Haven

Once or twice a month, a market was organized in the neighborhood we lived in. Aroma's of cheese, meat and fish mixed, making the tourists grow hungry. For me it was the complete opposite- it made me nauseous.

I always pushed the feelings away, because tourists, the warmth and the vintage clothes they sold as well never failed to make me smile. I enjoyed to hear all the different languages, the fights kids had to get a souvenir, but their parents wouldn't agree, people who looked through their Tablets rather than their real eyes- capturing everything.

I loved to see the different ethnicities, I enjoyed when they enjoyed it here. It'd always make me feel as if I was on vacation myself.

It was Saturday today. Flowers bloomed, summer was near and that was definitely visible. The market was packed, more than usual. I had to keep my arms tight to my body to try and make way through the mass of people without accidentally hitting someone.

Passing the people I walked by a smile, I tried to look above some of them, searching for Jude. He helped selling fresh and roasted peanuts, nuts, pistachios and more on the days the market was here.

I glanced at my watch, his 'shift' would be over soon and he had promised to join me and Jonah for our monthly walk through the market. My parents preferred to go together, not wanting to hear us whine about the smell of cheese or the vintage clothes I wanted to have.

"Where is he?" I wondered out loud, squinting my eyes to try and block out the bright sun, wanting to see his stall.

Jonah nudged my arm and simply pointed at the other side I was looking at, a soft smile visible on his face. "There, Haven." He said calmly.

"Ah! I knew it!" I said loudly, giving him a sheepish smile after that.

The two of us walked through the mass of people, I secretly touched a dog that walked past, Jonah kept his eyes on his younger brother.

"Have! Jonah!" Jude grinned, taking off his apron, stuffing some roasted peanuts in his mouth after that. "Hi, my sweet, sweet siblings."

Chuckling, I rolled my eyes lightly, holding up my hand after that. "Give me some peanuts! You have them somewhere, don't you?"

"You'll have to pay for it." Jude shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "Not my nuts."

I covered my mouth, weird laughs leaving it. "Jude, come on! Can't you grab some for me? You work there, after all!"

"Have, no." Jonah said calmly, looking down at me. "We can get some if you'd like? I'll pay."

"No, it's okay." I sighed softly, looking around me. "Where should we go first? Maybe Thomas is here today! I haven't seen him in so long, maybe we can go to his book small. It's not that big, so I won't be occupied with those books for too long." I rambled, not noticing it, until Jonah and Jude both looked at me with a what expression.

"No way." Jude grumbled, shaking his head. "Not those stupid books. You see him every single week, Haven. Mum didn't give you money to buy even more books. I'd rather go to the hamburger stall. Could use some fat food at the moment." He almost moaned, his eyes searching for the right stall.

Jonah glanced at the both of us, "Why do you two always fight about the same thing? Jude, we'll get some food. Haven, we'll search for Thomas." He said softly, resting his hand on my hair for a brief moment.

"Ugh. The eldest are the ones responsible, right? The ones who should give the perfect examples to their younger siblings." Jude rolled his eyes dramatically, softly pushing me away. "If I were you, Jonah, if I were you."

"Then what?" He raised his eyebrow, brushing his dark blonde hair out of his face. I watched them in amusement.

"I'd lecture Haven, how she shouldn't spend all of her money on books that will be destroyed at the end, anyway." Jude grinned, flicking my ear.

Jonah stuffed his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans, simply glancing at us. I grumbled, pushing his chest. "Stupido, Jude. Everything will be destroyed at the end. No materialism will go with us when we die. Your stuff, neither."

"But I plant, I take care of nature. God will thank me in Heaven and He will redouble my treasure. I'll have a paradise for my own." Jude grinned again, sticking up his finger. "One- zero. Try again, Have."

"Don't mock with our Faith, Jude." Jonah said calmly, as always, leading us over to the hamburgers. The meat smelled fresh and good, my stomach started rumbling instantly.

Once Jonah had ordered and paid for our food, I hugged him as my thank you, sat down on the grass and simply watched the people move along the stalls. I enjoyed the taste, the hamburger was good, proper meat and tomatoes out of a kitchen garden were added.

We were full and satisfied not much later, though, Jude whined for more. Jonah had simply told him he'd have to buy it himself, then.

Continuing to walk, it was near the stall of herbs and spices from all over the world where I thought I saw someone familiar. The couple held hands, the raven haired man bought some of the spices.

When her face turned to my direction, I noticed Zephaniah's parents, making my smile grow wide. I tapped onto my brother's shoulders, whispered them a quick wait and made my over.

"Hi!" I said cheerfully, playing with a strand of hair. "How are you? It's nice to see you here! Do you come here every month? I don't think I have seen you guys here before!" I asked curiously.

Zayn and Hannah turned their attention to me. Zephaniah's father chuckled, Hannah's dimples appeared when she looked at me. "Haven, it's good to see you. We come here so now and then. He likes to cook us good, Asian food."

"Oh, wow! That sounds lovely." I said sincerely, secretly glancing behind them, wondering where he was. "It's a full market, isn't it? So many people."

"Yeah, totally." Zayn smiled, looking around him for a brief moment. We stayed silent after that, I think the both of them knew I was going to ask this- were only waiting for me to do so.

"Is Zephaniah around?" I couldn't help myself, but thank goodness, my already rosy cheeks didn't turn even rosier when it had slipped out of my mouth.

Zayn's hazel eyes scanned the area, he slowly shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. He's had a short seizure last night, but he was still pretty tired."

"Oh," I frowned sadly, the worry appearing in my guts. "Is he okay? What triggered it?"

Hannah mixed herself into the conversation. "He's alright, just needed some sleep. We don't know, perhaps, this seizure was just an unexpected one, without a proper reason. It happens with epilepsy." She said sadly, her light brown eyes standing soft.

"I get it." I swallowed, feeling for him. "Tell him to get better soon! Hopefully I'll see him at Uni." I hesitated, not really knowing what to say. I'd die if I had to see my child having a seizure- my loved one having one.

"We'll tell him. It was nice seeing you, Haven." His father told me, the both of them giving me a genuine smile. "He was over the moon when he told us about you being a friend-"

"Thank you," Hannah interrupted her husband, her expression serious, but soft. "It means a lot to him- to us. We'll see you around, Haven."

I watched them as they walked away, disappearing into the mass of people. My heart felt warm, just because us being friends meant so much to him- more than I could imagine.

"You're drooling," Jude whispered, cupping his hands while pressing them against my chin.

I awoke from my daydreaming, pushing him away. "What?! Why?"

"You thought the dude was hot," he teased, poking my cheek.

Choking on my spit, I groaned after that, shaking my head rapidly. "Jude! He's the father of my friend, come on, now." Even though I had to admit his father was an attractive man, he was in his mid- thirties, it was rather weird to think that way.

"And who's the friend, if I may ask?" Jude wiggled his eyebrows, Jonah simply shook his head.

"None of your business. Oh, look! It's Thomas!" I smiled in relief and jogged my way over, greeting him with a wide grin. "Hi, Thomas! What have you got here today? Anything good?"

"Haven Sparks. Haven't seen you in a while." He smiled warmly, then scanned his eyes over the books. "Not so much for you, I think. Guess what, though? I brought Seth with us." Proudly turning around, he kissed his wife shortly before carefully taking the baby out of her hands and showing him to me.

"Oh, Thomas." I was speechless, he was beautiful and alive. "God is gracious, isn't he." I mumbled, touching his soft and smooth cheek with my finger. "Such a beautiful baby."

"Thank you, Haven. I'm very proud," he said, softly kissing his baby's head. "Look around, I have a few new ones. Something about dogs, cooking and cycling." He chuckled.

My eyes fell onto the new books, the why dogs are better friends than humans book catching my eye. Would Zephaniah like that? Maybe as a get well present? He seemed to be very good friends with Cooper, after all.

"I'm buying it." Handing him two ponds, Thomas blinked weirdly, Jude even weirder.

"Thomas! What's happening to her? What have you done? Do you have a new fascination?" Jude groaned loudly, covering his eyes.

Even Jonah gave me a brief look of confusion. That's when I knew things became suspicious for them. "I mean, doesn't everyone love dogs? Goodbye, Thomas! I'll see you around! Give Seth another kiss for me!"

Jonah and Jude followed me silently towards the vintage clothes, wide and ankle length- high waisted pants catching my eye right away. "Oh, I love this!"

"Gross!"

"Jude." Jonah warned, shaking his head at my brother. "It'll fit you, Have." He smiled lightly at me, reaching for his wallet. The genuine guy, he was.

"Jonah, I'll pay for it myself, seriously." I told him, reaching for my own money.

Jonah already handed the money to the woman who sold the clothes. "You don't have to," he shrugged, giving me a cheeky smile. I simply pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Your date would be impressed, somehow, when you wear something like that." Jude faked a gag, covering his mouth with his hand.

Jonah frowned lightly, eyeing me for a while. "Your date? You didn't tell me it was for a date."

"It isn't! Jude is being annoying." I groaned, letting out a sigh. Jude grinned in response.

"Did you really believe that? Guys dating Haven? Can't see that happening." He pinched my cheek, I knew he was joking.

"Jude," Jonah flicked his younger brother's ear, making me laugh at how Jonah always took my side. "Stop that."

It stayed silent for a while, our laughter dying to soft chuckling. The warmth was nice, the many impressions of every different thing gave me joy.

I thought of Zephaniah. I wondered if he was still sleeping off his seizure. The Church clocks had just announced it was twelve- afternoon. Would he feel miserable? He had to go through so much.

Suddenly, Jonah walked beside me, his eyes resting on my face. "Got anyone on your mind, Haven? Do you want to go out with someone?"

I didn't know if he was referring to Jude's earlier words, or if he could simply read people's mind- but Zephaniah's name popped up either way, which confused me.

"I don't think he dates." I mumbled, staring at my striped slip on Vans as we continued to stroll. "Besides, we just became friends. It's not like my feelings are more than that, I guess."

"I guess," Jonah hummed. He didn't chuckle, neither gave me a cheeky smile. Jonah was serious when it came to things like this. He never fooled around when feelings were included- unlike Jude.

"I don't know, Jonah. He's a sweet, thoughtful guy. Soft- heartened. He has autism, did I ever tell? It intrigues me, therefore I don't know if it's like I'm interested in him or the things among, do you get what I'm saying? Like, maybe they're false feelings because I find the autism so interesting, I mean-"

"Have," he cut me off, briefly looking at me. "You don't have to decide, or anything. Just let it come at you the way it does, okay? Get to know him better, let it bloom. You'll know when your feelings are stronger."

He should be right- he always was. Besides, he had experience too. It had been two years since he had asked Sarah to be his girlfriend and their relationship was extremely strong.

"Thanks, Jonah. I guess you're right." I gave him a smile, he returned it warmly, poking my cheek.

Zephaniah. I couldn't help but imagine him sleeping, his messy fringe falling over his forehead- covering his eyes, his body tucked underneath the duvets. The flutter I felt in my heart confusing me deeply.

~~~

Have and her brotherssss. Do you like their bond?

Haven talking so easily to Zayn and Hannah??

Zeph ? :(

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