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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0p02fdR51
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTUzxuwPUe
"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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2SkitUPb2
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." 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwsVyob8b5
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPgYsYieZR
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LcGQ0FDm9
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHfZnLgYiy
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9O5fXDgHe
"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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQWjhL8K3R
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSPqnNViDb
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK57OhuSkj5
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfLqI9nV1a
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq2onVvu7m
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW36TlUugI
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJZGVEvPgP
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDF8kp8rIS
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftQWX2KdWb
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKWWyAR3aH
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qh5JZOhgR
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFoUH0eq6k
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAnVlgTe6w
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0ykjSYTrb
"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?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFzGVv9as8
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." 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQO79OPlrF
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR7mP2ciH6
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5CVqwS43N
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT6nrVSYPo
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGra36DVny
"I dropped my sovereign.."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW4J5GVv5s
"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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gWDFckEEF
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamhxTZdXn0
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj1mJF7PdL
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuQ1tG5bQC
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q1q0jFwV6
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEspHpxI2Is
I reach out and grab his hand.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9wXbmr0gz
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYXpK4BMcB
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0GCVLhabL
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3MtdX8OWQ
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtJ9KkdmpQ
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. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczfPA85pQX
Features I suddenly want to study...15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01nSz7iLgi
"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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllncFFyqgD
"When will I do that?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0rXAJ2GiH
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5Y8sZRucO
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6ofsZzlp6
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkq9AkHXiD
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCcuzCRw4o
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6LZnqtePe
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLH9a7Wk2g
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6J4XSQj5p
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtZ4gQUvlF
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtByU0qPAeD
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggSnx830kZ
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpXElEvrKk
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoXp9TwCpF
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxKztvWMJt
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP7JqO5YhU
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbgKrAheTB
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBdiufDBX1
"I.. I did actually."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjh6iRWSVyw
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRDyiL6Mka
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJbqaoq3V3
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmlt9Uo9r1
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd4VsVUvzt
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4N2jGJcKs
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZkDGFpgBz
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW30lF2uaT
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigjXXNlkhu
He smiles. "Magic."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TquRPmypo
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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdqzOczY8T
"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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEIPbTqtWC
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDGLpgSPmM
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ2TLuv3Oe
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqGSEB8IK3
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ghq6P7rrU
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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVXaWY4IKk
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJNopS5T4C
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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlidlqo6KBk
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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyndv7fr66y
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfw5coE8VF
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jrk5MF5kM
He smiles. "I'll come with you."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqROcOzwobP
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIgzgGRPEx
"So, where are we going?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwjt18AeSW
"I don't know."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJB4c8m20T
"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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEJdIFEVC8
"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'!"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0prf3GZ2Pm
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!"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV48TSdV7fU
"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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQxDpHFXvE
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGR8nQrtQa
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESGdZNjTlY
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIUharRWJX
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP9pDRPssf
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyoQKZw1U0
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0ET0xeVD9
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPQ1BhmuIb
"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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0mNLQKZlQ
"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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO6XtUTGss
"You've been to London?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oaH3qlSRn
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiAAGIUP5J
"Why?" I ask curiously.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOhPMdSygy
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpAek3Z15D
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?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx5E4adR46
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGdrZDrYF4
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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWkJCPtdyg
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHexmUA8PB9
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.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cCAjZJp4J
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."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmStBrT30FF
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBCJhC2g48
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeZe0hThYQ
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-T15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhxkwJW4t0
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE86wQyAeEB
Let me know what you thought! :D
