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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKBj5QN36t
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiJIMn78UD
"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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZhRkLRqNm
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." 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvXi9xTZTC
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7QSfcU7M8
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WJcPbSEW2
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHmouElMng
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgqC7xfxY1
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ACm2whjMe
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6XyoQqqOS
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNlxhCVSLI
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zrzpb72Zm
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XPg83dZtA
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz7vG4rbPw
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSHni2CWGj
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicgqGwdDBf
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo6mhONbGW
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjGioV5xQY
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC5qPWIyhY
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPjccjitKh
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAIfwPCcy0
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZQjegZyhX
"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?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs5yOUDAf9
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." 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwHUwBxK51
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXMg7Palxe
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW8qTJ1EOd
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqN0AIStt1
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3dmOnfrKi
"I dropped my sovereign.."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWDn1VmwBR
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWfmk1z0ns
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND35QodDWB
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvpOeNI7vY
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeIs4Poyos
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpqOb6U2G9
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnGbHlSN8o
I reach out and grab his hand.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPFnQIasfM
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDemPeTqXXk
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyFfrAKHHK
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cSo58XMDo
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoP90nxJSw
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. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa6RNwOk0P
Features I suddenly want to study...61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yEKriqViH
"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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJfY6BhuPF
"When will I do that?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv6ism9YKw
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAVMz00FFs
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXTa3rvFZ5
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheNqz58dov
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDLI1sUZsR
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpUH6UbUEM
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8KNOm8QCx
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFO1z1EWcT
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrvs5HT4sC
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8p49B8ibt
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPESFQjJwQK
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0JFxdAUpH
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXSuwBxaH7
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FracOnIL3
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkL5hn1EDs
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDELemsqw7n
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqEypkm2Gw
"I.. I did actually."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6gyz7Pxvu
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzeHSrJzTY
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP54yqJEzWx
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12vs5cIuCi
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e55Crjmli
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT3UmoX8Zf
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYG61ImWqV
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEdQcUPeuq
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaFxWMjMaq
He smiles. "Magic."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VqgN2EraB
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xXW1Sapor
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1jE8o7GrZ
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmRBcpRYVt
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV4fO8mFDl
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzvHn4U6A4
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KGpTymxTv
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO0YiiRMEx
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGf40rlIf2
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MOfqF5YOx
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEZMsTdtMQ
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sl4wD4JiB
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNGj2Mub11
He smiles. "I'll come with you."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq5pqYgRCm
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzuQVXTxAz
"So, where are we going?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tef16MBkg
"I don't know."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFcceLPXtZ
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ826d7ogAqY
"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'!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlJWKq2N1n
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!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoWsV2mxcl
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2sv9c1Ew7
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXsTxFh05I
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfZiJW31mq
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh43JzZR0I
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIFnn2MOR2
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM0n4X9KEl
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPODLVpr0m
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSgDMhaMxm
"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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hAXDbqpuZ
"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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO41mG93ZTS
"You've been to London?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIjkoMarbZ
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2teqAe4x9
"Why?" I ask curiously.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1ULcSvZX2
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEOVRcR8MJ
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?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxBTdtFH1s
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrrMIkZBfd
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9pyiKVOqU
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsW12C580S
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8L5RJnQjU
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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKNpHaYDar
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FuitcrXxk
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmfwQVRNMQ
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-T61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26AHqzdSjI
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SmVDC1KfD
Let me know what you thought! :D
