
Hi, Xander, me again. Why don't you
ever check your voicemail?! Anyway, this is just to let you know
I have a vacancy for a father as of tomorrow. So
call
me! Jess hung up. Dom came over.
Any luck?
Leave me ALONE, TRAITOR!
Aw, come on, Jess, you knew we had to go after the premiere
and the wedding.
Yes, but THEN I didn't know I'd have no home, no
flatmate and no GODDAMN HOUSE ELF! Jess indicated to the
reception desk where a tin marked 'The Twinkles Memorial Fund for
Alcoholic House Elves' sat next to the attention bell.
Sorry. Dom shrugged.
It's not FAIR.
Life's not fair.
Don't treat me like a- oh, but I LOVE you treating
me like a child! Jess shook her head and felt a really
juicy sulk coming on.
Now, now. No
juicy sulks.
Oh! You know me mwah muh! Jess cried into his
shoulder.
Leave Daddy's clothes alone. You'll be fine. Dom
detached Jess from his shirt and wandered off to pack.
Bu- bu
but who's going to keep me company?! Jess
asked distressed. I need someone to keep me company!
Maybe if you ask Dom nicely he'll give you some money to
gatecrash Hannah's honeymoon. Elijah suggested coming into
the room and patting her consolingly.
No good. Jess sniffed. I've forgotten where
they've gone. She started to cry a cry that sounded
particularly like Billy. Dom ran over and cradled her in his lap,
this did console her further though she wasn't going to let on.
Though, Jess sprung up and lifted an inquisitive
finger, I could wait in Australia outside their
house for their return.
Great. Dom threw her off his lap. That's sorted
then.
But Dad
?
What? Dom asked nervously. He knew that voice
it was either a plea for money or food.
I don't have any money. Jess sniffed.
Here's ten pounds. Dom emptied his wallet.
Spend it well.
2 hours later, Jess was
sitting in Pret A Manger with a sandwich. She was trying to think
of ingenious ways to get to Australia with �7.60. (Well, she had
had to get a drink to wash down the tasty sandwich).
She had just stood up when she saw Billy and Elijah walk in.
'Lo. She said frostily.
Hi.
What are you doing?
Getting food for the flight Sean doesn't trust
airline food. Elijah explained.
How are you? Billy asked.
How are YOU? Jess asked, coldly.
Um
fine. But I was asking you.
Leave me alone, Scots-Boy. The English kicked your arse at
the Battle of Pinky in 1547. There was a long pause.
Yeah, well, then the French came to back us up and we
kicked your arse until peace was declared in 1550 at the
Treaty of Boulogne.
Jess stared aghast.
My God, you're educated!
Yes.
Well
that makes it so much easier to accept
you're going
Jess moaned under her breath, desperate
for some intelligent conversation.
I can't help it. I haven't been home for 8 weeks.
I don't have a home! Jess replied.
Well, hasn't Dom left you any money?
�10. Jess replied.
Ah.
Yes.
There was a pause. Jess watched as Elijah paid for some
sandwiches.
Well, you could always come up and stay at mine for a bit.
Dom's staying for a couple of weeks, so
Jess raised an eyebrow.
You're going to put me up?
Well, yeah.
You're prepared to put the most boring person in the world
up in your house?
Yes
Billy was beginning to wonder if this was a
good idea.
ACE!
Hi, is this the Love Locked Hotel, in
the Bahamas?
Yeah.
Great. I need to leave a message for Hannah Joannou. Could
you tell her I-
Sorry, miss, but there's no Joannou on our books.
What?
No Joannou.
But my friend is on honeymoon in your hotel.
Not if her name's Joannou she's not.
Oh
ok
bye. Jess hung up.
What's wrong? Asked Elijah, seeing the expression on
Jess' face.
Hannah and Chris never went to this hotel.
But that's the address she gave you! Sean exclaimed,
finding the idea of leaving inaccurate contact details for people
completely incomprehensible.
I don't believe it! She could be anywhere in the
world
and I don't know where! Jess looked pale.
Well
surely it's a mistake do you have the
number of Chris's house? Maybe they went straight there.
Elijah said.
No, Hannah said she'd call me when she got
there. Jess said. There was a silence.
I reckon she just REALLY wanted to get away from you.
Said Orlando wryly.
Shut up! Dom muttered at him, kicking him in
the shin.
I KNOW!
Elijah screamed. Everyone looked at him.
Why are you screaming? Dom asked.
Sorry, I just got caught up in the excitement.
What excitement? Dom muttered under his
breath.
Well maybe she's like one of those modern brides that keeps
her maiden name.
Jess thought for a minute and picked up the phone, dialling
without saying anything.
Love Locked Hotel, Bahamas, how may I help you?
Hi, do you have a guest staying under the name of Hannah
N*****y?
No.
Oh.
Is this that lady again?
Uh
Jess faltered. She hung up the phone
quickly. No.
Just ask for Hannah? Elijah said, sounding like this
was the easiest thing in the world.
Love Locked Hotel in the Bahamas, how may I help you?
Hi, can I speak to Hannah?
Look lady, I don't know what your problem is. We
have no-one under the name of Hannah Joannou, Hannah N*****y or
Ha- There was a pause. Actually there is someone
called Hannah in room 342. I'll put your through.
There was a dial tone and two rings and the phone was picked up.
It was a male's voice.
George Hannah.
Jess hung up. I give up.
What are you going to do, then? Asked Billy.
There was a three minute buzz of noise and laughter as the others
realised that this was a quote from the film.
ARE YOU FINISHED?! Jess exclaimed after the
noise died down.
Yeah. Sorry. Dom cleared his throat.
But, seriously, what are you going to
do? Billy repeated.
I don't know. Jess said. I can't go back to
Scotland with you because Hannah won't know where I am, but if I
stay here I'm homeless!
Well, she's left and you don't know where she
is
Dom said.
What are you saying? I know you're insinuating something
because you put emphasis on several words in that sentence.
I mean that it's not less responsible of you to take
off than it was for her to do it.
What?
Look, she-
WILL YOU STOP EMPHASISING YOUR WORDS! WHO ARE YOU, BLOODY
JOHNNY VAUGHN?!
COME TO
SCOTLAND! Billy screamed.
OK! Jess thought about what she had just said.
I can't take that back can I?
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� Jess and Hannah 2003