Walking out of the clothes store with his new suit, Charlie was thrilled. His suit was a light grey, silvery colour and it fitted him a treat. He had finally gotten some meat on his bones after moving in with Willy.
Charlie passed the newsagents, the very one he found his golden ticket in. Glancing in the window, he noticed one of his very first chocolate creations in the window. He smiled to himself and hurried on. It was quite cold. Then, across the road, he saw Zoe.
Zoe was Mrs Bucket's distant cousin, and Charlie worked out she must have been about 29 by now. She used to play with Charlie all the time, every day. Any moment that she wasn't working she was with him. Zoe was a nurse, and helped out the Bucket's with all their expenses. Charlie loved her more than anything, but she had been called out to India to put her nursing to good use over there. It had been three years since Charlie last saw her.
"Zoe! Zoe!" Charlie shouted, crossing the road to get to her.
Zoe turned round and saw Charlie. Charlie thought she looked more beautiful than ever. She had always been pretty, but now her hair was blonder than ever, her eyes shone bluer and her smile lit up the entire street.
"Charlie! Oh, I missed you so much" She kneeled down and wrapped Charlie up in a huge hug. He buried his head into her shoulder and sobbed.
"Hey, Charlie it's ok. I'm so sorry I was gone that long. They wouldn't let me come home for visits. But I'm back now, forever" Zoe tried to comfort Charlie.
She rubbed her hand up and down Charlie's back like she used to do to get him to sleep. "I looked for your house, but it's completely gone, did you move?" she asked.
Charlie smiled and shook his head. He took her hand and led her to the factory, informing her about everything that had happened. Zoe covered her hand with her mouth and looked at Charlie in shock.
"Charlie, you clever boy! Oh, I'm so proud of you. Am I allowed in the factory? I need to say hello to everyone, I've missed you all so much." Zoe said
"Of course, come on in." Charlie said happily.
They walked in together, Zoe looking around worriedly. Charlie just laughed at her and led her into the chocolate room. Zoe stared at the waterfall, the grass, everything. She didn't even notice Mrs Bucket running up to her. Eventually she snapped out of her daze and focused in on Charlie's mum.
"Linda!" Zoe cried, wrapping her arms around Mrs Bucket. The two women embraced for ages, and then Zoe went into the Bucket house to greet everyone. At this point, Charlie ran off to find Willy outside the house still sitting by the river.
"Willy, I think I've found you your dance partner for the ball" Charlie announced cheekily, making Willy jump.
"Charlie, as much as I love grandma Georgina I won't be taking her to the ball" Willy replied.
Charlie rolled his eyes and said "not her! My auntie Zoe! Come and see" He grabbed Willy by the arm and led him into the house.
Zoe had the entire Bucket family in hysterics over some story she was telling. Charlie grinned and whispered to Willy,
"She always did tell the best stories"
Willy was in awe of Zoe. He had never seen a creature so beautiful in his entire life. She turned and saw him and Charlie, so she walked over, blushing.
"Mr Wonka, I hope you don't think that I'm rude just coming into your factory uninvited but…" Zoe started.
"Nonsense, this is just as much Charlie's factory as it is mine." Willy replied.
There was an awkward silence, so Charlie decided to break the ice.
"Zoe, this is Willy" Charlie introduced the two who were looking at one another curiously.
"Good evening star shine, the Earth says hello!" Willy announced.
Zoe giggled softly and took Willy's hand to shake it. Willy didn't even make a face at this, which was extremely rare. Willy and Zoe didn't remove their hands, and Charlie raised his eyebrows and smirked at them.
Willy had an abrupt coughing fit while Zoe withdrew her hand laughing. Mrs Bucket chuckled and said
"Well, let's eat then."
They all ate in comfortable silence. Zoe commented saying how she hadn't eaten food this good since their last meal together before she left for India. Willy and Zoe kept looking at each other through dinner, and eventually Charlie kicked Willy under the table.
"Willy had something to ask you Zoe, about this Saturday" Charlie announced, hinting heavily at the ball.
Willy awkwardly smiled and said "Zoe, would you care to accompany me to the ball on Saturday night?"
Zoe blushed and said "I... I would be thrilled to Willy"
Willy gave her a soft smile and went back to eating.
