"So why did we come to this spot?"
"To start you're training."
Blu and Flor were on one of the several hundreds of branches the jungle had to offer. They were a decent height from the ground, and they were able to see a little over two hundred fifty feet in front of them, if something wasn't blocking their view. The sun was high in the sky. It was close to being ten thirty. Blu scratched his head.
"Training?"
"Yeah. Remember the whole living in the jungle thing."
"I know, but why this spot? Do we have to go this far from Rio?"
"Well, yeah. Plus, I know this area really well. I was born and raised here."
Blu looked over at Flor.
"How was living here?"
Flor formed a small smile.
"It was nice; it was nice."
Flor's voiced died down. A few moments passed.
"Um, Flor? Are you alright?"
Flor looked into Blu's caring amber eyes.
"Yeah… It's just memories of the past."
Flor soon smiled.
"But let's just get started. You said Jewel might recover by next week?"
Blu nodded.
"Alright then. So where to begin? Oh. I guess finding a den is important, unless you rather prefer sleeping outside."
"No. Of course I want to sleep inside."
Flor smiled.
"Alright then. Usually some dens are either abandoned or taken over. This part of the community is where dens get taken over once every two years."
Blu curiously looked at her.
"You talk like the other neighborhoods are from the ghetto."
"Ghet-to? Get to what?"
"No. Ghetto."
"Yeah. Get to."
"No. There's an 'h' in front of the 'g'."
"Not there isn't. You're spelling 'get to' wrong."
Blu face-winged his forehead. He then dropped his wing to his side.
"Never mind. All I am saying is that neighborhoods in the jungle are dangerous if other animals are stealing your homes."
"Well, that's the jungle for you, but folks around these parts respect each other. Let's see if any den is abandoned so you could see for yourself."
Flor flapped her wings and took off. Blu followed her.
Jewel sat awake on the branch of the tree that had the den. She skipped breakfast to think. Blu had once again gone outside while she was stuck here. He said he would make it up, but it was kind of weird that he went out consecutively.
"Blu's out again. That's the third time in a row. My mother always said to me when dealing with males: one out was okay; two out was worrying; and three was Meja, get your male back."
She paused.
"But I trust Blu. He would never cheat on me. He's not exactly the one to seek."
She gasped.
"But I'm with him, and it only took under twenty-four hours to woo me over. He must have super powers or something in attracting females. If that's the case, Mother is right. Meja, it's time to get him back."
She got to her feet and stood proud. Soon, a thought popped up. She slumped back down.
"How? I'm flightless, and there's no way out."
"Jewel!"
That voice. Jewel squawked and started to climb down the ladder. By the time she reached the floor, Tulio was only standing a foot away from her. He smiled and picked her up slowly. He placed her on his right shoulder so she could stand and he could use his hands.
"Ah," said Tulio as he started walking, "it's time to inspect the wing."
Jewel groaned. She hated wing inspection. The results were the same: depressing. Oh, well. At least she was out of the aviary.
Tulio walked down the hall and into the bird healing rooms, where injured birds decorated this white room. Jewel always passed by the birds, which were relaxing, eating, or sleeping. Usually, she would deal with Xavier whistling or yelling out something that would embarrass and angry her. He knew he liked it when she saw her expression, even though he was probably thinking something slightly different than her. However, today was new. Today, Xavier wasn't present.
Oh, thank you, thought Jewel.
Tulio and Jewel walked reached the door of the lab section of this tiny bird hospital. Tulio opened the door to see his intern mending to Xavier on the large metallic table in the center of the lab. The intern moved his right hand from underneath the table and glanced up to see who had entered the door. Xavier grinned when he saw Jewel as she wished this bad dream to not start. Tulio placed Jewel on the table and faced his intern.
"How is he?" asked Tulio.
"By this afternoon, he will be set free."
"That's good."
Tulio petted Xavier. Xavier narrowed his eyes.
"Are you going to check Jewel's wing?" asked the intern.
"Yes. Hopefully, there is progress."
The door to the lab suddenly flew opened. A female associate peeked in with exhaustion written all over her face.
"Doctor, we need you two. Five of the nursery birds are going crazy."
Tulio bared his teeth in nervousness.
"Ai Dios! Vamos Rosa."
Rosa nodded and quickly followed Tulio out of the room. The door closed behind them. Jewel quickly looked around the room and soon noticed Xavier looking at her. He smiled at her. She nervously smiled back in respect. Soon, Xavier started to approach her. Her bad dream had turned into a nightmare.
"Hi Jewel."
"Hey Xavier," said Jewel, trying to act polite. "How's everything?"
"Good, good. You know, with that broken wing of yours, you still look gorgeous."
A small smile formed.
"Thanks."
There was a moment of silence before Xavier began speaking again.
"So Jewel, do you think it's kind of weird that the humans placed us in this room alone, and seeing it is my last day…"
Jewel narrowed her eyes.
"Don't even go there."
"Yeah, but where is Blu for brains?"
"Well, where do you think? He's…in the aviary."
"Oh," expressed Xavier curiously. "That's not what a little birdy told me… Seriously, I think a Tepui Parrotlet told me about what's Blu has been up to in his flights outside of this place."
"Keep it to yourself, Xavier. I know Blu. He wouldn't do anything bad."
"Oh. So you assume it's bad?"
Crap, thought Jewel, looking down.
Xavier circled around her, like if he was stalking his prey.
"Blu has been quite out frequently. Doesn't that make you wonder?"
"I know Blu wouldn't do anything bad. I trust him."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Xavier stopped, standing eight inches in front of her.
"Oh, so you know?"
"Know what?"
Xavier grinned.
"You don't know. I thought you trust him?"
"I do."
"But it appears he doesn't trust you. So, this little birdy has seen your boyfriend around Rio before he broke his wing yesterday. It appears he is not flying solo. It appears there're two Blus instead of one."
"Two?" wondered Jewel curiously. "That's impossible. He wouldn't fly around with any other Spinx's Macaws. Besides, we are the last of our kind."
"Who said that it was a Spinx's Macaw?"
Jewel opened her mouth, but no words came out. She then closed it.
"Just because you are the only female of his kind doesn't limit him," continued Xavier.
Jewel began to think. Her mind was in a heated debate. One side told her to trust Blu, but the other side was curious on what Blu was hiding. Ever since Blu took to the skies and left her, she always had this feeling he was hiding something from her. She told herself to wait and let him say, but it appeared other birds knew more than her about Blu's flights. One side soon weighed the other.
"W-what did this birdie tell you?"
Xavier smiled.
"Well, as I said, he's not flying solo. It seems he has a new friend. A new lady friend."
Jewel shook her head.
"No. I don't believe. Blu would tell me if he made a new friend. He wouldn't go behind my back."
Xavier shrugged.
"The birds who have seen your boyfriend say it is true. I personally don't believe it. I mean, who would find him attractive. I'm still baffled on how he tricked you."
"He didn't trick me."
"Forced?"
Jewel shook her head.
"No. It just happened."
"You believe what you believe; and I believe what I believe."
There was a few seconds of silence before Jewel opened her beak.
"So... I still don't believe Blu would lie to me, much less cheat."
Xavier pretended to think about it and smiled when he came up with a solution.
"Hey, I got it. To set these rumors to rest, I can always spy on him. I'm getting out tomorrow anyways."
Jewel disagreed.
"No. I told you I trust him."
"Right," snorted Xavier, "even though everyone else say he's with another bird."
Jewel looked down and sighed.
"C'mon, Jewel. I know you're curious."
True, she was. Blu had only skimmed the surface of his time outside. Apparently, he was with another blue bird. Afraid on asking Blu herself, she looked up at Xavier and nodded.
"Fine."
"Good, but on one condition."
Jewel sighed. If she wasn't that desperate, she would've declined his services and confronted Blu. However, it seemed he was probably going to lie again. He has been succeeding every time he went out. It wouldn't hurt to hire someone to watch over him. It was like a friend who made sure his/her drunk friends don't do anything stupid. Jewel groaned.
"Okay."
"I want a kiss."
Jewel's eyes widened in surprise. Xavier grinned.
"A what?"
"A kiss. A real one too."
"Um, but I can't do that."
"Then you're out of luck," smirked Xavier. "You do know I'm the only one who would tell you the truth, Jewel."
He was right. Though creepy as he was to her, Jewel always felt she could trust Xavier. The main reason why was because the darn bird wanted her. Besides, he was the only one getting released tomorrow. Her options seemed limited as her curiosity sparked."
"Well?"
Jewel nodded.
"Okay, but I have a condition too."
"Okay. Lay it down on me."
"I need you to close your eyes."
"Close my eyes?"
"I feel more comfortable that way. Besides, you're getting a kiss, so why do you care? When you close your eyes, you savor the kiss even more."
The gullible Xavier nodded.
"That makes sense."
"Good. Now close your eyes."
Xavier obeyed orders.
"Alright. So, are you going to kiss me?"
"It's all in the surprise," Jewel quickly made up, looking around. "You know you're going to get a kiss, but you don't know exactly when. The best kisses are those that are unexpected."
"Alright. Then I'll wait...but this has better not be a trick."
"I promise it isn't," lied Jewel, walking to an edge of the table.
Jewel reached underneath the table and grabbed something. She pulled it off from underneath the table and smiled. Luckily, Rosa had placed the gum she was chewing underneath the table, like how she always does it when she is chewing and hears Tulio walking in. Jewel looked at the deformed gum and wished she didn't have to do this. She used the gum as a barrier around her beak, stretching it out a bit and putting some in her mouth. She heard Xavier grunt.
"This is taking forever."
"Hold on. I said the best kisses are unexpected."
Jewel started walking towards Xavier.
"Yeah, but making a guy wait-"
He didn't finish his sentence as Jewel placed her protected beak on his. She didn't really go for the kiss. Much to her disgust, Xavier took over the kiss and starting sucking uncomfortably. Jewel couldn't take it anymore and parted from the fake kiss. Xavier still had his eyes closed, as if he was still savoring the kiss. This gave Jewel the chance to peel the gum off her beak and throw it to the ground. Xavier opened his eyes to see a fake-smiling Jewel.
"You were right. The best kisses are unexpected."
"Okay, so now will you help me?"
Xavier nodded.
"I'll watch over him. Oh, and I won't say a word to him about this."
Jewel shyly smiled.
"Thanks."
The door opened. The birds looked to see Tulio and Rosa come back into the room. Tulio pulled up a stool and put it in front of the edge part of the table Jewel was standing on. Tulio sat down and heaved.
"That was interesting."
"No kidding," agreed Rosa. "That bird almost clawed my wrist."
She approached Xavier and put her arm on the table.
"C'mon, Xavier."
Xavier walked onto Rosa's right arm. Once set, Rosa lifted her arm up and carried Xavier as if she was a bird trainer. She opened the door and exited the room. Xavier looked back and winked at Jewel. He soon disappeared behind the door. Jewel groaned.
Creep.
"Alright, Jewel. Let's began."
Tulio tapped his right foot and soon felt something. He looked down and exhaled loudly.
"It looks like I stepped in gum. Excuse me, Jewel."
Tulio got up and left to get disposable paper to wipe the gum off his shoe. As Jewel watched him, she wondered if she did the right thing.