GOLDEN REBEL HEART

Chapter 16

When the Golden Path conquers the first outpost of the North, all the rebels are delighted and in the mood to celebrate. It's a spacious logging camp, with shacks scattered along the main gravel road. There is an ample space in the middle of the outpost, which is surrounded by a shop that sells weapons and ammos, and little colorful prayer flags hang from the roofs of the shanties. The rebels are welcomed by the various civilians that had been held hostage with open arms and loud whistles of gratitude. They are grateful to see the Golden Path after so many years, but when they come to know that Ajay Suri's daughter is present, the celebrations get even more louder. Taylor is whisked away from her companions by a group of fairly young Indian women, and the American is overwhelmed by all the attention that they're giving her.

The afternoon soon turns into evening, and the people of the logging camp prepare a bonfire and hand out big amounts of food. The rebels create a large circle, sitting down and feeling slightly exhausted from the strenuous activities of this long but successful day. A group of civilians play instruments, the sound of folk music now filling the night as the young women all dance together. Taylor happily joins them, and Karlie watches the scene unfold before her as the American has the time of her life.

There's a little flame of jealousy within her heart, as Taylor focuses all of her attention on one particular woman. All the rebels chatter noisily and laugh, drinking their drinks and not caring one bit if they get drunk by the end of the celebration.

"They seem really close," Sanjay is right by the leader's side, an amused smirk on his lips as he sees the obvious jealousy on Karlie's face.

"Yeah," the rebel swallows, as Taylor twirls the Indian woman and pulls her closer, with hands wrapped around the small of her waist. The pair laughs, and Karlie is unable to look at them as the civilian circles Taylor's neck with her arms and kisses her cheek sloppily.

"They're just having fun. I don't think you should worry too much," the man says calmly, drinking from his glass. Karlie hums and finishes eating her meat, not knowing how to feel towards the burning and unsettling sensation inside her heart. It's not the Indian woman's fault; no one knows about Karlie's feelings for Taylor, therefore the American can dance with whoever she wants and act flirty as much as she wants. But still, Karlie is jealous, and she hates to admit it to herself as she watches the pair dance.

"I'm just jealous. That's all,"

Sanjay smirks and chuckles.

"What? Why are you laughing?"

"It's been a while since I've seen you act this way," the man observes, and Karlie can't help but agree with him.

"Yeah," Karlie lightly giggles. "Having a crush sucks."

"Are you sure that it's just a crush?" Sanjay wiggles his eyebrows.

"Oh, shut up,"

The man raises his hands in surrender and gets up. "I'll get us more drinks. You need to loosen up, chief."

Karlie watches him go. However, as she looks back at where Taylor was supposed to be, the American is nowhere to be seen. The leader furrows her brows and shrugs.

She thinks back at the wonderful day they've had, at how they've conquered the outpost with zero losses. She recalls the breathtaking smile that had overcome Taylor's face when they had finally declared victory. How they had high fived at the end of the battle. Karlie still remembers how inexperienced Taylor had been, at the beginning of January. How clumsy her movements had been, how bad her aim had been. Looking at her now, she seems like a complete new person. The American's arms are now defined by a thick layer of muscle, her shoulders are broader, and the invisible abs that had been covering her abdomen are now prominent and more defined.