“I don't see why I had to come...” whinged Jess as Ian, Hannah, Toby, herself and a random llama who had been rather looking forward to his wet combing walked into the park.
“I suppose, being the bookish type, you don't approve of theme parks,” said Toby to Jess.
“Oh, not much,” said Jess sarcastically. “I'm only an excitement demon, that's all!”
“Don't believe you.”
“I went on Nemesis at Alton Towers back in England and laughed my way through it.”
“Toby's probably been on Nemesis, haven't you, Tobe?” Hannah defended.
“Erm, yeah...once, a while ago,” said Toby, remembering. He had been 10 and had wet himself.
“Well, I'm off to find the best rides,” said Hannah.
“Count me in,” said Jess, rubbing her hands together.
“Are you coming?” Hannah asked Ian.
“I'll try anything once.”
“Will you try this?”
“Erm...yeah.”
“Toby?”
“I really think I should stay with the llama.” Toby said apologetically. “I don't think she'll be allowed on the rides.”
“Suit yourself,” said Hannah. “C'mon, guys.” Jess, Ian and Hannah walked off into the depths of the park.

Meanwhile, in the rehab centre...
“I spy with my little eye, something beginning with 'B'!”
“Bars.”
“Correct! Ok, um...I spy with my little eye, something beginning with 'B'!”
“Bars.”
“No.”
“Boots?”
“No.”
“B*st*rd?”
“No.”
“Bench?”
“No.”
“Hmm...” Patrick took a moment to think - this was a good one.
“Give up?”
“No.” Patrick stared around.
“Shall I give you a clue?!” Jimmy asked excitedly.
“No!” Patrick said, getting rather p*ssed off with Jimmy's constant interruptions.
“I could tell you that-”
“SHUT UP!” Patrick screamed.
There was a short silence.
“It's bulb isn't it?”
“Yep.”
“Ok, I've got a good one-”
“You've gotta admit that was good.”
“I spy-”
“Haven't you?”
“I guess.”
“HAVEN'T YOU!”
“Yes, very good Jimmy. You really are the cleverest man sitting in that cell.”
There was a brief silence.
“Uh Patrick?”
“Yes Jimmy.”
“I am the only man in this cell.”
“And...?”

“Oh! That was fantastic!!” cried Hannah jumping up and down with adrenaline.
“That's got to be the only roller-coaster with five loops in a row!” commented Jess.
Ian stumbled up behind Jess looking slightly green.
“Bet they didn't have those in the 1920's eh?!” Hannah laughed.
“Ian shook his head, opened his mouth to correct her, then shut it again quickly figuring it would be safer.
Toby ambled up to them with a llama and two sticks of pink candyfloss. “Sorry, she ate one of them.” Toby gestured at the llama on a leash who suddenly spat at Jess' shoe something pink and gooey. Jess leapt out of the way just in time.
“So, what now?” asked Toby.
“The arcade?” suggested Hannah.
“NO!” the others all shouted at her in unison.
She fell silent.
“I vote we go to the Star Bar for a quick drink, then go back to the hotels for a spruce up, then--”
“My music venue!” Hannah interrupted Jess' plan in mid-flow.
“I was going to suggest 'The Jess-ter', actually,” said Jess.
“Boring...”
“Boring?! I've got Jack Dee tonight and Michael Smiley tomorrow!”
Hannah mimed being asleep.
Jess aimed the llama at Hannah and slapped its arse. It obediently spat at her.
“ARRGH!” Hannah jumped into Toby's arms and the spit flew past her, hitting a man operating the Ferris wheel, which, no longer being controlled, ground to a halt. A couple at the top enjoying a romantic ride were thrown out of their seats and disappeared somewhere in the depths of the theme park.
“Oops...” said Hannah in the resounding silence which followed.
Toby dropped her.

As the four now-murderers and a llama walked along the beach from the theme park, Hannah heard a noise. She was lagging behind the others and they were too busy chatting to hear the low, “PSSST!” Coming from the rehab centre's tiny barred window. She jogged over the sand and peered in.
“Who is it?”
“It's me.”
“Hello, me.”
“I need you to get me out of here.”
“But I thought you were me.”
“You thought I was you?”
“Who's 'I'?”
“Hannah, what's wrong with you?!” Patrick asked.
“Oh sorry Patrick, how can I help you?”
“I need you to get me out of here,” Patrick hissed.
“Right...and how do you suppose I'm going to do that? I'm a busy woman you know - I've got 'Little Llama' to run and all that.”
“Just get me out!” Patrick whimpered. “What happened to teamwork? You know...you, me and the Casino.”
“Yeah, but where's the Casino now Patrick? Where's the Casino now?!”
“Over there.” Patrick pointed into the distance.
“It was a rhetorical question you idiot,” said Hannah whilst walking away.
“Yeah, but I knew the answer! I KNEW THE ANSWER!!”

Back at the music store, things were going swellingly. Hannah had even organised the small acoustic bar to open that evening with jazz musicians included. However, she still felt guilty about not helping Patrick out of the rehab centre.
“What's up with you?” asked Dylan, who had been leafing through the special offer CDs in a bored fashion for ten minutes.
“I'm feeling guilty.”
“About what?”
“Not busting a friend out of a rehab centre.”
“Why don't you go do it now and stop the guilt?” Hannah considered this.
“Hey...you're right! Thanks, Dylan!” Hannah said, getting up.
Dylan smiled to himself - he was amazed at his persuasive powers. They could come in handy...

<< back to Book 2.3

� Jess and Hannah 2002