Chapter 10: Can I Have This Dance?

"Oh my God, Rafael, this fish is delicious!" Jewel exclaimed with her mouth full. "I had no idea that you cooked!"

Rafael chuckled, "Oh come on, that's one of the main reasons Eva wanted to marry me."

"Well, if I wasn't on a date with Blu right now, this meal might have just made you the bird on the other end of the table," Jewel joked.

Blu tried not to let what Jewel had just said get underneath his feathers. He couldn't deny that Rafael's roasted red snapper, Spanish rice, and caramelized carrots were phenomenal. Blu was also pleased that whatever had been bothering Jewel seemed to have been put on the back burner now that she had been fed. Sitting at the small wooden crate that was acting as a dinner table, she was in a good mood now, laughing and enjoying herself. The evening had turned around 180 degrees. Blu called out to Pedro and Nico, who were making sure the romantic soundtrack was endless," You guys did an amazing job, thank you two so much."

Nico answered, "Don't mention it Blu! Entertaining is our thing, be it packed dance floors or intimate gatherings."

Pedro shouted back, "It was nothing dawg! You know we'd do anything for you and your hot wing."

Jewel spun around. As much as she appreciated everything the cardinal and canary had done for them, she couldn't stand that nickname. "If you want to keep all those feathers on your body Pedro, I suggest that's the last time you call me that," she threatened.

Pedro gulped. He knew that Jewel had quite the nasty temper when provoked, and he happened to be quite fond of his signature red feathers. "Ye-yes Jewel," he stuttered, "my apologies bird."

Satisfied, Jewel turned back to her date. "It was so nice of you to have them do all this for me Blu," she told him," no other bird I've ever been with has treated me like this before."

Blu looked down at his near-empty plate of food, flattered by the compliment. "Thanks Jewel, you deserve it. You're the most special bird I've ever known. I'll be damned if I don't act like a gentleman towards you."

Now it was Jewel's turn to go bright red in the face. Blu really did know what to say every time to make her feel perfect. The best part about him though, was that there were no ulterior motives to his kindness. He was just a nice guy. "You really are the best Blu," Jewel said. All of a sudden, Jewel felt ashamed of how stubborn she had been when they arrived. "and about the way I acted outside the club earlier," she continued,"I'm sorry."

Blu pretended to be confused so that Jewel would elaborate on what had been upsetting her. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I was being a jerk because you wouldn't tell me about your parents right away," Jewel explained. "I didn't take into consideration that it might be hard for you to talk about something like that. That wasn't fair because you gave me a chance not to tell you about my past if I didn't want to and I didn't do the same for you. I'm really sorry. If you truly don't feel comfortable telling me about them, you don't have to."

Somehow Blu was relieved that this was the only issue. Something like this could be easily explained. "Jewel," Blu began, "it's alright. I will tell you about them eventually, I promise. To tell you the truth, I don't remember much about them. I was a baby when everything went south in my life. When the time is right I'll fill you in, but I really just don't want to right now."

"That's fine," Jewel assured him. "Just know, that when you're ready I will be all ears and until you're ready, I won't be that annoying, pushy girlfriend."

Blu laughed, remembering that he had told Jewel the same thing earlier that day. "Thanks Jewel."

Just then, one of Jewel's favorite songs came on the club's speakers. She gasped as the sound of the opening guitar strings of Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly" began to fill the room. "Oh, Blu I love this song!" she gushed. "Will you dance with me?"

Blu took a step back. He had been caught off guard by Jewel's request but was more than happy to oblige. "Sure Jewel!" he answered. "And this time there shouldn't be any annoying monkeys coming to interrupt."

"Don't worry!" Kipo called from the bar. He had been in charge of the tasty fruit smoothies the two macaws had drunk that evening. "If anyone comes in this bar and tries to mess with my friends again, they're getting one hell of a black eye."

"Thanks Kipo!" Jewel shouted. "Now come on Blu, before the song ends!"

The two macaws hurried to the dance floor where Blu wrapped one wing around Jewel's waist and took her good wing in his second one. They looked into each other's eyes with pure love and passion. It was as if time stood still and there wasn't anyone else in the world but them. They were together and nothing, nobody could tear them apart. Rafael was so impressed with Blu as he watched the couple dancing from the bar. Blu had indeed come a long way in just a few days. Rafael couldn't resist giving himself a pat on the back, for he know that he was mostly responsible for the positive change in the macaw's romantic game. Meanwhile, Jewel began to sing along. Blu had had the pleasure of hearing her sweet voice the other day when they'd shared their first dance. It was a real treat for him to hear Jewel sing. She rarely showed the fun side of herself, even to him. He smiled and just let her have fun.

I've been awake for a while now,

You tuck me in just like a child now,

Cuz every time I see your bubbly fa-ace,

I get the tingles in a silly place,

It's starts in my toes and I crinkle my nose,

Wherever it go-oes I always know,

That you make me smile baby stay for a while now,

Just take your ti-ime wherever you go.

Jewel was almost dizzy with giddiness. Her previous experiences with male birds had been nothing but disasters. Nobody took the time to treat her to a dinner, or a dance, they just wanted to skip right to mating. Blu wasn't like them, and Jewel had never met anyone else who was like him. As they danced that evening, Jewel realized that Blu was the one for her. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him; she wanted him to be her first time. "Blu?" she whispered.

Blu twirled Jewel around and asked: "Yeah?"

"I- I've never felt like this before," Jewel admitted. "I don't know if you feel exactly the same way, but I don't just love you, I love only you. I know we've only known each other for a short time but I feel something between us that just doesn't happen to every bird. I was wondering, will you… be my… mate?"

Blu's eyes widened and for a second he couldn't breathe. His heart hammered so fast he was sure he was going to keel over from a heart attack. He let go of Jewel and waved his wing in front of his face as he struggled to catch his breath. While she waited for him to recover Jewel had to hold her good wing over her beak to keep from laughing at Blu's antics. In the back of her mind, she had held the slightest doubt that maybe she wasn't his first time. However, seeing his reaction to her question, she was now certain that she was.

When Blu finally got his wind back he said: "It would be an honor Jewel. I should warn you though, I have no idea what I'm doing in that department."

Jewel laughed and pulled Blu in so close their heads were touching. She made her voice extremely low so their friends couldn't hear. "It's okay, I'm just as inexperienced as you are. But that's actually a good thing. It'll make it all the more special." Blu breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't going to look like a fool that night. Then he leaned in so that his beak met Jewel's in a sweet, gentle kiss.