In an alternate universe 2020 several women make shocking discoveries about the world and their sexualities. Follow each character as their serial stories intertwine with a greater over arching narrative. This is a continuation from https://www.watt...
Camilla sighed and checked her phone again for the third time in five minutes. He was late. Very late.
She texted the mutual match from the speed dating event over the next week. He was nice: a veterinarian with gorgeous eyes and an infectious laugh.Her most recent text to him was left on read for the last half hour. Failure. As the clock ticked she beat herself up. How didn't she notice that her outfit to the speed dating event made her look like a pirate wench? Why didn't she think more carefully about how to bring up the topic of kids - people don't like to talk about that so quickly! Ugh, and why did she pick this bar?
She fingered the edge of her glass, and looked at everything in the bar again. The glossy carved wooden accents at the top and bottom of the walls and columns - the worn brass corners of a fancy billiards table - the deep green shades on the lights. She watched them all as if she would find her date in the reflections or shadows. This place is like a library... An alcoholics library.Bored by the furniture, she watched a couple across the aisle as they stared into each other's eyes. She was probably some sort of big shot sales woman judging from her briefcase, fancy earrings, and knee length shirt. Camilla pegged the man as some professor or researcher with his jeans, suit coat, and heavy stubble. I bet they're both just 'focused on their careers.' She scoffed. Her thoughts were as bitter as her drink. She raised her hand into the air and caught the attention of the bartender. She gestured for another drink: a whisky double on the rocks.
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A minute later, the sailor looking bartender sat the drink and coaster on the table. He crossed his arms and sat down in the booth across from her. "You doin alright?" He asked.
"I'm okay." She took a heavy sip of her drink and winced.
The bartender didn't seem to buy her tone. "Are you sure? Looks like you've been stood up."
"What makes you say that?" She scoffed.
"Well you've been checking your phone a lot. Could be you're just playing a game or something, but you're not just starin at it. You look and put it away. Look and put it away. You're waiting for something. I see it from time to time. On slow night like tonight i get a lotta time to watch people."
Camilla grunted. "You're right. My guy - hah, not mine at all. My date was supposed to be here uhh - forty five minutes ago? He was so nice too." She slumped into her crossed arms. The need to do something with her hands made her flick her glass over and over.
"I saw you looking at that other couple. Would it make you feel better if I told you that guy is in here every couple days with a new chick? He's not too good with partners either. I'd uhh- suggest you say hello, but with his track record and your luck... Probably not for the best."
"Or he's really good. Like a ladies man type. Not my type."
"Nah. He's rich. I think the girls he brings in are after him for his money."
"Or they're prostitutes."
The bartender chuckled. "Like I said. They're after his money."
Camilla let out a half scoff half laugh. Feeling the warmth of her first drink diffuse through her body finally, she sighed and took another sip. "So listen. You're a bartender. That means you give good advice, right?"
"The franchise didn't make me take a course on that, but I can offer you my mind. Heh, actually my friends call me their advisor. Gotten them out of a bunch of stupid situations. Could have gotten me in trouble, so I try to keep it a bit of a secret. Personally I don't know how good my advice is. But I'll offer you whatever I can."
Camilla took a deep breath. Through the alcohol and the stress she laid her situation on the table. "Listen darling. I had problems years ago. Bad pregnancies. Cysts. Several serious infections besides that. I can have kids. Sorry. Too much information I know. But I tried everything the doctors said. And I prayed. And I wished. I did everything I could. Believe me. My life fell apart. And now this organization is offering me a cure. A legitimate solution to all my problems. It's happening in two weeks." tears welled in her eyes and she pounded the table. She tried to whisper, but her voice just came out in squeaks. "And now I'm going to have everything I want. I'll be able to have kids. But I have no one. No person like that. And everyone seems to run away when I bring up the topic."
"That's rough lady." he reached across the table and patted her on the shoulder. "Obviously you know you can't build a relationship in a day. Not a stable one anyhow. Its stupid, right? Everyone has to beat around and avoid talking about what they really want. And we're supposed to figure out what everyone else wants through what? Psychic powers? Bureaucracy? It's shit."
"And that's the thing! I can't just pretend something so important to me just isn't important or on my mind. Pretending not to care is dumb."
"I'd say you should keep trying. I know that doesn't help much. I ain't gonna drop platitudes on you. Wont help. But here's what I think. You got three choices, right? You keep trying. You try something else. Or you give up."
Camilla picked her head up and stared with a straight face. "Yeah. That's pretty obvious, hun."
"Of course it is! I'm not a philosopher. But sometimes when people get stuck in a rut, they need to understand what their options actually are."
"Like what?"
"For one, I guess there is those sperm banks out there. Obviously that's missing a big part of the picture, but maybe it's enough. Maybe it has to be."
Camilla sighed. "I don't want to do it alone. And being pregnant won't help me find dates." She slumped her head back into her crossed arms.
He grunted and nodded. "So what is it that you do for work?"
She spoke through her arms, muffling her voice. "Are you hitting one me? I make maternity clothes. Design them. Tailor them. The whole thing."
"You know, I suppose that isn't helping people. Guess folks see that as weird?"
"I won't lie about what I want and what I do."
"Sure. Sure. I know. But maybe you leave the specifics until later. Try this, just say you make women's clothes. Leave the maternity part till later."
Camilla sighed. "I guess you're right."
"I know things are going to look like shit. But I bet there are things you haven't looked into that will show what you want. A little tact and patience will do you good, I think."
""Yeah. Thanks."
"You let me know if you need anything else. You're welcome here any time. Well, anytime during normal business hours, of course. I got a life, hah!"
