Chapter 8

Promotion

Rated: T

Warnings: Language

Disclaimer: Yo, Rohl Dahl and Tim Burton, I'll be borrowing your characters for a while. Don't worry, I'll have them dry-cleaned before I return them.

Them song for chapter: "Pretender" By Sarah Jaffe

A/N: Thank you to Arcane Wonders! You never fail to put a gigantic smile on my face with your constant reviews. :) And also, my favorite would probably be Tu As Disparu.


Before I knew it, it was Sunday. The week passed quickly and by the end of it, you could probably say that I was almost as quiet as Candice. That brief moment of friendliness, or whatever that was, had been forgotten.

I'd learnt to just shut up and ignore any taunts or smirks thrown my way. They weren't all from Mr. Wonka. When Kim and Hayden first saw my short hair, they'd snicker and tell me how much I looked like him, to my embarrassment. I didn't mind them, but the fact that I resembled that freak really irked me. Candice didn't really care, and Tim had stayed with me while it was being cut, so it wasn't anything new to him. On more than I few occasions, I'd look at the scissors sitting in my pencil case and consider cutting my hair again. I hated how straight and uniform and overall perfect it was. It reminded me too much of the factory. Of the Chocolatier himself. I'd come to appreciate imperfection in the past week.

In the end, it just wasn't worth the effort to retort. Mr. Wonka would always manage to come up with some crazy, irrational response, and then convince himself he's right. It was like arguing with a 5 year old child.


I woke up on Sunday morning to someone knocking on my door.

"One second." I called, groggily, lifting myself out of bed and donning my dressing gown. I walked to the door, attempting to smooth down my hair. Oh, right. My hand clutched at empty air. I opened the door.

"Morning!" Kim said cheerfully.

"Good morning." I replied, rubbing my eyes.

"Well, Tim, Hayden and I are going out to London today. We were wondering if you wanna come?" She asked. Oh right, we didn't have work today. It said on the Roster that we had Wednesdays and Sundays off. Kim and I had planned a trip out on Wednesday, but I backed out at the last minute, unnerved at the small crowd outside the gate.

"Oh, uh, no thanks. I've got a lot of stuff to do." I gestured to the mess behind me. I guess it was true. I really did need to clean my room, but I guess I just wanted some time to myself too.

"Aw, that's okay. Maybe you can come next time." She smiled and walked off down the hall. I closed the door.

After I'd showered, brushed my teeth and got changed, I walked out into the corridor, fiddling with my sleeves as I walked to the elevator. Fiddling with my sleeves was a new habit I had developed. I usually played with my hair, and now that it's all gone I found that my hands had far too much free time.

I pressed the button and the doors opened with I ding. I stepped in, and was just about to press the 'Cafeteria' button, when someone rounded the corner, stopping the doors with a graceful, latex covered hand. I tensed slightly, vaguely wondering what he had been doing on this floor. He smiled at me as he stepped in. I shuffled over to the side, allowing more room between us.

"Morning…" His grin faltered slightly. "Er- What's yer name again?" I suppressed a smile. This was the 5th time he had forgotten my name.

"It's Marsha."

"That's it! I knew it began with Marsh."

"I'm actually kidding. My name is nothing like Marsh. It's Alice." I said, smirking.

"Oh. Right. I knew it began with Ali." He giggled. "Where to?" He asked me.

"I'm going to the Cafeteria." I answered, and pressed the button.

"Mind if I join you?" I looked at him, surprised yet again.

"Okay." I said uncertainly.

The Wonkavator hurtled off to its destination. Mr. Wonka held onto his cane with both hands, smiling pleasantly.

The Wonkavator came to a stop, and the doors swooshed open with a ding. I stepped out, pulling my sleeves down over my hands. I usually did that when I was nervous. I saw with relief that Candice was sitting at one of the tables. God, it would have made it so much more awkward if we were alone. I smiled at her, and went to get my breakfast. I didn't like the way it felt to be watched. Once I'd gotten all that I needed, I sat down at the table. Mr. Wonka sat on the seat opposite me.

"Aren't you getting anything?" I asked skeptically.

"Nope." He answered brightly.

I tried to avert my eyes while nibbling on my piece of toast, feeling horribly self conscious.

"Is there a purpose for this..?" I eventually asked. I felt increasingly nervous.

The fact that he would ask to join me for breakfast, not even eat anything, and just sit there was actually kinda fucked up now that I thought about it.

"Just got bored. So how do you like the factory so far?" He smiled at me expectantly, his purple eyes widening.

"It's nice." I lied. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that I was scared of a building.

"Excellent. And actually, I did have a reason. You forgot this." He reached into his coat and pulled out a black book, putting it on the table and pushing it forward. How the heck he fit the book into his coat was beyond me.

"Oh! My sketchbook." On Friday I had 'Squirrel Watching' by myself. Hayden had it on Tuesday and warned me it was extremely boring and uneventful, and told me that I should bring something to occupy myself. I must have left it behind. I reached forward and pulled it towards me. "Thanks."

"When I found it in the 'Nut Sorting' room, I admit curiosity overcame me. I apologize if it was mean to be private."

Even though I would show total strangers my drawings, I felt kind of embarrassed.

"Don't worry. I show anyone who asks." I mumbled, glancing down.

"Your drawings have a lot of.." Mr. Wonka paused, trying to think of a suitable word. He clicked his fingers. "Spunk! Yeah. Which is why I'm offering you a promotion, of sorts. Do ya think you'll be good at designing candy wrappers?"

"I guess, but I'm-"

"Super!" He cut in. "Meet me in the Inventing Room on Monday. We'll discuss it more, then." He abruptly stood up, grabbing his cane.

"See ya!"

Mr. Wonka walked off quickly, not letting me finish my sentence.

"Not that good." I continued to myself.

I finished my toast silently, blushing. I wasn't quite sure why I was blushing.


I apologize if Willy seems out of character. Just imagine him making weird hand gestures and facial movement. He'll be good as new. Works every time.