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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17C4qf74VR
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE5oIFWCti
"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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV2F2IL6GG
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." 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1Edxxbai7
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQzljRsmgU
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa1ELRXBXo
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTlaGCnUD5
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYtkXYCLDS
"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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2BF3dpP13
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan3wdnGzby
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwjkj5Fs5A
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XaswypgxN
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBnYWi8RNB
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIAvZrvvcl
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76xZetNOBe
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuJ6amuxNZ
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraOz3TcMrD
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu2ZIXAPNc
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDwKPTYOw8
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG0nNGrgdL
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04PXsuYMVv
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWm0uyKpGc
"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?30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwHzDIudz5
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." 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg8u2enq2b
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSGbnWhebS
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc4xVqVrqs
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WKoJ3CGyD
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIiCqUswR2
"I dropped my sovereign.."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ5IOcemG5
"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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTxlpKpqm4
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93Sz3pUH0d
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMeeveMytM
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva2Pl59EGF
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTCUY2c78g
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hRP2GZu0W
I reach out and grab his hand.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFWwvJbz8t
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSpRY8VObR
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUz8OutnKN
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDkLzPunL1
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq4ZeesFcs
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. 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFyyXOdyUh
Features I suddenly want to study...30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK21nHWyPp
"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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXAP4rwOQv
"When will I do that?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nrhmZbBWQ
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwjYO7dtX4
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFaBmZLCvq
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPNEDn2eEd
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVMCHnbEUe
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyqCx7f48u
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IKIdUafdj
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGFidC9sV6
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesa6PZNknw
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyDRGhsEDg
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NxKxfJV0z
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsjSxauDiC
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVytLwO0Mu
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU8l5OUH32
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyts99wfSU
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2eetpkHsB
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h8ZZNaHxI
"I.. I did actually."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrdu7Nnac9
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt9RyHgEeo
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7tdfBgRs0
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIPV5eZCsB
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr9c6iIBft
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKi8Je7WSP
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5z9FrbRJL
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d96J8a5b1
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtv9cjVX6f
He smiles. "Magic."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8thDFEOz4V
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMroYpGH3p
"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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbRdW8YSNp
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG9DJm6j6C
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm88ROSdnl
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYnEQiWnVZ
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9El44GmTMc
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CsCT7fkzM
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZlFj9ozml
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU279V17Mg1
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE14TDZY3yc
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJD1kvuShg
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYqVoPMLTo
He smiles. "I'll come with you."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetcR6dfe1e
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ukdWLFBZc
"So, where are we going?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvqn2sIyT4
"I don't know."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFzo07k3ZQ
"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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tqVwzwlQ8
"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'!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2Qc9G4NPm
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!"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRedNt7Tb1E
"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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOSkXZCutZ
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1kCyFsJAP
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsc04k83ko
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1FuX4UVmy
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDhefCc4vK
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0gRJRvD7k
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeozUAZ3InW
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPORJpXPFg9
"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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9mZsn3ZcK
"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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxLiARJNtl
"You've been to London?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nPButCQZO
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfhNVSDt0A
"Why?" I ask curiously.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNclZ6FnQDF
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cEJfW7DFq
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?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWnAAGXv2K
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3rL0QCbhP
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8FUqupZt8
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKtkfU123c
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcCIoxxv0O
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."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0n9J8n66Y
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zqp3DLdA3
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2i9a3iExE
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-T30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9kI2cksgM
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTvRWLCR2c
Let me know what you thought! :D
