GOLDEN REBEL HEART

Chapter 18

A/N: Not feeling like updating tonight, but I love you all and seeing your comments literally brightens my day, so here's a new chapter. this  is shorter than the others, but jealous Karlie makes an appearance. Also, thoughts on the new cover?

P.s My great friend Paperrings23 has recently published a poetry book, and you should all check it out because her poems are amazing and beautifully written, and she's an amazing human so give her all the love because she deserves it.

Songs for this chapter:

comatose, sød ven
Keep An Eye On Me, Frida Sundemo
Placekeeper, Claire Guerreso

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The man had been ecstatic when seeing Taylor return with the bag full of rupees. Saying that he had been delighted is an understatement. He had thanked her so many times that at one point, the American had lost count. And the fact that she had been the one to make him happy, and had really helped him, made the biggest smile bloom on her face as she walked back to Utkarsh.

However, her pride soon disappears when a hand harshly grasps her wrist and turns her around.

"Where the fuck were you?!"

She doesn't know what surprises her the most; Karlie's furious face and stance, or the fact that the leader is yelling at her in the middle of the street. Taylor firmly pulls her hand away from the rebel's tight grasp, and attempts to keep her mouth shut and not reveal where she had really been.

"Are you going to answer me or are you—just going to stand there and not say a thing, uh?"

The American sighs loudly, "Karlie, I'm—,"

"I tried calling you. Multiple times. Because the Royal fucking Army has been trying to get one of their outposts back, and the other rebels need our help because they're plodding along, so will you please do me the favor—," Karlie suddenly pauses, eyes glued on the bruised skin right below Taylor's jaw. The American furrows her brow at her sudden silence, and when she remembers that Noor had accidentally given her a hickey, her stomach drops. The leader averts her eyes, jaw firmly clenched and eyes burning with anger and — was that jealousy?

"Karlie, let me—,"

"No, I've seen enough," the rebel interrupts her. "If you wanted to disappear just to go fuck some bitches, then you should have warned someone. I don't know if you're aware of this—," Karlie takes a step forward, voice dropping an octave lower. "—but we're in the fucking North. Going out there, alone, it's fucking dangerous. Do you hear me? If you want to behave like a slut and go out there and have sex — we all have our needs — go. Have as much sex as you want, but at least warn someone the next time."

Taylor's face falls, heart clenching with pain upon hearing Karlie's evil words. Her throat tightens, and her sapphire eyes sting with tears. And in order to not let the rebel see how much she truly hurt her with her words, she lowers her face and bites the inside of her cheek to keep quiet.

"And now—," Karlie breathes heavily. "Please do me a favor. Go change into your uniform and show yourself at the entrance of Utkarsh in less than ten minutes."

The leader doesn't wait for Taylor's answer, immediately pushing her way past her and walking away from the bewildered woman. It is then, when she's finally alone, with her gaze trained firmly on the cobblestone path, that she lets her tears fall freely from her eyes.

-

Sitting on one of the leather seats on the back of the open-backed pickup truck, is Taylor, with the smallest of frowns on her lips. Across her sits Karlie, with a confused and full of questions Sanjay beside her. It's clear that there is an unresolved argument between the two women, the stubborn silence hanging above them making it very obvious to the man. Sanjay raises his eyebrows, brown eyes darting back and forth the American and the leader. There are three other rebels with them, oblivious to it all as they mind their business.