A Broken Promise: We Went Through so Much to Feel Each Touch Through the Pain and the Hell but Ended in Betrayal

By Cornell L. Brent

After jumping from one relationship to the next and making careless mistakes during adolescence, Xavier Gibson could not stop until he found unconditional love. Suddenly, one night, he met a girl who had a crush on him named Naomi, leaving her with a kiss that convinced her into thinking that they were a couple. Xavier was already in an unhappy relationship but was unexpectedly falling head over heels in love with Naomi. When Naomi found out that she was a fool by revealing the fact that he was already with someone else and lying to her, she moved away and disappeared. While battling with guilt and a naive girlfriend, Xavier did everything he could to prove to Naomi that he was sorry and wanted to get back together. Sooner or later, he was dumped by his girlfriend, and after finally reuniting with Naomi, they fell deeply in love and stood by each others side in desperation, no matter what people thought or disliked. They were so happy that they made a promise to always be honest and faithful as they got older. Until one of them failed the temptation of infidelity, turning an open mind into a closet of secrets. What happens at the end will blow your mind!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503563483

Cornell L. Brent

Cornell L. Brent Sr. was born in McComb, Mississippi. He grew up in Jayess, Mississippi, and moved to Natchez, Mississippi, at the age of ten, where he graduated high school. For years, he had a passion for music, dancing, writing, and creativity. His plans were to go to college after high school but took a different route and became a hardworking man offshore. Life began to get tough, and days began to get rough. Taking time out to do music and dancing began to rust on him. One day at work, on break during the early morning hours after midnight, he pulled his smartphone out and began typing notes about life. It turned from sentences to paragraphs. From one page to more pages, from chapter to chapter, he realized he was writing a book. He turned his past into a story. “Every human being that roams this earth is like a book. We all create chapters every day of our lives. There’s no excuse to not write about your life,” he said. He has many more projects to come in his writing that will hit the market soon. He is a devoted husband and a father of two handsome boys. “My wife and kids are what inspired me to push harder. I am my kids’ idol, and I must set an example for them,” he said. And for the people who are going through a lot, he’s been there, and the road he traveled on wasn’t easy. But through the grace of God, he never gave up on his dreams.

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Copyright © 2015 by Cornell L. Brent Sr.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2015906214

ISBN:      Hardcover    978-1-5035-6346-9

                Softcover      978-1-5035-6347-6

                eBook           978-1-5035-6348-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 04/22/2015

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CONTENTS

Love at First Sight

Fooled by Rumors

False Accusation

Busted

Rebound

She Lied

The Night at the Skating Rink

The Set Up

I’m Sorry

Emotions in the Studio

The Concert

Our First Time

Naomi’s Cry

The Trip to Orlando

She Came Back

Getting Back Together

There’s a Fight in Church

Problems in the Living Room

Skipping School

A Disturbing Phone Call

At the Hospital

Get the Hell Out

Too Many Flowers

Jealous Ex

Overprotective Mother

Graduation

You Need a Job

Girls’ Night Out

Come Home Now!

A Breath of Fresh Air

Supplying Her Needs

Building Love Somewhere

Bad Drug Deal

Infidelity

Her Evil Trick

Let Him Go

Oh No! I’m Pregnant

Before I start dedicating to any human in any shape or form, I would first and foremost like to give an honor to my Heavenly Father, God. Just when I thought life was closing in on me, you always kept me under your wings. The times when I was so stubborn with pride, you still loved me and gave me a chance day after day until I gave you all my troubles.

To my beautiful and most gorgeous wife, Chiquita M. Brent: Ever since you came into my life, you pushed me into being responsible and noble. You were there for me through the sickness, pain, illnesses, poor physical health, emotions, and the financial difficulties. You never ran away. My favorite encouraging words that give me a backbone and balance is when you say, I love you, baby, because you never give up. When you say that you are going to do something, you will not stop until you’ve done it or accomplished it.

To my sons, Cornell L. Brent Jr. and Caiden L. Brent: You two give me joy every step of the way. Your smiles and laughter tickle my soul with happiness and I’m very proud to be your father.

And to all my family and friends: Thank you so much for believing in me. Your prayers, love, and support are greatly appreciated.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

A teenager’s worst nightmare is falling in love, doing whatever it takes no matter the risk, even if they have to go against the world. Though pain is involved, it extremely demands to be felt. Trapped by adolescence, I was looking for love, but when I thought that I finally found the right one, it was only dissimulation.

I was known as a popular kid with cornrows and was entitled as a pretty boy, still a virgin. I had a girlfriend, of course, named Alexandra. She was definitely cute, but I was losing interest in her because the relationship was on thin ice. I lived in Natchez, Mississippi, with my mother, Shellie, and two brothers, Ricky and George. Ricky was the oldest, and George was the youngest.

My eighth grade was about to begin at the middle school. I was standing in the mirror, thinking of the influences in my life and ways to make myself look cooler after being away from friends for two months, out of school for the summer.

Mama, I want one of my ears pierced, I told her.

She looked at me, seeing her young man growing and wanting a change in his appearance, but wanted to ask a trivial question. Why do you want your ear pierced? You look fine as how you are, she responded.

I sat down with a giveaway look. Because I just want to, Mama, I said.

So she agreed even though she did not approve of it, but because she had a lack of interest, she called my dad to drive to Natchez to take me to get it done. My brother always went to my dad’s for the summer, so when he brought my brother back, he was informed to take me to go get my ear pierced. There was a knock at the door, and I was so ready.

What’s up, son? What’s been going on? he greeted.

Nothing much, Dad. Just getting myself ready for school, I responded.

Are you ready to go to the mall to get your first piercing? he asked.

Yes, sir, I replied.

Okay, come on. I have to be back at home to do some yard work and fix a car before the sun goes down. So let’s make it snappy, he said.

He took me, and while on our way, we had a father-and-son conversation. I found it a bit of a strange situation, because he was never there in my life to give me advice, although I loved my dad so much still. He asked about why I wanted a piercing and talked about females and relationships.

I finally got what I asked for and was so ready for my first day. When that day came, I woke up and put on my fresh clothes, shoes, and jewelry. As I walked to the bus stop, I saw my neighborhood friends, greeted them, and got onto the bus. When I arrived at the middle school, I saw the crowd of people standing outside. I reunited with friends and saw my girlfriend. I hugged and kissed her in the hallway before going to our first class.

As weeks went by, it was getting enjoyable until homework and tests started kicking in. One day after school, I was hanging out with some classmates in front of the building near the office, where all the students awaited for the buses. I was walking through people until something stunned me. Before my eyes was a beautiful girl who had the looks of a goddess. She was like an angel who fell from the clouds of heaven and came for me. My girlfriend had already gotten on her bus and left minutes ago. I kept myself together and waited for bus 31. I sat down on an outward part of the building and watched everyone.

When my bus came, I boarded it and walked to the very back. I sat down by the window while everyone else was filling up the seats. As the bus took off, I stared outside while passing through the world until I reached home. I thought about that girl that I saw, imagining if we were together.

I was beginning to realize that the relationship between me and my girlfriend was starting to be questionable. Even though school was important, I was anxious for the hours to go by to see the girl from the bus stop at the end of the day. One day, I saw her, but she was associating with a girl that I was really good friends with. The girl’s name was Tiffany.

When Tiffany had turned away from her, I immediately approached her and asked, "Tiffany, who is that?

She looked around for who I was talking about. Who’s who? she asked back.

That girl you were talking to just now. I have been watching her for the past few days, I said.

She finally caught on to her memory of who I was talking about. The girl that I was just talking to? That’s my home girl, Alicia, Tiffany said.

I tried to keep my mind together to keep myself from looking desperate. Can you tell her that I want her? I asked.

Wait a minute! What do you mean that you want her? You’re scaring me, she said with confusion.

I want to talk to her alone, I confessed.

Tiffany agreed to follow up with Alicia and deliver my request, especially with the fact that she disliked my girlfriend for some odd reason that I never knew of. Therefore, she felt no guilt in the demands I had given her.

So after school the next day, I was waiting on my girlfriend to catch her bus to go home so that I could meet Alicia. Tiffany approached me with Alicia. The feeling in my body felt like I just saw a ghost. Chill bumps rose beneath the surface of my skin. When she stared into my eyes, I felt a breeze of sensation. She knew heads-up that I had a girlfriend. Even though I was determined to be with her, I didn’t know that I was setting myself up for a heartbreaker’s position. Alicia gave me her number, and we talked and talked.

Soon I started meeting her in the hallways when the coast was clear from around others, including my girlfriend. At one time alone, we met up, and she showed me her breast. I was falling deep for her.

My girlfriend and I were taking the same lunch period. She sat at her table with friends, and I did also, but when we were finished, we’d sit together and spend the rest of the lunch period with each other. My focus was more on Alicia because I was not happy with Alexandra anymore. Alexandra was very childish and lost her attention on the relationship.

Alicia’s lunch period was after mine, and when hers was done, there was only a few more minutes remaining before the next class. I met Alicia behind the cafeteria, between one building and the next that held other classes. There was a sidewalk that had a shed on top that protected the students from the sun, rain, and other weather conditions. The sidewalk had an acute angle that led to the doors of the next building. Alicia and I were privately walking up the sidewalk toward the double doors.

Just when I thought the coast was clear, Alexandra and her best friend, Courtney, came out the door, in the process, passing Alicia and me by. The evidence was too visible to hide: Evidence number 1 was that we were holding hands while walking very close to each other. Evidence number 2 was that we were alone. And evidence number 3 was that Alicia had written my name on the inside of her forearm in big bold letters. Alexandra and her best friend kept walking past as though they didn’t see anything. I knew at that moment that it was my breakup with Alexandra right then and there.

FOOLED BY RUMORS

Alicia and I remained together and exposed our relationship. I was happy to be with her, but I started hearing rumors about her and other guys whom she was flirting with behind my back. A friend of mine named Preston came to me to talk about it. Preston and I took the same lunch period together. We sat down at the table and had a conversation.

Aye, man, you need to check ya girl because she’s been flirting with this white boy named Jerold, Preston said.

Are you serious, man? Really? I asked.

Yes, man. I had to let you know what I heard. I don’t know if it’s true or not, so check into it, man, he warned.

I was upset about it but never approached her about what I heard. I kept it to myself. See, Jerold was a Caucasian guy who affiliated with black people, which caused him to become just like one through personality and ways as he grew up in life. He was a very cool dude whom I knew and had a good history with, and I didn’t want to have a beef with him over any female. I saw Alicia after lunch period, feeling so anxious to snap.

Hey, baby, I wrote you a letter, Alicia said.

I wanted to say something about what I heard, but I didn’t want to cause a scene. So I hugged and kissed her. I took the letter from her and decided to read it in class. It was a good letter that described how much she missed and liked me: the normal routine.

One weekend, I went to stay the night in Timberwood, a country part of Natchez, at the house of a friend named Oscar. His father owned a truck driving company, and his mother was a manager at a factory of garlic sausages called Flap-Jack. His mother always brought home free sausages, and boy, were they good. First, you boiled them and had a choice to peel the skin off or eat them with the skin still on, with a slice of bread folded around it. I liked mustard on mine. He had a sister named Savannah. She was a pretty girl who was a year younger than me, but I always looked at her as a friend, nothing else. They stayed in a nice two-story house. I had a passion for music, and Oscar was into music writing also, so we had sessions with music.

There were other friends in Timberwood who all met up at Oscar’s house, including Joseph, Teddy, Brian, Mario, Bob, Kendal, Larry, and more. We also did more such as playing basketball at the basketball court across from the club, going out to the mall, or other places. After playing basketball, Oscar and I made it back to his house from walking from court.

Man, we ’bout to hit the dance up tonight, he said.

It’s cool, man. Let’s go ’cause I’m bored than a mug, I responded.

His dad had given him the keys to an old-school purple car. I got dressed up and called Alicia to see if she’d be there, but she was out of town. As I waited on Oscar to get ready, Savannah walked into the living room, where I was sitting. Where you all going, to that dance at the high school? she asked.

Yeah, I responded.

She sat down and pressed mute on the TV. Are you going to meet up with your girlfriend, Alicia? she continued.

She is not going to be there, I said.

She had this concerned look on her and slid to the edge of the couch with half her rump still resting on it and her hands together. I know what you are up to, Xavier. You are about to go to that dance and fool around behind Alicia’s back, she figured.

I’ve been hearing rumors about Alicia messing with Jerold, so it really shouldn’t matter what I do, Savannah, I said.

She was just only trying to open my eyes so I would realize that I was going to make a mistake that I wasn’t aware of. I know how you guys are when you gang up together and flirt with girls like it’s a competition or to get your looks credited, she said.

Just before we could finish the conversation, Oscar walked in, saving me from a verbal beating by Savannah. Let’s roll, man, he said.

We walked outside to the car. It was nearly getting dark. The streets were crowded with people on Lotus Drive. Lotus Drive was a popular street where you’d find many people hanging at. I got into the car and sat down. I rolled my window down and felt the breeze blow across my face as we were passing by others and greeting them. Oscar had a very nice entertainment system in his car. He turned the music up, giving me a cool guy feeling inside, preparing a great vibe inside me. I felt that that night was going to be awesome, hanging with the fellows. We laughed and talked while bumping our heads to the rhythm of the music.

While arriving at the high school, we noticed the huge crowd of people. I kind of felt nervous, because my girlfriend wasn’t there, which could give a sign to others that I was single. We got out the car and headed to the entrance.

Man, it’s packed here, I said to Oscar. Oscar and I were posted up on the wall with other friends who we knew were there. One by one, they each started vanishing with a girl who was spotted by each one’s eye, moving toward the dance floor or into a darkened spot in the building to kiss or hug with.

The building was filled with different activities. Some dancing, some hugged, some laughing and joking, and some posted up. There was more couples there than singles, and I felt so alone and betrayed by my previous anger about the rumors I heard about Alicia, ending with the conversation I had with Savannah before arriving at the dance. Within hours, I started to get bored. Even Oscar was accompanied with a girl he just met that night. My legs were getting tired, so I decided to have a seat at a table. The lights got dimmer because the atmosphere became more romantic.

A girl came to the table I was sitting at and stood before me. Is this seat taken? she asked.

I looked at her, but couldn’t see her face. It was too dark in the building. There was a party light that rotated like a light in a lighthouse. When it rotated within seconds, it displayed the girl’s beautiful face. She stood there, waiting for my response, but I was too busy checking her out. She had a very nice shape. No, it’s not. Help yourself out and have a seat, I finally answered.

Suddenly, the gentleman inside of me kicked in automatically. I jumped up and grabbed the seat from underneath the table. Let me help you with that. Here you go, I said while sliding the chair back.

The look on her face showed she was amazed by the kindness I performed. Thank you so much, she said.

You’re welcome. Anything for the ladies, I said.

So why aren’t you up dancing with anyone? I mean, you’re a handsome guy sitting here all alone, she asked.

I didn’t want to make her feel sorry for me by telling her my situation, so I cut it short. Well, my girlfriend is out of town and my homeboy Oscar wanted to come here, so here I am, I answered back. I continued with a follow up question, Why aren’t you out there dancing, and why are you alone? You’re gorgeous!

She slid her chair closer to the table and made a triangle with her arms, balled her hands in a fist, placed her elbows on the table, and rested her face onto the knuckles of her hands while crossing her legs. It seemed like she was prepared for an interview and was very open. Me and my boyfriend had broken up recently. It wasn’t working out, so we decided to walk our separate ways. So I decided to come here to get my mind off it, to not feel alone and sad, she said. That’s when she broke the seal that kept me from telling her my situation. We went on talking about each other’s problems and made a connection.

The time was getting nearly to the closing of the dance. Oscar found me when the lights were starting to turn on. You ready to roll, man? he asked.

Yeah, I’ll meet you outside, Oscar, I responded. Care for me to walk you outside? I invited.

Yes, I would, she said.

I stood up and met her on the other side of the table. I grabbed her hand and helped her by lifting it in a pleasant way, like a rich person at a fancy restaurant. Deep inside, I knew that I was wrong for sneaking a moment with this girl as I grabbed her hand and walked her to the exit doors without the care of others opinions, but she gave me the privilege to not think about Alicia. I felt like she wanted me even though I had a girl, due to the fact of our incredible conversation, eye contact, lonesome situations, and laughter. I walked her to her car. I passed Oscar and gave him the sign of giving me more time. He was okay with it, because he was talking with some guys while sitting on the hood of his car. Even though the dance was over, many people were outside, enjoying themselves.

I walked to her car and opened her door. She entered her car and sat down with a look on her face that informed me that she didn’t want the night to end. Will you come sit with me before I leave? she begged.

I didn’t believe what I heard from her mouth until she pressed the unlock button twice to unlock all four doors to give me access to the passenger side.

Yes, I will, I said. I walked over to the other side and sat on the opposite side of her. The only thing that separated us was the armrest. She closed her door and cranked the car to allow the a/c to circulate through the car. She turned on an R & B CD and turned the volume down, low enough to talk as the mood was settling.

I really enjoyed myself with you tonight. I just really hate that you’re taken. I need someone like you, she said.

From that moment, the fire of wanting to kiss her burned inside me. She knew exactly what she was doing the moment I walked her to the car and bear-trapped me inside. Right now, let’s not talk about who I’m with and focus more on who you’re about to be with, I said as I reached over and started moving my body closer to her.

I knew that she wanted to kiss me because she met me halfway as we aligned with the rear-view mirror of the windshield. As we kissed, she reached for my hand, slid each of her fingers in the spaces of my fingers, and gripped my hand. She pulled her face back and looked at me. My name is Debra, she said.

Xavier is my name. I must be going because my friend is waiting on me, I told her.

She gave me her number, and I exited her car with a smile on my face. I wanted to go home to sleep in my own bed and enjoy the nice rest from an exciting night just like experiencing from a therapist a deep relaxing massage to eliminate stress for a better, fulfilled sleep. There’s no better way than going to your own home to call someone on your own phone.

As we rode to my house, Oscar tapped me on the shoulder to wake me up and said, I saw that you were hollering at Debra, Xavier. She’s cute.

I rose up from my seat after daydreaming of what just happened and reached over to turn the music down. You know her? I asked.

Yeah, she is in my class. She’s cool though, Oscar responded.

That night, I called her and finished the night off like putting a cherry on top of a finished cake.

Months went by, and I was starting to fall for Debra.

FALSE ACCUSATION

I was blinded by Alicia’s beauty at first sight, but it had gotten old to me once my attention went elsewhere. It was a Thursday night when I decided to plan a first official date with Debra. I had already gotten into a huge argument with Alicia, so I hung up in her face and dialed Debra’s number.

Hello, a female voice asked.

It didn’t sound like Debra at all, so I asked, Hello, and how are you? May I speak to Debra?

Hold up! Your voice sounds familiar. Is this Xavier? she asked.

Yes, it is, I said.

I know who you are. You used to be my sister in law’s boyfriend, she said with a surprise.