The following day, everyone got back into the bus and set off towards Bodø.
"We need petrol," Debbie announced as she pulled into a petrol station.
"I'll go and buy a newspaper in case there's news on Chris," Kathryn said, jumping out and heading towards the shop. Lucy went with her.
After she'd got out of the bus, Mark came up to Sarah. "You haven't told anyone about... you know?" he whispered nervously.
Sarah shook her head. "Don't worry, nobody knows,".
Kathryn returned, holding a tabloid paper. "No news on Chris, but there's something about you, Mark!".
Mark took the paper from her and looked at the front page. His jaw dropped open. "No way..." he gasped.
Sarah look a look and let out a cry. "It's us," she whispered.
There were two pictures on the front page- one of Mark kissing Sarah, and one of Mark kissing Jo. The photos clearly showed Mark, but it was difficult to recognise the girls. The writing was all in Norwegian so they couldn't understand what it said.
Debbie then came back into the bus, so Mark stuffed the paper under the seat before she could see it. But he wasn't quick enough.
"What's that?" she asked, reaching under the seat and grabbing the paper. Her face fell. "Mark... who are these girls? I can tell it's not me,".
Mark went red and looked down at the floor. He opened his mouth to deny it, but then decided he couldn't lie to Debbie. "I'm so sorry...".
Debbie rolled the paper up and used it to hit Mark around the head. "How could you!" she cried. "I didn't think you were the type to go around cheating on me...". She opened the door and pushed Mark out of the bus. "You're not travelling with us any more," she cried before slamming the door.
"Debbie, please!" Mark cried, banging on the door.
But it was too late. Debbie had already driven off.
"I think we're lost,".
Ben's heart sank as he heard Lisa speak those words. "Oh, that's just great," he said sarcastically. "Now Paul's going to win and I'll be humiliating myself on TV,".
Lisa stopped the car and gave him a hug. "Don't worry about it, anyway they could be lost too. We might still win,".
They took another look at the map but still couldn't work out where they were. "Let's just keep driving until we find a town," Lisa said, turning the key in the ignition.
They drove through woodland for about ten minutes, until the trees cleared and they came to a town. "I wonder if anyone around here can speak English," Ben said as they got out of the car and walked towards a row of shops.
Luckily, a shop worker could speak fluent English. "You're not far from Bodø," he told them. "I'll show you the best route,". He took the road map from Ben and marked on it a route.
"Thank you," Ben said gratefully. "How long will it take to get there?".
"About two hours," the shop keeper answered. "Not long at all,".
Ben grinned. "Hear that, Lisa? We're nearly there! Maybe we will win after all,".
They bought some lunch from the shop then headed back to the car. After driving for only a few minutes, Lisa spotted two people by the roadside. "Isn't that..?".
"It's Mark and Lucy!" Ben exclaimed. "Quick, stop the car,".
Mark and Lucy were just as shocked to see Ben and Lisa. "Thank goodness you saw us!" Mark cried. "Debbie chucked me out of the bus...".
"...And I was in the shop, so she drove off without me," Lucy finished. She laughed. "They probably haven't even noticed I'm missing!".
"Nether of us have any money on us so we've been trying to hitch a ride," Mark confessed.
"Jump in," Ben offered, opening the back door. "So I guess that means the others are ahead of us,".
Lucy nodded. "Yeah, they're over an hour ahead,".
"So I've lost the bet," Ben sighed. "Oh well...".
Lisa started the car and they started to drive towards Bodø. On their way, they spotted a sign for a theme park.
"The others are going to arrive first anyway, so why don't we do something for the afternoon?" Lisa suggested.
"Good idea," Lucy agreed, she thought it might cheer up Mark as he was feeling really low because of Debbie.
Ben and Mark also agreed, so they went to the theme park.
They stayed for several hours, going on all the scary rides. Well... almost all.
"No way am I going on that roller coaster," Ben said, looking up nervously at the high, looping track. "I'll wait here,".
Lisa laughed at him. "Ben, you chicken! It doesn't look that scary,".
Ben shook his head. "Sorry, but I'm not going on it,".
"OK, I'll wait here with you," Lisa agreed. "Mark and Lucy can still go on,".
So Mark and Lucy went to queue up for it. "You're looking happier," Lucy said. "You were really upset earlier,".
Mark nodded. "Yeah... I'm having a good time here, it's cheered me up. But... I don't know what to do about Debbie. I really love her and I'm worried she'll never speak to me again,".
Lucy gave him a cuddle. "Talk to her, tell her you're sorry. Maybe you and her can work things out,".
"I hope so," Mark sighed.
Lucy was feeling sad too. "I'm getting really worried about Chris," she admitted. "He's supposed to be getting married tomorrow, what if that means I don't get to see him again?".
That afternoon, Paul and the girls finally arrived at the castle. "Chris's new house certainly is spectacular," Paul joked as they all got out of the bus to look at the castle.
"Yeah!" Nic agreed. "But how are we going to contact Chris?".
It was obvious that getting in wouldn't be easy. The wedding and crowning ceremony were in less than twenty-four hours so there were swarms of reporters around the gates, and an equal number of guards.
"It'll be difficult," Sarah said as she jumped out of the bus.
Heather had an idea. "We could write a note for Chris telling him we're here, and find someone to give it to him,".
Paul nodded. "We could try that I suppose,".
Helen found some paper and a pen, and together they wrote a short letter, telling Chris where they were and asking him to try and reply.
"So who's going to go and deliver it?" Jo asked. "I don't mind going, as long as I'm not on my own,".
Paul and Debbie agreed to go too, leaving the other girls in the bus.
Jo felt awkward while she was around Debbie, since Debbie didn't realise it was her in the newspaper photo. She didn't want her to find out as they were good mates.
"Maybe he'll deliver it," Paul whispered as they stood behind some trees and spotted a castle gardener.
Unfortunately, the gardener didn't speak English. They spoke to one of the guards, who luckily knew some English.
"Yes, I will give it to him," the guard assured them.
"Thank you," Jo said, before heading back to the bus with Debbie and Paul.
"Now all we can do is wait," Kathryn sighed as they all sat in the bus to begin their long wait.
.