Disclaimer: I know nothing nor any of the creations of this wonderful story/movie. That belongs to the original creator, Ronald Dahl. A wonderful writer whom I'd never steal from. Heehee. Enjoy my version of it though.
Veruca Salt stood outside the gates of the Chocolate Factory that she had entered a mere ten years ago. She had long grown up since then. Since that fateful day, things had changed drastically. Her father's nut business hit a rough spot at one point, driving her father to drink. He'd grow violent when he drank too much or just sulk in his study. As for her mother, the woman was too busy with her charities and her parties to care much.
So after the day in the factory, her father had grown a backbone and stopped bending to her very whim. As he so eloquently put it, if she didn't stop demanding everything, he'd beat it out of her. After a few rough drunk beatings, she kept her mouth closed. Now she stopped caring about having everything. In fact, she had given most of her things she had gained away.
As to why she was at the factory that she had foolishly tried to catch that damn squirrel was for a simple reason. She had been horrible to Mr. Wonka and the other children. Instead of hunting down those other four children, she decided to go the source. After all he had let them into his factory after all. The thanks she had given him were nothing more than rude response and spoiled attitudes.
There was an intercom at the door gates. Veruca went over to them and pushed the button. Static sparked out from it before a deep male voice of an Oompa Loompa answered.
"Hello. How may I help you?" asked the deep voice of the Oompa Loompa.
"Hi. I would like to see the owner of this chocolate factory if I may," responded Veruca.
"Do you have an appointment?" asked the voice again.
"No, but I can assure you he will want to see me," replied Veruca.
The gates buzzed and slowly swung open. The Oompa Loompa told her to enter and go to the front gates where he's let her in. As she walked up the familiar path, she remembered walking that same path so many years ago. Oh, how she wanted to be the first one in. Now she couldn't see why she had so desperately wanted to.
At the front doors, an Oompa Loompa waited for her. He opened the doors wide for her and took her coat. With a slight of his hand, he showed her to the middle of the hall. It hadn't changed much over the years. It was this very hall that she had stood in trying to suck up to the weird man.
"He'll be with you in a moment. Wait here." With that said, the Oompa Loompa disappeared into the shadows just like they were known to do.
As she waited in the hall, she looked about, remembering her time that was spent there. There was the overweight boy from Germany, the gum chewer from Georgia, the uninterested boy from Texas, and a poor from the very same area as the factory. What was his name? He and the boy from Texas where the ones left after she exited through the garbage shoot.
"May I help you?" asked a young voice with a remarkable British accent from behind her. "I was told that I would want to see you."
Spinning around, Veruca came face to face with a young man a mere few months younger than her. It was not the face of Willy Wonka. It fact it was a young man with an adorable smile, bright brown eyes and shaggy brown hair. His face still held that boyish charm it once did in his youth. To her, he looked vaguely familiar. Where had she seen him before? "Who are you?"
The young man smiled, as he looked her over. Did she not know? After all she had asked for him. "I am the owner of this chocolate factory."
"No you aren't. Willy Wonka is," stated Veruca, putting her hands on her hips. This was Wonka's Chocolate Factory. It said so on the sign outside. This was the very same place she had gone to as a child. So, where was he?
"I am the new owner of Wonka's Factory. Willy retired nine years ago," answered the young man.
"Wait. I think I know you!" exclaimed Veruca. She stepped closer to him, peering at him. "Charlie? Charlie Bucket, is that you?"
The young man backed up a bit. He looked her over once again; taking in her tight faded black jeans, a midnight blue long sleeved shirt that had a giant cat on the front. The woman in front of him had wavy brown hair that was done in a messy ponytail, deep blue eyes and clear skin. There was no scowl on her face, just a soft smile. It couldn't be. "Veruca Salt?"
"Yes, that's me. I can't believe it. You own this now?" she asked, twirling around to emphasis her point. The factory was huge and full of unusual things waiting to be seen.
"Yea, I do. Sorry I didn't recognize you," he stammered.
Veruca laughed as she realized what he was saying. He probably thought she was still a spoiled brat. Thank gods she had gotten out of that. It was part of what she called her horrible years. A place she did not wish to go back to. "I know. I'm not acting like a spoiled little brat, aren't I. Father decided it was best to beat it out of me."
Charlie gasped as he looked at her once again. "I'm so sorry. I-I didn't know."
"It's ok, Charlie." She smiled at him as if silently saying she was all right after all. "How did you come into possession of Wonka's factory?"
"Oh, that was the prize he had offered. I won, Veruca," smiled Charlie, as he opened his arms. All of it was his. All that they had seen and tasted was his. That new chocolate that had come out was all his doing.
"Oh, my stars! Charlie, that's amazing! I'm so glad it was you who won!" she cried as she ran over to him to give him a huge hug. To say the least, he was surprised at her boldness. After all she had hated him from the second they met and now she was hugging him. Not to mention, she was happy for him.
Nonetheless he hugged her back, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist. This new young woman was definitely an improvement that he liked. "Thanks, Veruca. But I thought you hated me."
A blush arose on her face as she backed away from him. That's right. When she was younger, she hated the other winners since they stood in her way of the prize. But she was older now and learned her lesson or lessons. "When I was younger, I acted like I did. But I have done some growing up. I'm sorry for whatever I did to you. Forgive me?"
"Only if you can apologize to Willy first," he inquired with a slight smirk on his face that she failed to notice.
His tone got her all flustered. Of course she wanted to apologize to Willy. That was why she had come in the first place. He had been an extra, a bonus if one where to say. "Of course. That was why I came in the first place. I wanted to tell him that I was sorry for what I did in his factory ten years ago. Believe me, Charlie."
It shocked her to see him laugh. There he was standing in front of her, wiping his eyes from the tears of laughter that fell. He sobered up when he saw they hurt look cross over her eyes. "Veruca, I have forgiven you. I have always figured it was more of your parents doing than anything."
"Oh. Don't do that to me, Charlie. You had me believing you," she scolded playfully. They were getting along like old friends almost. It was amazing how many years spent apart that they cold just pick it up like that.
Another playful smirk filled his face. He reached out for her hand and spoke, "Come. Let's go see Willy. He will be so happy to see you."
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