Once, in the forests of Australia lived a group of parakeets, also known as budgies. This group liked to travel from forest to forest. Every bird liked to travel in this group, except Juliet. She was always complaining to her mom. Her mom always compared her to her sister, Snow.
    Juliet was sick of it, but her sister seemed to like it. Of course she likes it, thought Juliet. Juliet wasn’t jealous, but since Snow didn’t complain her mom thought she was perfect. Snow was used to it and she liked to show off. She also liked to blame things on Juliet and her other sister Flow. For instance, Snow says that Juliet and Flow always play games when they were supposed to collect food. It wasn’t true.

    Juliet was collecting seeds when Flow flew up to her.

     "Mom just told me to get you," she said panting.
     "Why?" asked Juliet curiously.
     "She said we are flying to a nearby forest," said Flow sounding sad, "it may take four days."
    Juliet was furious. They had just come to this forest one week ago. As usual Snow was happy.
     "Flow and Juliet, hurry up and get ready," Snow ordered as their mom came.
     "I just don’t understand why you two can’t follow Snow’s example, " their mom said disappointed.

     Whatever, thought Flow.

     "Prepare to fly. We will stop at a nearby tree for the night. Juliet, do you have the seeds?" her mom asked. Juliet told her that it was Snow’s turn to collect the seeds. Flow knew that Juliet was lying. Snow said that she was lying.
     "Really Snow? I’m disappointed. Well Juliet since you’ll miss your turn tomorrow, go pick some seeds," her mom said without hesitating. Juliet could feel her feathers ruffling. She wanted to slap Snow across the face. "Calm down, Juliet," whispered Flow. Juliet flew away. Flow followed.

    Juliet was mad. She really wanted to fly away. She could fly away with Flow and join other fly away birds. Or they could start their own group.
     "Are you crazy?!" shrieked Flow when Juliet told her the idea.
     "No!" said Juliet sounding offended. Flow was never mean to her.
     "Snow or no Snow I still love my family. I’m not flying away and neither are you!" Flow concluded. They heard their mom calling.
     "I guess you’re right," said Juliet as they went to their mom.

    The group was ready to fly. Their mom was the leader of the group. She was in charge of deciding where to go. She flew at the front of the line beside Snow. Snow really wanted to lead the group. Flow didn’t care but Juliet, she badly wanted to lead the group. Her mom never let her because she thought Juliet wasn’t responsible. Juliet always asked her mom when they flew. Flow was watching the little birds and Snow was talking to somebody so it Juliet’s perfect chance.

    Juliet flew as fast as she could to her mom but . . . too late, Snow was back. Juliet started to fly back and she stopped.

    Who was Snow to decide if she could help or not,thought Juliet angrily.
    She was going to fly up to her mom and ask. Juliet flew up to them. "Mom, can I help you lead the group?" she asked anxiously. "How can you? You don’t know how to lead. You’re so different. You and Flow have red eyes unlike anyone in the group. I bet you came from another group. Besides mom already made me leader," said Snow.

    Juliet felt insulted. She felt her eyes welling up.

"Snow, stop that!" her mom snapped.

    Juliet turned around to fly.

"Wait Juliet, Snow will help lead temporarily so that I can teach you," her mom called out. "Yeah, but she chose me first," Snow laughed. "Snow, go to the back of the group," her mom said.

    Before her mom could stop her Juliet flew away. Everyone was against her: Snow, Flow and even her mom. She wanted to find somebody that would understand, someone who wouldn’t mind starting a group. She was old enough to leave the group, but her mom wanted her to stay. Juliet wanted more then ever to fly away. She knew she couldn’t, not without Flow. Flow wasn’t about to give in. Flow didn’t want to fly away. Juliet stopped near the end of the line. Snow was saying something.

    "Thanks a lot!" shouted Snow, "now mom thinks I’m not ready! " "You’re so weird." "I could say the same thing to you. Oh, and the reason I have red eyes, I’m an albino, I’m special!! If dad were here he’d understand!" Juliet shouted.

    "Well he isn’t here! So deal with it!" Snow added.

     "Why do you even care? He didn’t like you!" Juliet snapped.      "Well you know what? I don’t care! Dad is dead! Remember, the arrows hit him!" Snow said carelessly.

    Juliet stormed off. Dad is dead, Juliet thought. Those words hit her like the arrows that hit her dad.

    Juliet flew so fast that she couldn’t open her eyes. She was flying away. She couldn’t stand it anymore. She was not going to turn back. She was moving so fast she couldn’t see, then . . . smash! She was falling. "Are you okay?" said a worried voice. Juliet didn’t recognize the voice that well but it kind of sounded like her dad. "Yeah, I guess so," she said. When she opened her eyes she saw the cutest bird she had ever seen!

    He introduced himself as Romeo. He listened carefully to Juliet’s story. He was just like what Juliet wanted. He told her to come to his group for the night. She could rest there.

    Romeo brought Juliet home. He got her some dinner and they talked. It was late so they went to bed. Juliet liked this guy. Not only was he cute he was nice. He was white, blue and black, just like her dad. He wasn’t her dad of course. Was he? She was young when her mom told her what happened. Maybe she was lying. Flow, Snow or Juliet weren’t there when it happened. Only their mom was there leading the group. Besides her dad’s name was Sunny. After her thoughts she finally drifted off to sleep.

    Meanwhile Romeo got up to talk to his parents. They shouted at him.

     "Who is this girl? Where is her family?" they shouted.

     "Look she’s had a tough time," said Romeo.

    Romeo had a secret. Even though he just met her he liked her. He was pretty sure she liked him.

    Juliet woke up. She heard Romeo’s parents shouting. They were talking about her! She knew this family wouldn’t accept her. She could leave and find a new family. But she liked Romeo. She wouldn’t leave, never. She had to tell Romeo the truth, in front of his parents.

    Juliet flew up to where Romeo was. It was easy to find them because of the noise. She was about to speak, she looked at his parents and stopped.

    There in flesh and blood stood her . . . dad! She knew it was him, positive. She burst into tears.

     "Juliet!" cried Romeo. He hugged her tightly. "I know that cry," whispered Romeo’s dad to his wife. "It can’t be," she replied. Romeo’s dad, Sunny knew that Juliet was his daughter.

    Meanwhile, Juliet’s mom was going crazy!

    "Where on Earth is Juliet?!" she exclaimed.

     "Relax, Mom! She’s probably just hiding!" said Snow.

     "We called her a million times! She should have replied!" their mom shrieked.

     "I know where she went," said Flow. All heads turned to Flow. "She flew away," she said calmly.

    Back at Romeo’s house Sunny was telling Juliet the truth. "Safire and I found Romeo alone in a tree. We decided to take him home. When I told your mom she got mad. She told me to leave home and never come back. She told you guys I was dead so you wouldn’t go searching," he explained. Juliet told them that they had to go back to her mom. Sunny and Safire weren’t married, just in the same group. Juliet knew his decision was right and that her mom would forgive him. Romeo agreed that they should go back, besides he wanted to see his step-mom. Everyone agreed that Safire shouldn’t come. They would go after lunch.

     "What do you mean she flew away?" Juliet’s mom asked.

     "She was mad at you and Snow," said Flow.

    Her mom freaked "How could she? She’s crazy!

    She’s," "Right there," completed Snow.

    When Juliet’s mom saw Juliet she flew to hug her. When she looked up she saw Sunny and another bird. She immediately knew that the other bird was Romeo. She pushed Juliet and Romeo out of the way. She shouted at Sunny.

     "Please calm down Blue!" Sunny said. Blue burst into tears. They talked it over and she finally forgave him. Everybody was happy. They started celebrating.

     "Juliet, I’m really about everything," said Snow. "Me too," said Juliet. They said sorry and said they would be good friends, even with Flow. Flow! Juliet didn’t even say hi! They found each other and hugged. Juliet introduced everybody to Romeo.

    Romeo and Juliet were very close friends. No wonder they liked each other, they were brother and sister!