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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK8VxF2G6J
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWlj0rjZYr
"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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKpdAh6VvA
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." 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7q3nKMTyC
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvQaGRVFeh
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwRuyN1zyB
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivWXfdWJH8
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJfVD4VzQd
"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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dUtvDuDML
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEevqxWddz
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdowE96uS83
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh9fCsMp4B
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVidmkfSVjY
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPVNum98HV
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz0YqtC8jH
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ10E66CHj
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAa7KEGxvP3
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B5R7GN9K2
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsDVpOluY1
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe59XuAYtbS
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmMbnkS080
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyPUBUDV7Z
"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?94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cBVxogVhd
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." 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKew8mMt6h
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfkKM2hzBT
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx7ZRLJCtn
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTUVCE9Ee8
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtfBYH0MWv
"I dropped my sovereign.."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2Zi1qrtWL
"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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeqVppXKlB
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiZArz9yPs
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOAm5NbIm6
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIRzArCLjG
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFfn5N3w3p
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPUtbDWX4F
I reach out and grab his hand.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWzD0TKidP
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8CSkf1w1G
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIqYZfIEb1
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARzVnTDmG2
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeje7D8XRV
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. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjybcBCGoA
Features I suddenly want to study...94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuBK8PYLIB
"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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMkVm86ym1
"When will I do that?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjp1zmAKuK
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M4XRJY3Jm
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A7Yxj5r8F
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy99TfKCvhO
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzvAAiMxD4
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW1peI33Jf
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQtXrbyxzj
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWAlyL4awQ
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL8i7tc8kf
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQHkYGooD1
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrtSuuflKP
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOE0dmu33O
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQDgPNJRjw
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot2dWi04Ol
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtomWf0fM9H
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ8oaPo3iC
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvpRhvRGc8
"I.. I did actually."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG7YvYpLEu
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYNuQEFAy0
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ee4OKcGmU
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe6zVaQ0h0
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcconWtlvc
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn5TtYXgr5
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEDmwO8ZI7
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW0C0y9yLC
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO7GwFFY97
He smiles. "Magic."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX9FPyGk07
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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs3irw4NN5
"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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpUwnYj7Rk
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xsCuMQ11K
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeswhoDL8ok
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzj4YoKMl7
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJXBl2O6wg
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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8ipbK8mIt
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d47EDLVe8
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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TZ0Qrr2l2
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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjUfWA5XBN
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAnWmgk5u7
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5inYv7z96H
He smiles. "I'll come with you."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt6iwR4Vx3
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm18PTzjFv3
"So, where are we going?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo7qH9CiKs
"I don't know."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdgUZf9NZx
"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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRxJsqfF4D
"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'!"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBjtla5PWx
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!"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPln1K4NcYx
"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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPqw738GkA
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn5T908LEI
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLjIPy9uqn
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2hRslk4Ft
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25dd60v0J3
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeChliABs11
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CgE3xs2HW
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeWMUfnZrO
"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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoYzog8mAJ
"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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxD3lPJGK5
"You've been to London?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ222ZheZLJk
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaIKjAa5v9
"Why?" I ask curiously.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsJdUP62bW
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16GA0cPdlv
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?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4t4dVRH2u
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vXp0pgj1Y
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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmdrjbzYdT
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJn0jkGFAJ
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.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy7XQqWu1X
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."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMogjheXso
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM80uIcyhT
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt9TPEpZan
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-T94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfc7oGowDQ
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY1XC7pCFp
Let me know what you thought! :D
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