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.