Roots and Romance - A Fight for Nature and Love – Chapter 13

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Chapter Thirteen

Sylas's confession created a tense vacuum, a leverage settling between them that threatened to shatter the fragile connection they had built. Britta watched him, her gaze drawn to the way his jaw clenched, a muscle working overtime beneath the tanned skin.

The revelation resonated within her, stirring a complex cocktail of emotions. Recess, for the explanation behind the unexpected intimacy she had seen. Disappointment, for the confirmation that their connection wasn't the fresh start she had yearned for. He moved a step closer to Britta, his eyes searching hers. Sylas’s hands fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, his posture tense yet curious.

Before Britta could bawl out the deadlocks swirling in her mind, the lively music from the stage swelled, a new song pulling the crowd back to the dance floor. Sylas, his gaze not shifting from her for a beat too long, offered a hesitant smile.

"Care to dance again?" He glanced down at his shoes briefly before looking back at her.

Britta studied him, her heart a tangled mess of clutter and a spark of something unexpected – a nascent acumen. The answer, she realized, wasn't a simple yes or no. It was a journey they had to embark on together, a dance with a past that intertwined with a blossoming present.

With a deep breath, she met his gaze, a flicker of defiance mingling with a hesitant curiosity. "Maybe," she stilled, her fingers curling into fists, hands fluttering around her like restless birds. "But first," a flush rose to her cheeks as she added, "I think you owe me an explanation."

The clatter of plates and excited chatter provided a rhythmic backdrop to Britta's growing unease. Diana's smile, brighter under the warm redden of a nearby lantern, seemed to pierce through the carefree festival atmosphere. Britta, forced to confront her churning emotions, took a deep breath, trying to find a semblance of composure.

A beat of uncomfortable silence stretched between them before Britta spoke. Her hands fell to her thighs, her weight shifting onto one side. "Actually, Diana," she began, casting a sidelong glance at Sylas. "Sylas mentioned you were in town days ago. Must admit, that sporty car of yours is hard to miss.”

Diana's grin softened, a flicker of realization playing on her face. "Yes," she tilted her head, her gaze meeting Britta's at an angle. "I try to make it back for the harvest festival whenever I can. It's a tradition I wouldn't miss." She also cast a sideways glance at Sylas, who was for a quick haul distracted, captivated by a display of locally crafted wooden toys. "We used to come together all the time," Diana added with a touch of nostalgia.

Britta felt a pang of something akin to sympathy. This confident woman, full of success, had once coinciding experiences with Sylas in this very place. Perhaps the insecurity that had threatened to engulf Britta wasn't entirely unfounded.

With a fluid motion, Diana's body shifted closer, her words spilling out in a soft, urgent cadence. "Actually," Diana's hands rose, eyes locked onto hers, as she started to explain, "there's another reason I'm back in town. You see, I work for Goliath Corporation, the company behind the recent land purchases in the area, I'm involved in the planning and acquisition of land for our development projects."

Britta's breath hitched. This unexpected revelation induced an upheaval through her. The corporation Diana mentioned was the very entity she'd suspected of threatening the local ecosystem. “Ok, enjoy your time. I'll catch up with you later.” She struggled to stand, her eyes roving over the terrain as she plotted her escape. She shifted her weight, readying herself to move.

Diana's laughter died in her throat, replaced by a nervous chuckle that sounded slightly forced. It was a sound that resonated with Britta's own anxieties. Raising her hands in a placating gesture, Diana said, "Hold on, hold on! It's not what you think." She crossed her arms, her fingers drumming a staccato rhythm on her biceps. "Sylas and I… well, that was a bygone life. Just a silly teenage crush. We're just good friends now, nothing more." Her gaze darted between Britta and Sylas, searching for any sign of cohesive doubt.

A hesitant hope inflamed within Britta. Could this woman, who she'd initially perceived as a threat, be a potential ally? or was she using her seemingly harmless behavior to disguise her true, malicious intentions? A million questions swirled in her mind, but before she could round on any, Sylas came back, his face creased with a troubled look.

"Everything alright here?" he asked, his gaze flitting between the two women. He adjusted his posture, sitting up straighter. The earlier tension had lessened, but the oppressive atmosphere still swallowed them, unrelenting.

Britta hesitated, unsure how much to share in Sylas's presence. Diana, however, seemed to sense her predicament.

"Just getting acquainted," Diana said with a smile, but a faint rasp in the back of her mouth. "Britta and I were discussing her research."

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, her posture relaxing as she acknowledged their recent misunderstanding. Britta, grateful for Diana's subtle support, offered a weak smile in return.

"Perhaps," Diana continued, her gaze flickering between Britta and Sylas, "we could all chat sometime soon? It would be interesting to hear more about your work, Britta."

The invitation dangled, a hesitant thread holding their cautious interaction together. Britta glanced at Sylas, seeking his input. He seemed surprised by the suggestion, but a flicker of curiosity sparked in his eyes.

"Sure," as said by Britta, the word laced with a fresh sense of hope. "That sounds… interesting."

Diana smiled, an exaggerated expression that reached her eyes. "Excellent," she said. "Then perhaps we can find a time to compare notes. After all," As she spoke, her head tilted, her lips inches from Britta’s ear, "we both have a vested interest in this beautiful land, don't we?" An insidious menace lurked beneath her polite tone.

With that, Diana excused herself, leaving Britta and Sylas standing amidst the bustling festival crowd. The elated music and laughter seemed to wash over them in a wave, carrying away the not toppling tension.

Britta tilted her head up to meet Sylas's gaze, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. Sylas responded with a gentle smile, a crease forming between his brows as he looked down at her with concern and a hint of something more profound in his blue eyes.

"So," his gaze followed a passing balloon vendor, fingers brushed the edge of the bench they were standing near, "what would you like to do next?"

The weight of their recent misunderstanding seemed to recede, replaced by a freshly forged sense of concern. Britta took a deep breath, a hesitant plan forming in her mind.

"There's this stall selling wildflower honey," she began, a playful glint in her eyes. "I've heard it's supposed to be amazing. Care to share a taste?"

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Need to know what happened after Chapter 13? Chapter 14 of Roots and Romance takes you to the next level of the series!

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