The following days went by in a blur. Charlie and Willy were caught up in a new invention while Mr. Buckett received a promotion.

The rest of the family was busy with their own chores and business, and no one seemed to notice that Willy Wonka had not seen daylight in seven days.

It didn't seem to faze him, however, except for an odd expression as he stood motionless by a window, thinking only of one thing.

Nina.

Her curly hair and sweet, shy smile.

The way she talked, the way her eyes sparkled, and her bright red nails.

Although they hadn't even exchanged one word together Willy couldn't get her out of his mind. He had been alone for so long he had even forgotten how to be social with a woman. All he could do was berate himself for not asking her, well, anything.

Especially when her shift was over, or when she had lunch, or if she knew where to find Juicy Fruity Bears.

But he knew he could never ask her anything. He didn't even expect to see her again. It was this feeling of utter loneliness that kept him at the window; the glass preventing him from any contact with anyone.

Other than Charlie. His friend; what an odd concept, and that family of his; another odd concept.

Willy had learned long ago that the best way to do something was by oneself. Parents got in the way of dreams, friends took up too much time, and any other contact was simply an annoyance.

Except Her.

That long ago girl who had held him and taught him that life didn't have to be a lonely experience. Life could be shared with someone, if that someone did not have parents.

Yes, parents spoiled everything.

Now Willy was content to daydream and run his factory and banish any thoughts of silly women from his mind.

Except that his daydreams continued to involve Nina, and his factory was pretty much handled by Oompa Loompas, and that left Willy with an inordinate amount of spare time.

He hated it. He tried to busy himself, creating new candies and strange combinations, and often listening to Charlies senile grandparents. What time he did not fill with activities he spent staring out windows; and even banging his head against one.

It was after these tremulous seven days that Charlie came home from school with a list.

It wasn't a major list, just some school project he needed to complete; but he wanted Willy to accompany him while he bought his supplies.

Willy protested, as usual, and as usual Charlie won. His father gave him some money as they headed out the door, and Charlie led Willy outside the factory gates. Charlie looked up at Willy as they walked, but neither of them said a word.

Charlie was just glad to have his boss outside; he had been acting strange for the past few days. They walked along the boulevard to one of the stores, and Willy waited while Charlie checked off his list.

"I need pipe cleaners and a shoebox, where can we get them?" Charlie asked as they left the store.

Willy did not respond but just shrugged. "Well, then I guess we'll go to the shoe store and I can..Oh, I don't have enough money." Charlie was counting his money in hopes of buying a new pair of shoes, but Willy was looking up the street at the toy and candy store.

Suddenly he handed Charlie a rather large bill and told him, "Go get yourself some nice shirts. Shoes. Well, whatever. I'll be in there."

Charlie watched in amazement as Willy walked past him to the store. Charlie had not forgotten Nina either, although he hadn't thought as much of her after their breif encounter.

He hoped against hopes that Willy was going to see her and not just wanting to go buy candy.

The door twinkled as it opened, and Willy stepped inside. He noticed they had a large banner that proclaimed "We now sell Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans."

He couldn't understand why anyone would want jellybeans that tasted like slugs, earwax, or liver. "That's rather icky." He muttered. Suddenly he heard a voice behind him. "Their actually pretty popular. It has to do with that whole Harry Potter phenomenon."

Willy stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Nina. "Eh, yeah, heh." He couldn't believe he could get tounge tied at such a time as this!

She was right before him, talking to him and looking at him and looking rather pretty while she looked at him.

Nina smiled as she asked, "Have you read them yet?" Willy blinked in confusion. "Read...The jellybeans?"

He usually only looked at the ingredients of chocolate to see if someone was trying to rip him off. He was sure no spy had gotten liver flavored jellybean recipes from his factory. "Oh, I meant the books, Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling."

Nina giggled and Willy shyly replied, "Oh, uh, I don't think so. The last book I read was Alice in Wonderland."

Nina's eyes sparkled as she said, "I love that story! It's so adorable, and the other one, Through the Looking Glass."

Willy smiled back and looked at Nina. "I liked Through the Looking Glass. Especially that poem Jabberwocky." Nina smiled and Willy giggled.

Suddenly Nina looked over at the counter and told him, "I'm so sorry, I need to get back to work. Is there anything you may need?" A man and his son were tapping the metal bell on the counter.

Willy nodded no, but inside his heart was twisting into many knots.

Nina raced over to the counter to help the customers, and Willy noticed how she gracefully swept the products into a bag and handed back the change. It seemed as if every movement were a dance, and he began to hum as Nina looked after another customer.

She looked at him when the line was empty, and Willy had to force his feet to follow him as he walked to her.

"Hey, um.,I.I gotta." What was he going to say? It seemed as if one look into Nina's eyes erased all thoughts from Willy's mind.

She glanced at the clock and then back at him. "I get a lunch break at 12. Then I work from 1 until 3. And I'm off on weekends." Willy wondered why she would tell him this, and he said, "That's nice."

Nina laughed a bit and looked at him. "Are you free after 3?"

All Willy could do was laugh and say, "Heh, that rhymes."

Nina laughed a bit more and Willy smiled. He said quietly, "I'd have to go home and check on my factory. Charlie can manage things. If..If..yo.you." Willy stumbled on what he was going to say.

Nina leaned over the counter and said, "If you want to have dinner tonight, then I know a small restaurant. They have great chocolate cheesecake."

Willy smiled and blurted out, "Super!"

Nina giggled as Willy pointed with his cane, "Can you meet me at the Factory gates? It's that big building over there." She nodded and replied, "I know where the factory is. I'll be there around 5."

Willy giggled as well and Nina waved while he walked away. He saw Charlie down the street and ran along the boulevard to tell him.