=Venom=

Venom 2

    Brie had just finished getting ready to have lunch with Eddie when he showed up. She didn’t want to look too dressy but didn’t want to look bummy either. Most of her causal clothes had paint and ink stains so she opted for a floral knee length dress with an attached jean jacket and some white low-cut canvas sneakers.
  “Hey, you ready?” Asked Eddie when she opened the door.
  “Yep, just finished up.” She grabbed a small handbag and they made their way down to the deli.

  “You look really nice. I feel like I should have maybe put in a little more effort.” Said Eddie, who was wearing jeans, a Guns N’ Roses t-shirt, a leather jacket, and sneakers.
  “No, you look good. You didn’t have to shave for me.” She joked, taking notice that he touched up his facial hair.
  “It was getting a little itchy.” He joked, scratching his scruffy face.

  Eddie was thankful Venom was quiet throughout most of their lunch, except when it came time to order. He changed his mind twice and ended up ordering 2 sandwiches to go, just so Venom would shut up about food.
  Ana happened to walk in for a pickup order and saw Eddie sitting at the table with Brie.
  “Eddie? Hey.” She said, coming over to say hi.
  “Hey Ana, what are you doing here?”
  “I was just picking up lunch.” She looked over at Brie and smiled. “Who is this?”
  “Oh…uh…Ana, this I’d Brie, Brie this is Ana.”
  “Nice to meet you.” Said Brie offering her hand.
  “You too. I don’t want to interrupt your guys’ meal I just thought I would say hi. Eddie make sure you get back to Dan and I by Friday, we’ll need a final headcount by then.” She grabbed her food and then made her way back to work giving Eddie a discrete thumbs up as she walked by the window where they are seated.
  “I’ll be right back.” Said Brie as she excused herself to the restroom.
  “Her legs look delicious.” Said Venom as she walked away.
  “Can you stop looking at her like a piece of meat, please.” Whispered Eddie.
  “You are all meat.”
  “And you are a parasite.”
Venom growled.
  “Yea, doesn’t feel good being called names now does it.”
  Brie came back just as the waiter brought over the tab and Eddie paid it.
  “Oh, it was supposed to be separate.” She informed the man. He paused for a minute to hand Eddie back his card, but Eddie shooed him away.
  “It’s fine, I got it.” He said as she grabbed for her purse. “It’s a lunch date. What would I look like having you pay on a date?”
  Brie looked at Eddie as he rose to his feet. “Date?”
  “Yea, just a friendly date, between friends, you know.” He smirked. The waiter brought back Eddie’s receipt and his to go sandwiches. Brie followed Eddie out of the deli as he held the door open for her.
  “You know, if you wanted a date, you didn’t have to be so vague about it.” Brie grinned. “All you had to do was ask.”
  “I told you.” Spoke Venom.
  “I’ll remember that.” He smiled.
  “So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?” Asks Brie when they reach her apartment.
  “I wrecked my bike awhile back so I’m gonna go shop around for another. Kind of miss riding. What about you?”
  “I think I’ll finish unpacking. Maybe enjoy some me time before working on my next project.”
  “That’s cool.” Said Eddie lingering around. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
  “Yea…” She walks into her apartment, but before she closes the door gives him her number. “555-4136.”
  “555-4136. I think we….I mean…I…I can remember that.”
  She giggles and closes the door. Eddie was awkward, but it was cute. He didn’t come off as arrogant with a “bull in the China shop” kind of spirit, like he was portrayed as when he was a journalistic reporter. It had cost him his job on several occasions going after stories that involved powerful people, but he was a source of truth. Brie assumed with all he had been through and finally getting a foothold back in journalism after being vindicated following Carlton Drakes death, left him a little more humble and cautious about things in his life.
  “We have the digits!” Exclaims Venom. “She likes us. This is why you should trust me more.”
  “Correction, she likes me, she doesn’t know anything about you and let’s keep it that way for now.”
  “Fine.” Agreed Venom. “Let’s go find us a bike…in black.”
  “You got it.” Says Eddie while entering the elevator.

  Eddie found the bike he wanted and a couple days after buying it took it out for a joyride. He spotted Ana walking into a bridal shop and pulled over to follow her in.
  “Can I help you, sir?” Asked the lady at the counter.
  “No, I….” Eddie looked around and saw Ana in the back being handed a garment bag. He started to make his way over and the woman stopped him.
  “Sir, this area is reserved for brides and their bridal parties.
  “It’s okay.” Informed Ana noticing Eddie. “He’s fine.”
  “I see you got your dress.” He said, nervously as he approached her.
  “Yea, they just finished the alterations. What’s up?”
  “I was just passing by and saw you, I figured I’d let you know…I…”
  “We.” Growled Venom out loud.
Eddie cleared his throat. “We. Will be attending the wedding.”
  Ana's eyes lit up. “Thank you.” She said giving him a big hug. “You don’t know how much it means to me having you there.”
  “Ma'am I need you to try the dress on to make sure the alterations are correct.” Urges the associate.
  Ana walks inside of the dressing room with the woman to help her into her dress. “Were you bringing anyone?”
  “No.”
  “You should. It would be less awkward for you.”
  “I’m going to my ex-fiance's wedding. How would it look bringing a plus one?”
  “Like you’ve moved on, like I have.” Ana steps out of the dressing room and Eddie watches as she walks over to view herself in the mirror. It was only a year ago when he thought she would be walking down the aisle to marry him in a dress like that.
  “What about that girl you had lunch with the other day? Brie? She was cute.”
  Eddie laughs off the idea. “She’s just a girl I met that stays on the floor above me.”
  Ana gives him a look. “You really expect me to believe that? It’s your call Eddie, but I don’t think it would hurt to bring someone other than, you know who.”

  When Eddie gets back to his place, he tosses his keys and wallet on the counter and puts a tray of tater tots in the oven.
  “Call her.”
  “Later.”
  “Now.”
  “Later.”
  “Now.” Demands Venom, extending a symbiotic arm over to his phone and holding it up to his ear. Eddie grabs the phone and rolls his eyes.
  “Okay, okay.” He dials Brie half hoping she doesn’t answer, but does on the 2nd ring.
  “Hello?”
  “Hi…Brie…it’s….it’s Eddie.”
  “Hey Eddie, what’s up?”
  “Oh, nothing much just hanging around the house.”
  “How did your bike shopping go?”
  “Good. I found one the same day. You should let me take you for a ride some time, next time you’re free.”
  “Would that be another date?” She spun around in her drafting chair playfully.
  “It could be. I actually wanted to know…I have a friend who’s getting married in a couple of weeks…”
  “The one from the deli?”
  “Yea, and I just feel kind of awkward going by myself...”
  “Because she’s your Ex. Eddie, I read your book. I know who Ana is.” Chuckled Brie. “I don’t mind attending with you, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  The day before the wedding Brie takes a ride down the coast with Eddie. They stop to get ice cream and take a walk down one of the piers.
  “So, what are you wearing tomorrow?” Asked Brie.
  “I haven’t quite decided yet.”
  “I thought it would be nice if we wore something that complemented each other.”
  “What were you planning on wearing?”
  “I was thinking a mauve dress.”
  “Mauve? Isn’t that purple?” Questions Eddie.
  Brie laughs. “It can be considered that. But it’s a very fair, subtle purple. I’ll tell you what, just wear solid colors and I’ll handle the rest.”
  “I’m trusting you. You know I gotta keep up appearances and look sharp.” He smirks.
  Surprisingly, Brie took hold of his hand as they walked back to his bike and head back to their apartments.

  Brie met Eddie at his place just as he was finishing getting dressed.
  “It’s open!” He yelled after Venom inform him it was Brie knocking by her scent.
  She walked in wearing a semi formal, tea length, very light purple dress with nude pumps. Eddie walked out of his bedroom tucking in his shirt and paused.
  “Wow…”
  “She looks….” Started Venom.
  “Don’t say delicious.” Muttered Eddie.
  “Beautiful.” Hummed Venom.
  “You’re not wearing your glasses.” Pointed out Eddie.
  “Contacts. I don’t go out often and I wanted to look extra pretty.”
  “Either way I think you’re gonna show up the bride.”
  “I brought you something.” She said, blushing at the compliment and placed a small box on the table. “I’m really glad you went with grey and white.”
  He opened the box and found a mauve colored handkerchief and bowtie.
  “It’s been awhile since I’ve had to dress this formal.” He admitted.
  Brie pulled out the bowtie and helped him tie it before folding the kerchief and placing it in his jacket pocket.
  “How do I look?” He said taking a step back and adjusting his blazer.
  “Very dapper.” Smiled Brie.

  “You two look great.” Said Ana, sneaking up behind Eddie at the reception as he got drink refills for him and Brie. “She got you to wear a bow tie? That woman has some kind of magic.”
  Eddie blushes and Dan walks over.
  “Glad you could make it, Eddie.”
  “Yea, congrats, to the both of you. I mean it.”
  “Who’s the young lady?” Questioned Dan.
  “Just some girl he met that lives in his apartment building.” Ana mocked before Dan pulled her away to do a line dance.
  “You dance?” Askes Eddie.
  “No.” Brie shakes her head giggling at the idea.
  “What? Oh man…”
  “What?”
  “I just put in a request with the DJ. It’s gonna look pretty silly sitting her with you when the song starts.”
  “What song is that?” She asks. Edwin McCain “I’ll Be” starts playing and Eddie stands up.
   “That’s my cue to ask you to dance.”
  Brie blushes and takes Eddie by the hand as he guides her to the dance floor. He places his hands on her hips and she places hers on his shoulders.
  “I’m warning you I have two left feet.”
  “And I have two right, so we should be fine.” He jokes and Brie laughs. Without her glasses he could really see her face light up when she smiled. “I really appreciate you coming. I know we haven’t known each other that long…”
  “I’m always up for a chance to hang out with you.” She flirted. “As a matter of fact, the Giants are playing the Red Sox next week, want to come over and watch the game?”
  Eddie throws his head back and groans.
  “I have made it a priority this season to convert you.” She pokes his chest.
  “You got your work cut out then.” He smiled.

  “I had a really good time.” Admitted Brie as she unlocked her apartment door. She turned back to look at him all dressed up. “You don’t clean up too bad.”
  “Kiss her.” Urged Venom. Eddie wasn’t going to argue. He took a step closer to Brie and leaned in for a kiss. When he pulled away they were both smiling.
  “Goodnight.” He whispered.
  “Goodnight.” Said Brie, backing into her apartment. She locked the door behind her and rested her back against it as she processed the butterflies she felt after kissing Eddie.
  “Why did you stop kissing?” Asked Venom.
  “Because, when you like something, especially a girl, it’s better to do things in moderation.”
  “Moderation…” Ponders Venom. “Like drinking…”
  “Exactly, like drinking.”
  “And jacking off.”
  “Uh…yea…that should be done in moderation too.” Admits Eddie, awkwardly while entering the elevator.