"I've been wanting to press this button for years! " Wonka said excitedly as he pressed the "Up and Out" button on the elevator. The elevator literally did go up and out. Up, from their previous location, and out of the factory.

"Where do you live?" Wonka asked Charlie. Charlie pointed over to an old shack like house away from the other nice houses.

"Right there!"

In nearly half a minute, the elevator crashes through the ceiling of their home. The roof comes crashing down, and millions of chunks of wood break.

"Mom! Dad!" Charlie beamed as he ran towards his parents. Luella grinned and walked towards them as well. Charlie gave them a hug first, and Luella gave hem a hug second.

"This is Willy Wonka," Charlie said, introducing the CEO of the well known candy company. "He gave us a ride home!"

"I can see that." Mrs. Bucket nodded and looked up at the ceiling before looking back at the man.

"You must be the boy's. . " Wonka started to have a hard time saying parents again. Luella decided to help him out and say it for him.

"Parents?"

"Yes, thank you, Luella." He grinned at her, she nodded.

"No problem." Luella continued, "Also, Charlie has won something from the factory!"

"Not just any prize, I'm going to give this boy my factory!" Wonka exclaimed. Luella's eyes widened.

"No. . you're joking. . you aren't joking are you? You're joking. . " She furrowed her eyebrows, and crossed her arms and she smiled.

"I'm not joking. A month ago, I was having my semi-annual hair cut, and I had the strangest revelation: a grey hair. My first grey hair! In that one silver strand, I saw reflected my life's work. My factory, my beloved Oompa Loompas, and I realised in that moment that I needed to find an heir. And I did! Charlie, you!"

"All because I won a golden ticket?" He asked, smiling widely.

"Yes! I invited 5 children over to my factory, and the one who was the least rotten is the winner!" Wonka told him rather excitedly.

Luella crouched down to Charlie's height. "That's you, Charlie."

"So, Charlie. . whaddya say?" Wonka asked, "Are you ready to leave all this behind and work at the factory?"

"Sure! Of course--I mean, if it's alright that my family comes along with me."

"Oh my, dear boy, of course they can't! You can't run a chocolate factory with family hanging over you like an old dead goose!" He turned towards the seniors, "No offense."

"None taken." One of the replied, "Jerk."

"So if I go to the factory, then I won't ever be able to see my family again?" Charlie asked, his face fell to a sad expression, Luella was even confused at this point. No family?

"Yeah! Consider that a bonus!"  Wonka beamed.

"Then I'm not going. I'm not giving up my family for anything, not even for all the chocolate in the world."

Wonka's heart internally shattered (if he even had one). He lost the grin, and looked down at the ground as he face went to a solemn expression. "Oh, I see. . ." He chuckled sadly to himself, "That's weird. T-There's other candy too, besides chocolate."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wonka. I'm staying here." Charlie confirmed that he was staying, and Wonka turned towards the elevator.

"Wow. . Well that's unexpected and. . weird. But I supposed in that case I'll just. . goodbye then. . " He walked towards the elevator. "Are you sure you won't change your mind then?"

"I'm sure." Charlie sighed.

"Okay then. . goodbye. . "

"W--Mr. Wonka, wait." Luella grabbed her things and headed towards the elevator.

"Luella, you aren't gonna stay for dinner?" Mrs. Buckets asked.

"No, ma'am. I have some songwriting and recording to do at home." She smiled at the family and tapped on the glass of the elevator. "I promise I'll come back soon."

"Okay, goodbye Luella!" They waved at her, Charlie came up to her and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, for everything today." Charlie said softly, Luella hugged him back and let go after a minute.

"You're welcome, Charlie."

She got into the elevator and pressed the "Up and Out" button before Wonka even got to. The whole ride seemed to be silence.

"I know you're hurting, Willy." Luella thought it would be nice to push away the formalities and actually call him by his first name. He looked at her, but said nothing. "But. . family is important in Charlie's life. If he can't do anything with his family, he will simply give up the opportunity. He's a great kid."

"But what about you?" He asked her, she tilted her head and rose an eyebrow.

"What about me?"

"You're a solo artist. . all on your own. . "

"I'm not all on my own, technically." She sighed and leaned up against the glass. "I have my mom, and my Nonna. My dad is really there that much anymore. . But I have other family, and I have lots of great friends to help keep me going." Her eyes softened as she looked Willy in the eyes. "You're so used to seclusion. You've stay away from people for so long that your skin is starting to loose its own pigment, almost."

He examined himself, he never realised how pale he was until now.

"Sometimes, in times like this, family is what you need." Once they got to her home, she handed him a card with her phone number and email on it.

"Thanks for the ride, and thanks for the wonderful tour. . I loved it, except for the squirrels." She smiled.

"My pleasure, Luella." He tipped his hat at her, and she started to walk out of the elevator.

After a few seconds, she ran back. Willy was super confused.

"I gotta tell you something important."

"What?" He tilted his head and was greeted with the U N T H I N K A B L E. A kiss on the cheek from Luella.

"Shit, that was cheesy." She cursed and ran off, "Gotta go! Bye!"

He stood there for a moment before shaking himself out of yet, another trance. He pressed a button, and went back to his factory. On the ride there, he kept the business card in his coat pocket, something that he usually wouldn't do.

Things got better for the Buckets and Luella. . unfortunately, things didn't get any better for Wonka.

< • >

WORD COUNT: 1065

ew romance
im tired and i want to go to sleep
its currently 11:52pm while i write this ugh
comment and vote if u enjoyed! love yall 😔👊