The police whistle pierces the air, making me jump, tearing my eyes from the chocolate maker. My heartbeat speeds up rapidly and my gaze darts to the gate.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ssTk9FB5b
A young girl with dark skin and and mess of frizzy curls steps back as a group of police officers push past. It's Noodle with her laundry cart, which reminds me, I need to see if I can catch her to bring her a new book from the library later.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtF4O7cVvs
"Alright folks," calls the lead policeman. "Nothing to see here. Just a small group of people defying the laws of gravity." He makes a gesture to the following officers. "Poke 'em boys."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51plqYFsjA
Everyone around suddenly disperses with such speed, leaving me alone. I scamper after the closest people, glancing back at Mr. Wonka as he calls something out. "That's the Hoverchoc, sir, that's the point." 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsotAcxM2h
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNibWIxylqZ
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7PmcwD91x
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLmSSQ0lOv
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2r5shYG8e
"Don't worry. It's going to a good cause. Sick kids or something." He doesn't even bother to glance at the man as he tosses the words over his shoulder.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GLhWGc6sR
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zzzDaEdMy
The police chief approaches me, and I duck behind the building, watching him stride past, pulling a floating person along. It's not against the law to watch, at least I don't think it is. But that doesn't mean I want to run into him.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zwFt2ffM3
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7F5Qml0FV
Mr. Wonka trudges back across the square, picking up his suitcase and slinging it over his shoulder on a strap. Then he picks up his cane which has somehow shrunk back to its original size. Then he starts forward with such an air of dejection that I decide right then and there to follow him.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxfVWY5Cks
He walks out of the Gallery slowly, his eyes on the road tiles. I trail him from a distance, but I still flinch when a beefy man slams into him, sending him stumbling backwards.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyqN2JKlvs
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0UfI83Zfh
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L9drhEMyn
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBdqTut3KN
I stop just behind him, scrambling for something to say. I open my mouth, but decide maybe he won't want to know I followed him. "Why are you stopped in the middle of the path?" I try to keep my voice soft.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HKW4BKbPA
He turns to face me, something flickering in his eyes. Eyes that are brown with an undercurrent of green. He shrugs, his shoulders slumping, and drops his gaze to the ground again.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9TyTA3gTo
Something bubbles in my chest. Irritation with the people who crushed this young man's dream. "I saw what happened," I say, trying not to sound too angry. "I don't understand why they'd take your money. That seemed completely unnecessary." My hands, held loosely at my sides, slowly start fisting.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTANA5iGj3H
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1QB0XyiM8
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5TWNBMKjW
"Did you get to try a Hoverchoc?" The hope in his voice makes me want to lie and say yes. I resist the urge to tilt my head and study him further. Did he see me in the crowd?135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8uJ3ABNCY
I shake my head. "I wasn't close enough to grab one." His face falls, his expression turning disappointed. "But it's okay," I quickly add, struck with the need to make him happier. "I'm afraid of heights anyway, so I don't mind missing out." 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEeRfZujVI
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirx1vwTO3o
I fidget, knowing I should walk away, but still feeling the need to stay. Somehow he knew I was in the crowd. And something about that makes me feel drawn to him. Nothing about me from my brown eyes, brown hair, or my average height is particularly noticeable.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaRHEM40Us
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF0W8jWf4m
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPjZzdyh6R
"I dropped my sovereign.."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KwvYvjCW8
"Oh no!" I lift a hand to cover my mouth, the movement causing my other hand to bump against my pouch of sovereigns in my dress. I lower my hand, suddenly struck with a thought.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiBCIowskA
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJVEFVgkmw
I slip my hand into my pocket, my cheeks warming ever so slightly when I notice his eyes on my movement. I pull out the pouch, lifting my other hand up to open it.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPBr1UfCId
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJuLxDLMTw
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHraP4MJ2l
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8eRX4KNIi
I reach out and grab his hand.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzhX0tbntt
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBrtaEzqt9
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriyRAiLjZT
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlIJYfes5a
His refusal makes me more determined. He has nothing, and yet he won't take my money. "I insist." I turn his hand over, pressing his fingers in so that he's holding the sovereigns.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCktvYsr8Q6
He stares at my hands and I let go, taking a step back. I resist the urge to fiddle with my skirt, instead lifting my chin slightly, daring him to refuse the sovereigns again. He doesn't say anything, staring at my face, something a bit like awe flickering across his features. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIziWkKGg8
Features I suddenly want to study...135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpycQI7EJn
"Think of it as an advance payment." I say the first words that come to mind. I step back again, trying to force myself away. "Another time you can give me the chocolate I'm paying you for."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLR1ql3JbP
"When will I do that?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd31zPXdaWT
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr02WtY5Dv
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEcD7857MA
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnCLvek1Ep
I turn away, ready to stride away as fast as possible. I need to get away from his eyes, and his rumpled hair. I need to get away from the sharp line of his jaw, and his expressive face.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDdhZuV0b0
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasiNu9XBo1
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmwBNr07Cd
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVP5dR0uuf
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QClbXLuEe
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXq2uIK5YZ
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2fMkYaONF
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve6stzl4LO
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45q6eCoEgX
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHcA5K0n2I
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn3SChoeIE
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc57bORvoJO
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5RGc3IWbg
"I.. I did actually."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjoYtUuGu8
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMYOdyqdTG
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF1DWLABGe
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIzAlN5SWq
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalwOLXybR5
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEspqk08Z8z
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwoCzjyrvj
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jqn9dfDpg
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVwuvIlAGR
He smiles. "Magic."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjKnRZ8j4X
I stare at the chocolate as my mouth waters at the thought of chocolate, something I didn't get the chance to buy despite my intentions. "I thought you sold them all."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmI1v7pgrW
"All but one." He grabs one of my hands and tugs it out from my skirt. "And it's for you." He gently pries open my hand, his eyes glittering brown, then green. He presses the chocolate into my palm, pressing my fingers over it in an imitation of my very own action a few minutes ago.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcXQxmKeu3
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpckjywphb
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVwtSCosWv
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1pR0rPPKI
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6JpEJgq2G
I gently tug my hand out of his. "And sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're just as scary, if not more that we remember them being."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ135u51WKjC
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKou4V9Mbr
A tiny shiver downs down my spine, bringing something warm rather than the expected cold. "Thank you for the Hoverchoc, Willy. Even though I have no clue where you managed to pull it from. But I'm not going to eat it... I'm sorry."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfDGdcEQ4n
His expression falls slightly. "That's.. alright." He takes in a breath through his mouth. "But I still want you to have it." His voice turns slightly wry. "Even if you payed too much for it."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOuWsgy4UL
I blink, trying really hard not to think about how sweet he is. "Thank you." I slide the Hoverchoc into my dress pocket, unsure what else to do with it.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHfzR3yI4L
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fzdEhzPOC
He smiles. "I'll come with you."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHktju9a2w
I blink, opening my mouth to tell him he can't before realizing that it's my day off, I don't have to go back to the inn. At least, not yet. I slowly close my mouth.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcjcfLOmVo
"So, where are we going?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl7o7UAqeX
"I don't know."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgne2QN9ssH
"That sounds like fun, let's go!" He grabs my hand and tugs me with him as he starts forward, his cane tapping against the tiles with every other step.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDETHpC7wR
"Willy!" I laugh slightly. "I meant I don't know where to go, not that I want to go somewhere called 'I don't know'!"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0A49fMYZ3
His steps don't slow, and he tosses me a glance that sends a thrill of excitement down my spine. "Then I guess we'll just explore!"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ870NoUA5gi
"Don't you have to go back and pay for your room?" I ask in a last attempt to prevent him from spending any more time with me.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cT7dvGSa4
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77cnHuqv3N
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hQCTzhyt6
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyTtAmx1kM
I open my mouth the respond, but my stomach takes that moment to remind me that I skipped breakfast and that by now it must be close to noon. "I'm a little hungry," I admit.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6AlPnSXzJ
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXSZerxPFN
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NyAxNOs2N
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGYwglRTTY
"Well, I'm 17. I live and work at an inn. Uh.. red is my favorite color." I gesture a bit sheepishly at his coat.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6w5aADYUn
"I'm 17 too!" Willy replies excitedly. He then smooths his hand down his coat. "It is a nice shade, isn't it? I got it from a magician in London."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml9HDdjIYW
"You've been to London?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShQuHHYLEW
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7c7KxGXn3u
"Why?" I ask curiously.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNGqfIyOFU
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZocTRJuVYS
I nod as we shuffle forward a few steps in line. "Seems reasonable. Do you have parents somewhere around the world, waiting with bated breath to hear when you become a famous chocolate maker?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc0n0wUnlV
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49p8u990lw
I reach up and put a hand on his shoulder, wanting him to know I feel the pain I can see in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Willy. It's hard to loose good parents."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwIgVLtB6g
We shuffle forward in line a few more times before he looks back up and shrugs. Then he reaches his own hand up and puts it on top of mine.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvA2erXuUh
I slide my hand off, unsure if there's anything else I could say to this fascinating young man. To my surprise, he lets his hand come with mine, and then we're holding hands again.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdkJ7a0jOD
We wait in silence another moment before he turns to me, a question in his eyes. "What about you, Ember? You have an unusual name."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRodlOTOUY
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg4bALnXHE
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2F9pUosjz
I blink rapidly, trying to push back the tears that have sprung to my eyes. I haven't cried for a long time. I'm not about to start in front of Willy. He's still a stranger after all. "They're... well... they died."
I just want you all to know that I don't know Wonka's cannon age and just picked 17 T-T135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP3c1DmqdQ
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :3135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQnz2ui1ke
Let me know what you thought! :D
