(Bonus) Chapter 26 – Graduation

The chocolate factory had only been growing larger, only in the eyes of Amber. It was exam time for her and she would spend countless hours in her room studying. The chocolatier would come in every few hours bugging her to come help him but she wouldn't say anything. He would stand there for minutes waiting for her to say something but nothing came.

"What are you doing?" he loomed over her shoulder.

"Not now," she said in a stern voice. "I'm studying. Come back later."

"What for?"

"Willy… GET OUT!" she yelled at him.

His eyes grew wide in shock and horror. He had never seen this side of her, well the yelling side at least. It wasn't her normal made-at-Willy tone but something even worse. He fled the room in terror. He didn't want her unleashing her three headed dragon that she had in her closet or so he guessed.

Willy wasn't in the creative mood. The summer holidays were coming and he had to think of a new candy for the little children of the world. He wasn't sure if it should be chocolate, hard candy, soft candy or a type of ice cream. They were all possibilities but he felt he had already walked those paths before.

In frustration he began to walk around the factory. He didn't know where he was going but walking always cleared his mind. It was quite late at night when he walked by Amber's room. The light was still on but he didn't hear anything. He slowly opened the door and walked in. The dark haired teenager had fallen asleep on her books with the light on.

"Oh Amber…"

He slowly walked up to her and lightly placed his hand on her back. She didn't even move. She was in such a deep sleep that if an earthquake happened she wouldn't wake up. Willy looked down at the books on her desk. It wasn't like the stuff he learnt in school though he hardly paid attention. Some of the stuff he was reading didn't make sense.

"What are you studying for?" he said to himself.

Either way, he closed the books and slowly picked up the sleeping girl. She began to snore when he carried her to the bed. Amber had always amazed him ever since the day they met. She acted a lot like her mother but she added her own personal touch to it. it always brought a little light to the gloomiest day at the factory. He hesitated for a moment before kissing her on the forehead.

"Good night."

The night morning was an early rise for most of the workers in the factory. Willy had planned out his entire day. Today he was going to make his oh so popular summer candy with the help of his little dark hair friend. He walked into her bedroom to walk her up and noticed right away that she wasn't there.

"Where could she be?" he said to himself.

All the books on her desk were gone too. Maybe she went studying some where else in the factory. It's always good to have something new to look at on study breaks or eat. An invisible light bulb popped over Willy's head as he headed to another part of his factory. She could be in the kitchen or the Chocolate Room or the Television Room or the Jelly Room. There were so many possibilities.

"Morning Willy," she passed him in the hallway.

"Ah! Hey!"

He took so much effort to turn around to catch up to her. For some odd reason she was dressed in her school uniform and her school bag was hung on her shoulder. He had a confused look on his face as he watched her head to the doors of the factory. Before she opened the doors, he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.

"Where are you going?" he tried to collect himself.

"I'm going to school...?" she said in a confused way.

"On a Wednesday. This is unheard of!"

"Willy I have my final exam today. I have to go in."

"You don't need to go. Wouldn't you rather make candy with me," he made a wild gestured away from the doors.

"It sounds fun but I really have to go."

"Wait!" he blocked the door.

"I can't believe you," she glared at him. "This exam means everything to me. I have to go."

"How can writing nonsense on a piece of paper mean anything?"

"Willy," she glared at him even harder. "If you don't let me pass I will hurt you."

The chocolatier swallowed hard as the young lady kept her gaze hard. He was slowly beginning not to like her personality or being around her. She couldn't even take a small joke anymore. Usually she would smile and laugh a little. He couldn't even get a snicker out of her.

"Okay…"

He hung his head in shame as he opened the door for you. She fixed her uniform a little before walking out of the factory. It was beautiful June morning. Children were heading to school and it seemed more people were out walking. Amber walked shyly to school and tried not to get any attention brought to her. She would be graduating from high school and starting a new life.

"Hey Amber!" James ran up to her.

"Hey…"

"What's wrong? Are you nervous for your exam?"

"Just a little."

"Come on. Where's that happy little girl I love so much?"

"Stop it," she blushed.

"Do your best, okay?"

"Okay."

He kissed on the cheeks before running off to play with some of his friends. James always had it easy in school. He was a bright boy but he was more into the science behind sports and playing them. Amber was more into theory science and proving crazy formulas. If she passed this exam, it would qualify her to go to one of the most known school in England. She would have to move away.

She shook her head and quickly walked into her school. She didn't want to think of what would happen if she was accepted. She didn't want to know how Willy would take it. Would he even let her go? She sighed as she walked into the exam room. All her thoughts were put into the back of her mind, for now.

Two weeks passed but there was no answer from the Ministry about her exams marks. Graduation was going to be in a few days and the nerves were slowly building up. Amber tried to relieve stress by helping Willy around the factory but she just didn't have the heart for it. Willy began to notice her despair but didn't know how to bring it up. He was always bad at having normal conversations.

"A…. am..ber," he forced it.

"Yah," she looked into the distance.

"Is there," he paused for a moment. "Is there something the matter?"

Her head slowly moved up to look at him. This was the first time that she could remember, where he was opening up to her. They just looked at each other. Willy started to fiddle around with some of the candy and she could tell that not saying anything was making him nervous.

"I have something to tell you," she put down the candy.

"What is that?"

"I'm graduating in a few days. After that, I might be moving away to go to school."

"WHAT?!"

He turned to her in utter modification. She was expecting him to react this way she was prepared. He stayed in that position looking at her for a hint of a lie any where but she wasn't lying. He collected himself and told his Oompa Loompas to leave the room. They stood alone in the silent room.

"Run that by me again," he looked at her in a funny way.

"I might be going away for schooling."

"Why?" he was being cocky. "Isn't there school around here?"

"If I want a good education I must go some where else."

"Why?"

"Willy, this isn't as simple as candy. I am one of the smartest students in my school. I have a scholarship awaiting me at one of the best school in all of England."

"You're not going."

"What?"

It was her turn to be modified. She was expecting him to take the fact hat she was going away but not allowing her to go. She glared at him as he went back to his work. She didn't know what to say. Her head turned back to work. It was silent for a few moments before she turned back to him.

"Willy," she said calmly.

"Yes," he copied her.

"No matter what you say, on Thursday I am going to take that scholarship and I am going to move away."

She didn't mean the words to hurt him but she could see the sorrow in his eyes. He slowly put down his candy and walked out of the room. Amber felt the guilt a few moments after the door closed. Yes they had fought before but never to the point where they hurt each other. It was always playful. She threw down her candy and tried to hold back her tears.

They didn't talk to each other or even see each other. The few days before Amber's graduation, Willy was purposely ignoring her. She would see him coming and he would suddenly change the direction he was walking in. Amber was becoming very sad and she wanted to apologize but he was just being a little child.

It was a cloudy morning. The weather forecast predicted rain for the next week. The young lady stood in front of her window and watched over the sad looking city. She could see all the houses in the city and they seemed so tiny. A sighed escaped her lips as she saw James coming towards the factory. It was a big day for the both of them. She was dressed in an elegant green dress that brought out her eyes.

"You look amazing." James came up to her.

"Thank you," she really wasn't in the mood.

"We should get going. We don't want to be late."

She nodded and headed out. They were quickly walking through the halls of the factory when they walked by Willy's work room. Amber stopped and peeked through the open door. He stood along near the full length window. He was wearing one of his best suits for some odd reason. Amber knocked on the door and walked in.

"Willy?" she said but he didn't answer. "I'm going now. I am going to be back later tonight."

She stood in the room for a few moments but he didn't move or make a sound. She quickly turned around and left the room. James had noticed right away that there was something happening between them but he didn't want to bring the subject up so promptly. They headed to their graduation ceremony hand in hand.

The auditorium was filled. Every child that was sitting on the stage had their parents in the crowd. Each student was called up to get their diploma and they had big smiles on their faces. Amber was waiting in line to get her diploma. She kept glancing in the crowd to see the chocolatier but she couldn't find him.

"Amber Smith," the head mastered called. "Gold Standing."

She put a fake smile on her face as she walked over to her teachers. Each shook her hand and congratulated her. She was one of the few students who had a Gold Standing. She was excited about her accomplishments but no one was there to celebrate it with her.

It was time for the final awards of the show. Amber sat nervously in her seat. Each student that had a special award had to make a speech. She didn't know what she was going to say. Her name was called up and she slowly walked up.

"Congratulations, Miss Amber," the head master shook her hand. "You have won the Science and Chemistry Scholarship to Cambridge University. How do you feel?"

Amber's heart stopped and tears formed in her eyes. Standing at the entrance of the auditorium was the chocolatier. He looked at her with complete sorrow on his face. She knew what this was going to do to him. He wouldn't make candy anymore because he wouldn't have inspiration. She took the scholarship and watched him slowly turn around to leave.

"I can't accept this," she said softly into the microphone but he echoed around the room.

"What? Miss Amber you must be mad," the head master started to panic.

"I belong some where else."

She dropped everything in her arms and ran after the now gone chocolatier. A crowd of people followed her outside as she ran in the rain. She spotted him heading into the gates of the factory. She wanted to call after him but nothing came out of her mouth. The entire school was running up the street to see what she was going after.

"Willy," she called after him. "Wait!"

"Why are you here?" he kept walking.

"Because this is where I belong."

He stopped and slowly turned around. She was drenched from head to toe. Her green eyes were looking up at him in complete happiness. She slowly walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. He was taken back and just stood there with wide eyes.

"I couldn't leave," she started to cry. "You have grown on me so much Willy. I would miss you too much."

"Ah…oh…mn…" he didn't know what to say.

"Plus," she pulled back and looked up at him. "You would go sane without me… You are my only family. I should be where my family is."

He finally wrapped his arms around the young girl and tight. He hadn't been this touched by her before. Her mother had done is once and it seemed the skill had been passed on. Willy looked down at the crying her. She had a huge smile on her that resemble his. She just had given up her future to stay with him.

"You're crazy, Amber!" he laughed.

"I learnt from the best."

Author's Note: I would like to thank everyone who had supported me through this entire story. I love you guys. This is actually the final chapter. I always had in on my mind and I finally wrote it down and uploaded it. Please review with final notes.