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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGrGXFlhR9
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04VKWKlKWS
"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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FL8wZTeUJ
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." 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl48k0QE4Xf
A dark skinned officer steps up to him, telling him something I can't make out. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaE2ThiKXn
I slow to a stop by one of the shops, drawn by what must be curiosity. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLtTbXhUzf
The lead police officer pushes roughly past the young man, yanking his jar of sovereigns away.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFstwD2ILAs
"Hey!" Mr. Wonka turns and starts after the officer, his expression one of shock. "What're you doing?!"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2VLWHoLy0
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ84N32vhQI
Wonka looks back at the dark skinned officer, his expression forlorn. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgUDViwK58
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59fXXVrfZc
After a moment when I don't see him coming back, I lean back around the shop.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY96WyiLdZU
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PL7iRgtOR
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA7GHzeqrm
"Watch where you're going!" barks the man, shoving past Wonka unnecessarily.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPzUiCkLlE
I dart out of his way, lowering my eyes as I quicken my steps to catch up to Mr. Wonka. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMdYANX9yu
"Great." He sounds despondent. "Now what am I going to do?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdkqAhXw5X
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlQesGqX7h
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRWoTRqAfu
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNTOExyLXr
"The one officer gave me a sovereign to pay for my room." He looks up again, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTifplgSHW2
I blow out a breath, forcing my fists to unclench. "That was.. kind."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzSk7j8Nc5
"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?17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6gNGeQtG4
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." 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5QJa7cs9C
He lets out a slow breath, staring past me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yOUSlPX2h
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsrea0Uz8g
Another person winds around us, stopped in the middle of the path. Which reminds me...17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbGVfP7gVZ
"Why are you stopped in the middle of the path anyway?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHzOwLeHxF
"I dropped my sovereign.."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1snAL0AOt
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSiymsJRGw
He shrugs again. "I don't know how I'm going to pay for my room now." 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g3wIeAptn
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmlCfe8y5q
"What're you doing?" He watches me as I tug open the drawstrings.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5xKaLVdDw
"Helping you." I pull out a few silver sovereigns, tugging the strings closed and slipping the pouch back in my pocket.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsfm6qViED
He smiles a small, soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't accept that.."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3IUoKqCra
I reach out and grab his hand.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9W26ZH9bZ
"Your hands are so cold!" he cries. And yet he doesn't tug away.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvQgHwSfQe
"Why thank you," I say dryly. I take the opportunity to press the coins into his palm. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToAQoTJukU
He tries to push the coins back into my hands, his eyes dropping to my frayed dress. "I really can't take these."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyGciOrxmL
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT0Zvr3pXO
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. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxGNUJIeep
Features I suddenly want to study...17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoaGQWJ1ly
"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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QsEgGmadF
"When will I do that?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLLnm3K25R
Never, most likely. "The next time you see me, I assume."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeeRt6zgxv
"When will that be?" His eyes glimmer green, begging me to answer.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOZ2HikhWl
I force my feet to take another step backward. "I don't know." My response borders on a whisper.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpri9JxjVkp
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRaFPPOMxI
"I don't even know your name!" Something in his voice halts me in my steps.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRa0OKK8gx
I look over my shoulder. "Ember." And then I surge forward, sliding between passerby.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR2LpBi8Ab
I slip between person after person, trying to keep from shoving and leaving a ripple of my presence.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5U5RYyR2b
"Ember?" The sound of my name, makes my steps falter. "Ember? Ember!"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rlFvQ1JaY
Is he coming after me? I slow my steps and glance over my shoulder.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bYtSxXZv2
Sure enough, I see his coat as he pushes through the people toward me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUU7YvTNcD
"Ember!" He catches my eyes. "Wait! Please!"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDUWh8cQ6B
My muscles are poised to run; my breath caught in my throat.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVIsesKqZR
He reaches me, and I tilt my head back slightly to meet his eyes. "Yes?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVhu194K9z
"I'm Willy. Willy Wonka." He smiles at me, a lopsided smile.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPemztNznl
"I know. I heard you say it in the Gallery."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvPzAWtltM
"I know. I saw you there." His expression grows animated. "Did you like my song?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR45rcKye9
"I.. I did actually."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaeiyJ4TLM
He smiles again, shifting slightly. "I have something for you."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkJ20HgTDx
I step back, thrusting my hands into my skirt. "I'm not taking the sovereigns back, Mr. Wonka."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHDLhxydC8
He pauses for barely an instant. "Call me Willy."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsTQF4bEDL
"Alright... Willy. But I'm still not taking the sovereigns back. I want you to have them. To pay for your room."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82RGjQAFwP
"I only need one to pay for my room." His lopsided smile returns, making my heart trip over itself.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42e3EjWbji
He leans forward quickly, reaching behind my ear. I find myself so surprised by his movement that I don't even pull away. 17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3sdapRvm8
His hand brushes my ear as he pulls it back with an expression of mock surprise. "Look what I found."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy6a9U3UQo
In his hand is a Hoverchoc, a teal, teardrop shaped chocolate. But it certainly wasn't there before. "How'd you do that?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvQI9AWfEY
He smiles. "Magic."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV6u8zPX5x
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoTCihovaT
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOJnRjgLDo
I lick my lips, staring at his incredibly warm hands resting on mine. "Thank you, Willy."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvBUVu8xb7
He smiles again. "You did pay me for chocolate, remember?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvCWwwOq6E
"Yes, I remember." I look up into his earnest face. "You do remember that I said I was afraid of heights, right?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWG20CqYwJ
"Sometimes, when we face our fears, we find that they're not so scary anymore."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEnhBJUOrW
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0FFHNB6Uu
He looks confused, tilting his head and looking down at me.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozzKfXLEmY
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdNZxjuLRq
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dLTyFzcF7
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju0K0cxG5H
When he doesn't make a move to walk away, I take a step back. "I should be going.."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHRApBuiRd
He smiles. "I'll come with you."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3srWThhWi
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8xtGCihIH
"So, where are we going?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLOoZimOYS
"I don't know."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwwMTzfkfL
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF54GbsYlp
"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'!"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3NDjzvCrM
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!"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5dbQfgPfW
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw06zEHWZbx
"Not for a while." He smiles, giving his cane a merry twirl.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQfi88sCyl
For a while he tugs me along with him, and I follow, slightly breathless. We reach a street packed with storefronts and passerby.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTv7ZcNVhi
He slows our pace to better weave through the people. "Do you have anything you want to do?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvccFzIcfNE
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGbo6Wz4cX
"Me too!" He immediately tugs me into a line of people waiting to order something from a cart up ahead.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGugFcN4KVE
I laugh, amused by his impulsiveness.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb8FMZwqey
"Tell me about yourself, Ember." My name coming off his tongue sends a little shiver up my spine, another strangely warm one.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjoLXF7Lq7
"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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V0X2edMen
"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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxzRqEhRUE
"You've been to London?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEgZXlRXQP
"I've been to many places. I spent seven years of my life upon the ocean."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXXiJphgcw
"Why?" I ask curiously.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4B1p95wzQ
His expression changes, matching his mood shift. "I wanted to travel. Collect the best ingredients for my chocolate."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqOCy3F1UM
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?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hne6SAN16
His expression falls further and he shakes his head.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykl4IoezoE
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGfMuuw8qw
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWpZYbra7O
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.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXghcrUxTB
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."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKiASuX3mY
A soft pang clenches my chest for a moment. "I suppose I do."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvsl4q6vUx
"You said you live at the inn you work at. Why don't you live with your parents?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON3Z1R2pjW
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-T17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEGLm4IrS1
Also I have no idea where he got his coat either..
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter :317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujH5zy682u
Let me know what you thought! :D
