Everyone, I apologize for the wait, but real life has been taking its toll on me and my time to work on this project. However, I am glad to say that finally, I have a few chapters ready to go and I will be posting them one at a time every couple of weeks until I am caught up to where I am in my rewriting process. Due to the rules of Fanfiction, I have deleted the original posting and am starting it fresh. As always, I hope you all enjoy, and feel free to leave a few comments!

Chapter 1: On the Bus

This is a story about an ordinary teenager named Charlie Bucket. He was not faster, or smarter, or cleverer than any other people at his age. There was only one thing that differed him from the rest. This fact was that five years previous, he had been on a tour in a chocolate factory, and when it was over, he had won the factory itself. This wasn't your ordinary chocolate factory, however. It just so happened to be Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory.

This year Charlie had turned fourteen, the year when most teens leave elementary schools and go on to high school. Now, even though he lived in one of the most renowned factories in the world, it happened to be in a small town where the only school was an elementary school. There was a high school that Charlie would be attending in the next town over, but that town was thirty miles away. Thankfully the school did supply transportation from his town to the school.

Charlie closed the gates of the factory, locking it tight to ensure more security. He then walked down the road that stretched from the factory to the lot where his old house once stood. This was the place where the bus would stop to pick up the kids. Charlie happened to arrive just before the bus was leaving, and he quickly boarded what he liked to call, "the Giant Twinkie."

Charlie went to the back of the bus to take one of the seats there. He refused to sit with the other people because he knew what would happen. For the past five years, whenever he was going to school, he would be stopped by other children who would pester him about life inside the factory. Charlie knew he could not answer their questions, and so he tried desperately to avoid any contact with other people, even if it meant sitting in a seat beside that of a couple who seemed to be eating each other's faces.

Charlie looked out the window as the bus left his town and headed out into the countryside. His nervousness in what this new chapter in his life would bring melted away as he watched the greenery roll by. His mind then shifted to the many inventions he and Willy were working on. His mind was so caught up in the sweet delicacies and surprises that he hadn't noticed the bus stop at the end of a dirt road and pick up a lone passenger.

The new arrival headed to the back and looked over the available seats. As they noticed the couple who were now groping at each other with such ferocity that it seemed they were having a battle more than a make out session. "God, get a room," the person said. They then turned to Charlie, who was still in his little dreamland. "Is this seat taken?" they asked.

Charlie jumped at the voice. He turned to see the stranger, who he could tell was female by her voice. He was rather confused by the choice of dress, however. She was wearing a ski mask and a hoodie even though it was boiling outside. Her lower body displayed a knee length skirt and fishnet leggings over what appeared to be dark blue sweats. Jeez, she must be dying of heat, Charlie thought to himself. He looked down and saw leather boots that went halfway up her calf.

"Hey kid, are you deaf?" she asked. "Is this seat taken?"

"Oh, not at all!" Charlie said in a slightly startled tone.

"Cool. Now scoot. I'm calling the window seat."

Charlie had always been raised to be polite, kind, and unselfish, so he smiled as he stood to let the girl take her preferred seat. As she took her spot, she dropped her backpack to the floor and threw her feet up to rest on the backrest of the seat in front. Charlie wasn't completely sure, but this girl's behavior gave him a sense of déjà vu, as though he knew her, even if his memories of their previous meeting were vague.

Little did Charlie know, but he stood and blankly stared as he tried to recall if he had met the stranger. She turned her masked face to him and said, "Hey, you gonna sit or what? I'm not gonna bite you, ya know."

Charlie quickly sat back down, facing the front of the bus. The girl must have noticed his nervousness, because she asked, "So kid, this your first day at River Valley? I don't think I saw you here last year."

Charlie nodded without looking at her. He felt it would be rude to stare at her while trying to figure out who this person could be. Her only clue to him was her voice, and it was driving him a bit crazy that it wasn't ringing any bells, especially since it sounded familiar to him. The fact that she seemed to be unwilling to remove her unnecessary garb wasn't helping.

"Well, kid," she said as she began twirling her hand in a matter-of-fact kind of way, "you just take it from me. Should you draw any unwanted attention, just lie low and you'll get through alright. Not much comes from sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

She then put her hand on his shoulder, which he turned his head to look at. "Believe me, rookie, I had to learn that lesson the hard way."

Charlie didn't respond, as he was fixated on the hand on his shoulder. It was in a fingerless glove, and he saw that the fingers underneath were the same dark shade as her sweats. They had to be her fingers, because he could see the lines and wrinkles that no gloves could provide. The girl seemed to take notice as she quickly removed her hand and turned to look out the window. With this brief opportunity, Charlie slyly took a closer look at the portion of her leg that was not covered by skirt or boot.

The leg was the exact same color as her fingers.

Suddenly, it dawned on him who this girl was.

"By the way, what is your name kid?" the girl asked, without even turning to look at him.

"Charlie," he said. He felt it wouldn't be a wise thing to give his full name, just in case his assumptions were correct.

"Charlie, huh? I once met a Charlie. He seemed like a decent kid, I suppose. A bit of a goody-two-shoes if you ask me."

Charlie was certain now of who this person was. He was still uncertain if he should fully disclose his identity. He chose better as he asked, "How did you meet this Charlie guy?"

The girl sat silent for a moment. Then she turned to him and asked "What's up with all the questions?"

Shrugging, Charlie answered, "Just figured I'd like to have a friend when I get to this school."

"Uh huh…" was the response she gave him. "Well to be honest, it was only by a complete random chance I met that guy."

"How long ago?"

"It's been a long time since then. About five years, maybe?"

"Five years? You're making it sound like you were one of the winners of that Golden Ticket contest that one time!"

The girl remained quiet from the last statement. Charlie could tell he had just pushed a little too hard with that one.

Suddenly, she reached up and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him in close, seeming to scrutinize his face.

"What game are you playing, kid? You're really getting on my nerves with all these fucking questions."

Fear crept into Charlie's very soul as he began to quickly, if not quietly, beg, "Violet, please! It's me, Charlie! You know, from the tour! The goody-two-shoes!" She continued to glare, so he added, "Please don't hit me."

She held him for what seemed to be an eternity from his standpoint, her glare never ceasing. She finally softened her look (only slightly) and let him go. As she leaned back and rested her head on the window, she said, "God, I really hoped I would never have to see any of you again. Especially you." She then lifted her head, reached up and removed her hood and ski mask, revealing the face underneath.

In Charlie's opinion, Violet Beauregarde had barely changed. Her skin from head to toe was blue, as was her hair. Charlie knew the reasoning behind this, but he hated to think of it. The thought of what she went through was enough to give even him a nightmare or two. Upon a closer inspection, he saw that her face was slightly more matured, and she seemed to have lost the baby fat that he had seen her have when they were on the factory tour.

Charlie was unsure what to say, but he figured silence was not the best option. "I think I know why you wouldn't want to see me," he tried. "Was it because I was the one who beat you in the competition?"

Violet gave a small look of surprise before she smiled and gave a small chuckle. "Wow, Chuck, you got that all wrong."

Charlie was baffled by her answer, as when he had met her she had been focused on victory. This proved to be her downfall, as her pride got the best of her that eventful day. Once again, Charlie stopped his mind from thinking of the horror she went through. "If that's not it," he said, "then why would you not want to see me?"

Violet sighed, turned quickly and opened the window before responding, "Actually, it's because you are the only one who I would be embarrassed to see. You, of all people, tried to be nice to me and I just shoved you off like a jerk."

Charlie saw that she was blushing a bit as she turned back around. "Violet, you don't need to be embarrassed to see me," he reassured her. "It's not like me living in the factory now makes me "holier than thou,' or anything!"

Violet shrugged as she pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her right hoodie pocket. Charlie watched as she tapped one out and pulled a lighter from her other pocket and lit it. "Uh… What are you doing?" he asked.

Violet took a drag and blew the smoke out the window before she asked "You know what people say about how chewing gum can help you stop smoking?"

"Well, of course. Everyone's heard that."

"Well, guess what? Works the other way around, too!" Violet said, taking another drag from the cigarette.

Charlie was very shocked to see this. Every memory he had of her, few as they were, were of a prideful girl with an outgoing personality. The Violet he saw now was kind of quiet and seemed to stray from other people, for obvious reasons.

"Violet, what happened to you? How come you're so different?" Charlie asked innocently.

Violet quietly breathed in another lungful of the acrid smelling fume. She then turned to Charlie and blew it right in his face as she irritably said, "I don't know. Why not ask your buddy, Wonka?"

Charlie coughed and waved the smoke away. "No, what I meant was, why are you being so nice to me? On the tour you were so, I guess I could say snobbish, for lack of a better term."

Violet finished her cigarette, flicked the butt out the window and sat quietly for a minute or two before she answered him. "Well, after I went home from the tour, I tried to get back into the norm like nothing had happened. Much easier said than done. As I was so much different than the other kids, I became a laughing stock. Everywhere I turned there was someone mocking me or just outright laughing in my face. I thought I could get away from it all with my real friends, but I was wrong. Even they turned from me. My best friend Cornelia included. In fact, she was the worst of the whole lot. And all because I turned into a freak of nature. Being rejected by almost everyone, I ended up hanging with the Goth kids, who sort of accepted me. Even to them I was an outcast, but they didn't turn away from me because I was different. I guess they figured we were all separated from the common crowd. They actually would treat me like a human being. The only other person who was ever that nice to me was you. That's why I'm being nice to you, Charlie. It's because you were nice to me first."

Charlie was unsure what he could say. Her story had been a horrible one ever since that fateful day. "It really couldn't have been that bad, right?" he asked.

"Oh, that's not the worst part," Violet replied. "My own mother has barely said a word to me in the last five years. Imagine living with someone who thinks you aren't even worthy enough to lick their shoes. She hates me Charlie, more than any of the others. I know she does. She knows I could have prevented what happened, if only my pride hadn't gotten in the way. Even though my pride was something I got from her in the first place."

Charlie was devastated. He couldn't believe that her own mother would turn against her. He looked into her eyes to see if she was lying or not, but the look that was returned told him it was truth.

"We moved out here to get away from everyone we knew. Mother's idea of course. She was embarrassed to have me where people would recognize us and jeer at me."

"That's awful!" Charlie said. "I'm sorry you went through this. If I could, I would reverse the clock and stop this from happening in the first place."

Violet sighed as she set her hand on his shoulder. "Don't be sorry Charlie, it's no one's fault but my own. I screwed up, I paid the price. The thing is I learned a lesson, and I think only an experience as bad as becoming a giant piece of produce could have opened my eyes."

"Ugh… you just had to mention that…" Charlie said, shivering a bit. "Just remembering it happening to you gives me the creeps."

"Just imagine how it felt. Not good, let me assure you."

The bus slowed as it began to pull up to the school. It was your average high school, consisting of buildings where the classes were, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and a few sports fields. As the bus came to a full stop, the duo grabbed their things and started to get off the bus, completely ignoring the make out session in the next seat as they departed.

"Come on, I'll take you to the office to get your schedule," Violet offered holding out her hand to Charlie, who took it without a moment's hesitation.

"Thanks, Violet," he said as he followed her to one of the buildings.

"No sweat, Charlie. That's what friends are for."

Charlie thought about her comment. Friends, huh? I guess we are friends now! Imagine that!

After finding his correct spot to get his schedule, Charlie soon had it in hand and left the building to find Violet sitting in the grass, reading from her own. Charlie sat beside her as he tried to memorize

his schedule. He then turned to violet and asked, "Wanna see if we have anything the same?"

Violet laughed. "You're a freshman. Can't imagine us having any periods the same." She still did bring her schedule closer to his so they could compare.

"Wow, we have the same study period," Charlie said in a surprised tone.

"And chemistry, too," Violet noted. "Odd, that's a sophomore class. What's a freshy like you doing in there?"

"Well, I happened to get my freshman science credit last year, so I got to move ahead. Willy really helped me out with anything science related."

"Huh. I guess living with the old kook does have a benefit."

Just then, the bell rang, signaling ten minutes before the first class of the day started.

"Wow, that seemed to go by a lot quicker than last year," Violet said, getting up. She helped

Charlie to his feet. "Guess it's time to split up for now."

"See you in study period, Violet," Charlie said, as the new friends went their separate ways to their first classes.