This time, the news of a discovery of a Golden Ticket had reached both the Prinzmetel and the Beauregarde households in the early morning, as both were only preparing to go to school. This time, they talked about a British girl named Veruca Salt who was the child of an actual businessman, unlike what Mr. Beauregarde was pretending to be, and had gotten her Golden Ticket by simply asking her father. Well, what could he do. He took it up with his employees, who were shelling nuts, and they began shelling the cases of Wonka bars instead. There was little luck, and Veruca had gotten angrier, especially after she discovered that the first ticket was already found, but thankfully for the family, everything had a happy end... sort of.
"So she cheated." Violet noted while watching the scene.
"Well, if you were doping during any of your championships you would be disqualified. Not sure what this contest runs on, though." Mrs. Beauregarde remarked.
That day, the formula at the school that Violet and Cornelia attended was almost the same. Violet handed Cornelia more Wonka bars, teachers tried to bring to Violet's attention her lack of progress at school, Violet brought up the fact that if she doesn't participate, she doesn't lose... except now there was another ingredient, namely people drawing Cornelia and Augustus as a couple due to a careless yet powerful comment.
Everyone had drawn pictures of Cornelia and Augustus together... except Violet, which brought her Arts teacher's attention in particular.
"Violet, why is it that you're so disinterested in the affairs of our school?"
"First of all, where do you think these Wonka bars that Cornelia has all the time come from? And second, maybe now I heard about Veruca and now ship Cornelia and Veruca together."
"Veruca..."
"Yes, Veruca Salt. The second Golden Ticket winner. Haven't you heard?"
"Of course I have heard - everyone has heard. The news seem to be talking about Wonka's contest and Wonka's contest only."
"Glad we're on an agreement. Now, if you excuse me, if you really want a drawing by me, we'll have one." Violet took a piece of paper, some colored pencils and began drawing.
Nearing the end of the Arts lesson, Violet was finished. She signed it and showed it to her teacher.
"Excuse me... it isn't Cornelia and Augustus... nor is it Cornelia and Veruca?"
"Let's face it: that comment was only a joke. The only relationship that really has any prospect is Cornelia and me. Look, I finally gave her the last Wonka bar that came out of this ordeal. I didn't win the Golden Ticket, but that is of no matter as I have raked up some thousand other achievements."
"Your ideas are very interesting, Violet."
"It is only a straight line of improvement."
Meanwhile, Cornelia's life had begun spiraling down. Her parents finally had the bright idea of not letting her to school at all for the following days, because that way not only she couldn't be bullied, but also Violet couldn't continue her passive-aggressive maneuvers.
Instead, Cornelia was studying at home. For her, whatever was for the lessons was a nice distraction from the social life that she had no chance of going back into. Not while the Wonka contest was ongoing.
She briefly gave another thought on the Wonka contest and how Violet effectively ruined her life before immersing herself into the school subjects again.