"Willy…..Willy…..WILLY!" Carmen ran through the schools hallways trying to catch up with the young boy, she needed to apologies to him and quickly. Willy really didn't want to have anything to do with the girl, not after what she had put him through the night before but he was actually in a very good and unusual mood so he turned on his heel, "What do you want WestBerry?" His words were full of mischief and venom which made Carmen stop dead in her tracks as his tone threw her off. Frowning she approached him carefully, "I-uhm-Well-"he seemed very fidgety and as if he were glowing from head to toe, it was strange to see him like this it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders somehow, "-I just wanted to let you know that I am no longer talking to those stupid gits, and I yelled at each one of them before leaving last night. I am so so sorry that they treated you the way they did and said what they said. I just wanted to let you know that they told me everything Terrance had said to you and I don't agree with any of it. I went home in tears after screaming at the top of my lungs. I really hope that just because they said all of that you really don't think I feel that way...I think you are a fantastic and sweet as all be person that deserves to have just as many friends as the next person. I shouldn't have left you alone with them, I should have seen it coming, again I am really sorry, and if you never ever want to talk to me ever again I completely understand but please just promise me one thing, never ever change, okay? You are an amazing person, no matter how shy you may be, I know deep down inside you just want someone to care about and want to listen to you…I am one of those people Willy, but like I said, if you don't want to talk to me ever again…that's fine." She breathed heavily, sure she talked a lot most of the time, but never this much, she just hoped what she had just said to him made sense.

Willy listened thoughtfully during her speech and smiled more and more through out the whole thing, she said she cared about him and thought he was sweet, no one, not even his own father had ever said anything like that to him. Sure he was still mad about what had happened during the previous evenings events but he felt he could forgive her after such a frantic and sensitive outburst. Walking over to her he carefully placed a finger on her lips, a shock running up and down his spine as he never thought he'd come this close to her, "Carmen, shhh! I forgive you! Its alright, I understand, I am sorry I was so short with you yesterday." He sighed, "Will you take a walk with me, please?" Not expecting him to react like this at all, let alone place a finger on her lips to quiet her she agreed immediately, "yeah, sure., Something on your mind?" He laughed, "Yeah, quiet a bit actually but I don't want to talk about it here." Cameron nodded, this was very understandable after what he had been through in the past twenty four hours and she appreciated that he was actually willing to talk to her which made her oblige right away.

The two left the school and ended up just walking around until Willy found a bench he seemed to be comfortable and sat down, patting the spot next to him, "Sit with me, please?" Cameron sat down next to him and looked at him intently, "okay, go ahead, shoot, what's on your mind."

Taking a deep breathe Willy explained to her how his father treated him terribly which was the reason he had such a hard time making friends with people but he knew how his father acted was wrong which is why he always tried to act so kind to everyone regardless of what they thought of him or what they did but after a while it got to be to much for him so he wouldn't even bother to talk to people. He also admitted to not being allowed any candy, every, because of his fathers profession so going to trick-or-treating was hard enough for him and with the thought of people making fun of him it had made him sick to his stomach. He also made sure to thank her a million times over for when she tried to apologize to him, she made him the happiest person alive and like he actually had someone that could care about him in his life finally.

When he finished explaining all of this and in the detail he used she couldn't help it, without even thinking she grabbed him by the sides and took him into a big bear hug, "oh Willy, I am so sorry, I had no clue! You should have said something before! I promise, I will always be here for you, no matter what, I am serious. If you ever need me or want to get away from your dad, just let me know okay? I will do anything to try and put a smile on that cute face of yours!" She stopped, "Hey wait a second, even though you were mad at me before I came to apologize to you, you had the biggest smile I think I have ever seen on you and it wasn't because of your braces, something must have made you happy between last night and before school, spit it out." He tapped her on the shoulder, face turning purple from lack of oxygen, "Uhm…I'd be more then happy to, but would you let me go first?" Her warmth felt so good against his cold skin and when she let go it made him sad but he continued smiling none the less, he had a friend he could share things with now and nothing could make him happier.

He cleared his throat, an even bigger smile creeping across his face, "Remember how I said my father forbade me from eating any type of candy, especially chocolate?"

Carmen nodded, "yes, so that's more so depressing then anything…almost evil if you ask me."

"Right, well when he threw all of my candy into the fire he must have missed one, because as I was cleaning the fireplace I found a piece. He wasn't home so I ate it. Before I even swallowed it I knew I was in love with the stuff, it's such an amazing taste, the texture, the sugar, and everything about it is so perfect!"

Carmen watched as Willy's eyes lit up and she beamed, "That's just it! That's what you need, some sugar!" She stood up, "All we need is to get you some candy here and there and it might make things a little easier for you!"

Willy thought for a moment and stood up next to her, "I like that idea, a lot, but where do I get all the candy from?"

Laughing she patted him on the shoulder, "Oh Willy, leave that part to me, I will introduce you to all kinds of candy, your going to love every piece of it, I promise!"

Nodding he shook her hand, "thank you Carmen, you are truly one of the nicest people I have ever met, I don't know that anyone else in the world would be so understanding or do any such thing for me. I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart, but now I must go, my father wont like that I am out late. I will see you tomorrow though. What if we meet in the school library after classes are over? I can tell him I joined a study group so that way you and I can talk everyday and I wont get in trouble." She giggled and agreed, "I like that idea Willy, you're a genius! Okay tomorrow afternoon right after school, you better be there!"

The next few months were great, they met at the library every day as planned which was open a few hours after school each day so they had plenty of time to talk to each other about anything they could possibly want. On some days of the library would close an hour or two earlier then normal so they would go for walks, the first one they went on was an adventure in itself for as promised, Willys new best friend got him candy.

Walking along a cobblestone path of an alleyway Carmen stopped suddenly. Willy hadn't noticed at first so he continued to walk at a brisk pace. "So I was watching Ivan in the school yard today and it looked as if he were going to fall flat on his fa-Carmen?" He turned on his heel to see her holding a big box of something at this point, she must have hide it in her backpack, "What is that?" He asked her quizzically. Beaming the girl shoved it into his hands, not saying a thing. Staring blankly at her he laughed aloud, "What do you want me to do with this? It seems awfully heavy." She snickered, "How about opening it genius? That's got to be the first thing I would do with a gift." Someone could be heard shouting Carmen's name in the distance, "oh goodness, now mother? Really," she said to herself as Willy continued to stare at the box, "look Willy apparently my mom wants me home for dinner a little earlier then normal today which really makes me mad because I didn't want to miss you seeing what's inside that thing, but promise me you are going to open it, and waaaay before you step foot in your house, promise me!" She had already started walking away, still facing him. Willy nodded, "Sure thing, of course." With this she ran off to go and talk to her mom to see what she wanted.

At this point it was just Willy and the gift he was given, he was never given a gift before, not even for his birthday so this was a big thing for him. Anxiously he unwrapped the string from off of the box and tore at the tape. Finally opening it he wanted to scream with delight, she had gotten him pound upon pound of chocolate and it looked like a boat load of other candies. Why was she so sweet to him, he felt he didn't deserve someone as nice and special as her. His face felt as if it were burning up and he had a huge smile on his face, he felt even happier then he had the very first time he had had chocolate, he felt so strongly for Carmen at this point he almost couldn't stand it. He almost had the urge to go find her, run up and give her a great big kiss, pick her up, hug her, and spin her around as many times as he could before almost dropping her. His heart was swelling up so much he almost completely forgot about the sweets themselves. After composing himself and realizing he was getting a few strange looks from people passing by he took a deep breath and picked out one of the biggest piece of chocolate he could find. Biting into the candy he found himself in a whole different world which was full of joy, amazement, and wonder.

A few days passed and the friends routine continued all the while Willy had to try and hide his new found feelings for his very dear friend as she continuously gave him gifts of candy since she could tell they made him that much happier. One day, when once again the library closed early and they wanted to continue the conversation they were having they ended up in a big grassy field, laying down looking up at the gloomy sky.

Willy shifted and got a little closer to her as she asked him a question, "So Willy, ever have any dreams that stood out to you? I know it's a strange question, I've been having a really weird one for a few weeks now, ever since I got you hooked on all the candy actually." As she giggled to herself Willy actually sat up and grinned, "Not entirely but I have dreamt a couple of times about becoming a world famous candy maker, I've had that dream every so often before, that's the only one that sticks out. Why what kind of dream are you referring to? It isn't a nightmare is it?" He stroked one of her arms in an affectionate caring sort of way.

Carmen shook her head as she stared at a cloud that was quickly passing by, reacting kindly to his touch by smiling but not necessarily at him. "I don't know, it's the weirdest thing. I end up in this huge room, but its nothing normal. Its as if the outside world, were brought in doors, but everything is edible! The grass, the trees, the vines, everything. Everything in this room looks like a beautiful picture of nature but its all made out of chocolate or candy. There's this great big grassy hill in the middle of it and the sides are made of chocolate, it actually got a chocolate river that goes in the middle and the side of the room, the best part of the river though? Its made of chocolate! Pure milk chocolate runs from this humongous waterfall and down to the river…its so beautiful! There are pumpkin patches, chocolate trees, candy trees, candy mushrooms, oh Willy its amazing!" She stopped but then started again before the drooling Willy could even say a word, "AND best of ALL of it! There is also this HUGE pink boat that can float through the river, it must be able to carry at least fifty people in it! Its like a magical fantasy land…I just wish I could actually interact with it, like walk around…but for some reason I only see it, as if I were in a stupid helicopter or something and I couldn't get out..but doesn't that sound wonderful? I'm surprised you have never dreamt of anything like that!" She fell over in a fit of giggles thinking about the dream she had .

Willy looked at her astonished, "Wow." He looked around as if trying to think up the right words to say, but he had nothing, "that's…amazing. You just randomly dreamt that whole thing up one night? It keeps coming back?"

Carmen nodded in complete delight, "I wish I could show it to you!"

He ruffled her hair, "I wish I had an imagination like yours..that just sounds delightful. I would never want to wake up!"

As the two continued talking it grew darker and darker outside and Willy knew his father would have his head if he got home to late, "look Carmen, its getting really late, my dad's going to kill me if I don't get home soon."

Standing up she took her hand and placed it in his jacket pocket, she had some new mints she wanted him to give a try once he got home and out of his fathers view. Willy flinched a little as she placed the candy in his jacket, "hey that tickled! I will try them when my dads asleep, promise. See you on Monday! Have a nice weekend my dear." Before walking away he grabbed her by the hands, twirled her around and took her into a tight embrace, one filled with warmth like she had never received before. "Good night Willy, try thinking about what I told you and see if it pops up in a dream, believe me, the place is magical!"

Within a few minutes both were separated, Carmen in her nice and warm home and Willy meeting up with a livid father.