| chapter - one |

\ drive it like you stole it /

"Isn't that the boy that called you a name last week? What did he call you? Calamari? He looks like a really nice snack right about now."

Calliope rolled her eyes as she walked through the halls of high-school, holding a pile of textbooks she could care less about.

"No, Venom. You aren't gonna eat anyone-" She whispered, but unfortunately she was still heard.

"-What about 'venom'?" A girl asked. Calliope knew her. Jessica was her name, but everyone called her Jess.

Her eyes widened as she turned to the girl, "Uh..."

"Uhhh?" Jess copied, chewing gum with a raised brow.

Calliope made up her best excuse, "I was just talking about how..." She searched through her mind for the deadliest animal on the planet. "... how the Black Mamba is the most venomous snake to ever live on planet Earth." Which was more of a reptile, than an animal. But it works.

Jess scrunched her brows now, "And you said this to who?"

"Myself," Calliope gulped. "for um-um, a... test?" She nodded. "Yeah, a test." She gave her best fake smile.

Jess blew a bubble and popped it with a nod, "Alrighty then... weirdo." As she walked away, probably to go to her next class.

"A test? Was that the best you got? I would've just told her the truth, and watch fear wash over her. Now that would've been entertaining."

Calliope just hummed. She lowered her voice even lighter than just a whisper this time, "We'll see if we can get some chocolate later."

"Ooooo! Now we're talking!"

The moment she opened her locker a voice was heard, "I see Jess was giving you a hard time. You can just ignore her, she's just a bit of a hot head. She doesn't really like anyone, to be honest. Not even me."

Calliope looked to the left of her locker, to see Flash Thompson leaning against the group of others lined along the walls.

"Hey, Eugene." Calliope called him by his real name, she was allowed to. "Thought you'd be in class by now, you're gonna be late."

He shrugged, "Meh, class is boring. I'd rather spend my time around someone whose more interesting."

"He's very bodacious toward you, I see. Are you ever going to tell him about me? I wonder how he'd react."

Calliope ignored her Symbiote friend, knowing Flash was right there so she couldn't answer in the moment. But Venom knew her feelings toward that idea, and they weren't positive. He knew she didn't want the boy to know; nervous she would lose her friendship. As Flash seemed to be one of the only guys in school to become close to her, feeling like she actually belonged in a group for once.

With this she gave out a small sarcastic chuckle, "Oh, hah-hah, very funny."

"Nah," Flash crossed his arms. "I'm serious. You might just be the most interesting person I've ever met. Other than Spider-Man, of course."

Calliope could feel Venom vibrate in her head at that name, "You've met Spider-Man?"

Flash shook his head, "Nope. So, that puts you in first place."

"Alright fine, that was kind if smooth I'll give him that. But it's also cringe. He finds interest in Spider-Man, but yet hates Peter Parker... now that's even more interesting. How does one have those feelings toward the same exact person? Has he not figured it out yet? I thought it'd be obvious by now. People need to pay more attention."

Venom and Peter go way back. Though, Calliope didn't know the full extent, but when the Symbiote explained parts of it she could piece majority of the rest together.

"So, what do you say?" Flash's voice came to her ears with a crisp sound, pulling her back to reality.

"Hm?"

Flash rose an eyebrow and she instantly caught on. Calliope shook her head, "Sorry, I've just been staring into space today. I hardly had much sleep last night, so I'm kind of out of it."

"Nice save, Callie. See? If you would just tell him about me, you wouldn't have to blame our little chats on daydreaming and sleepless nights."

All Calliope could do was mentally roll her eyes at the Symbiote. He wasn't wrong, but at the same time... fear of a sharp reaction.

Her mouth will remain shut until then.

Flash shrugged it off like it was nothing, "I was asking you if you wanted an invite to Liz's party that's happening later on tonight? I'm sure I can easily squeeze you in, knowing how Liz is."

"I mean," Calliope closed her locker after doing what was needed to be done inside it, as she looked over at Flash and gave a small side smile. "Yeah, sure. Sounds kinda fun."

Flash gave a side smirk, "Cool. I'll pick you up at around six."

"You can drive now?" Calliope raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Yeah, kinda-" Flash stutters a little bit when Calliope falters in her expressions. "-I mean-I can, yes. I borrow my dad's car, so it counts either way."

 "Nice save, Flash." Calliope chuckled, calling him by his nickname now. "I'll see you then."

"Later, Callie." Flash grins some more.

And they part ways, off to their classes.

***

Inside her bedroom, Calliope proceeded to paint her nails a tar black. Ever since Venom came into her life, she seemed to have grown quite fond of the dark color. They did share personalities, after all.

Meanwhile; Venom was floating over her shoulder looking through her closet as she had asked him to take out a bunch of clothes that he likes the most while she continues to paint her nails and let them dry.

"Make sure you don't tear any of my clothes," Calliope hums, blowing on her nails now. "your teeth are rather sharp."

"No promises. But since Eddie wouldn't let me live it down if I upset you, I'll try my best."

Venom carried a few little piles atop his head, as though he were balancing books just like in the olden days. As he plopped them onto her bed.

"Oof-" Calliope breathed out harshly as she almost fainted on her own desk, she grabbed it to keep herself steady. "-Too far, Venom. You're going too far."

"Oh. Sorry, I was just setting your clothes down. I didn't realize."

He came back to her, closer. As she nodded with a steady breath, "It's alright, mistakes happen."

Ever since obtaining Venom, she's noticed that he can't float off too far or else Calliope will begin to lose consciousness as it was the process of him separating from her. And that wasn't good. She needed Venom to live. Without him, her cancer would only come back and she would die within the hour.

The cancer was still there, and it will always be there. Venom only froze the process. As long as he is with her at all times, the cancer will forever be a statue of time and space.

"I wonder if Peter will be there."

Calliope shook her head as she continued to blow on her nails, "I told you, you aren't eating anyone, not even him. We had chocolate earlier, you should be fine."

"Who said anything about eating?"

She could feel him giggle darkly. "No revenge either. You both need to get over it, the past is the past. Grow up now."

She then felt Venom grumble. "You're no fun, Callie."

Calliope laughed, "Funny you say that, considering I'm going to a party. That is the definition of fun, Venom. You still have much to learn, I guess."

Testing her nails, only to see that they were now nice and dry. She smiles and gives a soft sigh, it was very satisfying painting your nails by yourself and getting them perfectly spot on, and then waiting for them to dry just to find out nothing went wrong and all is perfect on your finger-tips.

Calliope stood up and went to her bed picking up the clothing and putting it against her body and looking into the mirror, humming and switching different parts out, trying her best to see which fits and looks the best together. And even a few that were one-piece.

As she does so she eventually notices Eddie leaning against her door frame, as she looks at him through her mirror. Turning around she lowers the clothing, "Hi, dad."

Eddie gave a smile, "You know, even after all this time you've had Venom-"

Calliope cut him off, "-It's only been a few months."

Eddie nodded, "-Right. But even then. Even after all this time you've had him, I've never seen you so happy before. It's a good look, I hope you keep it you deserve this peace."

Calliope couldn't help but grow her own smile, "Thanks. I feel this way because I was given a second chance to actually be able to live my life normally. Erm-" She bit her lip with a light chuckle. "-semi-normally, anyway. And it's thanks to you."

Eddie shook his head this time, "No, it wasn't me. It was Venom; he saved your life."

Calliope stares at her father solemnly. As she then goes in for the hug as he hugs back, "You and Venom."

"Uhh... I'm sorry to ruin the moment, but you have a text message."

Since Venom was floating over her shoulder, Eddie was able to hear him speak, instead of it just being in her head.

Both letting go of the hug, Calliope took her phone from the top of her bed-side table. It was a text:

-

Flash: I'm here whenever you're ready.

Okay, thanks for the notice. I'll be out there in a moment. :Callie

-

"Alright dad, duty calls." Calliope sighed, holding her hips.

She heard Venom chuckle. She pointed a finger at him, "You hush, get your mind out of the gutter."

She quickly picked out her outfit for the party. Finding that a floral jumper would be for the best, with black combat boots. She was never much for heels, she didn't know how some girls could stand them, let alone wear them all day long. Her feet and ankles ache just thinking about it.

Putting her phone into the pocket of her jumper, she opened the drawer of her bed-side table and grabbed the purple ribbon that laid inside. As she then tied that little ribbon around her right wrist, like a watch. Fastening it into a pretty little bow the best she could with one hand, though with the help of Venom, it was pretty successful.

"You should probably hide now, before we get into trouble." Calliope warned.

"Aye aye cap'n."

Calliope rolled her eyes at his dump little joke with a pathetic laugh. As Venom sunk back into her body, so he wasn't seen and she wasn't suspicious for having an Alien entity be apart of her identity.

And soon, she said her goodbyes to Eddie and left the house. As she made her way into sitting in the passenger seat of Flash's father's car.

Flash side smirked, "Told you I could drive." Winking.

Calliope playfully rolled her eyes, "Oh, did you now?"

Flash nodded, "What's with the purple ribbon? What does it mean?"

Calliope hummed thoughtfully and chose her words carefully, "Maybe if you're lucky, I'll tell you one day." She smiles.

Flash didn't respond, he just grinned back and understood that she still needed space on that memory. And he respected that wholeheartedly.

And so, they were off.

-------
Here's chapter one! :)

What was your favorite part of this chapter?

Also, did Venom talk too much? Should I make him talk less or is this fine? I'm just curious, I don't want to be annoying any of you or anything. Please let me know, so I can fix that the next chapter. Thanks.

Xoxo <3