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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUywb7waCAp
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTny7Apm7gh
"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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjZ78IqPa8
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." 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvciNNyfKI
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHJtFdyHiQ
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJS734mNqw
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZzz2Vy43L
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthI10K2rLv
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2in4vFEVD5
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMohRkQzAQw
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPZ2e3WV0n
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qgpvMNfe4
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JuJCsXqAW
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIgnUsj9Ue
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNRXXeOpMe
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzgF8pNOB8
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG5PWVutzd
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2qJjDsDCX
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVebkiJBm2O
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok6mJesoyI
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5HFxZKqub
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bROBvGr5P
"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?142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkpKiThdBA
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." 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9okiTpUZjC
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh6lhZlZNA
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QQw547Biu
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3IAzQEOnF
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pf0ZKfPmV
"I dropped my sovereign.."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvpuyWGpcu
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLmY3Dew0m
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyICKAoj5J
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2wimqPL6m
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7QEsjcCqq
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMXRPPmtTX
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMP6hQfixw
I reach out and grab his hand.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXKEu1jc1Y
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfjlGoamwC
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEB7Cm245Q
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVGgGcwqC4
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0lXgBJ0ny
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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBwfx3ErlM
Features I suddenly want to study...142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WH0nfAX81
"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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7zhkcSZgl
"When will I do that?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2Y9QOokD0
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLlSZKbLlB
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNKzMR4mNA
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrKI2Q8lmM
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaAgm6iItS
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJMprxp0n3
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdDuKGw1NR
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDheNLCVBuj
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ETJVtfjpe
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngboZr4b6u
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAXaThhmjs
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnkP2Z5sA5
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACWYU7CuD7
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIUnBMWEc6
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K8rkosLkI
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxJbvNffmS
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VgAamjm3p
"I.. I did actually."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6idFpUnisr
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44Ht8BgLtt
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK738D2Dq3A
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1N30L6IvT
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVnnqdT0zI
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF1kmH48IH
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEVZ8hu2Sr
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8ApsPsqDl
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5EjFPW6BO
He smiles. "Magic."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjot56q200m
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnmNSi36PT
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl3YZNkMSj
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zrrw4jkef
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutbsYvdjyj
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP8BGzsQup
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqw9BlXaBX
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQdZnr846K
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP12JhXBC3
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uRjTWiOlK
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWqQv9jLGD
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfknDFfxoNq
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR419kxzOGI
He smiles. "I'll come with you."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG0Fj7DJfK
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoOjEYTSQA
"So, where are we going?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5e24IqEvF
"I don't know."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaqI1WirZ9
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbw2NP6ZYj
"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'!"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65gj0TYUOo
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!"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDj74HwSwI
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNiUUccV43
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlyRh4C0jT
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbx3O94cMR
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwFxUVN6H0
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevra2LknxC
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uTI9budo2
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO98TYV8SlZ
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQAICJsdR7
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI97jmgYjn9
"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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ1yoXEwod
"You've been to London?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwvUDJuBOp
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY7rFLNCOU
"Why?" I ask curiously.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIpYos3T7o
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx2ffksdUU
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?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUiLrCZFGq
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hpbbnb7Lz
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg6sIop37L
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1ARNWADSe
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnsJZx12kx
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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9GxHAuRET
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxykFq5bHR
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsoP8J7C9O
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-T142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceRq40lNzq
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :3142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJAu9ep5jx
Let me know what you thought! :D
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