with Louie in the back room. Something about costumes for the show..."
     "Great! I mean uh- cool. No- I meant-" Marty's face was slowly turning red.
     "You like her." Carla asserted. "And don't deny it," she added as Marty opened his jaws to protest. "I've seen the lovesick look in your eyes every time she waves at you.
    "Yeah..." Marty wanted to find a badger burrow and hide there.
     Carla crossed her arms. "And don't think me and Julia aren't going to not matchmake for you."
     "You just used a double negative. Does that mean you will or..." Marty shuffled his feet and pulled at his vest like he was too hot.
     "Yes."
     "Yes what?"
     Carla grinned. "You'll see."
     At that moment, the crazy Callahans' entered the spacious studio. Dawn looked rather pleased with herself.
     "Ta da!" she waved a flashy, sequin-covered, sleeveless rainbow dress in Carla's face. "Like it? I do! Worked a whole five hours on it! Five hours! Yeek, that was hard! But I did it! Do you think Julia will like it? By the way this is yours Carla! I already called dibs on the blue ombré one. Julia gets the grey one with neon flowers! And Louie wants a purple-sequin vest! What about you Marty? Do you need sequins? I can make you a vest too! Oh wait- I already did! And it's blue too! So we can match!" Dawn shoved the dress into Carla's outstretched arms and bowled Marty over with an adrenaline-filled energy hug.
     "Yeah-" Marty wheezed from beneath Dawn. "Real... *pant* nice..." *gasp*
    "Maybe I should make them all blue! No I already made them. There's always next time! Woohoo!" Dawn zipped around the room, bouncing off the walls quite literally (Louie had trampolines installed in part of floor).
    "I know she's energetic but..." Carla helped Marty to his feet.
    "I probably should not have given her a whole box of Double Sugar candy. She said it helped her work." Louie shrugged, making his hair jiggle.
    "These dresses are nice," Carla held up the sparkly dress to herself and looked back at the mirror wall.
     Just then, Julia rocketed into the studio. "Everyone! The audition is in a half hour! What are you all standing around for? Get changed and let's go!"

Shake Your Groove Thing Part Five

     Carla wasn't much of a brainstormer. She was the kinda girl who just did it, so fundraising wasn't her strong point. The teens and Louie were trying to think up ways to save Good Vibes. Dawn sat cross-legged opposite Carla and Julia. Even Louie was lounging on his belly in a beanbag chair, eyeing them with anticipation. And Marty was playing with the oversized sunglasses on his curly hairdo.
     "We should ask Darcy!" Dawn piped up, her blue eyes alive with energy. "He always has the best ideas!"
     "The waiter at Janet's?" Carla looked around at her fellow dancers. "Seriously?!"
     "Dawn's right. Darcy does offer quality advice." Julia agreed.
     Carla looked between the two, sure Darcy was nice and all but... "He's just a bartender! How can he help us?!"
     Marty shrugged. "Go with what you know, right? Anyway, Darcy's a cool dude, he usually has the best answers for pretty much anything."
     "Well then," Louie jumped up, making his hair jump with him. "Let's go see this radical dude and save-" again, he struck a pose. "Good Vibes!"

     The tiny bell sang its song of welcoming in new customers as the teens and Louie entered the trendy diner. The walls were coated in pictures of famous landmarks and people, the light teal booths were splattered with food stains, and behind the blue striped counter was a robust young man around Louie's age. The man had curly black hair, chocolate skin, and friendly eyes, he reminded Carla of a black poodle she'd once met, she had loved that poodle so she knew she would love Darcy.
     "Hello. Welcome to Janet's. How may I serve you?" Darcy said in a fruity voice filled with self-contained energy. "Hey, 'sup Martster!" He and Marty fist-bumped, then dangled their fingers in the air, like they had just made an explosion.
     "So," Darcy went back to scrubbing a skinny glass. "What can I do you for?" he paused. "You all look like you need a milkshake, sit on down, talk to me."
     "We need money!" Dawn exploded.
     Darcy jolted, almost dropping the half-filled root beer float he was making. Caught off guard by Dawn demanding request. "What?"
     Julia gave Dawn a sympathetic smile. "She means we need ways to earn money. Right, honey?"
     "What for?"
     "Good Vibes is closing down!" Marty burst in.
     "Well," Darcy scratched his head with a spoon. "You guys are good dancers right?"
     "Yeah..." Carla replied.
     "Then dance! You guys have a talent, so use it." Darcy whipped his wrist, expertly aiming each drink in front of the teens, expect Louie (who Carla was admonished by him not liking anything with the word "cream" in it).
     "Thank you, Darcy!" Julia sipped daintily out of her straw. "We need a plan of action. Any thoughts?"
     Darcy went back to scrubbing his glass. "If you could book a gig at the Palace Theater over in Thicket, I bet you could get yourselves quite the boatload of loot."
     "What would we do without you?" Dawn leaned over the counter to hug Darcy, getting the top of her dress smeared with strawberry milkshake.
     Darcy grinned. "Maybe not have milkshake painting on that nice gown of yours!"
     Everyone laughed and Carla smiled. She could get used to this mismatched group of wannabe performers.

Shake Your Groove Thing Part Four

     Good Vibes wasn't exactly what Carla was expecting from what she'd heard from Julia and Dawn. It was a rundown old building with a flicking neon sign and inside was even worse. The dance studio was spacious, but that was it. Just a big, dusty room with nothing more than a cassette player, a rail on the mirror wall, and a few frail windows that were so high up, they could have touched the ceiling.
     The only people inside the drafty barn were the dance teacher/manager and a boy a little older than Dawn.
     The man stood up, spotting Julia. He had large sunglasses that covered his whole face, a crazy pair of tie-dye bell bottoms, and a funky afro that sat like a giant dust bunny on his head. "Peace out, sister!" he swaggered over to Carla and said in a gravely voice. "So you the new kid? I can dig it! The name's Louie and that's Marty McSquito over yonder. Hope you like-" he posed for effect. "Good Vibes Dance Studio!"
     "Thanks," Carla smiled. "I can't wait to start dancing at such a..." she looked around, there wasn't really anything to complement. "Unique dance studio."
     Marty waved shyly at Dawn, who raced over to say hi.
     "Groovy. Now let's stop with the chitter-chat and get down to business... Let's boogie!" and with that, Louie struggled a bit less dramatically with the cassette player until it started moaning, then he and Dawn started flailing around like their pants were on fire.
     "Um... Are they ok?" Carla whispered to Julia.
     Julia shrugged. "They're cousins. I think it's a Callahan thing."
     Carla forced a smile. "O-kay. We don't have to join them right?"
     "Not unless you want to."
      While the duo were leaping around and hollering about (Carla suspected that they were singing, or they were secretly monkeys, she wasn't sure), Marty crept over to introduce himself. "Sup? I'm Marty, but you already know that... So you're Carla, huh? Nice to meet you! Louie must be desperate for students if he managed to snag you."
     "What are you talking about?" Carla sat down on a beanbag chair to re-lace her sneakers.
     "Jules didn't tell you? This place is going downhill, Louie can't pay the rental anymore."
     Julia waved her hands frantically for Marty to stop. But he didn't.
     "It's going to shut down any day now. Sorry you had to come here and then leave already. Boy, is Disco Pop gonna be happy win this place shuts down." Seeing Carla's confused expression, Marty explained: "Disco Pop, Good Vibes rival for almost ten years now. Louie got the place handed down to him from his father."
     Carla looked to Julia with distraught. "You said this was the greatest studio ever!" She stood up furiously. "You lied to my face!"
     Julia sagged, dropping her perfect posture. "I'm sorry! I didn't know until yesterday! Dawn told me!"
     Carla sighed and plopped back down. "What are we gonna do? The only reason I wanted to go here was because my parents didn't want to pay for Disco Pop!"
     "There's only one thing to do. Girl, we are gonna make this the best dance academy the world has ever seen!" Julia announced. "Dawn, Marty, LC! Get over here! We have a studio to save!"

Shake Your Groove Thing Part Three

     Carla took a deep breath and began twining her scarf around her hand in nervous anticipation. "I look good right? What if I slip up? What if nobody likes it?! What if it causes me to get nervous and I forget my routine! That would be bad... Very bad! What if-"
     "Girl, you're outta sight! You got this!" Julia rallied. "They don't call me a cheer-leader for nothing!"
     Carla nodded and stepped out onto the glowing dance floor. The shimmering lights from the mirror ball danced off her rainbow, turtleneck dress. I can do this... Then Carla danced like no one was watching... Right into the finale.
     Julia jumped around waving her imaginary pompoms. "She's got spunk, she's got flair! Go up against her, no, you don't dare! Goooo Carla!"
     "She's good!" Dawn whispered from beside Julia.
     "That's my girl!" Julia watched proudly. "And she's gonna get that scholarship!"
     Dawn nodded absently. "Maybe not..."
     Julia stared at her with shock. "She's the best on the floor, why not?"
     "You haven't been in awhile..." Dawn murmured.
     "Yeah, school... And helping out my grandma."
     "Good Vibes is closing down..."
     The crowd went wild, some stood up in their seats and screamed.
     "What?" Julia tilted her head. "For a moment there I thought you said Good Vibes was shutting down!"
     "I did!" Dawn yelled as the crowd cheered again.
     Julia went pale and bit her lip. This was not good. Carla had been working like a horse for months and all for nothing. "Should we tell her?"
     Carla whipped around the flashing, rainbow squares of the dance floor. She had never looked happier.
      Julia shook her head. "Let her dance... Carla might never get a chance like this again."
     Carla bounded over to Julia and Dawn as the song ended. She was panting and sweaty but Carla was still pumped with energy. "Aw man! Who died?" she looked between Julia and Dawn's downcast expressions. "Feeling bad for Jojo, huh? The dance is all in good fun! He's bound to lose though! Did you see me out there!? I was on fire!"
     "Yeah... On fire..." Dawn slumped, realizing her mistake about telling Julia.
     Carla narrowed her eyes. "I have two little brothers, nothing gets past me. What's going on?"
      Julia nodded solemnly for Dawn to answer.
     "Well-" Dawn began but the announcer cut her off.
     "And our finalists are... Carla Frizzle and Bob Roberts! Please step forward!"
     The crowd cheered loudly as Carla glanced over at the glittering stage. "When I win, you had better tell me what's going on!" And she jumped onto the stage, waving excitedly to the audience.
     "What are we gonna do?" Dawn whimpered.
     "What anyone would do- save that studio!" And with that Julia swiped a clipboard from behind her back (how it got here was anyone's guess) and began writing profusely.

Shake Your Groove Thing Part Two

     Carla was deep in thought when Julia elbowed her in the ribs.
     "Are you gonna say something or..." Julia had a whisper of a southern accent and long (and she meant long!) brown hair. Her eyes twinkled playfully. "Don't go worrying 'bout if you get in or not, I'm in and I put in a good word for you!"
     "But the dance is tonight! And I've barely practiced today!" Carla fretted, playing with her head scarf. "And Cooper is sick so I might not even go if my mom goes out to meet Mr. Grady again. And even if Mom invites Mr. Grady over then I might have to stay home and say hello! But if Cletus gets sick then Mom might have to cancel. And then she might not want me go out in case I get sick." Carla was panting at the end of her rant.
     "Are you done?"
      Carla dropped onto one of the benches in front of Woodchester High and nodded.
     Julia sat down beside her, after making sure the bench was sanitary of course. "You always seem to find the worst situations don't you? Then you freak out over them, girl, you gotta chill once in awhile."
     "Yeah, you're right, Jules." Carla stood up as the school bell rang. "Let's go or we're going to be late."

     "Gimme a S!" Julia jumped up, wildly waving her coral-pink, teal, and white pompoms.
     "S!" The other cheerleaders sang out.
     "Gimme a T!
     "T!"
     This continued until "Stingrays" had been spelled. Of when Julia cried out. "What's that spell?!"
     "Stingrays, Stingrays! Rulers of the Reef! We shall never, ever be beat! Yayyy!" The other cheerleaders jumped around giddily.
     "Far out girls! Take five!" Julia strode over to Carla, who was drooping over after waiting for an hour of chanting and dangerous-looking stunts.
     "Ready to head out?" Carla yawned.
     "What? No applause? That was our best performance yet!"
     Carla glared at her upbeat friend. "The dance off is in two hours."
     "Alright," Julia scooped up her pompoms. "Let's go!"
     The walk to Carla's house was mostly quiet. "So... When you win, milkshakes at Coughman's?"
     "If I win..." Carla started fiddling with her scarf again.
     "When you win," Julia argued and nudged Carla's shoulder.
     "Omf!" Carla banged into school mascot, Coral the Stingray. "Sorry!"
     The stingray lifted off her mask. "It's cool!" she assured and gave a cheerful smile. "I'm Dawn, by the way."
      Carla nodded sheepishly. "Far out, I'm Carla. I didn't mean to bump into you."
      "No harm done!" Dawn bounced up and down. "I'm so psyched to meet you!" Dawn had bouncing blonde curls and a face that looked like a printer had pasted a permanent smile onto it.
     Carla high-fived her.
     Julia suddenly brightened. "Hey, you go to Good Vibes right?"
     "Sure do!"
     Dawn froze as a voice yelled out. "Where's that stingray?!"
     "Peace out! Gotta dash!" Dawn shoved the costume back on and flapped away.
     "So she goes to GVDS?" Carla prodded.
     "Yeah, Dawn's cool." Julia replied. "Now come on! Or do you want to lose that scholarship?"

Good Vibes: Shake Your Groove Thing Part One

     Carla chewed thoughtfully on the end of her pencil. Her green eyes wandered across her flowery wallpaper. She could here thumping coming from below as her younger, twin brothers tried sledding down the stairs, though not very successfully. It was winter, and in the Frizzle house it was just as cold inside as it was out.
     Carla went back to scribbling on the sign-up sheet. She was trying to get into Good Vibes Dance Studio, a place she had wanted in on since she was four. Carla loved to dance, but with her parents' budget she wasn't going anywhere. At least not until she had heard about Good Vibes giving away a free membership to whomever won the dance-off at Woodchester High School. Carla had to win, she had been practicing her routine from dawn to dusk, until it was flawless.
     Carla finished filling out the form, folded it neatly into a envelope, and placed it safely on her dresser. Then she headed downstairs to yell at Cooper and Cletus, who were now attempting to be kings and order each other around.
     "I herby decree that you, Cooper the- um- Crazy, are sentenced to death!"
     "Nu uh!" Cooper demanded back. "I decree that YOU be sentenced to death!"
     "No, YOU!"
     "YOU!"
     "YOU!"
     "Yeah, yeah," Carla hustled her brothers into the kitchen. "I overrule you both, you both die."
     "You can't do that!" Cletus protested, kicking his feet as Carla scooped him up upside down and slung him over her shoulder.
     "Just did." Carla said, ending further argument. Carla's parents were out that night so they had left Carla in charge, not that it mattered, her brothers would still have tried executing each other and sledding down the stairs no matter who was watching them.
     Carla set Cletus down and heard the phone ring. "Don't touch anything." she threatened and went to answer the phone. "Yes? Carla Frizzle speaking."
     CRASH! Carla whipped around as Cooper pointed at Cletus while standing beside an overturned pot with mac 'n cheese spilling out of it.
     "Hold on, Julia," Carla put her hand over the speaker. "What are you doing!" she hissed. "That was dinner!"
     "Cletus did it!" Cooper whimpered, still pointing.
     "Nu uh!" Cletus argued. "I didn't touch it! Like Carly said!"
     "No, YOU did it!"
     "No, YOU!"
     "YOU!"
     "Stop!" Carla slammed the phone onto the receiver, accidentally cutting off Julia. "Go to your rooms!"
     "But we share a room-" Cooper started.
     "GO!"
     "Sorry, Julia. I'll call you back..." Carla realized she was holding air and saw the phone shoved brashly down. Carla sagged into a bright salmon chair and buried her face in her hands. She had to get into that dance/boarding school, or she would be trapped babysitting Cooper and Cletus for the rest of her life.

Writing Tips

1. Indent sentences when you change characters or thoughts
2. Choose a theme (courage, being yourself, teamwork), a story without a theme is just words

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