venus ⋮ peter parker

7.

S e v e n

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When Penelope stormed up to her's and Calliope's lunch table, Calliope just thought that something – or someone – had pissed her off and needed to rant. What Calliope hadn't expected, however, was Penelope to sit down next to her and demand, "You need to join the Academic Decathlon team."

"You want me to join the Academic Decathlon team? Why?" Calliope repeated, confused. "Peter dropped out weeks ago, and you've had Flash as the alternate for a while. Do you even need me?"

"It's Flash," Penelope stated, and she didn't need to explain it anymore. Both girls knew of his arrogant attitude and willingness to raise his hand and get to the answer as fast as possible – even if he did not know the answer. Flash Thompson couldn't work on a team, and he had been placed as an alternate at the beginning of the year because they didn't want to outright cut him, but no one really wanted him officially on the team. No one actually thought that he would be needed.

"Okay, but why do you want me to replace Peter?" Calliope pressed. "I thought you needed someone who was really good at Physics. I get pretty decent grades, but I'm not a genius like Peter Parker."

"Okay, first of all, you have incredible grades and are really smart. There's some people on the team with lower grades than you," Penelope pointed out. "Plus, if you go, Flash is going to be competing in Peter's place. I want to shove that guy's head into a wall already, imagine how I'm going to feel in an actual competition!"

Calliope narrowed her eyes. "So...you want me to go so you don't kill Flash in Washington DC?"

"Please..." Penelope pleaded. "If Flash is on the team, I might get arrested in the US capitol itself for first-degree murder! The prisons might be extra crazy there!"

"Okay, but, have you told any of the other team members that you want me to join?

"I mentioned the idea of you stepping in to the team when we were having a secret meeting about what to do with Flash. They were all for it."

"And Mr. Harrington?"

"He can be easily manipulated."

"I will not have you manipulating a teacher for me."

"I already manipulate enough teachers as it is! It's fine!"

Calliope let out a loud sigh and, after a few seconds, reluctantly responded, "You're lucky I love you."

Penelope let out an uncharacteristic squeal as she practically tackled Calliope in a hug. "You truly are an angel sent to protect me, you know that right?" She kissed her cheek. "I love you."

"Well, we all know you'd get yourself sent straight to hell if I wasn't around. Prison, if we're really lucky."

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"Hey, are you alright? After what happened on Friday?"

Peter glanced up from the experiment, surprised. Calliope was staring at him through her lab goggles, which were fogging up slightly due to the heat of the Bunsen Burner. "I guess I am...why are you asking?"

"Well you totally disappeared from Liz's party, and then that whole thing with Spider-man happened. I heard Flash making fun of you nonstop in the halls today, so I just wanted to make sure."

"Flash has been treating me like this since freshman year. I've kind of figured out how to tune him out at this point."

"You shouldn't have to learn how to do that."

Peter looked up at her with wide eyes, and he was even more surprised to see her looking so sincere. "It's alright," he eventually said with a sigh. "That's just high school, I guess. I'll be out of here eventually."

Just then, Calliope's hand happened to brush against his. Despite the gloves covering their hands, Peter felt a jolt of electricity.

Peter had always been so sure about his crush on Liz. He felt those butterflies in stomach they always talked about books and movies, and all common sense seemed to fly out the window.

But whenever he talked with or even just glanced at Calliope, it felt different. Not a bad different – just different. Peter felt this warmth spread throughout his body, and he always felt like that if he didn't always have to run away to fight some crime or make curfew, Peter could spend the whole night talking with her and still never feel bored. She made him smile in a way Peter didn't even know was possible.

Oh God. Oh God.

This was the last thing Peter needed right now. He could barely handle a crush on one girl – how could he handle a crush on two different girls?

Plus, Calliope didn't even know the real Peter. She was kind to him, whether his mask was on or off. However, he was terrified that if she found out who was behind the mask, she wouldn't want to talk to him. Calliope would find it weird that Peter was having all these secret conversations with her while he was in disguise, and she would never trust him after that – let alone want to be in the same room as him.

Peter knew his life would become significantly more complicated than it already was if he developed a crush on Calliope, even if a part of him yearned for her hand to simply brush against his again. So, Peter decided that he would try and keep romantic feelings for anyone under lock and key out of fear of it interfering with the rest of his life.

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a/n:

hi guys !!

peter parker is such a mess of a teenage boy but i love him oh so very much !!

i hope you all enjoyed the chapter and have a lovely day !! i'll see you at the next update !!

- g ♡