Chapter Six: Success!

'Yes!'

James was twirling Thomas around in sheer delight in the snow when they'd gotten away from the chocolatier and were far away enough to make fools out of themselves. Thomas was making sounds of discomfort as he was a little easy to make nauseas; his flushed pale cheeks a little off colour.

'Whoa! Whoa…James! Slow down will you?!' he exclaimed. 'I'm about to be sick!'

Finnegan slowed down, out of breath and just as flustered as his friend. They both stood there for a while getting their breath back before finally deciding to head back to James' place – his parents didn't mind random visitors, they were so laid back that they were organized.

MWMW

When they got back, they'd shut themselves into the muddy blonde's room with two mugs of hot chocolate and were cross-legged on the carpeted floor talking quietly amoungst themselves in excitement. They'd done their hoodies right up to the beginning of their next, as James' house was exactly the warmest place.

'I can't believe we managed to convince him!' the boy whispered, literally bouncing of the floor.

His friend simply grinned and shook his head, slowly sipping the warm liquid down his throat.

'By pure luck!

'Hey, it wasn't for our pure luck, he would have never agreed! I always thought he was a man of stone or somethin'. He always seemed to brush us off without really taking on board what we were saying. But, mate! You obviously did something for him to melt like that!' James told Thomas, his brown eyes narrowing.

His friend thought about it for a second, his eyebrows furrowed. 'Hm…yeah, you're right' Green eyes stared back into brown. 'Mr. Wonka did look…a little startled. It was like he noticed us properly for the first time' Sands agreed with a brief nod.

'Do you remember when he said we'd be going?' James asked blankly, gulping down his hot drink and almost choked as he burnt his throat and tongue.

Thomas clicked his tongue and leaned over to pat his friend upon the shoulder blades. 'Careful! Yeah, he said in a couple of day's time. He said to meet by the gates at 10 o'clock sharp'

'Do you think we should tell our parents'?' the blonde boy inquired, with a concerned expression on his face. He got a shrug in response.

'Since when do our parents' care where we're going when there's no school and snow around?' the dark haired friend questioned back, raising an eyebrow, placing his drink down onto the carpet.

Steam was coming out of it as he continued. 'They'd just think we've gone to have a snowball fight with the gang from school, it'll be no big deal'

'Yeah…guess you're right' Finnegan agreed, nodding and taking a smaller sip this time.

MWMW

Two days time. 10 o'clock sharp.

The boy's could hear their hearts racing incredibly fast. The heartbeats echoing inside their ears. Both had to meet up an hour early by the church, and by mistake lost track of time – they had to run towards the large iron gates. The weather hadn't improved by much; the sky was still filled with white, thick clouds, like a cotton blanket; which matched the ground so very well.

Only difference was that the weather was surprisingly less colder than before; so they didn't have to dress up so warmly. The gloves and scarves remained, along with the hats but that was all. People were passing by and without noticing them standing by the gates; they could have thought the boys were just meeting there for normal reasons – many kids did that.

9:55.

James was checking his watch regularly. They had five minutes. In the past couple of days, everything had gone immensely quiet about Willy Wonka's chocolate factory contest and tour. The fourth or fifth child hadn't been found just yet – or if they had, it was kept quiet.

'You don't think he's cancelled on us, do you?' Finnegan found himself whispering in panic, biting his lower lip and beginning to chew – it was a habit of his when he couldn't feel calm.

'Don't be stupid! Of course he hasn't!' Thomas whispered back reassuringly. 'Mr. Wonka looks like the kind of guy to keep his word, more than the people that betrayed him!'

'He didn't keep his word when the news got out that he'd closed the factory "forever". It's fifteen years on and he's reopened it!" James retorted, leaning over, hands in pockets.

'He had his reasons to reopen it, didn't he?' Sands asked back, and this time didn't get a response. He'd proven his point. 'The one thing I'm worried about is if he does something completely embarrassing and notifies we're coming in—'

Thomas didn't get a chance to finish his sentence, as the gate was opened very carefully. Both boys were stunned and looked at each other. Looking around, they couldn't see who'd come out to open the gates manually. James looked over his shoulder to check no one else was watching before the boys decided to slip in unnoticed.

They shut the gate closed and headed towards the entrance, still looking around for that invisible person. It was Thomas's turn to check the time. 9:59. Huh. Time sure does go quickly when you're arguing he found himself thinking as their feet crunched in the snow. Only a minute to go until they were allowed inside.

'D'ya reckon the gate was automated?' Finnegan inquired, only to get a shrug in response. 'Gee, you're intelligent today!'

'Shut up!' Thomas hissed, frowning as they came to the steps. He was still dreading something stupid was going to happen as that long, agonizing minute still went by.

It was his turn to start biting away in nervousness.

10:00

Sands' green eyes glanced down at his wrist watch when the beeping alarm went off, at the same time as James. They gulped in unison as they turned their heads at the same of one of the invisible large grey doors opening slowly.

Their heartbeats raced once more as they observed from a distance to see who was opening it. Finnegan breathed out in relief when the familiar figure of Willy Wonka stepped from behind the door, beaming at them with that perfect smile. He was still dressed oddly.

'You guys ready?' he asked enthusiastically, and the boy's nodded in unison.

'Come on, then!' he chuckled, and lead them inside.

Wonka followed the boy's movements from behind dark shades as he closed the door behind themselves and followed. Because where they were so quite dark he almost walked into them. He gasped at the contact and frowned as he looked into the direction of where Thomas and James were looking.

'Oh! That's the puppet show for the tour!'

'Puppet show?' Thomas scoffed in amusement, frowning and turning towards Willy. 'You mean like Punch and Judy?'

'Of course not, my dear boy! My puppet show is much better!' the confectioner confirmed before he nudged the two along. 'Go on, in you go! Mind the curtains!'

'Ah!' James, as the chocolatier warned those words was struggling in the curtains directing into the large entrance hall. Both Thomas and Wonka had to help him out, to Finnegan relief.

'Bloody hell!' he gasped, taking off his hat and neatening his hair out a little before re-adding the hat again, frowning.

'Mind you're language, young man!' Wonka warned, frowning and removing his sunglasses, well, more like goggles. He was revealing his odd violet eyes again.

Both boys by now had taken off their coats as the heat was incredible compared to outside – it was like walking into an oven. Beads of sweat were on their faces.

'Tell us again why you allowed us to see the factory?' Thomas inquired, just about going to place his coat neatly on the golden pole which started at the very long, scarlet red carpet. It was like walking on the Red Carpet from the award ceremonies.

'Don't worry about where you put your coats!' Willy stated before answering the question, 'To be honest…I have no idea. I just…couldn't say no, you know?' he shrugged. 'There was something in your eyes I hadn't seen in a person for a…very long time'

James and Thomas stared at the man in both confusion and sympathy as he admitted this to them, complete strangers.

'Honesty?' Sands asked once he thought what that could be.

'…Yeah' the older man trailed off before beaming his false smile. 'Well, let's get busy looking around this old thing!' he quickly changed the subject, and very soon the three were walking towards a door.

They found themselves crouching down, and Thomas instantly frowned as something was ticking away in his mind. There was something very familiar about this setting – he just couldn't put his finger on it.

'Let's start with the Chocolate Room!' Willy Wonka announced, trying to find his key from the big ring of them. His latex gloved hands flickering through them in concentration.

'This room is the room I consider the heart of the factory! Where everything chocolatety happens! Heh!' he found himself giving his manic little giggle again, but quickly cleared his throat when he thought he found the key.

Sands had leaned down even more when he saw the door was incredibly small. His green eyes narrowed in curiousity. '…What's up with the door? It's tiny'

Wonka paused and glanced towards it and simply grinned. Though, there were alarm bells ringing. He was noticing the boy's expressions when they were crouching low – like he was remembering something. 'L-like I said…to keep the chocolatety things inside!'

To his relief, the boy simply nodded in understand. By this time, the confectioner had found the key. 'You ready?'

James and Thomas nodded excitedly and Willy Wonka beamed and leaned down to unlock the small door.