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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1YLAAsPLE
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5uGbf7UZy
"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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DzD795Gjl
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." 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlf0XmingG
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oZRPmMbbA
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoq4hsm5Xz
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl4IiwK2jx
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fPDg5D9ur
"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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ264TsKmQq6
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YOsQ20cSq
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yo1Ifg6Bp
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAJVaryoS2
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHEBXbckj7
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeto4AmgHuC
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBOvryuPDz
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V34CSdMcZ
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ9sjpZMgW
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4kIcowElJ
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm3tnxo02F
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRUlGCS87j
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIviohI25q
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqspgRG47o
"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?69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwTZUJMhZJ
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." 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9Go0iefok
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2QsdpbgIt
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JUjz4xBNr
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve4RtALWse
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7FctvgnXV
"I dropped my sovereign.."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5wZPlHkPS
"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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshGvQNFpW7
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0cCfNyCbW
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUcuwdb7eH
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0DXpb48Ss
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQApbfTrq5
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhsZ1KJ4KE
I reach out and grab his hand.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBszWj0xjR
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9ATlTRESF
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc65XWXuLYm
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeedExEhHI
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbC9KKfWPI
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. 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGDrB9d0wY
Features I suddenly want to study...69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPRg83HrU2
"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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHWd34iqyv
"When will I do that?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHt6MnB15Z
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5hAri66qP
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUwoMeQAtK
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ4k4hvirK
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdkPLwVPMr
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ki74w1tmb
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgmnntvbuQ
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHjWDKBYip
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GwMV8g0MQ
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsg08rLe5O
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoYyxGyztw
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXqTsOQLDW
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM57Nhqc2SK
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZyJcC90qe
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWGI8LXUj0
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJk85IBqlc
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVUZVfcNG5
"I.. I did actually."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDnfsKWRFj
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkGfo2hS25
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaWnLjElMD
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoMkujQWq5
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1UnlTlvJZ
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNBn0WIC8Y
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRmrxrSxfD
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ5jaXwaJX
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrfcGTHHOi
He smiles. "Magic."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltLQ0mEm1H
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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64VMtyVOOf
"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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtkUd3Lfq0
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdihUtE9jP
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPBp7YVk4S
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTiVmC0qzL
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiCXA7HC8N
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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZigHiqPm7N
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpEssUi6l7
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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq11wC8rYw
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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IVXdoBxQa
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssV8gNvZ0Q
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsLu5C0tKa
He smiles. "I'll come with you."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fbpOECrUj
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHyWtroqiK
"So, where are we going?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpQ1w2dB6N
"I don't know."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvepWktaJb4
"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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuvgNgrKS8
"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'!"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXgNMi50Kk
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!"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszWJLH4uJq
"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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnsi45lH1a
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RZOkmcYA9
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuEs2KA8Fb
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi5Sm1midD
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdnNLKMh7J
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5SuMphEHp
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCgxylv318
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nowE7NUIL
"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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBExsCA5F8
"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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvnxIrvOiN
"You've been to London?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qviFU6MQ4
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WBzUORYGj
"Why?" I ask curiously.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RI72CRBVq
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dtENtoSBa
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?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDb58VqqL5
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9alF72mZ4U
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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDXA2tLPhW
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq6SvuV295
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.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuig6KoiJr
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."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5dhqNjhiE
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaq7vjZiN0
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT59wszzTKM
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-T69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UYTmo73ao
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddZmRl5i34
Let me know what you thought! :D
