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  Next Generation Series: Book 1

  Sweet Crazy

  Love

  Yvonne Sibanda

  Sweet Crazy Love

  Published by Yvonne Sibanda

  Copyright © 2021 by Yvonne Sibanda

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems - except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews – without permission in writing from the author, Yvonne Sibanda. This book is a work of fiction.

  The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Cover image made by Kaysha from unsplash.com

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Coming Next: Loving a Compton

  All Books by Yvonne Sibanda

  About Yvonne

  Where to Find Yvonne

  Prologue

  ELSIE COOPER stared intently at her book as everything else faded away into oblivion and it was just her and the difficult question. Slowly reading it while moving her lips but not making a sound, she was satisfied on the fact that she now understood what was being asked hence drew her calculator to her side, punched in a couple of numbers before punching in the equal sign and got the same answer.

  She stared at it, scratched her head and uncrossed her legs under the table. She could swear she could hear her heart beating faster and her breathing grow heavy. This is so difficult, she thought before finally scribbling in the answer with a hope that her tutor wouldn’t think she was guessing out everything like before.

  To the onlooker she seemed to be paying full attention to the question as she usually did with everything else, taking her time and making sure that she had made the right decision or answered the question correctly.

  Those deep brown eyes, the cute lips that were pursed in concentration said it all; she was on a mission to conquer the question even if it vexed her. Finally handing her tutor the notebook, Randy asked, "Is that your final answer?”

  A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face before she gave a sharp nod and her lips slightly curled.

  "How much do you think I should award you for your guess work?"

  She huffed and Randy chuckled at her miffed expression.

  He could tell that she had guessed out the answer and didn’t follow what he had instructed her. Even though she had the calculator in hand, once a person punched in the wrong numbers they would always get the wrong answer out.

  He sighed before commenting, "Old habits die hard I see." Taking the book from her hand, he advised “Relax love, Mathematics is not that hard as you think,” before reaching out to the practice examination paper on the table and reading the question aloud.

  They were settled outside Elsie’s family home at the front porch while Randy tutored her in Mathematics. How she hated the subject but had to pass it since she had flunked it before. She had pushed it aside for long enough and now with her impending finals and if she intended to proceed further with her education; it was a must for her to have a pass of the damned subject.

  Groaning in irritation and scratching her head, she thought, of course Randy would be quick to point out that it is not hard, he is a brainiac.

  "Let me explain again so that you get it."

  Randy smiled revealing a cute dimple on his left cheek that had her almost drooling and forgetting about Mathematics. She had a boyfriend and she should never forget that. The old Elsie who found her validation in men was gone, though being on the wild side still appealed to her minus of course having to deal with the consequences and emotional trauma.

  She was Luc’s daughter after all, the rebellious daughter who had taken after her father more than her mother’s sweet, kind and faithful nature.

  Randy motioned to the question before breaking down the formula used to solve it, detail by detail and finally she got it. The guy was good and to think she had been struggling a minute ago.

  “Okay now I understand,” she giggled and watched him roll his eyes.

  "Thanks Randy for being patient with me," she added after she completed the rest of the questions without a hitch. She now knew if the questions happened to come in that manner she would ace them.

  "No problem I am always happy to help. The problem is that you are lazy and don’t want to take time to do this. You can ace this if you wanted to, you know that right?"

  Elsie rolled her eyes, as if that’s true, she thought.

  “I am serious Elsie, how come you are able to do the other subjects perfectly and manage to get high marks, but when it comes to this one you suddenly develop an attitude?”

  “Maybe it’s because for every wrong answer the sound of a rod and the sting of it reaches my palms.”

  Randy chuckled at her answer. Learning at a public school especially in their hood was a challenge. The teachers at the public schools were used to dealing with rebellious, undisciplined, naughty students who started getting arrested from as early as twelve years. Hence they believed that they could beat not only discipline and good conduct into them but intelligence also.

  Elsie’s case and plight worsened since she wasn’t that and had formerly learnt at a private school where a teacher wouldn’t lump a student under one brand but would take time to know them and their weaknesses before finding a solution to their problem.

  That was rather impossible in their kind of schools where one teacher had to teach over sixty students hence one of the causes why Elsie easily gave up and didn’t try when she failed at her first attempt.

  Another question again that had plagued him, why was she at public school and a girls one to top it all?

  He shrugged off the thought and took a sip of orange juice before he answered, “I had forgotten you were a princess. Rita hates the rod also and she has been receiving that from kindergarten.”

  Elsie laughed. If they were another person who used to run from the line up when their teacher was gifting them with a beating, it was her best friend Rita.

  She would be whimpering and muttering below her breath before the teacher even raised his hand with the rod. Everyone would start laughing and at times the teacher would laugh and let her go.

  She was a teacher’s pet, naturally intelligent and loved school. The only time she had to get paddled by the teacher was when the whole class had been caught making noise.

  “Can we get back to our questions,” Randy asked and received a nod before they delved back deep into the subject until they were interrupted by her mother’s question while she stood at the door, “Hey, are you going to be doing statistics for the whole day?"

  Elsie looked up and wondered for how long her mother had been standing there for. Taking a glimpse at her wrist watch she realized she and Randy had been doing Mathematics for over three hours.

  "Gosh, I didn’t realize that much time had gone," she remarked standing up from her chair and stretching her body. She could feel the tension ebb out from her body while she stretched and watched Randy greet her mother who had moved to the table and was looking at what they had been doing.

  “I remember I struggled with Mathematics also, it was never my favorite subject” she stated
with a grimace pasted on her face and Elsie giggled before she motioned with her arms, having caught her mom for being the quick one to judge. “But you are quick to point out that I play a lot that’s why I flunked it.” Her mother winked at her and replied with flourish, “At least I passed it on my first attempt and when I say you like playing, I mean it. You should cut back on sports and give it more attention.”

  Elsie rolled her eyes, “Geez mom, thanks for the confidence boost.” Turning to Randy who was now packing up their stuff, she advised, “I will be back in a sec,” before she dashed into the house.

  She could hear their voices drift into the house as her mother asked Randy about his Nan and siblings. She swiftly picked up the small nicely wrapped gift she had left on her bed before her lesson and went back outside to the porch.

  "Mom, let me see him out" she said and watched Randy pick up his backpack before he said his farewell to her mother and they slowly walked to the gate.

  "I am glad my coursework is perfect because of you, thanks a lot."

  Randy grinned and nodded.

  That smile again, what was wrong with her and suddenly going all warm and fuzzy on Randy. She had known him for a long time to top it all and he was more like a brother to her.

  Now that was a lie, since lately she had been noticing his tautly stretched shirt on his body, his tall frame reminding her of her uncle Greg and that dimple.

  She wondered if he had a girlfriend. It was rather obvious he had one and a twinge of jealousy settled in the pit of her stomach at that thought. Clearing her throat she said, "I also have something for you. Rita told me it was your birthday last week, why didn’t you mention." She stared accusingly at him while he shrugged his shoulders before answering, "We don't celebrate birthdays in our family."

  "You don't mean it right," she stared at him, horrified. It was official, if Randy’s family didn't, then she would make sure he did with her. She produced the small gift with flourish and handed it to him. She could see he was about to deny it but stopped him.

  "Happy belated birthday and no am not going to take it back."

  He sighed and opened it before he looked up again in surprise.

  “What!! Don’t you like it?”

  She had bought one of the latest trending smart watches since she knew that he loved to jog a lot and keep fit. She instantly thought about him when she ordered it. The watch had a good navigation system which included a map complete with street names, music that he could factor into while running and of course the never ending battery. “I can’t take this, this watch is pricey” he whispered and handed her the box. Elsie shook her head and frowned, “Yes you can. It’s a birthday gift. You can also count it as payment since you don’t want to charge for the extra lessons you have been giving me.”

  Finally Randy nodded to her relief and put it on. She had feared he wouldn’t accept it.

  "Thanks Elsie" he said touched by the gesture and hugged her.

  “I will remember next time to get a cheap gift for you,” she giggled, snuggling up to the embrace, enjoying the feel of his warm arms around her and wishing it would not end.

  She wondered if being in his company for such a long time ever since he started tutoring her was the cause of the change in how she saw him.

  She swallowed and took a few breaths hoping her breathing hadn’t turned shallow and he could hear it.

  Randy pulled away and looked at her with a raised brow before he said, “I have to go. All the best in your exam on Monday.”

  “Thanks a lot Randy for the help, I will surely pass. Will I get to see you again?”

  “You know where to find me princess,” he winked before getting into his car and driving off. Randy must have guessed that she was into him and he certainly didn’t look fazed by it; oh boy, she thought and walked back to the house.

  ***

  "SO HOW did the lesson go?" Rita her best friend asked her before she took a bite of the pizza. They were having a sleepover at Rita's house as usual after her mother forcibly told her to go and not try to be her parent with her new found concern.

  "It was great, Randy explained everything perfectly. I think I will make it and already my coursework is great, I just need to push to get a B."

  Rita rolled her eyes at that before remarking, "You do know you can get an A if you put much effort in Mathematics than give it attitude."

  Elsie took a lunch bar from the food stuffs on the bed, unwrapped it before taking a bite. "Maybe" she answered thinking about what her mother and Randy had said. "It's just that am not a genius like you and Randy."

  Rita was a natural. She caught on fast; she didn't need to study like her till it sunk in. While the teacher explained, she would instantly understand. Her friend chuckled and threw a pillow at her that she swiftly caught and put back on the bed. Taking a sip of the cola with a drinking straw, she continued, “Am serious. If it wasn't for my family having everything, I don't know what I will be doing."

  "Designing duh" Rita scoffed.

  Elsie chuckled "All because of my mom and Uncle Ethan."

  Somehow amidst getting most of her father’s vices she also had her mother’s talent in designing. Already her life was paved out and it totally had nothing to do with Mathematics. She intended to be a fashion designer. Come to think of it Nita already knew what she wanted and Wendy also.

  "Speaking about Uncle Ethan, do you think he will be fine?"

  Elsie nodded her head as she was hoping for the best. It had been a month after uncle Ethan had woken up from his comma. Her mother explained it to her that he had suffered some kind of memory loss hence wouldn’t be the same Ethan that she knew. Well she wasn't going to allow him to forget her and her young sisters that fast and she had put it upon herself to remind him.

  She made sure she visited him all the time at uncle Greg's place and they had gone out for a couple of dates.

  It was funny though since he still was the same adult, always chiding her to behave and be a good girl. The man definitely didn't have a fun bone in his body.

  "At least he still remembers how to splurge money on treats," she commented with a laugh, since he was the one who had bought the food they were eating at the moment. She had called him and asked him to buy a box of pizza, some fries, chicken, candy and sodas for her sleepover with Rita.

  Rita was alone at home, her brothers having gone camping with her mom’s boyfriend while her mother had travelled out of town because of work and would be returning the next day.

  Elsie bit into the spicy chicken thigh and groaned. Uncle Ethan had been surprised at the order not believing that the food was just for two teenagers, girls to top it all. Where they not on diet to look trim and svelte, had been his question when she was spelling out the order.

  "I almost didn't come for the sleepover today. Mom is the one who told me to not break the tradition; she preferred being alone and not having me checking up on her all the time." She rolled her eyes at that. Rita took a bite of the Hawaiian pizza in her hand before she asked, "How would you feel if your mom was to get married to Ethan though?"

  Elsie giggled before replying, "I would finally have my perfect family. Uncle Ethan has been there for me ever since I can remember. Even in those moments when I wished my dad was there, uncle Ethan took that role, like the time he held my hand while I was in hospital for a checkup, scared to death and he was there muttering that it will be fine?"

  "When was that? You never told me about it?"

  Elsie bit her tongue. She didn't want to talk about the past and here she had been about to blurt it out. If Rita knew that side about her, she might not be willing to be her friend.

  She asked instead, "How about you, how do you feel about your mother being in a relationship."

  Rita frowned and took a bite from the pizza while her mind went on overdrive as she thought on how to answer Elsie.

  Her mother had recently started dating and she didn't know how to take the whole thing about having a new man in the family.
Drew and Barry liked him and with this camping trip they had taken together, they would definitely be defending the man afterwards.

  She missed her dad so much. He had been sick for a while and she had hoped he would get better. That never happened and now she didn't have him in her life.

  She finally answered after a long pause, "I don't know. I just thought it was too early. My dad has been gone for four months and then we are introduced to this stranger and his irritating son and mom says hey am dating, it's all so confusing."

  Elsie giggled at that. Then she thought her family was the weird one.

  They continued having their meal in harmonious silence and cleared the things on the bed afterwards. Rita lay back on the bed and Elsie remained sitting cross legged on it. Her mind had wandered off to the events of the afternoon. She was rather curious hence she braved it and asked, hoping at the same time that Rita would not read much into her question.

  "Does Randy have a girlfriend?"

  The question got Rita propping up her head against her hand and looking at her with a raised brow.

  "What!! I am just curious, that’s all" she blurted out. Like she had thought, her friend read too much into her statement than she intended to reveal.

  Finally Rita replied, "From what I can tell, he doesn't, why do you ask, are you maybe in looove with him?"

  Elsie squealed and threw a pillow at her friend who swiftly avoided it.

  “Is it possible to like two guys at the same time?” she probed further and chuckled at Rita’s surprised face. She hoped she wouldn’t think the worst about her, yet that’s what she was feeling at the moment.

  “I think it is possible to like two guys at the same time, but you will have to settle for one at the end, than string them both along. What they deserve is to find someone who would love them whole heartedly not sharing the love between two or three or four.”

  She was making funny shocked expressions as she added the numbers by flipping the fingers while Elsie laughed. Rita should have chosen being a psychologist as her career not what she intended to do, she thought.

  “I hear you doctor Rita Duncan, loud and clear.” Elsie saluted her before she asked, “What about you, don’t you want to date?”