Chapter 9- He's Real

Eriq

I grab the painting and head for the door. I have to meet the buyer in ten minutes. I should have already been on my way, but I was up all night completing it, and I overslept. “F**k!” I grab it and dash out of the house as Glen walks up the stairs. 

“I don’t have time for the shit today, Glen; I told you no.” I walk past him down the stair to my car.  I open the door of my beat-up old 98 Charger. It was my dad’s car until he gave it to me when I was sixteen. I was so proud of my car; I drove it everywhere until I got my bike. I still love it to this day, but I miss the rush that comes with riding my bike.

 I place the painting in the backseat as he walks up to me. “Come on; it’s easy money.”

“For you, but I don’t want a bunch of kids running around with my DNA that I don’t know.” Having a kid is something special to me. I can't do it carelessly because I'm low on cash. 

“The likelihood of someone selecting you is low. You’re broke with an art school education, not exactly a model specimen these women are looking for,” Glen bluntly says.

“Thanks for telling me I’m not shit... now I have to go,”

“Come on, that’s not what I mean..” I ignore him and slip into my car, then start the engine, as my phone rings. It’s Mr. Gelhs, my buyer. I pick up the phone.

 “Where are you?” Mr. Gelhs asks me.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Gelhs. I’m running late. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“I don’t have time for this. If you’re not here in five minutes, you can forget about it. The only reason I’m buying it is that Sheila loves that mediocre shit you call art.” Mediocre? Whose art is he calling mediocre? My blood boils; how dare he insult my fucking work, rich prick. I hate all fucking rich guys like him that think the sun rises and sets up his ass.

“F**k you, you don’t have to buy it...” I shout.

“Who the f**k do you think you’re talking to?” he haughtily responds.

“You! Asshole! Oh, and your wife wants to f**k me. Guess she wasn’t only after my art. Maybe your dick is mediocre! Huh, you piece of shit!" 

"Punk, If I ever get my hands on you."

"Fuck you!" I hang up the phone before still steaming. 

“F**k!” I slam my hand on the wheel, the horn beeps. I grunt. All I had to do was be there on time, and I would have made four thousand dollars. I open the car door, hop out and slam it. I can’t do anything right. 

“F**k!”I kick the car door shut.

“Are you okay, man?” Glen asks.

“No, I’m not fucking okay, Glen. My art doesn’t sell; the only one I could sell to because his wife wanted to f**k me just fell through. My life is a fucking mess.” I huff.

“It will be okay, Eriq. You’ll figure it out.”

“No, I won’t. I just got a letter from my landlord asking for two months’ rent. My bike needs work, and the only job I can get barely pays enough to buy food,” I honestly tell him. I work at a community center teaching art to the elder. It’s fun and rewarding, but obviously, it doesn’t pay enough to live in New York. I run my hands over my face in frustration.

“Look, I know you don’t want to hear this...” Glen begins.

“Then don’t say it,” I cut him off.

“Eriq, all you need to do is deposit twice a week, and you’ll make $1500 a month. That can supplement your income until you find something.”

“No..”

“Okay, you know Kartel is always looking for new guys. And he loves your body,” he tells me.

“Hell no.” Kartel’s a gay strip club or bar he works at. I don’t know what they do, but I know people stock dollar bills in his underwear all night.

 “You have to choose. Your landlord wants the rent, and your bike still needs to be fixed. If you don’t do something, you’ll be homeless.”

“I can stay with you,”

“So that means you’ve forgiven me, and we are friends again,” the idiot declares.

“I can stay with my parent...” I hesitate. The thought alone makes me rethink the idea. I love my parents, but I am not moving back in ever again. I sigh. Between stripping and donating my sperm, I have to choose the one that would be less embarrassing.

“Are you sure no one will pick me?” I ask him.

“Pretty sure.”

I sigh, knowing I'm all out of options. “Okay, sperm donation it is.”

*****

A week later, we visit the Estonian Sperm bank. As we walk in, the receptionist greets us. “Welcome back, Mr. Barker, you’re here for another deposit, and I see you’ve brought a friend.”Does he regularly come here that they are on a first-name basis?

“Hey Molly, yeah, this Eriq, it’s his first time.” So I guess he is a regular. I feel bad for any woman who chooses his sperm.

  “Oh wonderful, we are always looking for new donors. Please fill out these forms, Mr....” Molly exclaims.

“Cruz, Eriq Cruz,”

“Okay, 007,” she says, giving me a wink. I nod as I take the form and the pen from her hand.

“You can sit over there to fill them out,” she instructs me.

We walk to a group of chairs and sit. I scan through the forms, twenty pages, with questions about my family, education, and sexuality. I would have been gone if I didn’t need the money, but I do. So instead of leaving, all I can do is glare at Glen.

“What’s wrong?” He asks once he sees my face.

“What the hell, dude? You made this seem like a walk in the park. I have to get a physical and get tested for STIs.”

“The initial screening is long, but once you’re in, you’re in, come on, it’s easy money,” he explains.

“Fine.” I huff, turning back to the forms. I fill out the pages bit by bit. I glance at him as he scans the nude magazines on the coffee table.

“You make decent money at the club, right Glen? So why even donate sperm?” I ask.

“Unlike you, I like the idea of little glens running around. You know, continue the bloodline,” 

“That’s what the world needs. More of you running around,” I say sarcastically. He laughs as I return to tackle the mountain of forms in front of me.

-----

Amaija

After two months of searching, I’ve finally chosen someone I would like my child to look like, and I got inseminated today. I’m so excited to be finally on my way to pregnancy after three months of planning and searching. My siblings and friends are all here for an insemination pre-party before hitting the club. I’ve told all of them, but we still haven’t shared it with any of our parents yet.

“Congrats, Ami,” Zion greets me.

“Thank you.” I hug Xion. He’s Zara’s brother and one of my closest friends.

“I’m still hurt you didn’t ask me,” he tells me.

“Aren’t you still in love with Brin?” I ask him.

“Shhh” He nods. He’s seven months older than me, and I’ve known him forever, but somehow, he fell in love with Brin and not me, which is fine. He’s like a brother to me. But he’s never dared to tell her, and now that she’s with Frederico, I think he will probably end up giving up.

“Wouldn’t that have been weird if you ended up together?” I ask him again.

“I wouldn’t have said yes,” he answers. I roll my eyes.

“So you wanted me to ask you so that you could reject me?” I ask in disbelief.

“It’s common decency,” he responds.

“Xion, please jump off a cliff.” He laughs and pulls me into a hug.

“I’m thrilled for you Ami, you’ve always chased what you want without fear. I wish I were more like you.” My eyes follow his as they focus on Brin and Frederico, chatting with my brother and Zara. I sigh. I know Rico and Brin love each other, but my heart still aches for Xion. Wanting to cheer him up, I grab two shots. 

“It’s a party, Xi, come, let’s drink. Today will be the last time I drink if the insemination is successful, so I plan to drink my full tonight.

“COME ON, GUYS, LET'S DO SHOTS!” I scream.

They all cheer and grab a glass.

“WAIT!” Jaden shouts. We stop and turn to him.

“I need to make a toast first. To Ami, one of the strongest women I know, you’re going to make an amazing mother.”Everyone cheers as I smile.

 “And if that baby is a serial killer like his father,” He continues.

“Jaden, shut up!” Brin shouts.

Jaden laughs, “I’m joking. I mean, which serial killer would stop by the local clinic to let off some steam. Well, we hope not.”I roll my eyes.

“To Ami!” he says.

Everyone shouts “to Ami,” then we drink.

Okay, let’s go get you laid!!!” Chloë, my other bonus cousin, says.

"Let's go!" I shout, enjoying the festive mood as we rush out of the house and pile into our cars to head to Blitz, the city's hottest club.  Because they all think I should have a one-night stand before I get fat. Brin, Zara, and Chloë went to town with my outfit and makeup, so I’m looking smoking hot.

We get to the club 20 minutes later and head to the VIP section. We order shots and bottles, drink, and party. Everyone is dancing, and we all forget I’m here to find a one-night stand. I dance with a couple of guys, but no one I’m interested in sleeping with.

Four hours later,  I’m smashed from drinking. A guy is grinding on me. I try to push him away, but he pulls me in and kisses my lips—a sloppy, nasty kiss. I’m drunk, but not that drunk. I punch him in the stomach.

“You bitch!” He swings at me, but I bob. Xion, Clark, and Jaden step in front of me.

“Did you just swing on my little sister?” is all I hear before punches start flying. I scream as the dude's friends join the fight. I’m looking for my friends and siblings, but I can’t find them in a mess. Finally, security comes to break it up, and everyone runs. Zara grabs my hands and pulls me to the entrance, but I lose her. I stumble out of the club onto the sideway. I fall to my knees and inhale. I try to stand, but I’m too dizzy to steady myself.

“Are you okay?” someone asks me. I look up at the gorgeous man before me and nod. I pause. He looks familiar.

I gasp. “Baby daddy? Look, baby, it’s daddy” I latch on to him and climb his leg. I’m probably dreaming right now, but wouldn’t it be fun if I met your father? I stand before him as he looks at me, confused. I wonder if your father is a good kisser. Even if it’s a dream, I need to find out. I tilt my head to kiss him, but once our lips touch, he pulls away.

“Look, I’m sorry, but I don’t have kids, and you’re not exactly my type,” he curtly tells me. I pull back and pout.  Even in my dreams, the father of my children rejects me just like Xoi. My chest gets heavy as my eyes water.

“It’s okay, baby. Although daddy doesn’t have to love mommy,  mommy has you,” I talk to my stomach.

“Look, I got to get back to work...” I hear his words slur before it all fades to black.

*****

I groan as I open my eyes. My head feels as if someone has hit me in the head. I blink, adjusting to the sunlight streaming in from the window. A window I do not recognize. I look around. This isn't my room or any room I'm familiar with. Where am I?  What happened last night? I remember drinking, the fight and then dreaming about my sperm donor. He’s even hotter in my dream, baby. You’re going to be quite the looker.

 “I’m happy to see you’re up.”I freeze. Did I take someone home last night? I don’t remember it, but that was the goal.

“Look, it was just a one-night stand; let’s not make a...” I say. I sit up and freeze again. Standing before me is my donor, and he’s very much real.