The Girl with Venom

Chapter Eight

~Rose~

I knocked Erin's door and she opened it almost immediately.

"You look absolutely amazing!!" she practically screamed.

"Thanks! You look great!" I replied.

"Ready to go?"

"Yep" I said. Erin yelled a farewell to her parents and closed the door behind her.

"I am so excited!!" she said.

We made our way out of the building and onto the side walk. The cool wind nipped at my bare arms and I questioned my decision not to bring a jacket. As expected, Erin turned sharply once we reached McDonald's and marched inside. I followed and took out a five dollar bill. Once inside, we got in line and ordered.

About five minutes later, our meals were tossed onto the counter in separate bags. We both got our drinks and we sat down, unwrapping our hamburgers.

"Great. Mine has mayonnaise on it! I asked for no mayonnaise!" Erin said.

"We could have gone to a different place you know," I responded, laughing.

"No," Erin replied, also laughing.

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We finished our meals and I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. My vision suddenly became crystal clear. I looked up to find my eyes milky white and I tense. I turn to scan the bathroom when I hear "do not worry, there is no one here". I relax a little, still not used to Venom.

"We look really good in the dress"

"God I can't even imagine what you would look like in this dress" I laugh.

I can feel an inner grumble and I laugh again.

"Eyes normal please" I say and I feel my eyesight shift back to normal. I blink a couple times, trying to get my subordinate eyes to focus.

I walk out of the bathroom and meet Erin outside.

"Ready?" I ask.

"Definitely" Erin responds.

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~Peter~

This was a bad idea. I have had butterflies in my stomach ever since I got in the elevator, and now Mr. Stark was pulling up to the school, the cheerful decorations for the dance evident all the way into the parking lot.

"Here's your stop kid."

"Um... maybe could we just go and you could drop me off at home?" I ask.

"Not an option. This bad boy-" he pats the car, "-is gonna run out of charge if I drop you off at your apartment. You'll like going to dances! Next year you'll be begging to borrow another one of my suits. That reminds me: don't spill anything on that suit."

Not wanting to hear any more of his "pep talks" I get out of the car and go to grab my backpack.

"Leave that. I'll drop it by your apartment on the way back and explain to May why you'll be late coming home."

"But I thought you said-" and with that Mr. Stark drove away.

I sighed and turned towards the entrance. I only have to suffer through an hour of this right? Then I can leave early and go home.

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~Rose~

Erin and I walked inside the dance about ten minutes ago, and I already was bored. I pick up the next scoop from the buffet line and pile some jello onto my plate. I raise my eyes at Erin who was shoveling some mac n' cheese onto her plate in front of me. She looks at me and we both laugh. At least there is food here.

When we got to the end of the food line, we both walked around trying to find a vacant table. We find one in the back and set our stuff down.

"I'll go get drinks. What do you want?" I ask.

"I'll take a Coke" Erin says. "Thanks!" I glance across the dance floor to the drink cart and see that they don't have Coke.

"I'm ashamed to ask, but is Pepsi alright?"

"No dude!! You got to be kidding me!" Erin cries.

I roll my eyes. Pepsi it is. I wonder if Venom has a preference.

"I do like Coca-Cola, but seeing as they do not have it, some Mountain Dew will suffice."

I weave around the tables and make my way across the room. I grab two cups and pour Erin some Pepsi and me a Mountain Dew. Would it be weird to refer to Venom and I as "us"?

"No. I refer to us as 'us'."

Still feels weird. I pick up the cups and walk along the table. As I am walking by the double doors that second as an entrance to the dance, Peter walks in looking confused.

"Peter?" I ask. "What are you doing here?"

He looks at me and his eyes widen a little.

"Um I could ask you the same..." he responds. I see him look down at my dress and back up to my face.

"You look really pretty in that dress," he says, and his face immediately reddens a few shades.

"Well you look pretty all the time but that dress-" I cut him off, "Thank you. But seriously, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Um I was talking with Mr. Stark- that internship thing- and he decided for me that I would come here. What are you doing here?" Peter says.

"Erin dragged me," I explained.

Peter nodded his head and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Want to come sit with us?" I ask.

"Sure" he responds.

"Do you want this Mountain Dew?" I ask as begin the trek over to the table.

"Thanks!" he replies, taking it and gulping down some.

"I was looking forward to that. Thanks."

I smile to myself and roll my eyes.

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"Hey some of us are gonna go prank one of the teachers. Want to come?"

I look up from discussion with Peter and to the girl who was standing by our table. Ew. Gabby. She was the school hoe. Always going around in tiny panty-length shorts and a crop top, shaking her boobs to any boy who would look her way. And they often did. I restrain myself from rolling my eyes when I hear Erin gasp.

"That sounds so fun!! Let's go Rose! Peter can come too!"

She jumps up from the table and grabs my hand.

"Come on! It'll be fun!"

I look towards Peter to see him shrugging.

"I guess" is all he says. The three of us get up from the table and walk around to meet Gabby and the group of people she gathered by the door leading to the cafeteria. We form a tight circle, and Gabby crouches down, and you guessed it: her chest in full view, ushering us all closer.

As Gabby lays out the plan and where the supplies are stashed, I look to my left to find Erin hanging on to Gabby's every word. I look to my left just in time to see Peter glance down for a few seconds at Gabby's chest. I look back at Gabby with disappointment, and surprisingly anger. My hatred for her growing by the second.

"I can kill her for you when no one is looking" Venom offers.

Definitely not an option.

When she finishes telling us her grand scheme that I was no longer paying attention to, she puts her hand in the center and directs everyone else to put their hand in. Everyone does so and I reluctantly put mine on top.

"Now would be a good time to rip her arm off" Venom suggests again.

Still a no.

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