Chapter One

~Haven's POV~

The Devil is everywhere. Especially outside this store. Don't get me wrong, I love collecting donations for the church, but some of these people really need Jesus!

I cried out as a quarter bounced off of my chest into the jar.

The guy walking into the store laughed. "You're welcome, Jesus Freak!"

"Why do they have to be so rude?" My best friend Grace asked, pushing her glasses up on her dark brown face. Her chocolate eyes were filled with annoyance. 

"They don't know God, therefore they don't know love.” I said calmly. "At least he donated, I guess."

"Thirty more minutes and then we're done?" She begged. 

"Yes, fine. That's fair."

Other people yelled at us, but luckily nothing else was thrown. We even got a few more donations.

I noticed the guy who had thrown the quarter at me exiting the store again. 

"Hey" I stopped him. "Thanks for your donation, but maybe next time don't throw it. That was really rude."

"Haven…" Grace whispered. 

"A donation is a donation." He rolled his grey eyes. "Maybe use that quarter and buy a clue. Religion is a waste of time and you're way too hot to be saving yourself for Jesus, babe. Why don't I give you my number?"

"For what?" I asked. 

"I can teach you how to do things that would make your Lord and Savior blush."

I gasped. "That's vile! I'm going to pray for you! You should attend church tomorrow and repent!"

"Don't count on it toots. Come find me when you're ready for some hell." He winked before walking away.

"Let's go home Grace, I need to read my bible."

+++

I loved seeing how intense the people got during church service. The shouting, the crying, the dancing. It was all so beautiful.

Knowing God had such a positive effect on others is inspiring and I loved being able to witness it.

The sermon was incredible. I felt like I had reached another level in my spiritual walk.

"Now we welcome a leader in our Youth Group, Haven Campbell for a few announcements and the welcoming of our guests." Pastor Williams announced.

The congregation clapped as I made my way up to the podium.

"First I would like to let you know that we have a youth meeting immediately after service. We'll be meeting in the choir room."

I let the clapping and murmurs settle down. 

"Now I would like to take the time to welcome our visitors. If you are here today for the first time, please stand and remain standing."

A few people stood up. I saw Ms. Fletcher nudge a boy who looked about my age next to her. He rolled his eyes and also stood up as the rest of the church clapped. He seemed kind of familiar.

"We just want to welcome you all and thank you for coming in this morning. We really hope something was said today that strengthened your walk with Christ. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you and have a blessed day." I smiled.

After service I quickly made my way to the choir room. When I got there, I saw Gabe Shields, the other leader of the youth group and my boyfriend.

I was convinced that Gabe was the one for me. He was strong in his faith, nice, intelligent and very handsome. 

He had gorgeous curly dark locks that my fingers would get tangled in, intense hazel eyes, and soft, flawless light brown skin. He's easily the best looking boy in our age group at church.

We'd been together since middle school, striking envy in the hearts of every girl in school at the time. Once I had him, I never intended to let him go. 

Everyone was sure that we'll get married. So was I. I expected he'd propose within the year.

"Hey," I smiled at him.

"Hello beautiful," he said grinning, his hazel eyes crinkling. He gave me a kiss on the cheek. 

Gabe and I feel that church is an inappropriate place for excessive PDA.

"Will you be coming over for dinner tonight?" I asked.

"Nothing could keep me away,” he said as the others started filing in.

Grace walked in. She looked very nice in her pink knee length dress. It was vibrant against her dark brown skin. Her wavy brown hair was clipped back on the sides, allowing her dark, almost black eyes to have a break from being hidden. Her stylish black glasses were sliding down, revealing an indent on her slim nose.

Once it seemed that everyone who planned on coming showed up, Gabe and I started the meeting.

Just as the meeting was ending and we were starting to disperse, the door opened. 

"Oh, hello Ms. Fletcher,”  I said.

I liked Ms. Fletcher a lot. She's a sweet woman with stunning grey hair, always in the tightest of coils. She always had red lipstick on, which I personally think contrasted wonderfully with her light brown skin. Her small brown eyes were almost beady and while her voice was kind of shaky, she was not a weak woman. I admired her greatly. 

"Hello, dear," She said. "I have a huge favor to ask. Would you mind giving my grandson a ride home? I have to go run an errand."

"Sure of course. Where is he?"

"In the bathroom. I pointed out your car to him and told him to meet you there, if that's okay?"

"Sure, I'll head out now." I smiled, happy to help. 

"Okay, his name is Tristian." She returned my smile.

"Got it."

After saying bye to Gabe I waited patiently at my black Mercedes.

"You Haven?" A voice from behind asked.

I turned around. "Yes I am-"

It was him! The quarter thrower from yesterday. 

"Jesus Freak." He grinned. 

"Please don't tell me you're Tristian."

"Guilty babe."

I hated to admit it, but Tristian was quite cute. His eyes were greyer than a stormy day and absolutely hypnotic. His midnight black hair was wavy and fell over his forehead messily. I wondered if that’s how it fell or if he wanted it to look messy. His tawny brown skin was almost illuminating. I noticed a hoop in his nose. I don't think I'd ever met a boy with a nose piercing. 

I sighed heavily. "Get in, I guess."

Tristian and I climbed in my black Mercedes. 

It was silent in the car.

"So do you always throw quarters at strangers?" I asked.

"Only hot ones standing outside of the store."

"Well, thank you for your donation. The church appreciates it."

"And I appreciated watching that quarter bounce off of your chest." Tristian smirked.

"Did you like church? Did you learn something? Did you repent?"

"No. I was thinking about you the whole time."

"I have a boyfriend." I stated. 

"And I'll have the house to myself when you drop me off. What do you say we get on our knees and not pray?"

*Tristian's POV*

I couldn't believe I'd been forced to go live with my grandma. Not that I didn't love her or anything, but I didn't like being torn away from my life.

I'd made a few mistakes and did things that even I wasn't proud of. I never meant for things to go so far or to hurt anyone. I wished I could take it all back. But I can't. It's done and I had to live with this for the rest of my life. I was trying to forget about it. 

My parents had enough of dealing with me so they sent me off to my religious grandma. They're hoping I'd see the error of my ways and change, but I highly doubt that. Even my life ruining mistake couldn't get me on the straight and narrow.

And now I had to wake up early on Sundays to attend church, which was boring as hell. These people were brainwashed. It's almost cultish.

They even had the people my age brainwashed. And my grandma was making me hang out with the crazy youth kids.

But I did have to admit that Haven is so freakin hot, even for a Jesus freak. She had beautiful warm light brown skin that glowed like topaz and shiny straight obsidian black hair. Her big round eyes were like amber stones. They glistened when they caught the light and reeled me in. Freckles were etched across her upturned nose and cheeks.

Her voice turned me on the most. She had a shockingly raspy voice almost as though she'd been smoking for ten years or had a bad cold. It doesn't at all go with how innocent she looked and I loved that. 

She also had that good Christian girl thing going on that I'm not usually into, but I'd definitely make an exception for her. The thought of corrupting her turned me on. I wanted her to scream my name instead of God's. Never thought Jesus Freak would make me feel this way.

I didn't make the best first impression on her. I guess you never know who the Jesus Freak you throw a quarter at outside the store will turn out to be.

I didn't care. I still wanted her.

She looked over at me, her amber eyes wide, before focusing back on the road. "Are you trying to offer me...sex?"

She said it like it was a dirty word.

"Well I would want some in return too." I grinned.

“I don't engage in premarital sex!"

“And your little boyfriend is okay with that?" I asked curiously. Something about making her squirm was so satisfying to me. 

“Of course," she said quickly. “Gabe and I have been dating forever. We're completely on the same page. We are waiting until marriage."

“What's the point of waiting if you know you're gonna marry each other?"

“Because we're supposed to. And we both know that."

“He may know that, but he probably doesn't like it,” I smirked. I kind of liked when she gets worked up. How could I make it happen again? 

“That's not true. You don't even know him," Haven said defensively.

“I know he probably touches himself to your pictures."

Haven scoffed in disgust. There it was. Man, she's so hot. “Do you have to use such vulgar terms?" She asked.

“I think of them as sentence enhancers,” I laughed. 

“They're disgusting and totally inappropriate," Haven said dismissively. “Also, you're wrong about Gabe."

I laughed again, my eyes still on her thighs. "If you say so."

“What's your problem?" She asked.

"Honestly? The fact that you won't sleep with me."

"Well, that's a life long problem you're going to have."

"Wanna bet?" I challenged.

“No." She said bluntly as we stopped in front of my house.

"This was thrilling, Haven."

She forced a smile to her face. “Yes, it was. Have a blessed day."

“Thanks, Haven. I'll see you later," I winked at her and hopped out of the car.

I had barely closed the door when she peeled away. I looked after her car. For a Jesus freak, she sure does drive fast. I guess there's nothing in the Bible about going the speed limit.