(Leve
DrØmet i Norge)
Monday
3:30 p.m., Oslo
“Welcome to Norway!” Christian said as they all walked down the wooden floored ‘Arrivals’ corridor at Oslo Gardermoen airport.
“Wow, it’s much nicer than Heathrow!” Chloe said, smiling up at Ben who had had his arm firmly around her from the second they’d left the plane.
“Did you see that idiot passport-check guy laugh at the photo on mine?” Paul asked indignantly. “I don’t know why he was laughing – I’ve got much better hair than he has.”
“And I’ve got better hair than all of you!” Ben said cheekily.
“Not better than mine – I have fab hair!” Chloe contested.
“You do, actually.” Ben agreed. “I wish you hadn’t had it all cut off though, gorgeous as you still look.”
“Really? Why?”
Ben shrugged. “I like long hair.”
“It’s a guy thing.” Paul said.
“Really?” Kate asked, looking at Christian. “I don’t have long hair.”
“I’m not the same as everyone else.” Christian said innocently, causing much laughter from the group.
“I know you’re not sweetie, that’s why I like you so much.” Kate said fondly.
Christian sighed. “I’ve been demoted already. On the plane she loved me, now she just likes me a lot.” He said sadly.
“Shut up, you.” Kate said, smiling at him as he put his arm around her.
“Where are we going now?” Rose asked, quickening her pace to walk next to Chloe and Ben, leaving Mark on his own at the back of the group.
“Well Oslo centre’s about half an hour away, so we can either get a taxi straight to our hotel, or either the bus or train to the station.” Christian said.
“Would we all fit in a taxi?” Kate asked, counting how many people there were.
“We wouldn’t even all fit in a London taxi.” Chloe said. “What are Norwegian taxis like, Christian?”
“They’re mostly just cars.” Christian said. “They have ones like in London too, though. More expensive, though.”
“Yeah, a lot more.” Ben said.
“Shut up, Scrooge.” Chloe said.
“I’m not Scrooge! I spend money!”
“Only on life’s vitals. Take your car, for example: it’s the bare minimum in the most literal sense of the word.”
“I might not talk to you for the whole day.” Ben threatened with a grin.
“Witness me quake with fear.”
Ben just smiled to himself and Chloe shook her head.
“So, transport – what, where and when?” Mark asked.
“Shall we just get the train? It’s gonna be a whole lot easier.” Kate said.
“Ah, but it’ll be a massive step down for the mighty celebrities we’re mere groupies to.” Chloe said, sticking her tongue out at Ben.
“Nah, trains are great fun.” Christian said. “Better than cars.”
Kate smiled at him. “Train it is, then!”
“Where does it go from?” Chloe asked.
“It’s sort of underground the airport, isn’t it?” Mark asked.
“Yeah.” Christian said. “Just down a couple of escalators. Follow me.”
“What about our bags?” Chloe asked.
“We’ll get them on the way.”
“Oh, okay.”
Christian led the group down the long corridor lined with glass windows overlooking the rest of the spacious, modern airport, down an escalator, through a sliding door and into a basement-looking area where people were waiting for their bags to come off various planes.
“I really really hate this bit.” Chloe said, anxiously watching for her bag to come round on the conveyor belt. “I almost hate it more than the actual flying.”
“Are you going to start enjoying yourself soon?” Ben asked with a smile.
“Not until my bag is in my hand.”
“Ooh, there’s mine!” Kate said, pointing at a blue suitcase which Christian promptly lifted off for her. “Thank you dahhhling.”
Paul helped Rose lug a large green holdall off, and Mark and Ben both got their almost matching cases off shortly afterwards, leaving just Chloe and Christian’s luggage.
“It’s not coming, I know it. I shall spend the whole week wearing the clothes I have on now.” Chloe said pessimistically. “All my lovely holiday clothes are now on their way to the Far East, never to return.”
“I would reassure you, but we’ve lost so much stuff this way that I don’t really blame you for being worried.” Mark said.
“Not the right thing to say.” Ben said.
“Arghhhh, I want my stuffff!”
“Come here and stop stressing.” Ben said calmly, pulling Chloe into his arms despite her protests and hugging her tightly. “Better?”
“No, now I’m cross with you as well.” Chloe said.
Ben laughed. “Just be patient, it’ll all be fine.”
“Ah, here is mine.” Christian said with relief, retrieving his black suitcase.
“Owwwwww.” Chloe moaned.
Several pieces of luggage rode round and round, as yet unclaimed by anyone, but there was still no sign of Chloe’s bag.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you can have one of those ones if yours doesn’t come through!” Ben joked.
“It’s not funnyyyyy. I’ll cry in a minute, then you’ll feel really bad.”
“One’s just come up the ramp thing.” Rose said, pointing it out. “Is that yours?”
Chloe nearly fainted with relief. “Yes! Oh thank God!”
“I’ll get it.” Ben said, grabbing the bag off the belt before any further near catastrophes occurred.
“Eurgh, I hate airports.” Chloe said as they left the disgraced section of the airport and headed past Customs through the ‘Nothing to declare’ gate.
Christian led everyone along another short corridor and through a ceiling-height metal sliding door and into what looked like a totally enclosed metal box.
“Where’s out?” Rose asked in confusion, looking around her.
There were no exit signs and no obvious way out.
Christian smiled. “Come this way.” He said, proceeding towards one of the “walls” and enjoying the look of surprise on Chloe and Rose’s faces as it slid open and let them out into the front hall of the airport.
The other side of the door was crowded with people holding pieces of cardboard with names on, obviously waiting for people they’d never met before, and right in the middle of these people, with gigantic smiles on their faces, were a group of about seven teenage girls holding a big sparkly banner saying, ‘Welcome to Norway a1’.
“Err… fans.” Paul said with distinct un-enthusiasm.
Ben sighed. “I haven’t got the energy. Can we tell them to go away?”
“Don’t be mean.” Mark said, dragging his case over to the girls and starting to chat to them, signing autographs and posing for pictures.
“Think that’s our cue to leave, girls.” Chloe said, smiling at Kate and Rose.
Trying to look aloof and not at all connected to the in-demand famous people, the three girls continued to carry their bags across the floor of the airport until they were a safe enough distance away to observe the fan scene.
“Awww look at Paul!” Kate said, laughing. “He is not enjoying it at all!”
“Bless him.” Chloe said, watching as Paul hastily scribbled on a piece of paper and escaped over to where they were standing. “What are you doing here? Go and entertain your public!” she teased.
“Leave me alone, I didn’t ask for this!” Paul moaned, surveying Mark, Ben and Christian from behind a protective wall of Chloe, Rose and Kate. “I’m not even famous anymore, man.”
“Wuss.” Rose said, pushing him playfully.
“Stop it!” Paul said with a grin, pushing Rose back.
“Next time I’ll push you really hard.” Rose said. “I’ll push you right over!”
“Like to see you try!” Paul said, leaping back out of Rose’s grasp and running away as she moved towards him.
“What are they like?!” Chloe said, laughing. “Oooh, here come our boys!”
“Excellent work lads.” Kate mocked. “Good day’s work there. Especially you, Ben. Exceptional display of wit and charm.”
“Thank you.” Ben said, regarding her suspiciously.
“Where’s Rose?” Mark asked.
“Erm, chasing Paul, somewhere.” Chloe said.
“Well, I think we can safely say that it’s most definitely over between us.” Mark said with a sigh.
“Why? What happened?” Kate asked.
“Well I tried to talk to her, just being friendly and stuff, making an effort, and she told me that she never wanted to talk to me ever again and to leave her alone.” He said, looking crushed.
“Aww, Mark.” Chloe said, giving him a hug.
Mark attempted a smile, despite how he felt. “Nah, it’s alright. I don’t blame her.”
“Maybe she’ll come round, you never know.”
“Yeah, well, I think I’ll just leave it at that. Keep out her way this week, try and come out of it alive if at all possible.”
“Somebody needs Toy Story.” Kate said, smiling at Mark.
“Yes please.” Mark said.
“Shall we get out of here before we acquire a little following troupe?” Ben asked, looking over his shoulder at the fans now watching their every move.
“Didn’t know you were scared of fans, Ben.” Kate teased.
“Have you been taking nasty sarcasm tablets today, or did you just forget to take your almost amiable pills?” Ben retorted with a grin to show that he was only joking.
“Yes, dammit, I did leave those at home.” Kate played along. “Ah well, looks like it’s a week of nasty sarcasm! What a shame.”
The group (minus the fans) headed towards some revolving doors at the far end of the airport and then travelled down a slow escalator and out onto the station platform.
“Get on this one.” Christian said, gesturing to the waiting train. “We can get tickets on board.”
Everyone piled on and sat down, taking up nearly an entire carriage with all their luggage.
“It’s a good job it’s not busy!” Chloe commented, sitting next to Ben and Rose, behind Mark and Paul and across the aisle from Kate and Christian.
“Where does this train go?” Kate asked.
“To Oslo Central Station. It’s right in the centre, not too far from the hotel.” Christian said.
“It’s useful having you around.” Chloe said.
“Thanks.”
Once the train started to move, the conductor appeared from his “office” at the front of the train and approached the group.
“Billetter?” he said.
“Jeg vil gjerne ha sju enkeltbilletter til Oslo Sentralstasjon.” Christian said effortlessly as the rest of the group listened in fascination.
“I’ve known him for years, but I’ll never get bored of hearing him do that.” Ben said in admiration. “I’d love to be able to speak another language.”
“It’s more amazing how he speaks English, really.” Kate pointed out. “Norwegian’s his first language.”
“Yeah, but listen to him, man! It’s so cool!” Ben said.
“I can speak Norwegian.” Kate said.
“Can you?” Chloe asked, impressed.
“Yeah, a little bit. Only from being around Christian so much, though. You sorta pick bits up here and there.”
“Wicked.” Ben said. “Teach me some.”
“Have you not already done this with Christian?” Kate asked in surprise.
“Noooo, I’d feel like a prick.” Ben said. “Go on, teach me something.”
“Well, like what?”
“Anything!”
“Um, okay…” Kate thought. “Right, well, my name is Ben would be, mit navn er Ben.”
“Mit navn er Ben.” Ben repeated.
“Yep, spot on. Lesson over.”
“Cool.” Ben said, satisfied with his phrase. “Oh, what’s hello?”
“Do you not even know that?!”
“No.” Ben said, looking slightly ashamed.
“Do you take any interest in Christian’s culture at all?”
“Erm…”
Kate sighed. “Hello is hallo, but most people just say hei.”
“Okay, so… Hei! Mit navn er Ben.”
“Ja.” Christian said, rejoining the conversation after paying the conductor for the tickets. “You all owe me lots of money, okay?”
“How much?” Mark asked.
“73 Kroner each.”
“Which is what in English money?” Ben asked.
“Just give me the money, man!” Christian said with a grin.
Everyone handed their money over and Christian distributed their tickets.
“Excellent. Oslo here we come!”