(Leve
DrØmet i Norge)
Monday
8:30 p.m., Oslo
“Aww, I love this film.” Chloe sighed as her and Mark lay side by side on Mark’s bed, watching Chloe’s favourite film, ‘Martha – Meet Frank, Daniel and Lawrence’. “It ends the way all films should end. I can’t believe they’re showing it over here!”
“Chick flick.” Mark said, averting his eyes from the screen as the credits started to roll.
“You like chick flicks!” Chloe said, pushing Mark.
“It was a good film.”
“It’s the best!”
“So after two hours of avoiding the subject, are you gonna tell me the real reason you stayed in tonight?” Mark asked, sitting up on his elbow and turning to look at Chloe.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Chloe said airily.
“Yes you do!”
“I stayed in to keep you company, so you wouldn’t be all on your own!”
“You can’t fool me, Chloe.”
Chloe looked at her watch. “Shouldn’t the others be back by now?”
“Chloe! Stop changing the subject!” Mark said. “Come on – I’ve talked to you about Rose. Now you talk to me.”
“I really don’t know what you mean!”
“Alright, shall I do the talking for you? The real reason you didn’t go out with the others is because of-”
Mark was interrupted by a loud bang on the door.
“PIZZAAAA!!” came Paul’s voice from the corridor.
“He keeps doing that!” Chloe said, getting up and opening the door, exposing the whole group.
Almost immediately she’d been pulled into Ben’s arms.
“Mmmm, missed you.” He said, kissing her.
“Blimey,” Chloe said in surprise, breathlessly pulling back from him. “You were only gone a couple of hours!”
“I’ve had an adverse reaction to the two couples I was playing lemon to.” Ben explained, running his hands around Chloe’s waist. “You know, there’s this really beautiful place up by the palace – we’ll go up there tomorrow some time, just me and you.”
“We spend so much time together at home I’d have thought you’d be glad for some other people to talk to!”
“I’ll never get bored of spending time with you.” Ben said.
“Awww.” Chloe said, smiling at him. “You’re so sweet; I’m so glad you’re my boyfriend.”
“Me too.” Ben said, kissing her again.
“Did you have a nice boring time without us? I expect you did. We’ve brought food!” Paul said, marching into Mark’s room, followed by everyone else.
“Erm…” Mark started, watching helplessly as six people got settled in his room.
Well, five of them were getting settled. One of them was standing uncomfortably in the doorway, looking like there was nowhere she’d less like to be. Mark looked at her, knowing he shouldn’t stare but unable to take his eyes off her. He’d never seen her look so good, and he’d never felt more alone than when she was standing in the same room as him. Rose looked at him, drawn by his gaze, and their eyes locked momentarily. Mark’s face was an open book, but Rose’s expression was a conflicting mixture of contempt and confusion. She looked stonily at him for a few seconds before turning and walking off down the corridor.
“Rose-” Mark said weakly, taking after her, again knowing that he shouldn’t, that he should just leave her alone and that he was only rubbing more salt into his wounds, but he couldn’t let her go, he just couldn’t. “Rose!” he shouted again, gaining on her.
Rose ignored him, quickening her pace until she reached her door and got the card key out of her bag. Mark caught up with her as she slid it into the slot and turned the handle, opening the door.
“Rose, please.” He said.
“What do you want now?”
“Why did you just leave like that?”
“Hurt, does it?” Rose asked coldly. “Well now you know how I felt.” She said, going into the room and slamming the door after her.
Mark sighed and closed his eyes, leaning back against the wall. He knew this was going to happen – why did he insist on putting himself through it again and again? Did he enjoy feeling like he was just an irritating, unwanted stone in Rose’s shoe? No, of course he didn’t. He just wanted her back.
“Where’s Mark?” Chloe asked, taking a slice of pizza from one of the boxes and sitting on the floor against the wall, next to Ben.
Paul shrugged. “Dunno.” He said, mouth full of food. “Where did Rose go?”
“Missing her?” Ben jibed.
“No.” Paul said. “I was just wondering.”
“If you’d have told Christian earlier he could have saved money on one of the rooms.”
“Huh?”
“Well, you know, seeing as you and Rose will be sharing.” Ben said with a grin.
“What?”
“Whose room will it be? Yours, or hers? Or maybe you’ll alternate. You know Christian, if you ring ahead to the next place we’re staying at you can probably get your money back.”
“I don’t have a clue what you are talking about.” Paul said evasively.
“Youuuu,” Ben said slowly. “And Roooose.”
“Yeah, what about us?”
“You’re all over each other, man! What did you say they were, Kate?”
“Erm, pre-shag.” Kate said, wishing she hadn’t taught Ben that particular description.
“Ohhh whatever.” Paul said.
“You’re not denying it, are you?”
“Nothing to deny, mate. You’ve got it all wrong.”
“Oh, okay.” Ben said. “But if you do want a little time alone, just say. You know, if you change your mind.”
“I think I’ll go and see where Mark is.” Chloe said.
“Noooo, stay with me.” Ben said, putting his arm around her.
“I’ll be like, one minute.”
“Too long.” Ben said, lowering his voice. “Because you’re soooo beautiful.”
Chloe smiled, slightly embarrassedly. “I’ll just go and find Mark and then you can have me all to yourself all evening.”
Ben grinned. “Sounds good.” He said, pulling Chloe closer and kissing her. “But don’t go.”
“I just wanna make sure he’s okay.” Chloe said, letting Ben kiss her again, smiling as he ran his hand down her back.
“He’ll be fine.” Ben said. “He’s not likely to get lost in a hotel. You’ve just spent the last two hours with him, anyway; what about making sure that I’m okay?”
“You’re fine!”
“I am not.”
“How are you not okay?”
“I need you.” Ben whispered in her ear, making Chloe shiver.
“You’ve got me – I’m right here.”
“In other ways.” Ben whispered again.
“Oww, I really do need to find Mark.” Chloe said, torn between her friend in need and her boyfriend, apparently also in need, but in a completely different way. “Give me two minutes.”
Ben looked at her.
“Okay?”
He sighed. “I suppose.”
“Thank you. I will be right back, I promise.” Chloe said, giving him a quick kiss and getting up. “Oh and Ben? Might be a good idea to, y’know, move to a different room. Audiences aren’t really my speciality.”
Ben grinned. “I’ll meet you back at our room. No more than two minutes.”
Chloe nodded and hurriedly left the room, looking up and down the corridor for a sign of Mark. She found him sitting against the wall outside Rose’s room.
“What are you doing?” Chloe asked, going over to him.
“Moping.” Mark said.
“Well stop it – I thought I told you to enjoy yourself this week.”
“I tried to speak to Rose again.”
Chloe sighed. “Mark…”
“I know, I know. And yes, it did end predictably badly and now I’m miserable again, I’m very sorry.”
“Aww, you don’t have to be sorry.” Chloe said, joining him on the floor. “I’m sorry that you’re this unhappy. I wish I could do something to cheer you up.”
“You are.” Mark said. “If you weren’t here then I’d be at least twice as miserable. Actually, why are you here?”
“Wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Yeah, but shouldn’t you be making sure Rose is okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well she’s your best friend, isn’t she? Shouldn’t you be on her side? I am the bad guy, after all.”
“She’s a friend, but no more so than you.”
“But she’s not your best friend any more?”
Chloe looked like she didn’t really want to be talking about it, but answered Mark’s question nonetheless.
“It’s such a long story. We just… drifted apart, I guess. Lots of reasons; it’s probably my fault. In fact, I know it is, but it’s hard to go back. Things are different now.”
“Oh.” Mark said. “I didn’t know.”
“I wasn’t there for her when she needed me.” Chloe said, sounding remorseful.
“Would that have anything to do with me, by any chance?”
Chloe smiled. “Maybe a little.”
“So what about the fact that Rose is mad with me for good reason? Doesn’t that mean that you shouldn’t have any sympathy for me?”
“I dunno, I guess when you put it like that… But Rose seems to be doing a bit better than you.”
“Yeah, I’m pathetic.” Mark said.
“No you’re not.”
“I know she has every right to be angry with me, and I know it must be difficult for her after all this time, but I just wish…”
“What?”
Mark shook his head. “No, I shouldn’t wish anything. I’ve brought all this on myself. In fact, Clo, can you just leave me on my own?”
“Oh. Um, yeah, sure. Sorry.”
“It’s not you, I just need some space.”
Chloe smiled sympathetically. “Tomorrow’s a new day.” She said, getting up and leaving Mark to his thoughts.
And this was supposed to be a holiday?