I flew around the outskirts of our side of the grove, hoping to find Carla. She joined the tribe many years ago, and the first time I saw her I knew that she was the one. The way she ruffled her wings, the way she talked, the way she sang, and the way she looked at me with her beautiful green eyes. She was the only one I could dream of spending my life with. I found her perched on a branch mingling with her sister Bia. I flapped my wings quickly, which slowed me down and allowed me to land. "Can I talk with Carla alone please?" I asked slightly embarrassed when Bia nudged Carla with her wing and winked.

"Sure thing," Bia said, while flying to a branch a few feet away. Once she did she stared at us intently, which made even more reluctant to tell her how I felt.

Carla tilted her head and asked, "Yeah?"

I took a deep breath hoping to release the nervousness but to no avail, "I like you."

Carla smiled and playfully hit me with her wing. "I like you too," she laughed.

Her laugh. It was amazing and melodic, and it caused me to lose my track of thought for a moment. "I mean I…like you like you," I corrected myself with a scared feeling of what she might say.

"Really? That's ridiculous! Well I don't like you," she said while laughing coldly. My heart felt like it was ran over by six large trucks. My breath was in short ragged chunks, while I tried to contain my tears. I nodded my head, slowly trying to accept the fact that she didn't see me the way I saw her. After I flew off, with tears spilling from eyes, I came to the end of the territory. If she didn't accept me, than who would? There is no reason for me to stay, I thought depressingly to myself.

I bolted up right panting hard, and looked at my surroundings. I was home, and I didn't tell Carla. Relief swept over me at the realization. I rubbed my eyes against my wings and headed towards the entrance of my nest. The sky was barely blue, and being overshadowed by the red, oranges, and pinks of the rising sun.

I stretched my wings before flying to the waterfall to wash up. After quickly flying through the water that pounded on my feathers, I saw Carla flying and yelling at her younger brother Tiago for some reason. I knew not to interfere with her argument, so I left her be and endured the longing to share my emotions. Apparently she saw me flying overhead, and she called my name while flying towards me. "Marko!"

I stopped and turned around unaware of how close she actually was, for when I did we were barely a few centimeters apart. I could feel her breath touch my dark blue feathers, and I tried to contain my excitement. "Where are you going?" she said half smiling, and half curious.

"I am going to say happy birthday to your mom," I quickly lied.

"Do you mind if I go with you?" she asked, "I don't think I've told her yet."

"If you want," I said, while barely holding in my merriment.

After our conversation we flew down into Jewel's nest, and saw her and Blu relaxing and enjoying the quiet. I knocked while Carla just walked in. Was my knocking pointless or something? I asked myself.

Jewel raised her head and with a smooth voice said, "Hi kids."

"Actually I am now an adult," I laughed. Chuckles voiced the room from everyone, and I was pleased with my work.

"Well compared to me, you are still a child," Jewel said after laughing at my comment. I laughed loudly, and nodded.

"Carla and I just wanted to come over and wish you a happy birthday," I said, slightly embarrassed. I don't know why, but some things are just embarrassing for me.

"Thank you, and as you can see it has been a wonderful morning," Jewel said, while rubbing her head against Blu's.

"When will the party start?" Carla asked with enthusiasm. I always knew she had a liking to music, but I didn't have a good understanding on how much.

"In a few minutes," Jewel mumbled.

"C'mon Marko we need to get ready," Carla told me, while tugging on my wing.

"I'm coming," I said after being dragged to the exit. We flew to a field of flowers and berries to use as face paint. The chlorophyll and juice gives us the colors we need, which is mainly reds and yellows. I rubbed my foot against the berry, picking up as much juice as I could, and wiped it on my face. It created three, not very straight, lines that ran across one side of my face, and my beak as well as the other side of my face.

I finished preparing and saw Carla, who was also ready. She painted the tips of both her wings, and made rings around her eyes that had an extension that formed into a small tail. My heart skipped a beat at her sight. "You look…amazing," I said unsure on how to portray her.

She tilted her head down, and I began to worry. Was it something I said? "Thank you," she shyly replied. Knowing that my compliment didn't backfire on me, and it actually seemed like she blushed at my comment made my heart skip a beat.

"We should get going," Carla said, while flying past me.

"I guess so," I mumbled, wishing we had a few more minutes to ourselves.

We arrived back at the village in a few minutes. By then everyone was out and ready to commence the ritual. We sat on a branch next to Jewel and Blu, and watched as the music began.

***This is the song link that is being sung. watch?v=DO3ZS_ ***

Let's come together, singing love and harmonia

We are so different, but the same inside our hearts

Beautiful colors, just as far as the eyes can see ya

Open your wings; fly when you hear the call

We started gliding across the water with one of our wings in it, making water splash into sky. We quickly brought our dancing to the skies, with the rest of the Blue Macaws.

Let's celebrate, for we are beautiful creatures

Come spread you wings, dance and sing songs about freedom

We flew across each other and our eye contact never wavered.

Like lah lah lah hoo hoo

One for the jungle familia

Like bah bah bah boo boo

Calling the beautiful creatures

Then we brought our positioning to where we were back to back, and then we turned our head making a hoo hoo sound as we faced each other. I grabbed one of her wings, and spun her around. She giggled, and we continued to dance, in the air with joy and carelessness.

Come this way celebrate

Laugh and dance all the way

Follow me and sing along

Lah lah bah bah boom boom

Soon Bia and Tiago joined us, and we all had our backs together and shuffled our wings to the beat of the music.

Let's celebrate, for we are beautiful creatures

Come spread your wings, dance and sing songs about freedom

We left our group and continued our duet. The rhythm had gotten to both of us, as we let the beat of the music control out bodies. Gliding back-to-back I felt her wings gently rub against mine. It was perfect and I couldn't believe that this was actually happened.

Like lah lah lah hoo hoo

One for the jungle familia

Like bah bah bah boom boom

Calling the beautiful creatures

It was nearly sun set after the celebration, and my wings grew increasingly tired. I landed on a nearby branch, and watched Carla tell her mother good night. After their exchanges of goodbyes, Carla flew down next to me, and we sat in content silence. "The sunset is beautiful," Carla finally said.

I nodded in agreement, and we watched the sun go down and the stars come up. I loved the silence that we shared for some reason. Everything I did with her made it feel special to me, and this was perfect. My thoughts distracted me, until a gush of wind hit us and Carla shivered. I scooted closer to her and reluctantly put my wing around her. I shouldn't have done that, I scolded myself but thought otherwise when she snuggled closer. What do I do now? I thought. Pulling her closer I laid my head on hers.

Now is the perfect time, I thought to myself remembering my objective. "Carla I have something to tell you," I said with complete reluctance. It felt like it came out in short chunks, but if so Carla didn't mind.

"Yeah?" She asked with a slight tilt of her head. A lump formed in my throat, and the thought of her rejection made my body sick to its stomach.

"I am glad we got to spend this time together," I admitted partially. You are so stupid, I thought to myself, after I ruined the chance.

She smiled lightly and said, "Me too, but it's getting late and I need to get going." I let her out of my embrace, and it felt like all warmth inside of me vanished. I watched her fly off into the night sky, and I felt depression wash over me. You are so stupid! You had a perfect chance, and yet I did nothing! What is wrong with me? I kept putting myself down for more minutes, before I decided that whining over things wouldn't solve anything.

She was right; it was getting late and I needed rest. With a melancholy mood I flew to my nest. Much to my dismay, Carla's nest was on the other side of our side of the grove. I walked in a circle, stomping down the leaves and branches before deciding it was sufficient. Lying down on my bed I quietly fell into an envelope of dreams. Or should I say nightmares.

I quickly flapped my wings, desperately trying to leave this wretched place I once called home. My mind seemed to torture me with thoughts of Carla, for everything I saw turned into images of her. "Get away!" I yelled frantically, wishing my will was strong enough.

With no avail, I gave up and continued to fly farther away. Her voice rang in my head with no signs of stopping, "I don't like you." "That's ridiculous."

"Well maybe I don't like you!" I shouted back at Carla's voice. I hated when I lied to myself, for it gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. Softly muttering to myself I said, "But I do like you."

My flying was abruptly stopped when a man stood in front of me. He wore a white muscle shirt, and had dirt covering his exposed body. Along with his already disturbing smile; he had on faded blue jean shorts and broken flip flops."It looks like my day keeps getting better," he callously laughed. Looking what was in his arms, was a terrified and crying Carla.

"Help me," she said between sobs. My emotions for her returned, and I flew to the man's face to claw his eyes out.

"Leave her be!" I yelled out. My heart thumped loudly against my chest, and I realized that it was nothing but a dream. Why do I have to be tortured? I learned that it was still dark, and instead of going back to sleep I stayed awake.

The night passed more quickly than I originally thought which I was thankful for. After cleaning up in the waterfall, I decided to have a talk with Tiago. It had been too long since I last talked with him, and he was one of my closest friends.

I found him mingling with some of the women, trying to get attention with no avail. "Still struggling to get the ladies?" I joked while winking at him.

"I don't see you making any moves on anyone," Tiago retorted.

We laughed for a moment and I said, "I don't need to make any moves, 'cause the girls are admiring all this," and motioned towards my body.

Tiago laughed deeply and yelled, "Totally, I mean who wouldn't want some of that?"

I couldn't help it anymore. A deep bellow came from within me, and soon my eyes started to water up. Nodding I told him in an undertone, "I need to talk to about something."

"Yeah what do want to talk about?"

"Do you know if Carla…likes anyone?" I asked hesitantly. Somehow I felt more comfortable telling Tiago, than I would Carla.

"Why do want to know?" he asked confused but then put the pieces together, "You like her!"

"Don't be screaming that around!" I yelled and hushed him. After being certain that he would not outburst for a second time I continued, "Yes…but you can't tell her."

"Don't worry your secret is safe with me," Tiago winked, and playfully pushed me. After giving him a glare I waited for his answer. "Actually when she is total privacy she kind of talks to herself, about something and it just seems to get worse every day."

"How do you know she talks to herself, if she is complete privacy?" I asked curiously.

"Marko let me tell you something," he wrapped his wing around my shoulder and continued, "When you are related to me there is no such thing called privacy."

I laughed full of amusement and nodded at his words. "Thanks," I said before flying off.

Maybe, there is a chance that she likes me? I thought of. Never before have had I allowed myself to think this, and it was a thought that I liked. Tiago's words had brought much comfort to me, and I knew he wasn't lying. He was a prankster, and he did act more childish that any of us but it was certain that he wasn't one to be dishonest.

I flew to Carla's nest, and found that she wasn't there. When I finally get the stomach to ask her, she isn't here. That's nice, I thought to myself with a returning feeling of anxiety. I flew over to Jewel's and Blu's nest and knocked on the outside of the hollow. "Come in," I heard Blu's voice echo throughout the nest. Slowly entering I searched for Carla, with no avail.

Mere moments later Blu and Jewel came their bedroom, with sleepiness still in their eyes, "Is there something you need?" Jewel asked kindly.

"Yeah…do you know where Carla is?" I asked slowly, hoping not to give off any emotions I have for her.

"She's out with Bia doing girl stuff," Blu replied drowsy full. When he said this, my dream returned to me with full force.

"Thanks," I gratefully told them with a hint of uneasiness.

Before I left the hollow I was stopped by Jewel, who whispered loudly to me "We know that you like her."

My body grew stiff, and I tried to shake it off through lying, "What? No I don't." I added a Pff after the "what" and threw my wing outwards.

Jewel knew I was lying and said, "First of all don't lie to me, that's just rude. Second of all Blu and I noticed how you react to her."

Knowing that she knew the truth I decided to give up in trying to sway her thoughts. "Is it that obvious?"

"Yes, and I can't believe that you were so oblivious to it," Blu said emotionless. Blu motioned for me to come over to him, and I reluctantly did as he said. "To get Carla to like you, you need to put her before yourself and like the interests she does."

"What would you know about getting girls, in this case my daughter?" Jewel asked with a hint of amusement.

"Well I did marry the most beautiful bird in the world," Blu complimented Jewel while flying over to her.

"That's so sweet," Jewel said. They then pulled themselves and a somewhat passionate kiss, and awkwardness began to seep through me. I turned my head to the side and towards the ceiling repeatedly, and hoped for the moment to end quickly. Much to my relief they ended it quickly.

"Stop that, you are making the boy uncomfortable," Jewel scolded Blu while pushing him away. I stifled a chuckle, for it was Jewel who initiated the romance.

"No offense, but I can handle my own…affairs with Carla by myself," I said with confidence.

"I bet Carla likes confident birds," Blu said with wink and a nudge.

I felt a blush rush to my face, and I left the hollow before any of them saw. Hopefully this is nothing like the dream.

Like Blu said, Carla and Bia were perched on a branch not far away from Bia's nest. They were giggling, and it looked like they were gossiping. I flapped my wings quickly, which slowed me down and allowed me to land. The previous slight nervousness, changed into a full body and mind racking anxiety. "Can I talk to Carla…alone?" I politely asked Bia. I became embarrassed when she winked, and nudged Carla with her wing.

"Stop that," Carla growled with hilarity. Bia then flew to a branch about six feet away, and stared at us with curious eyes. From that look I knew that she was thinking, "You have exactly 3.25 minutes."

I looked away from Bia, who I knew was counting down the seconds and told Carla, "I…like you."

She smiled and with a laugh and a bump replied, "I like you too."

It is going exactly like the dream! I thought worriedly to myself. But I knew if I didn't do it now I wouldn't be to do any other time. "I mean I…like you like you," I reluctantly said. Deep inside off me I prayed that it wouldn't go anything like the nightmare.

"Oh," she said with shock. I looked into her deep green eyes, and waited for a further response. "I…can't, it's not that I don't like you back but I feel like you and especially I am not ready for that kind of relationship."

"How do you know I'm not ready for a serious relationship?" I yelled with hurt.

"I feel weird, confused, and even normal when I am around you, and I don't want anything to come between that!" Carla yelled at me with a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Well maybe I should give you some time to think it over," I said in a softer voice. Carla flew off and I though sourly thought to myself, same outcome.

"Way to play it smooth," I mumbled to myself.

I didn't hear Bia fly over to over to me until she said, "By my calculations the conversation lasted shorter than average."

I looked at her with a confused look. "Really? Now is the time to bring math in?" I said while shaking my head.

After sitting there for long minutes I asked Bia, "What did I say? I know that I could have been nicer, and everything but-"

"Well it's about time someone asked for my advice," Bia said, "You see, by my observations Carla doesn't know how to react to a boy telling her he likes her."

"I would think that she has a whole flock of males chasing after her," I softly told Bia, "Thank you…for listening."

"Any time I don't have my beak in a book feel free to come talk to me."

I told her goodbye, and decided that maybe Bia was right. Maybe Carla didn't know how to react, and I just made it worse by pressing my feelings on her. I knew that I had to find her.

I had to apologize.

Please tell me what you guys think! Is it too fast? Too slow? Any questions you have, feel free to p.m. me and I will get back to as soon as I can. Also I don't know if you guys/gals care or not but this is not my first fanfiction, but it is my first on this website. None of my previous fanfics have been on Rio though. Please review, and tell me if there is anything I can do to fix it. I hope you enjoyed reading it!