Guess who's back! I was supposed to be studying when I wrote this, but whatever, I studied in class XD
"Okay, if we want to beat the guys we need a plan" Anna paced around the room while Sophie and I looked at her with raised brows and amused expressions. She was taking this further than getting ready for an event, and that is quite surprising "Any ideas?"
"Sophie has to dance" the parakeet gave me an almost shy look "you'll knock them off their feet" we smiled at each other before Anna wrote in the wall 'Dancing: Sophie' with a chalk. After we left The Branch last night Anna, Sophie and I walked around the fruit market, which at that time of the night was closed, to have a girl talk. Poor Rafael had to stay close by to get me back home later. He insisted though.
We spent two hours talking about my sister and Pedro. Apparently they did kiss when Nico turned off the lights. It was just a small, quick kiss but it was enough to get Sophie and me squealing. I would be a little mad at Nico for making me miss that kiss, but Anna seemed quite grateful about it. When we were on our way back home, we came across a trash can with a broken blackboard inside it; I decided to bring some chalks back with me, just for the fun. They were proving to be useful, now being used to write song titles and performance ideas all over the wall in Anna's room.
We had come up with at least twenty-five song ideas, but most of them were crossed, being replaced with what we thought were better songs. Choosing songs was harder than it looked.
"Well you have to sing" Sophie poked me with a flight feather "they loved you last time"
"You sure?" I looked at them for approval. Is not that I don't love the idea, but it feels a little selfish. My only response was an eager nod from Sophie and my name written on the wall next to the word 'Singing'.
"Thanks girls" I plopped down on Anna's nest with my legs propped on the edge "but what about you sis?"
"I'll do the back up. You know how good we sound together" She wrote her name below mine and sat down on the ground next to Sophie, placing the chalk next to her nest. Sophie was looking at the wall with curiosity, as if the white, dusty words would tell her how we learned to write.
Most birds knew how to read, especially the ones that lived near the city, but the amount of birds who could write was smaller. Most didn't learn because there was no real need too, others, like Sophie, just couldn't. Holding a pencil with your talon is not impossible, but it is hard and after writing for a while it tends to hurt because of the angle you have to get; holding it with your wings is easier, but not by much, and let's not even start with writing with your beak.
So, most parents just teach their chicks how to read, but not write. Anna and I have our father to thank for the talent, him being a bird that lived with humans his whole life.
"So it's settled, Kalli will sing, Sophie will get all the choreography done, and have a huge solo performance in the dance number, and I will do the back up and organize whatever details might need organizing" Anna got a professional and serious tone that made me sit down properly for some reason.
"Sounds good" I looked at all our song choices and started picking my favorites. Anna extended her wing and I placed mine on hers, Sophie's soon joining. We counted to three and raised them in sync while cheering and laughing.
"So" Anna stood and walked to the wall watching the writing carefully "I think for dancing we should use-" I lunged forward and covered her beak. She gave me a panicked look but I placed a flight feather on my beak, signaling for them both to stay quiet. I pointed to the other room and they all saw a small shadow moving away.
I already knew who it was, and motioned for Anna and Sophie to keep talking like nothing happened while I sneaked out to give our visitor a surprise. The two girls started chatting again, taking my hint and not mentioning any of the songs we would use on the show, while I walked to the back of the room. Anna's room had a hole right on the corner, next to the roof, that had formed naturally on the tree. Anna covered it in leaves and kept it as a window with the excuse of fresh air and its benefits.
Like we don't have enough fresh air living inside a tree in the jungle of Rio de Janeiro. But that window never hurt anybody, and in cases like this it is useful to have it. I moved the curtain of leaves and squeezed through the small space, my body shooting out after much trying. I flew round our tree and landed outside without a sound.
I peeked inside and saw my sister's boyfriend pressed against the wall, glancing at the two girls in the other room.
And yes, I did say boyfriend; it became official last night.
I tiptoed inside, Pedro being too busy making sure no one would catch him, didn't notice me at all. He looked so focused, tongue poking out a little in pure concentration that I almost felt bad for what I was going to do. It felt even worse by the fact that I was going to enjoy it. I got as close to him as I could and then said in an unamused voice.
"Can I help you?" I crossed my wings across my chest and got my best poker face, even if I wanted to chuckle at Pedro's reaction. His whole body tensed up and his eyes widened so much and so fast, his pupils becoming small as dust specks, that I thought they would pop right out of their sockets. He slowly turned my way, only his eyes moving, and when he saw me he stumbled back at how close I was.
He walked backwards into the room where the girls were, and Sophie kicked the chalk in Pedro's direction. The white bar rolled through the floor and stopped right where Pedro tried to set foot, making the cardinal fall on his back.
"Girls!" Anna hurried to where her boyfriend lied and tried to help him up, but Pedro had had all the air knocked out of his lungs, making it impossible for him to move "could you be more careful with him? I would like him to end our first 24 hours together in one piece"
"Hey angel…" he managed to say, but it sounded like his final breath. My sister smiled though, so that gives the guy some points.
What? I'm taking care of my sister. No one will hurt her while I'm around.
You do realize that's only three days right?
Well that's only if Luca shows up, and we don't know if he will.
What do you think?
I found myself unable to answer that question. What I think makes no difference in the end, not with Luca. I tried to smile at Sophie's laughter, or at the scene of Pedro stretching his neck to peck my sister on her cheek, but I only cracked a smile. If something does happen, then what? I shook my head a little and pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind, locking them away before they could get dangerous. I'm not letting Luca ruin this moment; I won't give him the satisfaction.
"But he was spying on us" Pedro managed to get in a sitting position and looked at me like he was offended.
"Was not!"
"Then what were you doing?" Sophie and I gave him accusatory looks and the cardinal looked like he ran out of ideas. Someone landed in the entrance of the room and every pair of eyes in the room landed on Nico and Miguel, the later looking at Pedro with a raised brow while the former gave the cardinal a smug smile.
"I told you it was a bad idea" Pedro looked down while Nico shook his head.
"Has anyone told you guys you're terrible at spying?" Nico looked at me and gave me one of his smiles, a grin in his beak.
"Morning to you too sunshine" I couldn't stop the smile that formed in by beak "and just so you know, only Pedro was spying on you. I told him not to do it"
"Yeah" Pedro finally managed to stand and walked to his friends "you weren't wrong 'bout her" he pointed at me. I gave Nico a look that said 'explain' and he just shrugged.
"Told him you were too smart to fall for that" I felt some heat in my cheeks, but hid it quite well.
"That and you're freaky sixth sense caught me" Pedro seemed to realize something and eyed me carefully "how did you do that? I mean, how did you know I was here?"
I shrugged "you said it yourself, it's my sixth sense"
"What happened to your wall?" Miguel pointed to the wall that used to have our song list on it. I feared for a second that they had seen it and we would have to come up with a new song for each category, but when I turned I saw that there was almost nothing written on the wall anymore. All that was left were a few things like my name and a few songs that were already crossed; everything else looked like the bad attempt to erase that chalk from the wall, only a blur of white all over the wooden surface.
"Nothing" Sophie held her wings behind her back, but anyone could see that she was covered in chalk dust all the way up to her elbows. Nice one Sophie.
…..
"So you guys already have your songs ready?" we all sat down on our hollow after helping Sophie get all the white out of her feathers. Anna and I finally had the time to get some rocks to use as chairs, but now we had four at the table and another four scattered about; enough for all of us to sit down.
"Almost done. We're just missing a few details. How 'bout you?" Nico, Anna, Pedro and I were sitting at the table, while Sohpie sat in a sun patch near the entrance to get her feathers dry. Miguel was sitting on a chair next to the wall, just so he could lean back.
I huffed a little and Nico gave me a knowing smile "Harder that it looks huh?"
"Yeah, I don't know how you guys do it"
"Years of practice" Pedro said from where he was sitting next to my sister, a wing around her shoulders.
"Don't worry; it shouldn't be so hard for you. You're a natural" Nico gave me a wink with his right eye, which was just out of sight for everyone but me. I gave him a smile that he immediately mimicked but adding his personal touch to it, making it look like a smirk.
"You know what would be awesome, and would definitely make this far more interesting?" Sophie said from the entrance, feathers apparently dry and a look on her face of pure excitement.
"What?"
"A bet" we all exchanged looks, not really following "I mean, what is a competition without a prize right?"
Miguel seemed to think about and gave a quick nod as response.
"Sounds interesting" Nico leaned in his elbows and glanced my way "What do you think?"
"I think it's a great idea" Nico looked at me like he was thinking of something and then seemed to have a great idea, but kept quiet.
"Wait, so we can just make bets with anyone from the other group?" Anna asked as if making sure she understood. Sophie seemed to think it for a second before nodding. Anna immediately grabbed Pedro's wing and pulled him into her room, that look of 'I-just-had-a-great-idea' clear in her face. Miguel moved forward and grabbed his sister by her shoulders, leading her outside.
"What?" she looked a little confused, but Miguel just smiled.
"I'm not lettin' this opportunity slip" he pushed her outside and they both perched on a branch on a tree next to ours.
"Guess it's only you and me bonita" Nico stood and leaned on the wall, wings crossed and feet sliding to the point I thought he would fall to the ground. Everyone was making bets in case the other team lost, probably convincing the other to accept things they normally wouldn't.
Hello! Accept things they normally wouldn't!
In that moment I had the best idea of my life.
"How 'bout we make this interesting?" Nico gave me a surprised look, but it soon changed to an interested one.
"I'm listening"
"Let's make a bet of our own. If you lose" Nico gave me an expecting look, probably not expecting my mind to be as stubborn as it is "you tell me the bottle cap story" Nico seemed to go pale, all confidence leaving him for a second and full panic taking its place. He finally settled with an expression that showed he wanted to know more, but he looked a little nervous.
"And what's your offer?"
"I don't know… what do you want?"
Nico thought of it for a long moment, taking of his bottle cap and tapping it with his wing. I waited patiently for him to say something, not daring to interrupt him in case he reconsidered everything and decided to back down. He seemed to make up his mind, a smirk taking over his beak as he placed his bottle cap back on.
"Alright" A smile started to show on my beak, but it fell at his expression "but if I win, then you have to answer some of my questions. Complete truth, no holding back"
I froze at what he said. The possible questions he could ask circling my mind faster than I could register them all, but a few stood out. He could ask who Maia and Bruno were, or why they hated me and Anna so much. He could even ask what happened to my parents, or what hallucinations I had when I was sick.
Every single question made my stomach tie itself in knots.
For the first time in years, my inner self decided to support me instead of attacking me with sarcastic remarks.
If you accept this and he wins, you'll have to tell him everything. He can ask anything and you'll have to say the truth. But if you win he will tell you the bottle cap story.
What if he gets scared after I tell him the truth?
It could happen. You need to think if that bottle cap is worth the risk.
I looked at Nico and was about to tell him to forget the whole thing when my mind added.
Luca is coming back in three days. Whatever happens won't have a huge effect anyways.
I looked down not knowing what to do or say. In the corner of my eye I could see Nico's smirk starting to fade, concern taking over his expression at my silence. If I tell him the truth, then I'll know for sure what he thinks of me, and if I win then I'll know the bottle cap story. My mind is right for once; Luca will be here in a few days anyways, so there's not much to lose.
"How many questions?"
"…What?" Nico looked a little stunned so I turned to face him fully.
"How many questions are you going to ask me?" it took one look at his face for me to add "we need a limit"
"Okay… how 'bout ten?" he looked at my expression and quickly corrected himself "Nine?"
"Four" we had to reach a deal at some point.
"Eight"
"Four" he gave me an unamused look, but I got a decided one instead. I was not giving in.
"Seven"
"Five, but you have to tell me absolutely everything about that bottle cap. Up to the last detail" I looked at him with a look that said I wasn't going to negotiate any further. He gave my last offer a thought and got a decided look on his face too.
"Give me six questions and you have a deal" he extended a wing and looked at me dead in the eye, his confident smile returning to his beak. That smile along with the determination in his eyes made my heart skip a beat; it was either that or how nervous I was.
Six questions can reveal a lot, you should th-
Screw you.
I took his wing in mine and shook it hard, a feeling of regret threatening to take over me, but I quickly shook it off. No turning back now.
Nico tipped his bottle cap at me "Pleasure doing business with you, Miss Kalli"
A smile took over my beak as part of the fear faded "Likewise"
I just hope I didn't make a mistake.
Ten seconds after he sealed our deal Sophie and Miguel entered the hollow and Anna and Pedro came out of her room. Everyone looked content with whatever they had arranged between each other. Anna seemed particularly happy, as she kept looking at Pedro and the Nico and me with a knowing smile on her face.
"Well boys it was nice to have you here, but we need to practice" Sophie started dragging Miguel outside and once he was out of the hollow, she grabbed Pedro away from my sister. She managed to give him a small kiss before he was pushed out of the entrance.
Nico decided to find his own way out before being kicked out, and while his best friend disappeared from view he turned my way.
"Bye, bonita; and good luck" he dodged Sophie and flew outside while saying "you'll need it!" with that they dashed through the trees, probably going back to wherever they're putting their number together.
"You think that was a warning?" Anna crossed her wings and looked at where the guys had been just seconds ago. I started to walk back to her room, Sophie following right behind me.
"I think it was more like, friendly advice" the parakeet had a confident smirk on her face as she sat down on the ground and stretched her wings. Anna soon entered and sat down on her nest.
"Well, we can't get our guards down with them"
"No we can't; we need to be ready and hit them hard" I grabbed the chalk from the ground and started to write down some song titles that I knew we could use, and that I remembered we agreed on practicing "They won't even know what hit them"
With that we continued our rehearsal, now more motivated than before.
I guess a prize does make things more interesting.
My exams are almost over guys, but I still have a few left. Just wait I'm almost done.
We are one step closer to either Kalli's past or the bottle cap story, what do you think of that?
Review time!
EmmerzK: Nice suggestion XD. We are on the process, I just have to find a nice way to get them together (I have a few in mind that might work) and thanks, I hope I do well too :P
ILOVENICO1000X: I finally did it! I got him to be flirty! YAY! XD. Oh they will be together sooner than you think (I'll take a while, but not so much) the singing competition might be the perfect moment for some romance don't you think? ;D
Niah09: That's correct! Here's your cookie *hands you a cookie*. You live in Australia? I meant the butterfly idea (it was soooooooooo beautiful) but it was also really nice from you to worry about my car :3. The more songs the better, I love to discover new music. OMG you're right, I do have a quarter of a hundred reviews! thanks! :D
JahMasterWikiwuki: Awww thanks! I'm so glad you like this story so much, and I hope you still love it once we reach the end, I shall not disappoint you! and thanks for the review :)
Well guys you still have two chapters to make song suggestions, so anything you have in mind you can tell me. You can always drop a review, every single one will be more than welcome :)
Don't own: Rio (Blue Sky Studios). Do own: Kalli, Anna, Miguel, Sophie, Maia, Bruno, Luca and Isabel.