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| A London Extra; A Hannah/James Sequel to A French Connection | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: January 9, 2012, 12:42 am (25,125 Views) | |
| Oh Hell | January 28, 2012, 6:03 am Post #391 |
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Outlaw Torn
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Team Hannah salute! |
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| Some_Kind_Of_Monster | January 28, 2012, 6:04 am Post #392 |
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☠ (R.I.P) † Return Is Possible †
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Make us dislike Fran It might be interesting
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| Deleted User | January 28, 2012, 6:33 am Post #393 |
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More up very soon!
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| Deleted User | January 28, 2012, 7:20 am Post #394 |
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The next day, James took the three kids out to lunch, without Francesca. He wanted time alone with his children to explain to them about Hannah and their trip home to California for thanksgiving next month. They wandered through a market street in the city where Marcella ordered for them all in Spanish—hot tacos with cheese, American style. They ate messily because they could, mostly because their mom would never have allowed it. Castor seemed to enjoy it the most, grinning with his Dad at being allowed to eat with his hands in public. Castor slurped rudely on his coke. ‘Dad, can we go to the Raiders game?’ he asked in excitement. James shook his head. ‘Not this year Castor’ he apologised. ‘We’re gonna have a family day at home, alright? I really want you to get to know Hannah’ James gulped, he was beginning the hardest conversation he felt he’d ever had in his life. ‘Can you tell us about her, Dad?’ Cali asked. ‘Sure! What do you want to know?’ he asked. He’d thought Francesca would have told them something. ‘Where did you meet?’ Marcella asked with a dreamy expression. Her hands held her face hoping for a romantic story. ‘I met her in London’ James said vaguely, deciding to use the alias they had thought of for his birthday party. ‘She was going to be Lars’ Assistant’ he explained. Castor laughed out loud. ‘Damn!’ he joked. ‘Mom said you’ve been with her a long time’ Marcella added. James flinched, he hated that they had such painfully direct questions. ‘I’ve known her for about four years’ he admitted. Cali’s twisted face did the math. Their families had only been living apart for nearly two years. ‘Do you love her more than Mom?’ Castor asked matter-of-factly. James blinked at the tough question. ‘I love her very much, and I will always love your Mom too’ he answered truthfully. ‘We totally saw you kissing Mom yesterday at the beach’ Cali started. It was clear the three of them couldn’t keep the secret any longer. ‘Are you gonna get back together?’ Marcella begged hopefully. James’ heart sank, he had no kind answer for his children. ‘No, we’re divorced now’ he reminded them. He wanted to keep the news of his engagement to Hannah a secret until they visited for thanksgiving. Marcella tried to warm the situation. ‘I saw a photo of her dad, she’s really pretty’ Marcella offered kindly. James smiled at his daughter, knowing how much it must hurt her to say so. ‘Hannah is really looking forward to meeting all of you’ James told them kindly. ‘There’s something else too—I’m sure your mom has told you, but Hannah had a baby and now he lives with us too. His name is Anthony and he’s 11 months old’ Marcella nodded, she’d done her research—she already knew. James was surprised, Francesca had not known—his tattoo was her first indication. ‘You can all meet him too’ James smiled proudly. Their questions seemed to have stopped, the four of them looked at each other’s faces in a family circle. ‘Okay, shall we go for a walk in the gardens?’ James offered. He wanted a chance still to talk to each of them individually. He had his suspicions about Castor’s sudden change of attitude at school. He knew why he hated school—James had been the same at his age—but he thought equally he knew why he may have taken a sudden interest in one particular class. ‘So how’s football going at school?’ James asked. They walked leisurely through the large botanical gardens in the city centre. The girls walked just ahead of them. ‘I’m in the first division—I get to play all the time, nearly every game!’ Castor beamed. James knew he was capable of being a pro-athlete if he put his mind to it. ‘And your mom tells me you’re doing better in your other classes? Especially History?’ James asked. Castor blushed and James knew he had struck gold. He grinned at his son. ‘What’s her name?’ he asked with a wicked smile. ‘Nathalia!’ Castor replied. His eyes had glassed over already. ‘Yeah? And…’James pushed for more gossip from his son. ‘She’s cool’ Castor said vaguely. James didn’t push the subject any further. ‘Do you still talk to Lily?’ he asked. He remembered Castor’s first girlfriend back home. ‘Yeah, a lot!’ Castor admitted. ‘I miss her too, I miss all my friends from home’ he wiped his eyes before his father could see his tears. James hugged him tightly. He missed having a grown-up son to talk to man-to-man. ‘If you really like her, just make sure you keep in touch, alright? Maybe when you’re back for thanksgiving she could come over?’ James suggested. Castor’s face turned a pale colour and he yelped in happiness. ‘That’d be so cool!’ he boasted. It was Cali’s turn to take a walk with her Dad. They watched Castor and Marcella feed the swans at the garden lake. James hugged her tight for a long moment, he couldn’t believe how fast she was growing out of his control. ‘You’re so grown up, look at you’ he smiled, proud of his daughter. Cali looked beautiful in a simple blue summer dress. She was already growing her mother’s long blonde hair like her sister. ‘Mom told you, didn’t she?’ she sighed. James hadn’t thought he’d given it away. ‘She did. She wanted me to talk to you too—you know that you always can, alright? I’m only ever a phone call away. I’ll answer absolutely anything, ok?’ he assured her. ‘I guess it’s too late for us to have a sex talk!’ he joked. Cali shook her head. ‘No Dad, it’s ok’ she said, ’I talked to Mom’ she said, embarrassed. ‘I’m pleased you did’ he admitted kindly. He was running short of breath again on the topic. ‘Have you thought about what you want to do next year when you finish school?’ he asked, changing the subject. ‘I want to come back to California’ she said immediately. ‘I wanna apply to Berkeley, Stanford and Irvine’ she smiled. ‘I think I’ll do Architecture’ she smiled. James was so pleased at her plans, it was the first he had heard of it. ‘I can absolutely see you doing that sweetheart, that’s fantastic! When you visit again I’ll take to the schools, we can do a campus tour, anything you want, ok?’ she nodded happily. ‘That’d be so awesome, Dad!’ She flung her arms around her father’s neck, forgetting for a minute she was 17. James hugged her, choking back tears of his own. He couldn’t help but remember the day she was born, and the first time he held her. Marcella ran across the grass to her father, knowing it was her turn. He lifted his 13 year old daughter into his arms and kissed her cheek before setting her down again. ‘My little angel!’ he began. His eyes watered before he even began to speak to her. ‘I’m so glad we’re coming to visit!’ Marcella told her father. ‘I can’t wait!’ ‘I read that book you gave me on Monet from the Louvre’ she said, ‘Now I want to go to Paris and study art!’ she was already distracted by a large white lily at the lake edge. She hadn’t lost her dreamy state of mind at all. James smiled, at least she was still his little girl for now. ‘I want to know something else about Hannah’ Marcella asked as the four of them returned to the car. James turned to her, hoping it was an easy question. ‘How old is she? She looks a lot younger than you’ Marcella observed. ‘She’s 31’ James answered simply. Marcella did the math faster than her siblings. ‘Dad, that’s twenty years difference!’ James smiled at his daughter. ‘Age doesn’t matter so much when you’re an adult’ he said honestly. ‘Okay, in the car!’ he ordered jokingly. He was pleased they had gone an entire afternoon without paparazzi following them. At home, he led Francesca by the hand into their garden. He had an apology for her after last night. ‘I’m sorry about what happened…I shouldn’t have got into bed with you, I just…’ Francesca stopped him. ‘James, you made yourself perfectly clear last night’ she explained. ‘I told you that I wouldn’t ask you again, so I won’t. I accept that things are over between us’ she admitted sternly. James nodded, he wanted a little more than nothing, though. ‘I love being affectionate with you still’ he tried to explain, ‘Can we still hold hands, and talk and things when I visit the kids? They like seeing us together’ he added. ‘I shouldn’t have kissed you at all—clearly, you’ve moved on, and it’s my fault that I haven’t found a much younger man yet’ she grumbled bitterly. James thought uncomfortably of Carlos. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m desperate’ she tried not to cry at her admission. ‘No! Francesca!’ he protested, reaching out for her arm, but she turned away. ‘James, no’ she stopped him. ‘It kills me when you touch me, when I know you're thinking of another woman’ she said sadly. |
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| Some_Kind_Of_Monster | January 28, 2012, 8:25 am Post #395 |
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☠ (R.I.P) † Return Is Possible †
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‘It kills me when you touch me, when I know you're thinking of another woman’ she said sadly. Haha he's hers I think 'Comon woman!! Update
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| Deleted User | January 28, 2012, 8:37 am Post #396 |
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Tomorrow there will be plenty more up! Thanks for you lovely comments!
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| Voxx | January 28, 2012, 12:56 pm Post #397 |
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Some Kind Of Monster
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I hope Fran doesn't really give up, but it's hard. Maybe she should reignite her affair with Carlos. He's a nice younger man. I don't think James would like the idea of them being together and maybe he would have an idea of what she's going through with him being with Hannah. I feel bad for Fran. He's giving her mixed signals. Storms out of her bedroom when she finally realizes what the rose tattoo is about, but the next day he says he still want to be close and intimate, not sexually, but "for the kids". I mean come on James! That's not the right message to send the kids. First, it will confuse them. And second, what kind of example is that to set for them when it comes to making their our relationships. He needs to give his head a shake. Pick one woman and stick with her. That being said, I hope he picks Fran. I really do think she's a better match than Hannah.They have a history, they know each other's quirks. I'm looking forward to more, especially when the kids go visit for Thanksgiving. I wonder if they'll give Hannah a fair chance or if they'll act kind of snooty. |
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| Deleted User | January 28, 2012, 5:48 pm Post #398 |
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Fran is glad Ray convinced her to forget about Carlos. She knows he screws all the girls at the tango bar, so she's sort of let it go. It was just a tactic she used to start with to make James jealous. Fran completely surprised him by initiating sex--he had not expected that at all, especially after their divorce. He stormed out more because she was challenging him about whether his life with Hannah was 'real' like theirs had been. She was sort of pointing out that getting a nice tattoo for her doesn't make them a serious couple, and he was pissed because he knows she's right! James had *thought* he had chosen Hannah, until Francesca was able to switch his mind in a few seconds of kissing on the couch. And yeah, lets be friendly and close "for the kids" wink wink, Yeah James, that was pretty transparent!Thansgiving is going to be very interesting. I don't wanna give too much away, it'll be up very soon! P.S I hoped you liked James' day with his kids! |
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| Deleted User | January 28, 2012, 10:03 pm Post #399 |
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James had taken Francesca out for coffee a few hours before he returned home to California. There were still some things he wanted to talk to her about, things that were never easy to say on the phone—yet somehow, were even more difficult in person. Their local Starbucks was relatively quiet on late Monday morning, they took a seat outside in the sun under a large green umbrella, enjoying the summer warmth. ‘I talked to the kids about Hannah and I’ he started, his voice was awkward. They had barely spoken all day. ‘How do they think you met?’ she asked sarcastically. He noted her voice was still tense and angry. ‘We’re trying to keep that really quiet’ James admitted. ‘We really don’t want that in the papers’ he said emphatically. He paused, wondering whether or not tell her their worst fear. ‘David knows’ James admitted. ‘He’s already tried to blackmail Hannah—I think it’s just a matter of time until the story gets out’ he explained. ‘That’s fucking great James!’ she exclaimed, lowering her voice as she swore in public. ‘How does that make us look? Your family, trying to get on with their lives while you take off with a whore? What will you tell the kids when they find that out? Are you sure having them meet her is the right thing to do? They’re gonna hate her when they find out she’s the one who’s ruined their relationship with their father!’ Francesca warned. James didn’t take it well, he had made to push out the chair to leave, but before he could, their waitress arrived with a sandwich each. He growled, keeping his place opposite his ex-wife at the table. ‘I still can’t think how David knows!’ he thought out loud. The only people James could think that knew were Ray, Lars, and the rest of the band. Francesca was quiet, her eyes were focused on tourists walking along the beach behind them. Her scanning eyes spotted paparazzi walking towards them where they sat from across the street. ‘Paps behind you’ she sighed quietly. James flicked the collar of his flannelette shirt high up over his neck. It wasn’t as if was actually an adequate disguise, but it was more of a defence mechanism these days. ‘Do you ever hear from him?’ James asked. ‘Only if he wants to know something’ she said, pretending not to pay attention to her ex-husband’s questions. James shook the subject from his mind, beginning his lunch. ‘I’ll send the private jet down for the kids when they come for thanksgiving’ James offered. They hadn’t been back to California for almost two years now, he didn’t want them to fly commercial on their own. ‘They’d like that’ Francesca smiled. ‘So what will you be doing for thanksgiving then?’ he asked her. He had hoped she wouldn’t be spending it alone. ‘I’m not sure yet’ she replied. ‘It’s just another day here, so….’She shrugged her shoulders. Even still, James thought she seemed disappointed. ‘What will we do for Christmas this year?’ she asked him. It was late October and the holidays were fast approaching. ‘I thought the kids would want to spend it with you’ James replied obviously. ‘James, all they want is to spend every minute of every day with you!’ she lowered her eyes to the ground, and even under her sunglasses he saw the tears roll gently down her cheeks. ‘Please don’t cry!’ he said sadly, taking her hand across the table. ‘We’ll work something out for the holidays, I promise’ he said, but it wasn’t the reason for her tears. ‘They need more of a balance of us’ she explained. ‘They’re starting to think that I’m keeping you away from them. That’s why I let you stay with us this weekend’ she explained. This much had not occurred to James. The paparazzi were now just meters away on the footpath behind their table. They crouched on their knees to steady their cameras while they zoomed in on their subject’s stony expressions. ‘Shall we go?’ James asked her prematurely. He couldn’t eat or think properly with the cameras in his face, and he wanted to console her—he hated when he made her cry. She agreed, wiping her eyes with a sob. His hand touched her back kindly as they left the café. He guided her back to the car, hoping they could finish their conversation there. His bags were already packed and in the trunk. He would drive them straight to the airport where his plane would be waiting, and she would continue the drive home, alone. The cameras followed them all the way. ‘How is Ray doing?’ she asked finally. James had purposely not told his children about Ray’s turn in rehab. ‘He’s not in a great place mentally’ James explained. ‘He was hopeful he might get to go home in a month or so. He seems to be off the booze, but they’ve still got him up to the eyeballs in anti-psychotics. But I’m not so sure he really needs them’ James added. ‘He really misses your friendship, though’ James explained. ‘You should call him, or write to him perhaps?’ She nodded, she would, she thought. Her anger at Ray had really just been misdirected fury at James. They were silent again for a minute as they drove. James cleared his throat the way he always did when he was nervous. ‘And uh…the house title is in your name now?’ he checked. ‘I signed it over to you about a month ago’ he explained. She nodded, looking sadly out the passenger window. James wondering if she was crying still. ‘And, you got your half?’ he added awkwardly. He just wanted to know she had the money,that she could live comfortably and the kids would be okay. James’ accountant had already transferred her half of his $800 million dollar fortune into her account. ‘Yes, it’s there’ she confirmed sadly. She had never been interested in his money. ‘Okay, good’ he confirmed. But still, he watched her sad expression as they drove. He offered her a gentle kiss goodbye as he boarded the plane. It would be a long solo flight home. This time, she only received his kiss with a still face; she did not offer him anything more. He hated these days, that they always parted on bad terms. |
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| CarpeDiemBaby | January 28, 2012, 11:26 pm Post #400 |
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// Sunglasses indoors.
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Wow! I like this story A LOT!!! but I want James come back with his family! more please!!!
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| Deleted User | January 28, 2012, 11:31 pm Post #401 |
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Thank you!And obviously, I can't tell you what happens!
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| Voxx | January 29, 2012, 12:05 am Post #402 |
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Some Kind Of Monster
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I hope Fran calls Ray and makes things right. I think it will mean a lot to him. And I hope Thanksgiving is next! I'm sad James is leaving Argentina. These are my favourite scenes
Edited by Voxx, January 29, 2012, 12:05 am.
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| Deleted User | January 29, 2012, 12:09 am Post #403 |
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Aww thank you! I know you like the family stuff There will be lots more of that coming soon with the thanksgiving chapters. But first, there will be a couple with him and Hannah.Yes, Ray would really appreciate hearing from Francesca. She'll call him, she's a good person. |
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| Deleted User | January 29, 2012, 1:41 am Post #404 |
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James arrived home to find Hannah and Anthony were not there. He called her again but there was no reply, perhaps she was out in the city? He made it to the kitchen pulling his bags behind him , seeing an open newspaper on the bench and a cold cup of coffee still sitting on a coaster. She had been here recently, perhaps she had only just gone out. He noticed beside the newspaper was a note on a small square piece of white paper. An arrow pointed to a photograph in today’s local tabloid. James, we need to talk about this when you get home. Anthony’s sick--I’ve gone to get him some medicine. Hannah. He turned over the small piece of paper she had written on, noticing it was a receipt from a doctor the day before. His eyes followed the headlines in the tabloid newspaper: Metallica frontman re-unites with his ex-wife in Buenos Aires. Below, an image of James and Francesca enjoying a moment’s company on the beach. His arms around were around her waist, and her lips that had made for his, embraced him warmly. The paparazzi hiding over one hundred meters away had zoomed in for a shot of their kiss. There was no way to know from the image on the page that their kiss had not lasted more than a few seconds. Immortalised in print, it seemed to go on forever. He could explain all that, but first he was worried about his son. He tried to call Hannah again, this time she picked up in a noisy waiting room. ‘Hannah! I just got home. Is he alright?’ James asked quickly. I was glad to hear his voice for the first time in a week, even though I was mad at him. ‘He’s got a bad cough—I’m at the doctor’s with him again’ I caught him up. ‘We can take him to see Skylar at her clinic—she’s just down the road’ James explained. ‘Sorry ,what? James, who’s Skylar?’ I asked. There were so many things in his life with Francesca that he took for granted. All the people they knew… he had so many things to teach Hannah. ‘Just come towards San Rafael’ he explained. ‘There’s a private doctor’s surgery on the way, I’ll give you directions and meet you there, alright?’ When I arrived, still confused, James explained in the carpark. ‘Skylar is Lars’ ex-wife. For 15 years she was the main Emergency Doctor at Marin Hospital. If he ever gets sick just bring him here, there’s no waiting—she’ll see you straight away. Come on, I’ll introduce you’. James took Anthony from his car seat and lifted him to his chest, taking my hand in his left, he led me into her private clinic. That night at home, our conversation finally returned to the pictures in the paper I had seen of him and Francesca in Buenos Aires. James rubbed his face, he was sorry that I had to see them at all. ‘Francesca kissed me on the beach for about two seconds’ he explained.’I broke off the kiss and told her we were engaged’ he summarised. I sat facing him on the couch with my arms folded. I was only mildly annoyed, but still, I wanted answers. ‘Is that all?’ I asked. ‘Yes’ he replied, although I noticed his eyes flick to the floor before coming back to mine. ‘Alright’ I said. I chose to believe him. ‘I know the headlines are bullshit James, but the photos sometimes tell a different story’ I said. ‘But thank you for admitting it’ I replied. I stood and joined him on the couch where he sat, kneeling in his lap. I had not been too angry—luckily for him, I had spent most of my energy on my son today. His hands smoothed the backs of my thighs and he smiled with a happy welcome. ‘Sorry—today was mental’ I apologised. We had spent most of the afternoon trying to get Anthony to sleep after visiting Skylar. ‘I missed you!’ he kissed warmly. Looking after my sick son alone, I had missed him too. ‘So other than that, did you have a good trip?’ I asked him. His eyes thought over his memories of the past few days. ‘They kids are really excited about coming here—they miss home, and Marcella is especially keen to meet you’ he said. ‘We had a nice time at the beach, even with the paparazzi on our tail nearly every day’ he sighed. ‘I thought they didn’t know where she was?’ I asked. James sighed. ‘Fran and I’s divorce papers were leaked online—the paparazzi were outside the house before the end of the day’ he fumed. ‘Shit!! Does this always happen to you, with everything?’ I asked in alarm. I hadn’t realised how prolific the paparazzi were in his life. ‘Yes, which is why you shouldn’t read these papers! And please don’t buy them or bring them into the house anymore, Hannah’ he scorned me a little. It was obviously a rule he had enforced in his household in the past. I agreed with him, this process was too unpleasant to repeat daily, or weekly, every time a picture was published. ‘We just need to trust each other’ he announced simply. His admission rang painfully between us, suggesting we had not yet reached that level in our relationship. My left hand wearing the heady engagement ring he had given me, smoothed his shoulder thoughtfully where my rose bared into his neck. ‘Do you want to go to bed?’ he asked kindly. His eyes asked me with interest for more. That question was never all that it appeared to be. ‘James, I’m tired tonight’ I said. I had not slept properly in nearly a week in his absence looking after my sick son during the night. His face understood, but was surprised somehow at my rejection. It occurred to me after a short while of reading his expression, that it might have been the first time I had ever turned him down for sex. ‘You go up then, if you’re tired. I’ll stay here and read for a while’ he said, in a grumble. |
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| CarpeDiemBaby | January 29, 2012, 2:22 am Post #405 |
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// Sunglasses indoors.
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"You go up then, if you’re tired. I’ll stay here and read for a while" I'm starting to think that James is NOT so in love with Hannah as she thinks, I mean he should understan that she's tired but he didn't More!
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8:42 PM Jul 10